SuperMetroid
- Evanston
Bulls should just forfeit this one at halftime and head home. 
Illini in the NBA
- Status
Ayo deserves a big thanks from Illini Nation for how he represented the Orange and the City of Chicago this season.
He played way more minutes than probably even the most optimistic Illini and Bulls fan would have thought.
He impressed his coach and his teammates. He proved to himself and the World that he belongs in The Association and that he has the drive and desire to improve all facets of his game.
The Bulls have a lot of question marks and they need to get much better overall. But they did make the playoffs and grab one game against a very good basketball team.
Having Illini players make the top level of pro ball just paves the way for good things to happen to the Illini program. The Fighting Illini become known as a destination where you can come and display your talents and improve your game and make the big step to the next level when you are ready.
Thanks Ayo for bringing some excitement back to Bulls basketball. And having a great first year.
He played way more minutes than probably even the most optimistic Illini and Bulls fan would have thought.
He impressed his coach and his teammates. He proved to himself and the World that he belongs in The Association and that he has the drive and desire to improve all facets of his game.
The Bulls have a lot of question marks and they need to get much better overall. But they did make the playoffs and grab one game against a very good basketball team.
Having Illini players make the top level of pro ball just paves the way for good things to happen to the Illini program. The Fighting Illini become known as a destination where you can come and display your talents and improve your game and make the big step to the next level when you are ready.
Thanks Ayo for bringing some excitement back to Bulls basketball. And having a great first year.
Great post
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
Third, 6th, 11th, 4th, 7th, 6th, and 4th in all the skill categories for rookies. Pretty, pretty good for the 38th pick…
ILFaninFL
- Nature Coast in Florida
Found an interesting article in the Athletic $$$.
It asked that if what was known now, how would the 2021 draft have worked out.
Re-drafting the NBA's 2021 class
20. Ayo Dosunmu | 6-5 guard | Chicago Bulls | Original Selection: No. 38
Dosunmu crashes into the first round largely on the back of his defense and efficient, steady play. He was an impact bench player for a playoff Bulls team this season because he could step in and guard tough opposing perimeter players for 27 minutes a night. Offensively, the numbers look good as he averaged nine points and three assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3, but I think some of what we’re seeing from his minutes in the playoffs are why I have a bit of hesitation with him being a long-term starter. Opposing teams do not really respect him as a shooter or as an offensive player. He’s a reluctant shooter right now, and he needs to add higher volume to continue to make an impact. But regardless, this was a killer pick for the Bulls, taking a player at No. 38 whom I have now as a top-20 guy in the class, someone I would consider giving a second-team All-Rookie team vote given how useful he was on a good team this year.
It asked that if what was known now, how would the 2021 draft have worked out.
Re-drafting the NBA's 2021 class
20. Ayo Dosunmu | 6-5 guard | Chicago Bulls | Original Selection: No. 38
Dosunmu crashes into the first round largely on the back of his defense and efficient, steady play. He was an impact bench player for a playoff Bulls team this season because he could step in and guard tough opposing perimeter players for 27 minutes a night. Offensively, the numbers look good as he averaged nine points and three assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3, but I think some of what we’re seeing from his minutes in the playoffs are why I have a bit of hesitation with him being a long-term starter. Opposing teams do not really respect him as a shooter or as an offensive player. He’s a reluctant shooter right now, and he needs to add higher volume to continue to make an impact. But regardless, this was a killer pick for the Bulls, taking a player at No. 38 whom I have now as a top-20 guy in the class, someone I would consider giving a second-team All-Rookie team vote given how useful he was on a good team this year.
The kid puts up top 10 numbers in pretty much every major statistical category but he's only the #20 pick in a re-draft
These reasons are exactly why he was successful at Illinois. Please continue to disrespect, kids
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
really nice article:
Congrats Ayo!
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Pretty weird how an all-rookie second-teamer would only be #20 in a redraft. But, then again, I'm just a casual fan. I'm sure the "experts" can explain the obvious discrepancy.
They may think others still have higher ceilings.
This right here. I'm an Ayo true believer and don't think this will happen to Ayo, but an example of why experts would be causing that comes to mind is DeJuan Blair. He was drafted #37 and had a great rookie season, was selected to All-Rookie 2nd team, had two more good seasons, and then started to decline. 7 years after his all-rookie selection, when others in his draft class were hitting their prime, his NBA career was over. Some of the players Blair beat out for all-rookie honors include Demar Derozan, Blake Griffin, Jrue Holiday, and Jeff Teague, all of whom have gone on to have 10+ year NBA careers and be selected to at least one all-star game.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
I get this, but I think we also probably agree that Ayo is not going to flame out of the league after year 3. After his initial 2-year contract expires, he's going to sign another, longer contract. Based on that alone, I seriously doubt there are 19 players from his class that will have lengthier or more productive NBA careers. I would consider that VERY unlikely.
Yeah, I agree with your points but also think you're evaluating the redraft concept incorrectly. The NBA draft is first and foremost about drafting future superstars. That's the top priority. There are a bunch of guys who may be more likely than Ayo to flame out but also have a greater possibility of turning into a superstar (lower floor but higher ceiling). In a draft, those guys are going ahead of Ayo based on that ceiling, even if execs know full well that half of them will have worse careers than Ayo, because one of those guys could also turn into the next Giannis or Ja Morant.
Also nobody is going to think as highly of Ayo as us on this board.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
That just sounds so absurd to me (not saying you're wrong). I imagine after the first 5-10 picks, your chance of actually hitting a home run goes way down. At that point, there's no shame in consistently hitting doubles instead. Ayo is a high floor player with the opportunity of a raised ceiling as well. Sure, everyone wants the next Giannis or Ja Morant, but players like Ayo are also quite valuable in their own way (which his next contract should reflect).
Giannis was the #15 pick in his draft class. Devin Booker was #13. Donovan Mitchell also #13. Kawhi Leonard #15. Jimmy Butler #30. Tyler Herro who seems to be on on the verge of stardom was #13.
And it's not absurd. If you can luck your way into a legit superstar you can pretty much bank several years of playoff appearances and relevancy. And in the modern NBA, getting one of those guys means you get first pick of other good players in free agency, because players want to play with them. It's invaluable. It's kind of like getting a legit QB in the NFL draft. Yes, you need good players in other positions to win, but absolutely no one player is more important than the QB. In the NBA, yea you need good players like Ayo, but you can find those a lot easier in free agency than you can find a superstar.
20 is always around where I thought Ayo SHOULD go. It was very clear to me in College that he was an NBA player. A high-floor, NBA-ready guy without any discernible weaknesses and very solid all across the board. He isn't super long and explosive by NBA standards, and isn't an amazing shooter by NBA standards, so I definitely agreed that he was a lower ceiling guy (you never know though). But a solid player who should play in the League for a while absent injuries is still really solid value in the 20s especially when you get a guy like that for cheap on their rookie deal. His fall (call it 15-ish spots) was just one of those random things that I don't think can really be explained, more than likely just a case of teams having a particular guy or two they were really high on for each spot. 2021 was a solid draft, I think people will look back on it as being one of the better ones from its era when it's all said and done. Look at Herb Jones who was only three spots ahead of Ayo (35th overall, also 2nd round). He's going to be one of the most impactful defenders in the League for a long time.
Good news is by being a 2nd round pick, what you lose in terms of the lack of contractual guarantee out of college, you have the opportunity to make up for by becoming an RFA after just two seasons. Our old pal Talen Horton-Tucker secured a $30 million bag (3 year/$10 million AAV) after just two seasons with the Lakers. He made as much as Ja did this most recent season, who was on year 3 of his rookie-scale contract.
Good news is by being a 2nd round pick, what you lose in terms of the lack of contractual guarantee out of college, you have the opportunity to make up for by becoming an RFA after just two seasons. Our old pal Talen Horton-Tucker secured a $30 million bag (3 year/$10 million AAV) after just two seasons with the Lakers. He made as much as Ja did this most recent season, who was on year 3 of his rookie-scale contract.
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Ignatius Shang
5th year PhD, school of Information Sciences
- Champaign, IL
I believe Dejuan Blair did not have ACLs which is crazy he made it as far as he did.
- Status