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Following Potential 2025 Draftees

To be clear, Rudy Gay was definitely a good player in his prime. Just because Memphis improved when they traded him doesn't mean he was bad. He just never got on a good team context for his career after the Memphis situation.
He's also super young and his body really looks it. A lot of my eval on him might come from the background and interviews. If he's a worker and does have a high motor some of the stuff can be massaged obviously. If that stuff came back "meh" I'd likely opt for someone else (depending on where we land).
 
You would be silly to ignore it, especially the FT line percentage. These guys don't start playing basketball in college and players can have off shooting seasons.

Yes, the difference between the HS/College line is around 2 ft and change, so he had some issues extending his range, but he is definitely a good shooter with sound mechanics and a quick high release.

The thing is, I can't even confirm those stats exist or know the context of them. Where are these stats from, how many attempts are there, and what was the level of competition he was playing at? Do you have a source, that would go a long way. Even if these were 100% confirmed, HS numbers will not mean more to me than NCAA numbers. I think he will play in a more optimal way in the NBA (he has to or he will fail) and shooting more 3's will be a part of that, but it's not really a black and white thing where he's fully good or bad. The extent to which he is able to change is what's important. Like other's have said, the background information and interview stuff will be important.

To be clear, Rudy Gay was definitely a good player in his prime. Just because Memphis improved when they traded him doesn't mean he was bad. He just never got on a good team context for his career after the Memphis situation.

I never said he was bad....I think Rudy Gay was just fine as a player and playing 17 years in the NBA is a big accomplishment. I think the questions about how much of a winning player he was are valid, but he was undeniably a good shot maker and a physical presence in his payday. That has value, no question about it, but like every other player he had pros and cons.
 
He's also super young and his body really looks it. A lot of my eval on him might come from the background and interviews. If he's a worker and does have a high motor some of the stuff can be massaged obviously. If that stuff came back "meh" I'd likely opt for someone else (depending on where we land).

The guys you compare him to would be VJ and Tre....Out of the 3 I think he is definitely the most theoretical. I think I would probably put Tre as last place right now because even though he's the most believable star on offense, he is the least believable two way player. I get why one would see Ace as the highest potential....but I'm leaning VJ because his high potential scenarios are more believable to me. I do not think VJ is there, but neither is Ace. VJ's path to becoming a star is improving his handle a ton and bringing up his general skill level up a tad.. And tbf he has a long way to go with the handle, but his path is simpler even if I don't necessarily think it's likely. Ace has a longer list of things that need to improve/go correctly IMO.

I'm fairly down on this tier of the draft, but maybe that will change as we get removed from recency bias and get closer to the draft.
 
At the end of the day are you really going to turm down the 6'10 athlete who can create his own shot without needing a play ran for him?

If your ultimate goal is to be a championship team it just seems like a necessary bet to make at #3
Wait... are you flip flopping on VJ and Ace again?
 
My top-6 are locked unless something crazy happens in the pre-draft process.

1 - Flagg
2 - Harper
3 - Bailey
4 - Edgecomb
5 - Johnson
6 - Jakucionas

I would probably put VJ higher, but compensating for being undersized with bonkers athleticism is not sustainable and I’m not a fan of it. I think his anthro measurements are going to suck. Bailey could suck or he could end up the best player in this draft or anything in-between. I feel comfortable swinging on that pitch if we get the 3rd pick.
 
My top-6 are locked unless something crazy happens in the pre-draft process.

1 - Flagg
2 - Harper
3 - Bailey
4 - Edgecomb
5 - Johnson
6 - Jakucionas
RN I am
Flagg
Harper
VJ
Ace
Kon
Tre
Kas

That was 7 but I think the Kon/Tre/Kas will be a moving target.
 
RN I am
Flagg
Harper
VJ
Ace
Kon
Tre
Kas

That was 7 but I think the Kon/Tre/Kas will be a moving target.
In that case, Wolf is my 7.

I would rather burn my unlikely-white-lead-guard token on Stirtz with a later pick than Kon with a pick we tanked our asses off for. But I like Kon.

BTW, it’s starting to look like there might be a player I really like available with at least one of our 2nds (hopefully Stirtz or Proctor).
 
In that case, Wolf is my 7.

I would rather burn my unlikely-white-lead-guard token on Stirtz with a later pick than Kon with a pick we tanked our asses off for. But I like Kon.

BTW, it’s starting to look like there might be a player I really like available with at least one of our 2nds (hopefully Stirtz or Proctor).

I'm afraid that NIL/Revenue Sharing is going to decimate the second round.
 
The opposite is true
I think his point is great. How do you figure the opposite is true? Seems to me that if you’re a fringe NBA prospect, taking the bag in front of you, continuing to develop, be a ****ing super-hero swimming in snail (should you choose that life) at your school, and probably getting a degree is far more preferable than rolling dice that you’ll make it in the NBA.
 
So who is the best we can get with the 4th-6th pick? Bailey? Johnson? We will obviously be leapfrogged into 4th or lower in the lottery, so who can we get at 4? Anyone that is a possible generational talent?
 
Ace may have a lower b-ball IQ, but what really stands out to me is his tunnel vision, especially if the shot is the least efficient one. He will constantly shoot over double teams. The other team knows that he is going to shoot no matter what and double team him if possible. In his highlight video I did see some good passing when he actually did pass. I think he is definitely 3rd pick if he can be taught to take more efficient shots and to make the extra pass when necessary. If I had to guess I think he will be receptive to teaching and instruction.
 
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