A$AP Meyers
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We're sort of in a win-win situation right now honestly. What I saw from the team last night was encouraging. At times we really looked like a good basketball team. If we lose games we end up in the lottery, if we win games we fall outside of it (I know, thanks, Captain Obvious). Regardless this is a very deep draft and I'll talk about some guys I feel could be great for this team later.
Nurkic has a long way to go but it seems like he may end up being one of those players that really just needed a change of scenery. He is doing so many things that don't show up in the box score. For a center, he has surprisingly quick hands on defense. Also, my favorite play from last night was a pretty simple one actually, Nurk sets a deadly screen 30 feet from the basket and Dame gets to the rim uncontested late in the 4th. Loving the way he crashes the boards too, and he appears to be a very underrated passer. I didn't realize how massive he actually was, he's 7 feet tall and all of 280 pounds.
Moving forward we will have Aminu and ET back. Aminu obviously adds something to our defense and I really think ET is a guy who can end up being a fan favorite here. You take the good with the bad with a guy like him. One thing you can always count on though is his effort (he's sort of like Mason in that regard). He's the kind of role player every team needs.
I'm writing this post assuming that Damian begins to play like Damian again. I'm his biggest critic as you all surely know by now, but his ability to score and get going is something no one can deny. CJ's development has been incredible and it shows every night. Damian and CJ are never going to be good defenders, they just aren't, but as we've seen in the past (think RoLo, LMA, Wes, Nico), if you build a team with the right balance of offense/defense the inefficiencies don't seem so bad.
That brings me to the draft. All the good you've heard about this class is true. Personally, I LOVE College Basketball, and have seen just about every projected 1st rounder play several times this season. There are so many directions we can go in a few months. I expect to see some trades. But trade or no trade, lottery or no lottery, there are a handful of guys in the draft who could really help this team next year.
Frank Ntilikina - 6'5" 18 year old PG. Look up this guys highlights. Excellent in the P&R, can shoot the 3, matchup nightmare for most Point Guards. Can also guard multiple positions. Think about how you saw Shabazz/CJ/Dame operate at times together last night and then imagine if Shabazz was 5 inches taller and good at defense. He would be a great backup PG for us who could eventually start. If we are in the lottery I want him.
Justin Patton (Creighton) - 7 footer who has enormous potential on both sides of the ball. Athletic. Shooting 70% this season, and though he's only shot 13 3's this year, he's made 7 of them. Yeah, yeah, small sample size I know. But I've seen Creighton play a handful of times both pre and post Watson injury and this guy is for real. His athleticism also leads me to believe he could be a legit rim protector in the bigs. He'll be available mid-first round.
Justin Jackson (UNC) - Will be available mid to late first round. 6'8" Small Forward shooting 40% from 3 and 46% on the year in the best conference in the country. Still a work in progress defensively but the kid can absolutely light it up. He has a 7 foot wingspan and has decent quickness. Watch him/UNC in the tournament if you get a chance.
Jon Motley (Baylor) - Another mid to late first rounder. Freak athlete. 6'8" 200lbs with a 7'3.5" wingspan. He is a high motor guy that's very raw offensively, but possesses enough potential that I'd be willing to take a risk on him late in the first round.
Lauri Markannen (Arizona) - I reckon we'd have to be in the lottery to have a crack at this guy. Still worth mentioning. He's the most efficient scorer in the country. 7 feet tall and can score from anywhere. Think Kristaps Porzingis. With the direction the NBA is headed, he's pretty much the perfect prospect offensively.
Anyway, I could go on and on but I'm actually feeling very excited this morning as far as the future goes. I should probably stop posting mid and post-game hot takes full of recency bias. A few weeks ago I was posting pretty much the opposite of this, thinking we were doomed. Oh well, that's the way I am. I've been a fan of mostly crappy teams my whole life so naturally I'm cynical. What ever. It's not very becoming but it is who I am. I'll quit rambling. How are you guys feeling and who are some prospects you like in the upcoming draft?
Nurkic has a long way to go but it seems like he may end up being one of those players that really just needed a change of scenery. He is doing so many things that don't show up in the box score. For a center, he has surprisingly quick hands on defense. Also, my favorite play from last night was a pretty simple one actually, Nurk sets a deadly screen 30 feet from the basket and Dame gets to the rim uncontested late in the 4th. Loving the way he crashes the boards too, and he appears to be a very underrated passer. I didn't realize how massive he actually was, he's 7 feet tall and all of 280 pounds.
Moving forward we will have Aminu and ET back. Aminu obviously adds something to our defense and I really think ET is a guy who can end up being a fan favorite here. You take the good with the bad with a guy like him. One thing you can always count on though is his effort (he's sort of like Mason in that regard). He's the kind of role player every team needs.
I'm writing this post assuming that Damian begins to play like Damian again. I'm his biggest critic as you all surely know by now, but his ability to score and get going is something no one can deny. CJ's development has been incredible and it shows every night. Damian and CJ are never going to be good defenders, they just aren't, but as we've seen in the past (think RoLo, LMA, Wes, Nico), if you build a team with the right balance of offense/defense the inefficiencies don't seem so bad.
That brings me to the draft. All the good you've heard about this class is true. Personally, I LOVE College Basketball, and have seen just about every projected 1st rounder play several times this season. There are so many directions we can go in a few months. I expect to see some trades. But trade or no trade, lottery or no lottery, there are a handful of guys in the draft who could really help this team next year.
Frank Ntilikina - 6'5" 18 year old PG. Look up this guys highlights. Excellent in the P&R, can shoot the 3, matchup nightmare for most Point Guards. Can also guard multiple positions. Think about how you saw Shabazz/CJ/Dame operate at times together last night and then imagine if Shabazz was 5 inches taller and good at defense. He would be a great backup PG for us who could eventually start. If we are in the lottery I want him.
Justin Patton (Creighton) - 7 footer who has enormous potential on both sides of the ball. Athletic. Shooting 70% this season, and though he's only shot 13 3's this year, he's made 7 of them. Yeah, yeah, small sample size I know. But I've seen Creighton play a handful of times both pre and post Watson injury and this guy is for real. His athleticism also leads me to believe he could be a legit rim protector in the bigs. He'll be available mid-first round.
Justin Jackson (UNC) - Will be available mid to late first round. 6'8" Small Forward shooting 40% from 3 and 46% on the year in the best conference in the country. Still a work in progress defensively but the kid can absolutely light it up. He has a 7 foot wingspan and has decent quickness. Watch him/UNC in the tournament if you get a chance.
Jon Motley (Baylor) - Another mid to late first rounder. Freak athlete. 6'8" 200lbs with a 7'3.5" wingspan. He is a high motor guy that's very raw offensively, but possesses enough potential that I'd be willing to take a risk on him late in the first round.
Lauri Markannen (Arizona) - I reckon we'd have to be in the lottery to have a crack at this guy. Still worth mentioning. He's the most efficient scorer in the country. 7 feet tall and can score from anywhere. Think Kristaps Porzingis. With the direction the NBA is headed, he's pretty much the perfect prospect offensively.
Anyway, I could go on and on but I'm actually feeling very excited this morning as far as the future goes. I should probably stop posting mid and post-game hot takes full of recency bias. A few weeks ago I was posting pretty much the opposite of this, thinking we were doomed. Oh well, that's the way I am. I've been a fan of mostly crappy teams my whole life so naturally I'm cynical. What ever. It's not very becoming but it is who I am. I'll quit rambling. How are you guys feeling and who are some prospects you like in the upcoming draft?
