Backcourt prospects for 2015

Now that Dozier is officially off the board, what should we be thinking about for the backcourt next year, assuming that LeVert has the season most people are expecting and leaves early? Do we need to prepare for the eventuality that Walton also exits, and if so, who is left that could potentially fill that spot? Worst case, if they both go, we look very thin at the 1 and 2 next year without adding someone else.

IMO, Walton will still be around in 15-16. He’s a short point guard and I don’t think he’ll be “the man” with Levert and Irvin around - at least not to the extent necessary to make him a 1st rounder. Irvin is a stronger candidate to jump the league.

I also feel confident in saying that the staff will add a player or two in the spring signing period. Hopefully they add at least one higher-rated guy at the 1 or 2 bc, as you state, they will likely be thin there.

Irvin is a LONG way from being NBA ready from both an offensive and defensive standpoint, Walton is closer to being ready by a healthy margin. Of course, that has no bearing on whether either stays or goes as demonstrated by Dmo and GR3

Now that Dozier is officially off the board, what should we be thinking about for the backcourt next year, assuming that LeVert has the season most people are expecting and leaves early? Do we need to prepare for the eventuality that Walton also exits, and if so, who is left that could potentially fill that spot? Worst case, if they both go, we look very thin at the 1 and 2 next year without adding someone else.

Yeah, if Walton were to leave, we’d be screwed in 15-16, unless MAAR can make a huge jump, because he’s the only one on the roster other than those two that could be a creator playing a guard spot.

Irvin’s skillset can be replaced rather easily provided we have someone to create looks. If. Walton leaves, and we don’t land 1 of Brown/DT/Ramsey, we will see a setback.

Given Walton’s size, he would need to have an extraordinary year, All American worthy, to leave. Since I don’t see that happening and since he doesn’t have any one skillset that is exceptional on an NBA level, I am very confident he will be back next season

I agree Walton shouldcome back, but what he should do, and what he actually does, may be very different. All it takes is one clown to give a kid bad advice.

Have a hard time seeing Walton really in the conversation to go pro after this season. He’s probably not going to dominate the ball (LeVert) or the shots (Irvin) and he’s just 6-foot. Anything can happen, but don’t see it right now.

I’m inclined to think both Walton and Irvin will stay, but stranger things have occurred. If I had to choose one though, Walton is the guy we must keep.

If Walton makes the kind of jump from his freshman to his sophomore year that Burke and Morris did, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that he’ll at least be considering the idea of going early, and that we might have to sweat out a few weeks in April while he decides. If I had to guess at this point, I’d say he won’t have quite the season that he needs to make the jump, though if he did, it would probably mean we had a pretty good result in 14-15.

As far as Irvin, I don’t see him as able to fill in at a 2 spot…he’s not nearly as much of a creator as either LeVert or Stauskas. He’s certainly less likely to leave than Walton at this point, and even if he did, Dawkins could probably do a fair imitation.

So we’re probably looking at:

Walton + Spike
Duncan + MAAR
Irvin + Dawkins

Then any late adds…though I can’t imagine outside of Brown, any late adds are going to be ready to step in right away.

Although hopeful, I still am very skeptical of Walton making a quantum leap this year. I just have a lot of doubts about him and his ability to be consistent. Who knows how bright the NBA “stars” are in his eyes, but I will be very surprised if he shows up on any mock drafts as anymore than a borderline 2nd rounder the next two years. That won’t preclude him from declaring, but IMO he will be very fortunate to make the league. There is little of anything in his skill set that would set him apart from other “draftees” at this stage. I’ve always thought of him as a four year player and a solid piece of a good team, nothing more. It isn’t obligatory that we have a player take a huge jump every year, and even though he will have more opportunities this season, I don’t see him showing out like Trey or Nik did. We’ll see.

If Walton makes the kind of jump from his freshman to his sophomore year that Burke and Morris did, I don't think it's a stretch to say that he'll at least be considering the idea of going early, and that we might have to sweat out a few weeks in April while he decides.

A big part of making the leap is having the opportunity to get so many more shots. Walton will get plenty of opportunities, but he’s still playing next to an NBA-caliber guard.

Let’s not forget…if Irvin and Walton are both good enough to be first round picks in next years draft then we should have a really special team this year. Just look at it that way! I would be surprised if we lose Irvin or Walton! Both have a long way to go!

So we're probably looking at:

Walton + Spike
Duncan + MAAR
Irvin + Dawkins

Then any late adds…though I can’t imagine outside of Brown, any late adds are going to be ready to step in right away.

MAAR will get more time at the 1 if called upon to do so; he is by no means exclusively a 2. I wouldn’t expect to see him a ton at the 1 this year, especially with the depth we have there, but to spell Walton he is a quicker defender that would mitigate the defensive liability that Spike can be with quicker 1’s.

I see Walton as a 4 year guy. He may be 1st team All-B1G after NEXT season if Yogi leaves after this season, but even then he is a smallish PG (ie not 6’6 like MCW) and not an eye-popping ballhandler/scorer. Plus the NBA is not in dire need of PG’s.

I see more of a problem at the 2 if LeVert leaves early. MAAR will probably get a little backup/garbage time at either guard spot this year, but unless his shooting gets a lot better, he’s not well suited to playing 30 minutes a game as a 2 in a Beilein offense. Duncan Robinson does not look like he has the ball-handling skills to play the 2 either, so that doesn’t leave us with much, at what has been a key position for us lately (Hardaway, Stauskas, LeVert).

All of this is just analytic talk for what we all know…we need to add another multi faceted creator. If not, we will most likely see a dip in the on court performance in the near future.