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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

I think you can look at guys like the guys that came through the G League and Anfernee Simons as guys that were successful with alternative routes... The Lamelo Ball success is also a good story. I would not ding anyone for not wanting to go play college basketball. The system and the game aren't setup for great individual success.

I think star players want to make money. Prior to NIL, there weren't aboveboard ways to do that in the NCAA.
 
The OTE games are like glorified pickup games. It's like watching the player in a workout setting, basically. However, if the Thompsons look amazing in NBA workouts and shoot well enough in the shooting drills, teams will have confidence in them. It's no different than, say, Shaedon Sharpe last year.
These players are choosing not to become part of the NCAA money printing machine for the big conferences. I don't see a problem with that.
These guys can make basketball their career while earning a bit of money without NCAA rules such as practice time, etc hanging over their heads. Alot of these top prospects don't attend classes anyway.
 
I can see both ways working and it just depends on what the guys want. I would probably want the college experience myself.
That is how I would lean as well. Especially with NIL deals now. You get to be the big man on campus and enjoy these crazy nice athletic facilities while also making over 200k. These college facilities blow away anything these guys are getting in the gleague or some of these other leagues. The university of Utah basketball center is amazing and I'm sure it is nothing compared to some of these other schools.
 
These players are choosing not to become part of the NCAA money printing machine for the big conferences. I don't see a problem with that.
These guys can make basketball their career while earning a bit of money without NCAA rules such as practice time, etc hanging over their heads. Alot of these top prospects don't attend classes anyway.

I can understand that argument before but now they can take full advantage of that money printing machine. More so than playing anywhere else. Also I don't think that practice time rule is a downside because it doesn't mean you can't be at the facility more than that working on your game. There is really only so much actual organized practice that any player wants to do. In the nba they practice way less than any college team.
 
That is how I would lean as well. Especially with NIL deals now. You get to be the big man on campus and enjoy these crazy nice athletic facilities while also making over 200k. These college facilities blow away anything these guys are getting in the gleague or some of these other leagues. The university of Utah basketball center is amazing and I'm sure it is nothing compared to some of these other schools.
The downside would be dealing with some coach who decides to use you incorrectly or gives you less minutes because of some mid upperclassmen. Those guys aren't invested in the player's development like some other places would be.

I just won't ding anyone that is actually playing in some setting. The run and hide Dante Exum stuff is what I would worry about. Super rare. Shaeden worried me a bit last year but he's been pretty solid and shown some serious flashes.
 
GG Jackson playing awful.

Gave up a 3 in a tied game w/ 2 minutes left due to bad off ball defense. Gets fouled on the other end and misses the front end of the FT. Gets beat on defense again and fouls to send Vanderbilt to the FT line
 
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