My concern about him is more in the defensive end right now. Even towards the end of the season he showed a lot of improvement as a ball handler, and I think the playmaking aspect will develop with time as it does with all players.

He has all the tools to be a great defender, but he just isn’t yet. I am very high on him, but right now he just isn’t close to being an NBA level defender.

AJ averaged 4 assists/game last year, it’s not like he’s a black hole on offense. It is a way bigger red flag that DP averaged under 2 assists per game as a guard

i thought the whole selling point with AJ was his elite offensive abilities and his size, he cant shoot?

And then put that person on a team with AD and Sarr and ball dominate Young and 4 other young guards that look for their shot first.

I don’t understand why everyone is so high on him. There’s lots of things he doesn’t do well to take as the clear #1

Happy to see I’m not the only one. Spent 5 hours watching AJ film this week. The off ball scoring and movement are lacking and his left hand is noticeably weak. He consistently forces tough right handed lay ups when coming down left side. His vision is decent though, rarely does he miss an open teammate unless he’s jamming it himself

Well put. He seems more talented, but reminds me of RJ Barrett coming out of Duke.

That’s not even close to something I’d consider if I’m Utah. It’s not like we’re talking about the number 5 pick. It’s the number 2 pick and lots of people have Darryn Peterson above AJ.

I don’t think the Jazz would be quick to move Ace. He started slow, but he’s really shown improvement. Probably worth a lot more than a spot up in this draft.

Ace has all-star upside. Moving him for an incremental improvement (if AJ is even better) would be crazy. Most I’d consider is next year’s FRP.

Huge overpay

I mean, if they’re dead set on AJ then in theory they’d eventually get the best offer possible since they wouldn’t want to trade. Doubt that’s what they meant tho.

In high school Jarred Vanderbilt was a point guard. Now he can’t dribble or pass the ball without turning it over. There were plenty of NBA players who could play PG in HS because they were playing against other 16-17 year olds and were just way more physically and athletically advanced than them

I really think there may have been some locker room issues on that team. His teammates would freeze him out at times. I dont know it it’s something Peterson did on the court or off the court, or if the upper classmen were jealous of the money and hype he had or what. Its just kind of weird because it’s not like Kansas hasn’t had one and done players before. 

Even blocks can be a bad stat to go by. Just looking at blocks people would think Hassan whiteside is better than Rudy gobert at rim protection. Whiteside would chase blocks that led to him giving up easy passes and offensive rebounds. Gobert knows how to use his length to contest shots without fouling and knows how to position himself to contest shots while being able to rebound or take away a pass.

i think it’s more that Ryan Smith really wants AJ, rather than Ainge

The worth of the first pick shoot up because of the new draft odds. Imo the wizards will only give them the first For ace bailey and the second pick.

Wizards fans are posting that it should be Keyonte George + Ace Bailey + #2, and that they’ll send back Tre Johnson with the #1.

No thanks.

Ryan Smith has also been involved with AJ since he was a junior in high school. Even if the FO doesn’t want to do the deal, this has ownership fingerprints written all over it.

The ball is in Washington’s court.

Except despite him playing in Utah he kept his family in Florida.

Sure it’s possible. But we’d have to be totally sure that Utah doesn’t have a better grade for DP as well. We assume that Utah is all in on AJ because of the school connection, but who knows what they’re evaluation is a month from now. Is a single FRP worth not being 100% able to take who you think is the single best prospect in this draft? I don’t know.

I know it isn’t equal. It doesn’t have to be. They’re in control. They can just say no to any deal and simply use the first pick.

I will say, the value of a second rounder has become non existent with NIL, and becoming less by the day with where the college money is heading.

Idc what Flipowski’s stats were towards the 2nd half of the season when he is a horrible defender. If I’m the Wizards that trade is not worth it at all. We’re talking about a potential franchise player that can change the course of your team; a player that plays no defense and a couple 2nds is not worth it when you have complete control over who you want at 1.

Did you hear back yet?

let him know hes late on my bonus this month too

then looks like the Jazz have to settle for their second choice

Following the expiration of his rookie deal in 2031, Ace Bailey has signed in Washington, to create a superteam of Tre Johnson, AJ Dybantsa, Ace Bailey, Kyshawn George, and Alex Sarr.

Unfortunately for the Wizards, following the expiration of his rookie deal in 2032, AJ Dybantsa has decided to sign in Utah.

I mean in seriousness he did that to get him to BYU. He’s been trying to get BYU basketball on the map in the Big 12 era and they’ve been buying mercenary squads the last few years. I do think the Jazz tanking for as long as they have was to try to get in a position to draft him though, just not a thing he can engineer as much.

Which is why he will end up there

wait i’m sorry, is the utah jazz owner grooming an nba player

He’d resign to get max money and then force his way out just like Donovan Mitchell.

Atl and Giannis

Back when the idea that the Pacers could get the 1st pick was alive, the only prospect who didn’t scare the shit out of me was Boozer.

Peterson’s off-court stuff & lack of facilitating/rebounding scares me. AJ’s ball dominance & poor 3pt shooting scares me. Boozer seemed comparatively well-rounded, and I think it’s an underrated factor that he can draw from his father for advice on how to play within his role as he develops.

Aside from those (potential) issues, both players - like many prospects who have “star potential” - play in ways that could easily fuck up the flow of the Pacers’ Haliburton-led random action offense. It took a “gap year” of development for Jarace to put it together and Mathurin never figured it out. AJ & Peterson are better prospects, but it’s still proven difficult to coach guys used to having the ball to play next Ty.

(Of course, the Pacers pick fell down to 5th so it doesn’t matter.)

Wemby has a really high ceiling because he is really tall

Just found out about Jokic’s pre draft ceiling. He needs to give those MVPs back NOW

Trade up and take the wrong guy, you look like an idiot if the player is a bust.

Stay put, you probably get your guy anyway.