NBA Draft

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#51      
Emerson Bigguns
grue2 said:
2 years at 27th is ~5M. 1 year at 5th is ~10M. So the delta is the annual value of the 2nd contract compared to 10M. While the average salary in the NBA last year was ~12M, the median was ~6.7M. The max contracts really skew the average.

I think it comes down to how much you value "yet more money than I can spend" vs. memories that you will never have a chance to make. There is something about the college friends and bonding that never quite seems to happen later in life. If I knew I was getting enough money later, I'd definitely opt for another year at UIUC.
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I totally understand the sentiment, but you also have to remember what the dream is for these kids. Very few dream of college ball. They dream of the NBA and playing against the best players in the world.
Injuries are a very real threat to that dream. Tear an ACL or an Achilles, and you may not ever be the same.
I think there is also a fraternal element in all levels of sport that don’t exist outside of it. The vast majority of us just don’t get the opportunity to play beyond high school or college.
 
#52      
grue2
Emerson Bigguns said:
I totally understand the sentiment, but you also have to remember what the dream is for these kids. Very few dream of college ball. They dream of the NBA and playing against the best players in the world.
Injuries are a very real threat to that dream. Tear an ACL or an Achilles, and you may not ever be the same.
I think there is also a fraternal element in all levels of sport that don’t exist outside of it. The vast majority of us just don’t get the opportunity to play beyond high school or college.
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Dreaming about something and having it often quickly become two different things. I pushed hard. It worked. Looking back, I'm pretty sure it was a losing path vs. having more fun along the way. Either path would have generated "enough." Barring injury, a major concern I grant, anyone good enough for the NBA is in a similar position.

I'm not sure NBA team bonding is even a 2nd tier substitute. NBA players have separate homes. Many have grown up lives, often kids. Trades are frequent. Work is demanding and tiring. Continuous travel sucks, even with nice flights and hotels. (Been there. Done that.) I also know that I usually want to see people other than those I work with outside of work; both for a change of faces, and a change of topics. There is no place like college for meeting different people with widely different views and interests and doing things that, um. well. ... no, not just that ... they were all in fun and have to be well past the statute of limitation, right?
 
#53      
Bucktown
Realistically both KJ and Will would benefit from another year in college, both could be All Americans. They both need improvement in their games and/or bodies.

I know the draft rules prevent it, but with more freedom in the NIL world, it would be interesting for a player to be drafted then remain in college for another year instead of sitting at the end of an NBA bench or playing in the G-League.
 
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#54      
EllderIlliniFan
grue2 said:
2 years at 27th is ~5M. 1 year at 5th is ~10M. So the delta is the annual value of the 2nd contract compared to 10M. While the average salary in the NBA last year was ~12M, the median was ~6.7M. The max contracts really skew the average.

I think it comes down to how much you value "yet more money than I can spend" vs. memories that you will never have a chance to make. There is something about the college friends and bonding that never quite seems to happen later in life. If I knew I was getting enough money later, I'd definitely opt for another year at UIUC.
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I really wonder how much fondness for a school a one and done gets in their single year at a school. In the gym or on the road most of the time. Very little exposure to the kind of "college life" most of us experienced. Just my thoughts. Could be wrong.
 
#55      
2qtslow
Bucktown said:
Realistically both KJ and Will would benefit from another year in college, both could be All Americans. They both need improvement in their games and/or bodies.
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I agree both could be much better college players next year. But they could also be much wealthier NBA players next year. If they confirm they will go in the first round of the NBA draft, they will have to pass up a lot of money in order to be better college players next year.
 
#56      
Emerson Bigguns
EllderIlliniFan said:
I really wonder how much fondness for a school a one and done gets in their single year at a school. In the gym or on the road most of the time. Very little exposure to the kind of "college life" most of us experienced. Just my thoughts. Could be wrong.
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I also think the pro lifestyle isn't all that dis-similar to the current college athlete lifestyle. Lots of time together in practice, workouts, training rooms, on the plane/bus, in bored in hotel rooms, film, meetings, etc... Sure, guys get traded, but continuity on college isn't any more stable. Guys who sign long contracts or on rookie deals actually have less recourse to re-locate than a current college star.

Regarding development, if you are a 1st round pick, you are not going to wither away on the bench. People don't go to the NBA and get worse. Sometimes they don't have what it takes in one regard or another, but those things would be exposed eventually, regardless. The best way to prepare to play in the NBA is to practice against guys who are already there, to work daily with NBA coaches and trainers, and put 100% of your focus on the sport. You can't do any of those things to the same extent in college.
 
#57      
DeeIL89
I kinda don't want to see KJ go to a team like Charlotte which continues to be a dumpster fire of an organization. No way LaMelo continues to play for that team and eventually I can see him being traded. Obviously when you are a lottery pick you are going to get drafting to a losing team but I think Brooklyn could be a nice fit. The head coach (if he stays the head coach there) is Euro and has been a part of FC Barcelona basketball prior so you have those connections there. KJ can also learn more about improving at PG spot from D'Angelo Russell too.
 
#60      
BackThatPassUp
Bucktown said:
Realistically both KJ and Will would benefit from another year in college, both could be All Americans. They both need improvement in their games and/or bodies.

I know the draft rules prevent it, but with more freedom in the NIL world, it would be interesting for a player to be drafted then remain in college for another year instead of sitting at the end of an NBA bench or playing in the G-League.
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It's too risky to start another year in college when one is projected to be a lottery pick even after a drop on value and the other is rising to be a late first rounder. Part of the allure is their youth compared against their current abilities. If they come back and perform the same way, their stock would drop significantly. There's this misconception in today's times that the NBA doesn't do player development but they actually are better at player development than college programs.
 
#61      
lstewart53x3
IMG_0272.jpeg

Top 100 big board rankings​

1. Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke | Age: 18.2
2. Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers | Age: 19
3. Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Rutgers | Age: 18.6
4. VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor | Age: 19.6
5. Tre Johnson, SG, Texas | Age: 19
6. Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois | Age: 18.8
7. Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma | Age: 18.4
8. Khaman Maluach, C, Duke | Age: 18.5
9. Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Duke | Age: 19.6
10. Derik Queen, C, Maryland | Age: 20.2
11. Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C, South Carolina | Age: 19.7
12. Egor Demin, PG/SG, BYU | Age: 19
13. Jase Richardson, PG/SG, Michigan St | Age: 19.4
14. Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, Connecticut | Age: 19.4
15. Will Riley, SG/SF, Illinois | Age: 19.1

www.espn.com

2025 NBA draft big board rankings: Top 100 prospects

Who made big jumps in the top 10? Where do the Duke, Rutgers players rank? Here's our final top 100 big board.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
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#62      
AZILL
No clue where KJ or WR will end up in this draft. BUT the cache that University of Illinois will carry off the fact that they have 2 players drafted in the 1st round will be immense! I think even more so than what Rutgers will realize from Harper/Bailey in the top 5. I truly believe that. I don't think that Bailey/Harper gives them an in to any potential 1st rounders this draft class, whereas I think with Sarr, Illinois will see that positive bump.
 
#63      
NarrowJ
The website itself is kind of, well, crappy (and full of ads)... but these guys put out a ton of content and seem to be pretty well in-touch with things. They put out a full mock + about 140 other players who are on the radar:


2026 notables:

6. Mikka Muurinen
17. Dame Sarr
33. Kanon Catchings
38. Morez Johnson
41. Zvonimir Ivisic
44. Ryan Conwell
52. Josh Dix
63. Andrej Kostic
90. Vyctorius Miller
115. Tre White

As as aside, can anyone shed light on why Zvonimir seems to be more widely considered as the higher draft pick of the two brothers? NBADraft.net has him at 43 with no Tomi as well. Zvonimir appears to be listed an inch taller at 7'2" but other than that? Are the feet & overall movement better?

Also noting that Tre is 48 on NBADraft.net's mock.
 
#64      
PepeSilvia
NarrowJ said:
The website itself is kind of, well, crappy (and full of ads)... but these guys put out a ton of content and seem to be pretty well in-touch with things. They put out a full mock + about 140 other players who are on the radar:


2026 notables:

6. Mikka Muurinen
17. Dame Sarr
33. Kanon Catchings
38. Morez Johnson
41. Zvonimir Ivisic
44. Ryan Conwell
52. Josh Dix
63. Andrej Kostic
90. Vyctorius Miller
115. Tre White

As as aside, can anyone shed light on why Zvonimir seems to be more widely considered as the higher draft pick of the two brothers? NBADraft.net has him at 43 with no Tomi as well. Zvonimir appears to be listed an inch taller at 7'2" but other than that? Are the feet & overall movement better?

Also noting that Tre is 48 on NBADraft.net's mock.
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Zvonimir is a lot more fluid of an athlete and a lot better rim protector.

Tomi is a bit more solidly built but he still isn't exactly physical.
 
#65      
Grandpa
NarrowJ said:
The website itself is kind of, well, crappy (and full of ads)... but these guys put out a ton of content and seem to be pretty well in-touch with things. They put out a full mock + about 140 other players who are on the radar:


2026 notables:

6. Mikka Muurinen
17. Dame Sarr
33. Kanon Catchings
38. Morez Johnson
41. Zvonimir Ivisic
44. Ryan Conwell
52. Josh Dix
63. Andrej Kostic
90. Vyctorius Miller
115. Tre White

As as aside, can anyone shed light on why Zvonimir seems to be more widely considered as the higher draft pick of the two brothers? NBADraft.net has him at 43 with no Tomi as well. Zvonimir appears to be listed an inch taller at 7'2" but other than that? Are the feet & overall movement better?

Also noting that Tre is 48 on NBADraft.net's mock.
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They have Booth at 130
 
#67      
NarrowJ
Grandpa said:
They have Booth at 130
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OMG honestly they do... I didn't even see that...

Although at least one insider had said NBA scouts liked his potential (this was prior to the season even starting, mind you)
 
#68      
ugottabjoshinme
Bucktown said:
Realistically both KJ and Will would benefit from another year in college, both could be All Americans. They both need improvement in their games and/or bodies.

I know the draft rules prevent it, but with more freedom in the NIL world, it would be interesting for a player to be drafted then remain in college for another year instead of sitting at the end of an NBA bench or playing in the G-League.
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This isn't a benefit to the player. They will develop more in the G-League while getting paid and doing 100% basketball instead of basketball + school.
 
#71      
IlliniFandom
That's amazing to have 3 of our players drafted if true. It's so great to have these types of players come to our school and come out successfully. But I think that's high praise not just of their talent, but to our development here at illinois. I love how with will, it wasn't immediate in terms of him rising and he went through his lumps and earned his stripes. I think that speaks to his hard work ethic, but also to BU and him doing what is best for the kid and not just throw him out there to the wolves. I would be sad to see tommy go, but at 45 I think he would be a steal.
 
#72      
Fighter of the Nightman
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1904995737911320722
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I really don't follow the NBA much, but is there generally a cutoff where a player becomes more likely to consider another year and developing more? Would LOVE to get Riley back one more year, as slim as that chance could maybe be. If we could return everyone from the core except for KJ and get another year together ... we could be really, really good next year.
 
#73      
IlliniFan42
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I really don't follow the NBA much, but is there generally a cutoff where a player becomes more likely to consider another year and developing more? Would LOVE to get Riley back one more year, as slim as that chance could maybe be. If we could return everyone from the core except for KJ and get another year together ... we could be really, really good next year.
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If you hear first round pick you don't come back to school. Second round picks are where there's a chance, but if you get a team or two to commit to you second round then you probably go get drafted, but again, not guaranteed.
 
#74      
Olaf B
Genuinely curious. Bulls fans, are you taking KJ if he falls to the ~10th pick? And would you rather have Will or KJ?
 
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