NBA Draft
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From an article posted a couple hours ago:
"I know I just said 60-40 with Michigan, man, but this whole process is really opening my eyes," Lendeborg said. "I feel like now I'm definitely equal. I'm super stuck - quicksand, whatever you want to call it. I'm stuck in between, for sure."
The uncertainty surrounding Lendeborg's decision is simple: he recognizes the financial incentives when examining both sides, but ultimately wants to play at the highest level, he said.
"A team saying that they'll take me for sure, so I can know. We'll have those conversations in the background and making sure we're all set.
"I hope it happens before May 28," Ledenberg. "Me and my agency are gonna talk as much as we can to try to get a promise from one team, just one team. That's all we need. If it doesn't happen by then, the decision's gonna be really hard to make."
Certainly makes it sound like he is staying in the draft.
The measurables were really good, 6'10", 7'4" wingspan. The tape speaks for itself. I believe he is going to play in the 5 on 5 games. I have to believe he is going to get that promise.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
What incentive is there for an NBA team to make or keep such a promise?
If there’s a surprise in the draft, and a Shadeur Sanders falls to you, you take the best guy no matter what you told a kid 2 weeks earlier.
It would be fun to see who can be most accurate forecasting the spots Will and KJ will be selected with a best score of 0 if someone nailed both or how we may do as a biased ir informed Illini Fan base.
I don't know how to make a poll to see how accurate and unbiased we are as a group when we project our beloved in the NBA.
I don't know how to make a poll to see how accurate and unbiased we are as a group when we project our beloved in the NBA.
He didn't measure 6'10" but 6'8.5" . But, I do hope he stays.
If they break the promise and word gets out, future players won't believe future promises. It becomes a long-term issue where agents would tell their players to avoid the team because their word means nothing, so no point in trying to impress them.
The incentive for a team at the end of the first round would be to convince him to declare so they can take him. If he doesn't get a promise and instead goes to Michigan, they lose that opportunity. The less talent in the draft, the less likely they are to get an impact player.
There are typically few major surprises. The Sanders thing was a massive outlier. Let's say you are picking at 25 and you have Yaxel in your top 20, it's pretty safe to say you would take him if he's there.
Could they go back on it? Sure, but everyone would find out.
Will Riley continues to perform better in the combine and now expected to go 16 to Orlando. Nice improvement.
Also, I don't think you can compare the NBA and NFL drafts. 2 rounds and only the first round with guarantees is going to play out very differently from the NFL with so many rounds and its positional needs.
In this era, my expectation is that a player negotiates a potential NBA contract against his college NIL. With big money in the college game now, that provides a lot of leverage that can be used to force NBA teams into specific commitments. Crazy how fast times are changing
Not really, because you can't go back to college after the draft.
A player will base his draft / return to college decision on his projection / discussion with teams and whether or not he is going to go in the first round because those contracts are guaranteed with a known / slotted dollar amount.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Bad news for Michigan, Yaxel has had a fantastic combine.
With the combine results, I honestly will pick Riley before KJ. Most people here probably disagree but that's just my take.
Keep in mind that Kasparas is actually a couple months younger than Will. Both are a long way from where they are going to be, but KJ is ahead, IMO.
wettsten
- Chicago
waiting for the news that Michigan is now in on Sarr
Or watkins (was very close last year)
Watkins is having a hell of a week. Will stay in the draft I assume.
Mich and Sarr? He is likey not going to provide what Yaxel would have. Maybe a higher ceiling but gone in a year!
They have Yaxel cash sitting…. they buy a player, and the power forwards are getting slim pickings!
I still wish that, somehow, Watkins would end up at Illinois with that money set aside for Will Riley. Watkins could help make the Illini a Final Four level team in my humble opinion. Unfortunately, he might do the same for Michigan if he ends up going there. Sounds like Watkins has had a good week at the Combine. I think he's moving up in the Draft, but I'm not sure he's moved into Round 1. There's a lot of talent in this 2025 NBA Draft.
My thought too…if Yaxel stays in the draft, they have money available to put towards another player who withdraws. Don’t think a lot of teams have funds available now.
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