NBA GM's on KU's players for the draft.
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We spoke (anonymously) with multiple NBA executives to get their thoughts on the prospects who will be on the floor Saturday in Lexington:
Some interesting thoughts. Jackson somewhere in the Top 10, Graham a 2nd rounder late 1st, Mason still not getting any love, Svi needs to stay…
Kansas
Freshman guard Josh Jackson
“He’s athletic, can pass, defend and will be able to play in the pick and roll. I like him because he does so much and is special on the defensive end. The only thing that worries me is his shooting. But he’s a guy who will go in the top five to seven.”
“He makes plays with the ball in his hands and is a versatile wing. He’s also really tough. I’m not sure he’ll be the No. 1 pick, but he’s in the discussion, especially because he’s different than all the other guys in the conversation.”
“He has size, enough skill and all the intangibles. What has really impressed me, though, is his feel for the game. That’s where I think he’ll separate himself from guys like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Justise Winslow.”
Junior guard Devonte’ Graham
“He’s got good size and kind of reminds me of Mario Chalmers. He doesn’t play the point all the time because of [Frank Mason III], but he’s more of a natural point, and he makes big shots.”
“I think he’s a second-rounder, especially with all the point guards who are going to be taken early in this draft. He has a chance to slip in late in the first, but I’d say it’s more likely he goes in the second.”
“He needs to come back to school, because with Frank Mason leaving, he’ll be the guy next season. He’ll have the ball in his hands, and next year’s draft won’t be loaded with point guards. I like him, but don’t love him.”
Senior guard Frank Mason III
“I love his toughness. He’s really, really tough and wants to take the big shot. But he’s small and isn’t a great athlete. That’s not a great combination. I think he gets drafted, maybe mid-second round – but he could wind up going undrafted also.”
“Give him credit. He’s really improved. Maybe he makes a team in our league, but I think it’s just as likely he winds up overseas. What does he do great?”
“Terrific college player, but I have too many questions. Is he fast enough? Big enough? I just don’t see it, but I guess he could be a third point guard on a roster.”
Junior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
“He needs to stay in school. He can shoot it, and he’s gotten better in other aspects of his game, but he needs to get much better before he leaves Kansas.”
“If he leaves now, he’s going to end up in Europe. He’ll make a lot of money there, but he may as well stay another year and try and prove he’s an elite shooter. He’s a very good shooter, but he needs to show he’s even better than he’s been. That’s the only way he gets to our league.”
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““He needs to come back to school, because with Frank Mason leaving, he’ll be the guy next season. He’ll have the ball in his hands, and next year’s draft won’t be loaded with point guards. I like him, but don’t love him.””
Are you listening, Devonte? Don’t chase the dragon…
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Interesting. They must have read my post where I compared Devonte to Mario; we have discussed before that he would inherit Mason’s job and it would be his team…nothing new there. I don’t necessarily agree with the characterization of Mason not being a great athlete; considering his size, he is a very good athlete and also an opportunistic one as shown by his knack for rebounding. an there is n0 mention of his outside shooting. I used to think that Mason did not have a shot in the NBA but now I think I could have been wrong about him; he has the skill and most of all the heart to make it at the next level .
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These are either among the least insightful observations, or most disingenuous ones, by NBA scouts about KU players yet.
Let’s take them in order of insipidness.
If Graham is the equivalent of Mario Chalmers, then NBA franchises would be absolute idiots not to take him in the first round this season. Mario Chalmers was an indispensable player on two NBA champions. Are these guys flipping morons, or what? If Graham has what Chalmers has, then you absolutely must draft him any chance you get to go with your three marquis players, so you can actually win a ring, instead of just dropping a bundle on three marquis players. Really, this is brain dead thinking. And my god!!! Graham isn’t going to get any better next year than this year. He doesn’t need to run a team to qualify for the role Mario Chalmers filled in the NBA. Mario didn’t run a team at KU and he did just fine running an NBA squad. Why would Devonte want to come back. Anyone with even a pea for a brain can see he is a natural point guard and that he often runs the KU team now for stretches. . This scout’s opinion is pitiful, if true, but more likely disingenuous. The only thing holding an NBA team from drafting Devonte is that he’s got a mystery injury /biochemical condition; that is why he will have to wait till next season. He is going to have to prove he can play a season after this troubled year. The Devonte last Season? He’s at least an NBA backup point guard.
Next.
Frank Mason: this is where I am wondering if the guy is just disingenuous. No NBA scout could be stupid enough to characterize Frank Mason as anything but pound for pound one of the most athletic guys in D1 this season. Helllllllooooooooooooo! Frank can outbound guys a foot taller than him. Frank has an after burner that he has had to learn NOT to use in D1. Frank can go get a basket pretty much any time he pleases. OMG!!! Either this guy is suffering brain death, or he is trying to mask the fact that his teams wants to to draft him. I can’t say if Frank will make it in the NBA. He is small and I don’t know if the NBA is ready for a guy his size any more. Back when there were real big men, a team could make some hay with a pee wee point guard. I know one thing. If I were Philly with Embiid, and Embiid is going to be healthy again next season, I would draft Frank Mason in a Philly Cheese Steak second. This guy can play. This guy can do it all. Hell, he’s as good as most guys he meets even wearing a brace lately. On good wheels, he is unstoppable. Not athletic? This guy needs to get help.
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@JayHawkFanToo said:
They must have read my post where I compared Devonte to Mario
There you go again…“conspiracy theory imputing.” Just stop with the “conspiracy theory imputing.” Its starting to look ludicrous. And I’m saying this as a fellow board rat and friend.
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What conspiracy theory are you talking about? Looks like I am getting into your head again…relax, chill out, take a couple of Xanax, go to your happy place and come back tomorrow for the UK game…
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@JayHawkFanToo said:
What conspiracy theory are you talking about? Looks like I am getting into your head again…relax, chill out, take a couple of Xanax, go to your happy place and come back tomorrow for the UK game…
Yeah Jaybate, love ya, but that comment was out of left field. Maybe I’m missing something?
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@jaybate-1.0. Totally concur. Frank not athletic? Have you seen the video where he jumps off one leg over a small building? Ok its onto like a 4 or 5 foot mat but it’s ridiculously athletic. That scout is a complete and utter moron.
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The characterization that Frank is “not athletic enough” is utterly ridiculous.
Frank has two physical challenges that may hold him back in basketball.
- Vertical height - He’s 5’11"
- Wingspan - Probably near his height, 5’11"
The game of basketball has changed considerably over the years because of wingspan. This isn’t talked about nearly enough. Many of the players today are kind of “freaks of nature” because their wingspans go far beyond their actual height. It used to be “normal” to have your wingspan match your height. So many of the players today gain another 6" or so in their wingspan.
If Frank just had those extra wingspan inches… If he did, you wouldn’t hear this bozo claim he isn’t athletic enough.
It just shows to me how little he understands about the game, players and anatomy.
Complete rubbish.
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@drgnslayr If you watch the video over in the jojo thread you really see your point in livi g color. Even jojo had a 3 blocked by a guy several inches shorter than him. And these are not even 2 of the mo s t highly rated teams in the vid. Crazy athleticism in the league.
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Chill. You’ve been triggered.
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There you go again…CONSPIRACY THEORY IMPUTIN’.
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I do not agree with the assessment of Frank’s athletic ability. But they are right he’s not an elite level athlete for his size but he has maximized his body and talents to become one tough SOB. We know because of his size he is going to have to be so good at a lot of things to make up for it.
I’m surprised his shooting hasn’t been mentioned by scouts especially his 3pt% which is staggering compared to his career numbers. Sometimes scouts take a huge improvement like that as a negative and want to see more consistentcy over a career.
As far as the others they have it mostly right looking at these guys without KU blinders on. Jackson is a risk because of his shooting woes but there isn’t another player that plays harder then him.
Hearing scouts say svi is not ready could be interesting when it comes time for him to decide. He would make next year’s team a contender by coming back
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@drgnslayr said:
The characterization that Frank is “not athletic enough” is utterly ridiculous.
Frank has two physical challenges that may hold him back in basketball.
- Vertical height - He’s 5’11"
- Wingspan - Probably near his height, 5’11"
The game of basketball has changed considerably over the years because of wingspan. This isn’t talked about nearly enough. Many of the players today are kind of “freaks of nature” because their wingspans go far beyond their actual height. It used to be “normal” to have your wingspan match your height. So many of the players today gain another 6" or so in their wingspan.
If Frank just had those extra wingspan inches… If he did, you wouldn’t hear this bozo claim he isn’t athletic enough.
It just shows to me how little he understands about the game, players and anatomy.
Complete rubbish.
Devonte and JJ need to throw him some more lobs so he can show off his athleticism.
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@chriz I like it! Maybe throw some to lt
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