NBA Draft

Status
Not open for further replies.
#101      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
From what I’ve seen from people in the know:

AS OF TODAY, the top 4 and top 7 are pretty locked in.

Top 4: Wilson, Dybantsa, Boozer, Peterson.

The 7: Wagler, Acuff, Fleming, Wilson, Boozer, Peterson, Dybantsa.

It sounds like Dybantsa’s the current favorite for #1.
 
#102      
Calvin
My god. People won’t let go the most minute of opportunity to try and stain his draft talk.

The question being asked was what is the biggest adjustment over the past year going from HS to a college freshman. Literally what about his answer is not 100% the truth? High School to high major college basketball is an uptick in “grind” for absolutely everybody. I don’t care if you’re Keaton, Cooper Flagg, Boozer, Dybantsa, etc… there’s just no way an entire college basketball season is the same as high school. For anybody. Anytime. Anywhere.

It’s a blatant lie if anybody were to claim otherwise.
Click to expand...

Quite a reaction there.
In addition to the simple fact that he's slight of build at this young age, there is the context of him mentioning the grind of the season and the way he said it. If me being concerned for his health on the court offends you, you must hate his family. Really, discussing someone's draft position is going to have some level of evaluation. If you want nothing but positivity I think you're in the wrong thread. And if you think some message board post is staining his draft position, I don't know what to tell you.

Look, if you think you're being protective of a great Illini, I get it --I even support it. He's phenomenal, but what you wrote comes across a bit nuts to me.
 
#105      
dwpittman
Not sure where to post this. Looking at a CBS link for the NBA draft next year. The top 12 picks are all college freshmen. That's pretty wild considering how many of the best and top picked players have been Europeans lately. Any thoughts on this? Is CBS out of touch, or is this actually going to happen?

CBS draft
 
#106      
Emerson Bigguns
dwpittman said:
Not sure where to post this. Looking at a CBS link for the NBA draft next year. The top 12 picks are all college freshmen. That's pretty wild considering how many of the best and top picked players have been Europeans lately. Any thoughts on this? Is CBS out of touch, or is this actually going to happen?

CBS draft
Click to expand...
The top 10 being all college freshmen would be a pretty safe bet.
 
#107      
Oracle21
After watching Acuff more this weekend, I’d probably take him over everyone except Boozer. He really does play like a Derrick Rose but with a better 3pt shot.

My top 4:
#1. Boozer (NBA comp: Tatum)
#2. Acuff (Rose)
#3. Wagler (Curry)
#4. Dybantsa (Jaylen Brown)

I could see taking Dybantsa over Wagler due to the defensive value Dybantsa likely brings.
 
#108      
ChiefGritty
Oracle21 said:
After watching Acuff more this weekend, I’d probably take him over everyone except Boozer. He really does play like a Derrick Rose but with a better 3pt shot.
Click to expand...
Obviously High Point doesn't exactly have NBA level defenders, but he was spectacular in that game.
 
#109      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
Oracle21 said:
After watching Acuff more this weekend, I’d probably take him over everyone except Boozer. He really does play like a Derrick Rose but with a better 3pt shot.

My top 4:
#1. Boozer (NBA comp: Tatum)
#2. Acuff (Rose)
#3. Wagler (Curry)
#4. Dybantsa (Jaylen Brown)

I could see taking Dybantsa over Wagler due to the defensive value Dybantsa likely brings.
Click to expand...
1. Dybantsa
2. Peterson
3. Boozer
4. Wilson
5. Acuff
6. Flemings
7. Wagler

6-7 very close.
 
Last edited:
#111      
mysterio2525
ChiefGritty said:
Tempted to bet my beach house that Nate Ament is going to be taken ahead of Wagler.
Click to expand...
he was concesus number 4 all year before the injury. I think when they look at the production and tape that's where he will go in the end so probably smart bet
 
#113      
ChiefGritty
FreshlySqueezed said:
I'll take that bet. His tournament has been atrocious enough to keep him behind Keaton IMO.
Click to expand...
When the focus of the draft process turns from do-or-die games in sold out arenas on national television to private workouts in empty gyms in Los Angeles against a folding chair, the rubrics that made Ament the #4 player in his class and Wagler the #261 player are going to reassert themselves to a certain degree.

(Which is stupid but only like 93% stupid to be fair. Over-indexing on the ease with which players can master the college game is how you end up with Markelle Fultz over Jayson Tatum.)
 
#114      
The Galloping Ghost
ChiefGritty said:
private workouts in empty gyms in Los Angeles against a folding chair
Click to expand...
It's wild and a little funny, but also sad, that Bill Simmons incepted the idea into the collective subconscious that Yi Jianlian did a workout against a chair. No video or other evidence exists proving that it ever happened, yet the poor guy's career was a joke before it started, and Bill—as is his way—simply wouldn't shut up about it for years on end.
deadspin.com

Deadspin | The Totally Unexpected True Story Of Yi Jianlian's Magical Mystery Chair

Deadspin | The Totally Unexpected True Story Of Yi Jianlian's Magical Mystery Chair
deadspin.com deadspin.com
 
Last edited:
#115      
Scoregasm
It's wild and a little funny, but also sad, that Bill Simmons incepted the idea into the collective subconscious that Yi Jianlian did a workout against a chair. No video or other evidence exists proving that it ever happened, yet the poor guy's career was a joke before it started, and Bill—as is his way—simply wouldn't shut up about it.
Click to expand...
Folding chairs provide more defensive pressure than NBA players.
 
#116      
FreshlySqueezed
ChiefGritty said:
When the focus of the draft process turns from do-or-die games in sold out arenas on national television to private workouts in empty gyms in Los Angeles against a folding chair, the rubrics that made Ament the #4 player in his class and Wagler the #261 player are going to reassert themselves to a certain degree.

(Which is stupid but only like 93% stupid to be fair. Over-indexing on the ease with which players can master the college game is how you end up with Markelle Fultz over Jayson Tatum.)
Click to expand...
Again, I'll take the bet. The ranking means nothing. Wagler didn't play on the big money AAU circuit so his high school ranking can be taken with a grain of salt.
 
#117      
mysterio2525
ChiefGritty said:
Tempted to bet my beach house that Nate Ament is going to be taken ahead of Wagler.
Click to expand...
I replied agreeing misreading it as Caleb Wilson. I think wagler goes ahead of ament. his stock has dropped enough where he isn't top 8 likely. Keaton is for sure top 9, likely top 6
 
#118      
Fly Illini Fly!
www.espn.com

2026 NBA draft stock watch: Which NCAA prospects are rising?

Which 2026 NBA draft prospects helped or hurt their stock after an exciting first weekend during March Madness?
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois
Pre-tournament rank: No. 6

“Wagler looked like his usual self in Illinois' pair of wins over Penn and VCU, games where he wasn't needed to take over. Part of the appeal with Wagler at the next level is his ability to drive quality offense not only as a ball handler, but as a tall perimeter player (6-foot-6) who can see over the defense and is constantly willing to make the next pass, a quality scouts loved about Tyrese Haliburton at Iowa State. Wagler's ability to enhance lineups raises his NBA floor significantly, with his upside tied to how efficient and technical he can become as a lead guard.

Houston's physical defense will pose a particularly stiff test for Wagler, who has at times struggled to finish downhill in traffic and isn't vertically explosive. He will likely be defended by Emanuel Sharp, who tends to tackle the toughest assignment and will try to crowd his space. Illinois will walk into a hostile environment, drawing the Cougars in Houston in a faux-neutral site scenario. Lifting Illinois to a win with a signature performance in that type of environment would be a significant accomplishment for Wagler as he jockeys for draft position with the other top guards.”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back