True, but it’s also often one or two guys who have outsized influence. I remember when Nik got drafted reading about how the owner basically became enamored and insisted on Nik. What the owner or GM watches will, with some teams, have outsized influence. Or even senior scouts. The scouting departments are also watching NBA games, European games, etc.
Hey talking about the Kings as if they are an NBA franchise is a stretch (they’ve done some good things lately - the picks of Fox and Bagley, trade for Hield).
Anyway, I will simply reiterate: if I, who have no inside information, had to bet on a single outcome of all this, it would be that both Poole and Brazdeikis (and Teske for that matter) are in Michigan uniforms next year. I’m honestly a little surprised it’s even a conversation.
2 Likes
The Athletic snippet about unnamed Pro Executives opinion on players from NCAA Tournament:
“Jarrett Culver (from Texas Tech). They played Buffalo in their second game, and it wasn’t much of a competition. But I think just from a consistency standpoint, right, he has continued to play well and help himself. The kid at Michigan, (sophomore guard) Jordan Poole (No. 35), I think he is a guy who has helped himself a little bit throughout this time. Even going back to where he had some big games during the regular season, I think in February he played well against Michigan State and Minnesota, he shot the ball well against Florida (19 points in a second-round win; five-of-15 shooting overall and four-of-nine from three-point range). He’s a good player, man. He knows how to play. He’s skilled. I think (an NBA team) could work on his efficiency. If he continues to play well, I think he could help himself throughout the rest of the tournament as well and be one of those guys who’s a late riser.”
2 Likes
Unless I’m reading this wrong the Detroit News seems to think Iggy is likely gone (to the NBA):
" Ignas Brazdeikis, freshman forward: Brazdeikis’ name appeared in several mock drafts throughout the season and he will most assuredly declare for the draft as an early-entrant candidate. His 3-point shot improved as the season progressed and his ability to finish with both hands around the rim is impressive. If he returns, he could stand to get better at making reads and playing off ball screens."
1 Like
Iggy was making some circus shots early in the year on bank shots that nobody makes. I was extremely impressed. As the year went on I discovered Iggy doesn’t make those shots either, but he sure hit them early in the year. Small ample size and all
All they’re saying is that he’ll declare, which we should all expect. He will get evaluated and then make a decision.
4 Likes
Ok, that makes me feel better 
I sure hope he stays on our team
Honestly, Ignas’ shot-chart is ice blue at the rim, he isn’t a mobile defender, and shows literally no passing ability.
He’s a tough kid, a good rebounder, and shot it from 3 better than I had hoped, but is still a catch and shoot guy.
I’m not sure what he’d do in the NBA at this point.
Imagine if Stauskas finshed and passed worse than he did and couldn’t shoot off the dribble.
I think Iggy and Poole are still too risky and have too low of a floor at this point for a team to justify a 1st round pick on one of them. I think both should come back.
Poole has a really high upside- a possible late lottery pick if he puts all together. But he still has a long way to go so even drafting on potential with him would still be risky.
Matthews leaving provides an opportunity for both Poole and Iggy to take on larger roles. Iggy needs to show that he can pass the ball well and finish better at the rim. His limited athleticism could make the latter difficult, but I think he has upside as a passer even though he’s shown none of that yet in game action.
I absolutely believe both Iggy and JP should declare and go through the evaluation process. If, as a result of that process, they are deemed, to be surefire first round picks, I think they should probably go. If they are not given assurance that they will be taken in the first round, I personally think they should stay, but it certainly is NOT my decision to make, and is probably REALLY none of my business. That decision belongs to them and their families with lots of input from Coach B who WILL tell them the truth.
Of course I am biased, and not just because I am a huge Michigan fan. I am also a huge believer in the value, in SO many ways, of a college education. So, we’ll see.
Ultimately, I hope they make whatever is the right decision for them.
3 Likes
They should definitely go if that ends up being the case. The final pick in the first round is guaranteed almost 3 million bucks. Turning that proposition down to come back to college and inject risk into the process would be crazy.
2 Likes
Yep, no question about it, Chatha. Now, my next statement will be controversial. The NBA has made it, frankly, impossible, for a first round talent to stay in school, play for his university, enjoy the college experience, have the time of his life, and be around guys he loves. Instead they must cut that short and enter the business world, 'cause it’s a business.
I know, I know, I know, who wouldn’t want to leave after one year and be guaranteed three million bucks and possibly a LOT more? It’s a GREAT opportunity, one essentially no one else gets, in any other field, and there really is NO choice to be made.
As a college purist, and one who never was particularly motivated by money, seriously, it’s just something I think about.
But, yes, of course if they are first round choices they have to go. It’s just not worth the risk. Unless…no they should probably go.
Edit: Now, if my son had the talent and the size and skills of these guys and was projected into the first round, while I’d wish he lived in a world where he could stay in school and THEN get paid those big bucks, I’m sure I’d advise him to take the money and run. So, I guess, in some respects, that makes me a Hypocrite?
I really do want the kids to do what’s best for them after getting lots of good advice, not the advice of agents or handlers who make a buck, or a LOT of bucks off of them, but people who really care about them, like family and coaches.
IMO, I don’t think Iggy or Poole are draftable prospects right now. They just don’t have the combination of skillset and production for it. I think they’ll declare, Iggy will get a combine invite but will be given mostly negative feedback. Poole will not get a combine invite.
In the long term, I don’t think there is much Iggy can reasonably do to improve his stock. I just don’t think he’s an NBA player. Tough to be a below the rim player who can’t pass, create or finish in the NBA. I anticipate that he comes back this year and then probably goes to Europe after. Poole has first round upside… but I’m skeptical at this point that he’ll reach it. It will take a big jump next year to do it.
I love that you quote “terrific” when the word never appears in my post. Not even by implication. You’re not the most honest of posters.
I’m highly confident both will return.
I’ll say this - Iggy had a better freshman year, and looks far more NBA ready, than any of Nik, Glenn or Caris did as freshmen. Point is, guys at Michigan tend to improve when they come back. I’ll bet Iggy cracks the late first round in 2020. Just needs to get a little tougher at the rim, learn to pass a little more, and turn down more contested threes.
Better than Glenn and Caris and technically better than Nik, but I think atleast that Nik showed a lot of skills that portended a jump. Super effecient, obviously elite shooter off the bounce and was something like top 90 percentile in PNR situations. A lot of Iggy’s value over Nik is stuff that doesn’t translate super well to the pros, and he also doesn’t show that same upside as a decision maker.
IMO, if we want Iggy to take the jump, we’ll probably have to come up with sets to get him positions to attack without a spread ball screen.
I think it’s important to differentiate between NBA stars, and average to mediocre NBA players. Yes, Iggy does not have the skill set to be an NBA star. But there are literally a TON of mediocre NBA players out there who aren’t any better than Iggy - Glenn Robinson III being one of them. There is no reason at all that Iggy can’t be an off the bench rotation player in the NBA. Compare him to Stanley Johnson, and he’s literally better at everything offensively. I mean, the Lakers now regularly play this small, non-athletic, non-sharpshooting guard Alex Caruso. Iggy will stick, especially with another year here.
By the way, here’s a guy who averaged 11.8 points per game as a freshman in college (and played 27 minutes a night for a really good program), shot .320 from three, and is a far worse athlete than Iggy, and after year two, he was a lotto pick: Luke Kennard.
5 Likes
Stanley Johnson won’t get a minute of NBA play in his life after this year.
I watch an NBA game most days of the regular season on league pass - I’m not clear what single thing that Ignas can do on an average NBA level.
He is more “ready” than Stauskas was because he’s big and strong. Stauskas however had several more NBA ready skills.
Iggy was a very good shooter this year in my opinion and I could see that translating. 43% in conference play on more than 4 attempts per game. 46% from the floor, 39% from three and 77% from free throw. Good rebounder, strong wing at 6’7, 215. Seems like no one considers him an athlete or a shooter (I would argue both of those), but he produced at a very high regardless.
He’s old for his age, he’s competitive as heck and he hasn’t backed down from a challenge once since arriving on campus. Even if he’s not a sure-fire first round pick, I could see him wanting to move on. I’d love to have him back, I think there’s a multitude of things he could do next year to improve his standing among scouts enough to inch closer to the lottery, but I think Iggy has what it takes to succeed as an NBA player no matter when he leaves. If Duncan Robinson can play rotational minutes for an NBA team, I fully believe Iggy can.
He shot .392 from three this year, and many of those were forced, contested shots. He’s a very good shooter when he’s open. And he can finish with both hands at the rim. He’ll stick, just watch.