100% this.

The amount of “drafted on projection” guys is what killed the straight from HS guys. This is win win for everyone, especially including the athletes themselves. The amount of big men on campus that never made the league so never got their fair value was ridiculous and is no longer a thing.

I like Tounde but I’m pretty sure he pulled out because he had fallen to that late 20’s range

He was being mocked just outside the lottery early in the season but his rawness knocked him down a bit

I think he’s gonna be a good NBA player but it did feel like him going pro now would be a bit early considering how rough it looked at times

Could also see a repeat of a few years ago where we flip our current picks for multiple future picks

I’d hope we move up a few slots to grab a big. I like the skill set of the UNC kid from Estonia but I’m no scout so maybe that doesn’t make sense.

Have to find a willing trade partner, though, and if the consensus opinion becomes that late-1sts & mid-2nds aren’t as valuable as they once were, it could be pretty hard to unload them.

If even be fine with moving off one or both of those picks to replenish future draft picks (which we have basically none of to compel me basic roster management type trade i.e., 2nd round picks).

For example something like trading #27 for 2 future 2nd round picks and another pick in the late 40s in this year’s draft, then trade #40 for 1 future 2nd and draft a two-way player with that later pick.

Then use the full MLE to bring in a free agent and continue to develop the bus 2 boyz we have on the roster already.

We need a long term developmental piece at the 5. Whether he plays now or not, get someone. I’d love that UNC kid but he seems to be mocked a few slots ahead of us recently.

I’m not that high on Shulga right now, but Amari Williams thrown into the fire at times last year was promising

But who knows, I’ve been wrong before. I didn’t expect much from Kornet in summer of 2023 and Queta around this time last year and both completely leveled up. Shulga could get better and contribute.

> (not cut money)

What makes you say that?

It’s absolutely a factor. Guys that are projected to be picked in the 20-40’s are making 5 million dollars in college this year instead of staying in the draft. Those guys are right in the range that we’re picking this year.

NIL is massive right now. There are no real regulations. Momcilovic, who I really liked as a Hauser replacement, took 6 million from Kentucky. Yessoufou took a bag from St. John’s and could have been a good pick in our range. A good amount of Euro prospects are opting for college now as well.

Yeah, those guys will be in the draft next year, and it’ll all come out in the wash down the line, but it’s relevant to our draft pool this year and the money is insane right now.

If you’re not getting a lottery guarantee, and you still have eligibility, you’re making more in the NCAA right now.

The going rate for a fringe starting center this offseason was 1.5 million. Christian Reeves, for example.

I don’t think people believe young players need minutes to develop, it’s much better if they develop to earn minutes. Guys get better off the floor. They play a ton of basketball. You fix deficiencies in your game by putting in hours and hours of work, not by pulling a 6 minute shift on national TV against guys who are lightyears better than you are. I never understood why people think a few hundred minutes of live compteition makes any difference at all in guys building skills that take thousands of hours to build.