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Following potential 2015 draftees

This is the guy we need. Potential all around player. Killer outside shot. We would get him open looks in our offense. Good teammate. Fearless on the drive to the hoop.
Willing passer. @12 this guy would be a nice addition.

I guess the mods can post videos with vulgarity or do we report them too?
 
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I really feel like Mario should be our target in the draft. I feel like he could help right away too. But I don't want to trade hood to get him. I'd rather trade a pick.

I think the OKC pick should be enough to move us from 10 to 7, but I'm not so sure Mario goes 7. I feel like he goes maybe a couple or few higher.

I'd try to retain Hood as much as possible. He's legit and can shoot the ball. I'd be more inclined to trade Burks. We could really press the trade by throwing in some 2nd round picks. We have a boat load of them.

I like some other players in the draft top, but not for what we need. I'm not really interested in getting a big or another point guard. It should be a wing. Of course I'd take Russell or Mudiay if we had the chance, but I wouldn't move up for them.

I agree that Hezonja should be our target (considering where we are projected to pick) & I wouldn't trade Hood + our pick to move up for him either. The only players that I would package with our pick to move up for Hezonja is Burke or Booker (or one of our lesser players). I would consider trading Burks just because adding another wing to the 3 that we currently have would make it difficult to get everyone the minutes they need to continue developing, but would only do so if something else were coming back. I'm not sure Hayward, Hezonja, & Hood would compliment each other well though, as I see Hezonja becoming similar (but slightly better all-around) to Hood. If we were to trade Burks in order to move up for a wing, Winslow may actually be the better target as he would bring a different skillset to the group (even though I prefer Hezonja for this team).

I would definitely move up for Russell (& possibly Mudiay, but I'd need to see more of him to say for certain), & wouldn't hesitate to include either Burks &/or Hood to do so. If this turns out to not be a possibility, I would move up for Hezonja (without including Hood or Burks), & let him backup the SF position (while getting some playing time at SG), & start Hood at SG, with Burks backing him up as our 6th man. Minutes would be tight & likely eliminate 1 of Millsap/Ingles (I prefer Millsap for his defense), but this would allow Hood not to have too much expected of him in just his 2nd year, Burks to come back slowly from his injury, Hayward to get enough rest to be healthy come playoff time, & Hezonja to not be relied upon without knowing how ready he will be to contribute in his rookie season. If each of Burks, Hood, & Hezonja reached their potential, then we would have a log jam on the wing (which is never a bad problem to have & could actually provide some flexibility/options when it comes to Hayward's next contract).

Once(/if) Hezonja develops into a starting caliber wing, he & Hood can swap spots (unless Hood outperforms him in the long run). He should still be there around #7/8 & it shouldn't take more than a future pick &/or Burke & some 2nd round picks to move up the 3-4 spots necessary to acquire him. If that's not a possibility, I would turn my attention to making a minor move up for Johnson (if he's still there). If not, I would then focus on either drafting a stretch 4 (Porzingis) or moving down/out of the draft. Kaminsky would also be a consideration if it was clear that Tomic isn't coming over.
 
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Nigel Hayes returns to school for his senior season.

Stanley Johnson "torn" about whether or not to enter the draft.
 
I can't believe Johnson will turn down the NBA money to go back. I like his drive though.

Any player solidly in the first round should absolutely leave for the NBA. With the current rookie scale and an escalating cap (should be well over $100M when they are done with their first deal) they would be crazy not to get the timer started on that first deal. The MLE will be $8-9 M by then, so even if they are average they are going to get a significant pay raise.
 
I can't believe Johnson will turn down the NBA money to go back. I like his drive though.

Any player solidly in the first round should absolutely leave for the NBA. With the current rookie scale and an escalating cap (should be well over $100M when they are done with their first deal) they would be crazy not to get the timer started on that first deal. The MLE will be $8-9 M by then, so even if they are average they are going to get a significant pay raise.

Yep, some of these kids have people around them aggressively giving them advice that is in the best interest of the college, and not the player. At some point, one of these kids is going to miss out on millions due to an injury. Extremely selfish and irresponsible behavior, IMO.
 
Johnson saying he's "torn" about entering the draft sounds like a veiled way of saying he's entering the draft. Jazz might have a shot at him at #10. Meanwhile DX has Oubre back ahead of Dekker, who dropped a few spots after last night's game.
 
Yep, some of these kids have people around them aggressively giving them advice that is in the best interest of the college, and not the player. At some point, one of these kids is going to miss out on millions due to an injury. Extremely selfish and irresponsible behavior, IMO.

I don't know how a college coach could look his kid in the eye if he was a surefire lotto pick, like Johnson, and tell him to come back. It was estimated that Marcus Smart basically lost $10 M by going back a year. It has to be twice that now for a guy like Johnson.
 
Hayes will be a junior. It is Dekker who would be a senior if he returns. WI prays to the gods for that.

If I am Dekker, I would come out. When is stock going to be higher? And it is hard to turndown the 4 mil or so guaranteed. Coupled with the injury risk, I can't see any financial reason to stay. Maybe he likes being the big man on campus.
 
Johnson saying he's "torn" about entering the draft sounds like a veiled way of saying he's entering the draft. Jazz might have a shot at him at #10. Meanwhile DX has Oubre back ahead of Dekker, who dropped a few spots after last night's game.

I agree... It's not like they will be that much better next year. Doubt he'll have a better shot at it than he did this year.
 
I don't know how a college coach could look his kid in the eye if he was a surefire lotto pick, like Johnson, and tell him to come back. It was estimated that Marcus Smart basically lost $10 M by going back a year. It has to be twice that now for a guy like Johnson.

And Smart actually played better in his 2nd year improving his shooting, etc. There were just more talent with Embiid, Wiggins, Jabari, etc.



Next year's draft supposed to be pretty bad isn't it? May be Johnson could improve his stock?
 
And Smart actually played better in his 2nd year improving his shooting, etc. There were just more talent with Embiid, Wiggins, Jabari, etc.



Next year's draft supposed to be pretty bad isn't it? May be Johnson could improve his stock?

Moving from 7-9th pick into the top 5 really doesn't matter much when you figure he is giving up a year of nba salary, a year of endorsements, and waiting an extra year to get the big pay day.
 
Moving from 7-9th pick into the top 5 really doesn't matter much when you figure he is giving up a year of nba salary, a year of endorsements, and waiting an extra year to get the big pay day.

Yeah plus he is a player that could really rise during workouts with his athleticism and physicality. If he could outplay Hezonja and/or match Winslow's level of intensity/physicality in a 3 on 3 workout may be he could rise?
 
If Johnson were to return to AZ, there would be significant pressure on him to show improvement--specifically, finishing around the rim and offensive production in general. He's got more to lose by returning to school than coming out. There are several examples of players who stay an extra year, don't improve much and drop in the following draft--Perry Jones III, Glen Robinson III, and Aaron Harrison are pretty graphic examples. He'd probably go lottery next year, but probably wouldn't go top 5. He'll go 8 - 11 this year. He can work on his game full time in the pros and get paid well to do it. Coming out is the best move.
 
There also people who improve their draft stock. It's his choice.

And both those that improve their stock and those that don't will both lose money... not that money is the end all be all. I think Stanley would end up exactly like Marcus Smart.... come back to win the tourney but won't be able to do it.
 
And both those that improve their stock and those that don't will both lose money... not that money is the end all be all. I think Stanley would end up exactly like Marcus Smart.... come back to win the tourney but won't be able to do it.
Agreed. If you're projected top 10 you're almost always better off declaring. Just too much uncertainties otherwise.
 
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