I imagine that chatter gets more frequent closer to the draft after the multiple workouts and interviews as teams get enamored by a few players and start wanting to have extra shots at them
so mad we didn't draft him. i wanted him that year. admittedly, i thought 17 was a little high for him, but when gs took him a couple spots after our pick, i was a little ill. anyway, i don't see a player of that type in the draft this year...maybe burries? that would be my closest comp, but he's going lotto. also, i keep seeing veesaar connected to us, but has anyone seen much of moreno? he looked pretty good on film to me, but i don't think i saw him play much during the season or ever heard of him. can't explain it, he just kind of looks like a modern nba center.
I think maybe Ryan Conwell out of Louisville could be a close comp. Though I haven’t watched much tape on him but it sounds like he’s playing well in the scrimmages. Maybe he’s more like a Grimes. Main differences: he’s a bit shorter, took 9 threes a game at 34% (podz was 43%), he’s a senior (podz was a sophomore) and podz averaged almost 9 boards a game!
yeah, i chose burries because he's closer in size and is considered a good rebounding guard. burries doesn't quite have the playmaking that podz did coming out, but maybe that was partly about opportunity.
He’s got all the tools, big time athlete, super long and can shoot the three. I think the knock has always been his BBIQ and motor. If we manage to grab a pick in the 40s I’m taking ejiofor or Jefferson as I think they’re more ready to contribute next season. Even though Brazile is a senior he still feels like a development project for some reason. Not sure how he did in the scrimmages. After that I think I’d rather go for Tobi Lawal as an UDFA. 6’7” in socks and had a 45” vertical. edit: for an UDFA I also like Bryce Hopkins from St John’s as a 3-D wing prospect.
In the two games he averaged 12.5pts 7.5 rebounds on 2-7 from 3.Seems to have moved his draft position up into the 30’s with his impressive play are the reports
yeah, on film, i actually like him more than most of the better-known center prospects. having passing at that position can be super valuable. one reason i think lively looks so good on the rare occasion he's healthy is that he's both a great lob threat AND a pretty good passer on the move. this moreno guy has some of that. i could see him being a steal if he slips to us (and considering who's worked him out, "slips" probably isn't the right term). measured 6'11" barefoot, 240lbs, so he's legit nba center sized.
Moreno looks solid, I read somewhere that maybe they're trying to boost his NIL payday with Kentucky as one of the few schools with money left. For kicks I went back and watched Kentucky-Arkansas to get a better look at Moreno, Thomas, Richmond and Brazile. And incredibly Richmond was the guy that stood out, caught lobs, offensive rebounds and quick outlets, and an above the rim one hand slam. He's who I want and I'd take him at #25 if Swain or Cenac are already off the board. For next season I think @showtime24 and @svtzr have some great ideas for improving our athleticism and defense via trade and free agency, so I really view this draft as replenishing our development pipeline. I want to lean into the play fast 3-D athletes NBA trend so go get Billy Richmond and if we can buy into the early 2nd rd go get his teammate Meleek Thomas. Cal knows guards and I think his ceiling could be Maxi-lite. Watched an interview with Thomas and Acuff at the combine and they seem like good guys, confident and competitive.
yeah, i'm all the way in on richmond. i think he's a first round talent. the shot can be improved enough to make him playable, and he'll be a high quality wing defender almost immediately, imo.
