Illini in the Pros (Basketball)

#26      
FreshlySqueezed
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I think that’s a common thought - and you could be right.

But when I see Walker Kessler getting dealt for 2 picks, and 2 swaps for the right to pay him $15 more annually than Zubac (who’s probably just flat out better?) I’m curious who the big man in that hypothetical trade would be?
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Well, I mean, maybe the Pacers make the Zubac trade in June vs. February?

I also think the #5 pick in THIS draft is worth more than the two picks Utah got for Kessler from a Luka-led Lakers team.
 
#27      
Bogey99
FreshlySqueezed said:
Well, I mean, maybe the Pacers make the Zubac trade in June vs. February?

I also think the #5 pick in THIS draft is worth more than the two picks Utah got for Kessler from a Luka-led Lakers team.
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Agree. Picks and pick swaps with likely playoff teams just don't have as much value now with NIL keeping more players in college. Lottery picks always will be valuable, but later first round picks seem more like second round picks with a drop off in talent in later first round these days.
 
#28      
PepeSilvia
Bogey99 said:
Agree. Picks and pick swaps with likely playoff teams just don't have as much value now with NIL keeping more players in college. Lottery picks always will be valuable, but later first round picks seem more like second round picks with a drop off in talent in later first round these days.
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I think it's like the 2nd round that is hurt than any part of the 1st.

I can't really think of a single guy outside of Haugh that would've been a first round pick that stayed in school because of NIL this year. The 2nd round talent definitely drops off fast after the first few guys though. Even Haugh I think was more of a guy that goes in the 20s or even early 2nd than a surefire 1st round guy when you look at how the draft played out.

A ton of guys that stayed in are more interesting prospects than a lot of guys picked in the 2nd round imo.
 
#29      
EmeraldCityIllini
FreshlySqueezed said:
Well, I mean, maybe the Pacers make the Zubac trade in June vs. February?

I also think the #5 pick in THIS draft is worth more than the two picks Utah got for Kessler from a Luka-led Lakers team.
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Sure, but I think clippers wanted a chance the pick would be decent and they had other suitors (like Boston) who were trying to deal for Zubac too.

Is there a reason this lakers team, in a much harder conference, will for sure be not be good picks? Especially compared to Indiana, who is kind of young and loaded?

lakers also added 2 additional pick swaps AND paid Kessler almost double Zubac. Like anything though, we can’t evaluate until we see how the picks turn out.

Edit - I still am not sure pacers made a good series of moves. I’m just coming around a bit given the recent center contracts and trades. The answer was probably bite the bullet on turner and keep the picks - but even then that’s more money for a worse player who also makes the pick worse
 
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#30      
EmeraldCityIllini
Bogey99 said:
Agree. Picks and pick swaps with likely playoff teams just don't have as much value now with NIL keeping more players in college. Lottery picks always will be valuable, but later first round picks seem more like second round picks with a drop off in talent in later first round these days.
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Interesting. And probably true.

That said, the lottery rule changes giving back end teams greater odds is a curveball too
 
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