Ayo Dosunmu to the Chicago Bulls (2nd Round, 38th Pick)

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#326      
Most interesting to me was teams with a history of being terrible seemed to be the ones making the most questionable picks.

Felt like I was watching the NFL draft where the Raiders trade up to draft a random guy that’s really fast while passing on the surefire starter.

Guess that’s why those teams are perpetually terrible.
 
#327      
I agree it’s hard to understand from a pure basketball standpoint- but it is driven by the fact that analytics has taken over in basketball now like a lot of other sports. Teams are projecting based on athleticism and measurable who will be good in the league- look no further than the Bulls pick of Patrick Williams last year- he wasn’t a big time HS recruit (top 50ish), didn’t start at FSU but was the 4th pick in the draft purely from what the analytics said

I think Ayo will have a good career because he’s a winner and works hard and he’s just good at basketball and will figure out what he can do well- but if you are a scout, nothing jumps off the screen, not a pure point guard with great handles that sets up others, not an explosive leaper nor great 3 point shooter, good defender but not lock down- the “mid range game” just isn’t valued in today’s NBA analytics that says you should be shooting more threes

I think that’s why he fell- doesn’t mean he can’t be great- there just aren’t a lot of guys with his profile that have turned out to be great in today’s NBA- but Ayo has never worried about being one of the first at anything
I may be dating myself a bit, but with the NBA draft I’m reminded of Hawk Harrelson discussing early vs. late round picks when talking about Mark Buehrle. Essentially said the early round guys could light up a radar gun but the later round guys learned to compete.

Similar principle at play here I think. No GM is going to get fired for drafting the long, bouncy athlete. Whether they can actually play basketball seems to be a secondary concern. But the league is full of guys who stick around because they know how to play/compete. I think Ayo is one of those.

Apologies for the long post, but as an aside I think our TBT team showed the difference. BP and Ray I think have the talent to play in the NBA, but they seemed more interested in looking good than competing. Meanwhile a 5’4 dude who makes his living as a long haul trucker is kicking their a**.
 
#328      
Congrats to Ayo and his family. I look forward to many years of cheering him on for the Bulls.
 
#329      

chiefini

Rockford, Illinois
I started watching the draft after the 10th pick last night. When it got to 20, I sat anxiously waiting for Ayo’s name to be called. I got more and more nervous and more and more disappointed as it got to 28. At 29, I thought, “Ayo’s not going in the first round.” I felt deflated. As each pick was announced without his name being called, I felt more and more upset and sad for him and his family. Then the NBA broadcast cut away to commercial, and I checked ILLoyalty again, and the post said, “Bulls with the 38th pick!” I went from profound disappointment to elation. Home! Ayo is staying home! Things happen for a reason. I, along with the rest of Illini Nation, celebrate what is meant to be. Ayo, with his hard work and determination, will bring the Bulls back to prominence and relevance, just as he did Illinois Basketball.
 
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#330      

MDchicago

Lake Norman NC
It varies quite a bit by pick but it seems the top half second rounders have been getting 2-4 years with a couple years guaranteed -with AAV ranging from NBA minimum ~925K to $1.6M per year

Yep, for comparison purposes:
- the slot value of the last pick of the 1st round (#30) is $8.5M over four years, $3.4 million of which is guaranteed.
- the #38 pick last year signed a 1 year deal for $1.489M
- Tre Jones, the #41 pick last year, signed a 3 year deal for $4.199M over 3 years, $2.416M of which is guaranteed.
- Jalen Brunson, the #33 pick in 2018, signed a 4 year deal for $6.113M over 4 years, $4.311M of which was guaranteed.

Interesting risk/return decision for Ayo and his team (and the Bulls) on whether to trade additional security/guaranteed years vs the potential upside of getting to his second contract quicker (assuming he outperforms his draft slot and stays healthy). With 20/20 hindsight, Brunson probably would have been better off with a shorter deal given how he has played (Brunson 4 year deal ), but three years guaranteed for a second rounder is unusual so understand the thought process.

Playing contract aside, being a homegrown star will hopefully also be rewarding for Ayo on endorsement deals and the like.
 
#333      
Good for Ayo. All the best to you and your family.
 
#335      
I agree it’s hard to understand from a pure basketball standpoint- but it is driven by the fact that analytics has taken over in basketball now like a lot of other sports. Teams are projecting based on athleticism and measurable who will be good in the league- look no further than the Bulls pick of Patrick Williams last year- he wasn’t a big time HS recruit (top 50ish), didn’t start at FSU but was the 4th pick in the draft purely from what the analytics said

I think Ayo will have a good career because he’s a winner and works hard and he’s just good at basketball and will figure out what he can do well- but if you are a scout, nothing jumps off the screen, not a pure point guard with great handles that sets up others, not an explosive leaper nor great 3 point shooter, good defender but not lock down- the “mid range game” just isn’t valued in today’s NBA analytics that says you should be shooting more threes

I think that’s why he fell- doesn’t mean he can’t be great- there just aren’t a lot of guys with his profile that have turned out to be great in today’s NBA- but Ayo has never worried about being one of the first at anything
I don't disagree with anything you're saying. I also watched about half of the NBA Finals and saw Middleton light it up with a couple dribbles and a tough 15-footer so I don't know...
 
#337      
Some noteworthy names that went undrafted, including a few names that have popped up on this board many times-- Aaron Henry, Duane Washington Jr, Mac Mclung, Joel Ayayi, DJ Steward (why he didn't return to Duke is a headscratcher), Mckinley Wright, DJ Carton, Chaundee Brown, Alan Griffin, Jordan Goodwin
 
#339      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
Using the 3 year time frame of Ayo's career her with the beloved , i am going to predict that there will be 29 GM's in the NBA that will want to kick their own arse for not drafting Ayo.....

The transition of Ayo from the beginning of his freshman year to the end of his junior year has been remarkable.......He was talented , no doubt , when he arrived on campus , but through hard work and mental resolve , Ayo has become a force mentally and physically.......The mental aspect is usually overlooked by what the NBA perceives as "" potential ""......There were some names called ahead of Ayo last night that i truly had no idea who they were .....And i thought I was up to snuff on the college scene ....I guess not or maybe somebody doesn't know how to evaluate talent...

I know this much.............I'm betting on Ayo to fulfill my prediction above about the GM's and their big mistake in not drafting Ayo ......And I will stand by it
100 %.............................JMHO
 
#340      

Ken

chitown
Ayo really has a chance to make an impression and stay on the big roster with Coby White being out . His summer league play is gonna be ridiculously important but Ayo, Dotson, and PWill should really be fun to watch .
 
#341      
Ayo had a great college career and I don’t think a better performance in March would have helped. He is a solid all around player who does many things really well but he is not elite at any one item. He is what you want on a team.
If he knew he was going 2nd round would he have come back with the NIL rules. Ayo and Kofi would have been the face of college basketball
If I was advising players I would tell them to stay in school 4 years to maximize your NIL don’t risk draft unless you think you are in the top 15. It’s so hard to make a NBA roster. I think a player like Garza would have made a lot last year even at Iowa
Yeah, I've been wondering if NIL will change the calculus for guys like Garza. Maybe not for Ayo, since he was considered a first rounder even as of right before last night's draft, but if you're choosing between second round or NIL $ as a star college player, it might end up making more financial sense to go the latter route
 
#342      
Yeah, I've been wondering if NIL will change the calculus for guys like Garza. Maybe not for Ayo, since he was considered a first rounder even as of right before last night's draft, but if you're choosing between second round or NIL $ as a star college player, it might end up making more financial sense to go the latter route
Kofi might stay for five years if he can make 7 figure NIL. One can dream.
 
#343      
Some noteworthy names that went undrafted, including a few names that have popped up on this board many times-- Aaron Henry, Duane Washington Jr, Mac Mclung, Joel Ayayi, DJ Steward (why he didn't return to Duke is a headscratcher), Mckinley Wright, DJ Carton, Chaundee Brown, Alan Griffin, Jordan Goodwin
wow Jordan Goodwin actually stayed in the draft? Alan Griffin? not that Alan Griffin right? DJ Steward? He can forget it. Duane Washington Jr had a great camp and was pushed to the draft.
 
#344      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
CBS Sports Draft Grade on the Bulls, if anyone is interested:

Screenshot_20210730-111139_CBS Sports.jpg
 
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#345      
Ayo really has a chance to make an impression and stay on the big roster with Coby White being out . His summer league play is gonna be ridiculously important but Ayo, Dotson, and PWill should really be fun to watch .
I think Simonović might be there for summer league too. Bulls will have an exciting roster
 
#348      
I agree it’s hard to understand from a pure basketball standpoint- but it is driven by the fact that analytics has taken over in basketball now like a lot of other sports. Teams are projecting based on athleticism and measurable who will be good in the league- look no further than the Bulls pick of Patrick Williams last year- he wasn’t a big time HS recruit (top 50ish), didn’t start at FSU but was the 4th pick in the draft purely from what the analytics said
I don't think analytics has anything to do with it. People have always drafted players based on projection and upside. There are tons of examples going back decades of high draft picks based on what teams valued then and what they thought player X might be down the road. Olowokandi and Kwame Brown being two that really stand out from 20+ years ago when big men were still all the rage. Now, wings are what everybody wants, leading to your Josh Primo/Kuminga/Ziare Williams-type picks.
 
#350      

altenberger22

South Carolina
Some noteworthy names that went undrafted, including a few names that have popped up on this board many times-- Aaron Henry, Duane Washington Jr, Mac Mclung, Joel Ayayi, DJ Steward (why he didn't return to Duke is a headscratcher), Mckinley Wright, DJ Carton, Chaundee Brown, Alan Griffin, Jordan Goodwin
Griffin left Syracuse - really? No wonder he transferred from Champaign. Guess we'll be seeing him in Europe.
 
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