Following Potential 2025 Draftees

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm not saying I would consider Sorber at 5, just trying to learn from the past, even though I realize there might not be a lesson there.

The short and unathletic are both the type of things that might drop a guy unnecessarily. Like you said, the height can be overcome by having insane length and he had 10reb/3ast/2blk/2stl which shows that he's functionally able to do what he needs to on the court.

No, at the 5 as in centers, not the 5th pick.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Kas's defense/athleticism concerns are real IMO, but he gets so much flak for his inability to create despite being one of the best creators (for himself and teammates) in the draft.

Jase is underrated IMO, and that has a lot to do with his small role due to upperclassmen on his team. Very clearly a guy who would have performed in bigger role, question is how big of a role and how well....but he was limited for sure.

VJ could have the same thing as Jase as far as role goes. He played on a very poorly constructed team that could have effected his role negatively, but unlike Jase he wasn't good at the self creation stuff when he did do it.

I was thinking of Kas as well, but Haliburton had 2.5st/36 vs Kas has 1. I don't know what Haliburton's numbers were at the combine, but he had real functional athleticism based on his numbers. Haliburton also was much less turnover prone than Kas making his case as a lead ball handler better.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

No, at the 5 as in centers, not the 5th pick.

My bad, lol.

 

[KqWIN]

I was thinking of Kas as well, but Haliburton had 2.5st/36 vs Kas has 1. I don't know what Haliburton's numbers were at the combine, but he had real functional athleticism based on his numbers. Haliburton also was much less turnover prone than Kas making his case as a lead ball handler better.

Yeah, I don't love the Hali comparison because his ability to not turnover the ball is elite and a big part of his value....but I'd say Kas's actual scoring creation itself is underrated. For as much credit as we give Fears/Tre/Ace, Kas was just better and especially in the half court.

The high turnovers is not a great indicator for Kas, I'll admit that, but I do consider him to be a smart + high motor player. A lot of my comparisons for him are smarter + high motor version of creator/playmaker that really needs those things. Initial guy I thought of earlier in the year was DLO w/IQ. Been thinking lately that he's kind of like Keyonte with toughness+IQ+motor.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

I don't think of Tre Johnson as skinny, at least not in comparison with guys his age.

He was strong enough to get to the hoop, he just didn't do it.

Exactly my point actually

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Exactly my point actually

I still don't get it.

Tre didn't have any physical limitations to get to the rim in college, yet he still didn't do it. It's basically the exact opposite of guys who don't look like they should be able to do something and still get it done.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Yeah, I don't love the Hali comparison because his ability to not turnover the ball is elite and a big part of his value....but I'd say Kas's actual scoring creation itself is underrated. For as much credit as we give Fears/Tre/Ace, Kas was just better and especially in the half court.

The high turnovers is not a great indicator for Kas, I'll admit that, but I do consider him to be a smart + high motor player. A lot of my comparisons for him are smarter + high motor version of creator/playmaker that really needs those things. Initial guy I thought of earlier in the year was DLO w/IQ. Been thinking lately that he's kind of like Keyonte with toughness+IQ+motor.

If Kas ends up as a star, people are going to ignore turnovers for young guys even more than they do now.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

I still don't get it.

Tre didn't have any physical limitations to get to the rim in college, yet he still didn't do it. It's basically the exact opposite of guys who don't look like they should be able to do something and still get it done.

People call him weak all the time that can’t take contact.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

People call him weak all the time that can’t take contact.

Do you think it's better for someone to look like they can do something and not do it, or not look like they can do something and do it.

I don't really think that it's a positive for Tre that he looks strong and avoided contact as much as he did. It could just be coaching, but could also be someone who doesn't like physicality.

 

[KqWIN]

If Kas ends up as a star, people are going to ignore turnovers for young guys even more than they do now.

High turnovers hasn't been something that is terribly prohibitive of being a star historicall, so it's been something I overlooked....but indicators are what they are. Fair to see it as a red flag for Kas, but for me personally I'm leaning on my judgement. Poor AST/TOV ratio is bad, but I think Kas is pretty good at what it's suppose to say/indicate about a player.

 

[zyzz]

Player I like w/bad form = That’s how he will improve.

Player I don’t like w/bad form = That’s why he won’t improve

Player I like = list their height in shoes

Player I don’t like = list their height without shoes

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Haliburton's ball handling was very questionable for a PG and his shooting form was so bad that people were concerned he wasn't going to be a good shooter in the NBA. Those two combined with his ehh athleticism made him drop, but he was ranked around 7th or 8th on big boards.

Joe Ingles and Lonzo Ball were thrown out as comps. Even after the trade from Sacramento there were some that were like "he won't be able to scale up and Sabonis is an ALL STAR!"

I think he is exhibit A as to why we have to take some of the false ceilings with a grain of salt. He is an outlier for sure but guys who are smart and skilled tend to perform pretty well.