Following Potential 2025 Draftees

[NUMBERICA]

These are solid. Overall should just be some mechanism that’s spreads out the lotto luck. Maybe top pick every 4 years and can only move up into the top 4 two out of 4 years or something. If you get the number 1 pick you can’t move up for 4 years either. I would even allow team to pass on moving up if they don’t like the draft. So if Atlanta didn’t want #1 last year then declared yourself out of the lotto.

I thought of something similar for bad drafts years. That seems like a workable approach, I think.

Let’s run with the scenario from last year and because the top of the draft is bottom-tier bad, such that nobody declares they want the #1 pick. Someone has to win it, so does the winner of the draft maintain their eligibility for future #1 picks? Sounds good to me if so.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

-I think I would make it 2 out of every 5 years for those teams that get stuck in bad drafts.

- I also think you have to have rules about teams with All NBA players already who happen to have bad injury luck randomly in a year.

Also teams that have nice beaches in their city shouldn't be eligible. Or teams that are top 5 in NBA titles...

Or teams that don't start with the letter U.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Why not just take a teams pick away if they shamelessly tank. For example the Jazz got fined for not playing Markkanen. Under this rule instead of a fine or with the fine take the pick away. Wouldn’t that scare teams or most teams away from tanking?

 

[NUMBERICA]

Why not just take a teams pick away if they shamelessly tank. For example the Jazz got fined for not playing Markkanen. Under this rule instead of a fine or with the fine take the pick away. Wouldn’t that scare teams or most teams away from tanking?

It would also cripple teams. Also, what is the line?

The problem I have with so much of this stuff is creating a structure that punishes anybody. Why? And why are we letting dice rolls determine parity and competitiveness when there is ZERO evidence it works? I really want to underscore this point, there is zero evidence that the lottery creates any significant disincentive to tanking. Some amount of tanking is probably inevitable, I’m actually not bothered by that. I’m bothered that a team can be stuck in a ditch whether they mean to or not and the Spurs and Cavaliers just hit over and over again.

The other problem with your suggestion AND the current lottery is that it gives the league too much power to change the histories if/when they choose too. Not just the history of the sport, the history of franchises, and the cities/regions that they belong to that are woven into the cultural and economic fabric of.

Let’s have a structure that just makes sense. This voodoo bull **** is stupid and it’s offensive that all they’ve done in their recent attempt is make it so a good team with some injuries can end up getting a generational talent. Makes no sense.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

It would also cripple teams. Also, what is the line?

The problem I have with so much of this stuff is creating a structure that punishes anybody. Why? And why are we letting dice rolls determine parity and competitiveness when there is ZERO evidence it works? I really want to underscore this point, there is zero evidence that the lottery creates any significant disincentive to tanking. Some amount of tanking is probably inevitable, I’m actually not bothered by that. I’m bothered that a team can be stuck in a ditch whether they mean to or not and the Spurs and Cavaliers just hit over and over again.

The other problem with your suggestion AND the current lottery is that it gives the league too much power to change the histories if/when they choose too. Not just the history of the sport, the history of franchises, and the cities/regions that they belong to that are woven into the cultural and economic fabric of.

Let’s have a structure that just makes sense. This voodoo bull **** is stupid and it’s offensive that all they’ve done in their recent attempt is make it so a good team with some injuries can end up getting a generational talent. Makes no sense.

My point is if you tell teams that if they tank on purpose they’ll lose their pick. Isn’t that enough to keep teams from doing whatever it takes? Obviously guidelines would be hammered out. If it works maybe they do away with the lottery all together. Maybe hire an outside firm of some kind to judge weather a team is tanking or not.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

I bet the first time some team loses a top five pick that will be the last time it ever happens

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

The NBA has to do something to fix the quality of the product, I don’t really see anything else working kind of seems like it’s their only true option that fixes things

 

[NUMBERICA]

My point is if you tell teams that if they tank on purpose they’ll lose their pick. Isn’t that enough to keep teams from doing whatever it takes?

My point is there are other considerations to make. Besides, how would you feel if the Jazz lost their pick this year?

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

My point is there are other considerations to make. Besides, how would you feel if the Jazz lost their pick this year?

Do you honestly think a team would risk losing a high pick because of tanking?

 

[KqWIN]

Please move the tanking fix talk to the tanking fix thread.

 

[KqWIN]

Labaron Philon has declared and is “all in” on the draft. On paper, he is right there with previous lotto guards like Castle, Black, and Wallace. You could make the argument he’s actually the best on paper out of that group.

His shot looks a little fugly and his physical tools leave something to be desired, but I don’t think there is that much of a difference in quality between he and lotto guards of years past. I think he’ll end up in my top 14.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Could Olajuwon Supplant Ewing As Dwight Howard's Mentor?

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty ImagesPatrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon will stake their Hall of Fame jerseys on Dwight Howard's affection.The Orlando Magic are attempting to go where no NBA team has gone before.

www.espn.com

Ewing and Hakeem standing next to each other. Hakeem looks like he’s either 6-10 or 6-11

Hakeem standing next to a 7'4 14 year old

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

My point is if you tell teams that if they tank on purpose they’ll lose their pick. Isn’t that enough to keep teams from doing whatever it takes? Obviously guidelines would be hammered out. If it works maybe they do away with the lottery all together. Maybe hire an outside firm of some kind to judge weather a team is tanking or not.

impossible

 

[NUMBERICA]

impossible

The next step is to have this tribunal award the most competitive non-playoff team with medals and the #1 pick (it will be the Lakers whenever they’re eligible).

 

[SoberasHotRod]

The furthest I would go is to have a league doctor on each team's staff that flags issues for potential fines that can be reviewed and appealed.

 

[KqWIN]

Does Jabari Smith Jr's outcome give anyone pause over Ace or Tre? Obviously he is not a 1:1 comparison to those guys, but if I'm being honest I think I would firmly have him 3rd in this draft (as a prospect) and he shared some concerns that Tre and Ace have.

My general feeling is:

1) I would still bet on his shooting. 42% from 3 and 80% from the line on good volume/higher degree of difficulty. I would bet on any player who shot the ball that well to be a great shooter in the NBA, it's just a bad outcome for Jabari to be a mediocre shooter and that is holding him back from being a great role player. Having said that, pull up jump shooting has to be one of the volatile/variable things to predict.

2) I think Jabari's concerns, namely his inability to attack the hoop, have become true but we shouldn't be too surprised. He only shot 44% from 2 at Auburn and it's because he was a heavy mid range shooter. He's a decent mid range shooter in the NBA, especially from 10-16 feet, but shot creation in the NBA isn't about hitting tough shots at a higher rate....it's about creating offense from the efficient areas.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Does Jabari Smith Jr's outcome give anyone pause over Ace or Tre? Obviously he is not a 1:1 comparison to those guys, but if I'm being honest I think I would firmly have him 3rd in this draft (as a prospect) and he shared some concerns that Tre and Ace have.

My general feeling is:

1) I would still bet on his shooting. 42% from 3 and 80% from the line on good volume/higher degree of difficulty. I would bet on any player who shot the ball that well to be a great shooter in the NBA, it's just a bad outcome for Jabari to be a mediocre shooter and that is holding him back from being a great role player. Having said that, pull up jump shooting has to be one of the volatile/variable things to predict.

2) I think Jabari's concerns, namely his inability to attack the hoop, have become true but we shouldn't be too surprised. He only shot 44% from 2 at Auburn and it's because he was a heavy mid range shooter. He's a decent mid range shooter in the NBA, especially from 10-16 feet, but shot creation in the NBA isn't about hitting tough shots at a higher rate....it's about creating offense from the efficient areas.

Yes. I love Jabari in the draft. I still wonder if there is more there and he'd be a guy I'd want to get and see if you can tease more out of him. I just would be hesitant to pay a ton with his contract in case he is closer to his ceiling.

I think Ace has more juice off the dribble but doesn't really use it to pressure the rim. Does that open up with NBA space? Or does he get stronger or better coaching and it changes things? I think Ace and VJ will basically be a coin flip for me at 3. I would trend more towards VJ as Ace has a lower floor. Tre doesn't do enough for me other than score. Can't decide if he is a juiced up Buddy Hield or slim Sensabaugh or poor mans Booker (or a bust of course is always on the table).

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Hakeem standing next to a 7'4 14 year old

Does he play basketball? And someone get PGAB with those binoculars out of the bushes from his house. Good lord is he still growing??

impossible

How is it any different from teams losing picks for tampering with players. They, including the Jazz are basically tampering with the lottery. At seasons end just investigate and determine if a team tanked on purpose. If something like this is put in place teams won’t tank.

 

[Chargers Jazz Angels]

Yes. I love Jabari in the draft. I still wonder if there is more there and he'd be a guy I'd want to get and see if you can tease more out of him. I just would be hesitant to pay a ton with his contract in case he is closer to his ceiling.

I think Ace has more juice off the dribble but doesn't really use it to pressure the rim. Does that open up with NBA space? Or does he get stronger or better coaching and it changes things? I think Ace and VJ will basically be a coin flip for me at 3. I would trend more towards VJ as Ace has a lower floor. Tre doesn't do enough for me other than score. Can't decide if he is a juiced up Buddy Hield or slim Sensabaugh or poor mans Booker (or a bust of course is always on the table).

Cy once made the comparison I have liked about Tre. He is a 6'6" Jordan Clarkson. He has that herky jerky body movement that Clarkson has. He is a better shooter but maybe not the passer Clarkson is but Clarkson wasn't always a good passer either.

I think at 5 it wouldn't be great to get a perennial 6th man of the years but I could live with that floor. I think he could be more than that.

 

[KqWIN]

Yes. I love Jabari in the draft. I still wonder if there is more there and he'd be a guy I'd want to get and see if you can tease more out of him. I just would be hesitant to pay a ton with his contract in case he is closer to his ceiling.

I think Ace has more juice off the dribble but doesn't really use it to pressure the rim. Does that open up with NBA space? Or does he get stronger or better coaching and it changes things? I think Ace and VJ will basically be a coin flip for me at 3. I would trend more towards VJ as Ace has a lower floor. Tre doesn't do enough for me other than score. Can't decide if he is a juiced up Buddy Hield or slim Sensabaugh or poor mans Booker (or a bust of course is always on the table).

I think Ace does have more juice than Jabari, and he is a lot better at hitting the mid range shot (not the three ball though). But uses that juice to create fading away jumpers and not much else. He loves that shot, he can get that shot at any time, he's actually very good at making those shots, but those shots suck. If you could show him the math and get him to use his talent to attack the hoop first, or even just stretch his game out to be a heavy 3 point shooter, I think he could be pretty good. He has that Deandre Ayton mentality right now and I hate it.

I had the same concern as you about Tre. And to be clear, I do think he has the potential to be the very best of that archetype....like it's not unrealistic he's a Booker or Herro. If he falls short of that, there are a lot of comps, but these players aren't really my favorite kinds of players. Gun to my head, I think Tre has a higher shot of being Herro than VJ does of becoming peak Oladipo or whatever....but I'm a Melton > Hield type of guy so I think I just prefer VJ.

BTW somewhat unrelated, but Brice was actually a beast at Ohio St. He only played 25 mpg, but his scoring/efficiency was off the charts. I don't know why I'm bringing this up other to say that even with the medical red flags, it's pretty crazy that someone with this much raw production as a freshman fell that far. Same goes for Collier tbh.