College basketball's Kawhi Leonard.
@gthomas except KL has a couple rings and a couple of finals MVPs to go with them. This kid hasn't accomplished anything yet.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
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@sig Yes, that's what NBA GMs and their scouts do. My comments are basically in response to some of yours...saying draft on talent, don't worry about whatever it is he's doing this year at KU. Dybantsa and Boozer are "close enough" to him, that if I'm doing the evaluations, I pick either of them over Peterson. And if I'm picking 3rd, and there is a drop off to 4, I strongly consider trading the 3rd pick, if I can get a later lottery pick, and any other additional value. I think you could maybe get a guy like Darius Acuff, or Nate Ament, or Kingston Flemings... in the 7-11 pick range, and get another pick or even a starter quality guy as well, by trading the 3rd pick... I'd do it in a heartbeat.
All of this is implying that he is load managing himself, and isn't actually injured and all that. NBA GMs and scouts would know that, I'm sure. His level of talent is the only reason we're having this discussion. If he wasn't as good as he is, he'd be hamstringing himself out of the NBA all together.
I guess I'd just not trust that he'd treat his NBA obligations differently than he's treating his NIL/NCAA obligations. Its basically not possible to love the game of basketball, and love competing, and decide to sit out of college basketball games at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, or some of the road venues in the B12. That's the core of all this. What's a random Tuesday night game in Sacramento look like for a guy like Peterson?
@iunorth I'd have no problem with any of the top 3 over the other. I would not be trading any of them if I had pick to get one even if there are risks. GMs lose jobs over those types of decision. Nico Harrison lasted all of 5 months after trading Luka. I'd certainly be concerned with the cramping issues since it is recurring issue. Medical staff has to be involved there. After watching a ration of recent achilles tears related to calf issues, tough decisions for a kid whose in position to get 10-15 mil deal in July and I do expect he is getting direction from agent, parents etc.
@sig Have to reiterate, my stance on not drafting him would be based on him load managing himself, and him not actually having some of these issues. If he's had legit cramping issues, and that's forced him to sit, and now he's scared about popping an achilles because he just doesn't feel right... then that's a different dynamic. Then figuring out why the cramps are happening becomes a key bit of information.
@hooky I'm not comparing their talent or accomplishments. They're similar in that they both like load managing on their own terms.
@hooky I'm not comparing their talent or accomplishments. They're similar in that they both like load managing on their own terms.
I know. I'm just saying one guy has arguably earned the right to sit when he wants and the other guy hasn't done squadoosh.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
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@gthomas I don't remember where I first heard it or if that's the right spelling, but I've always liked it.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
@sig Have to reiterate, my stance on not drafting him would be based on him load managing himself, and him not actually having some of these issues. If he's had legit cramping issues, and that's forced him to sit, and now he's scared about popping an achilles because he just doesn't feel right... then that's a different dynamic. Then figuring out why the cramps are happening becomes a key bit of information.
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No problem. He played full game over the weekend and had some minor limp at times. I never believed the injury didn't exist. I'm not to concerned about load management because I'd take Kawhi Leonard anytime if I knew he'd be load managing like he does.. Of course Kawhi wasn't projected as an elite can't miss guy when drafted. That said, Dybantsa has seemingly picked it up again. He was my top choice early in the season and may still be the guy I'd take anyway if I had to pick between the 2. Lots of big games for both to play. I'm just saying the top 3 are pretty engraved and I'll take any of them even with risks before passing and picking from next tier. It have to be a really over the top offer. That doesn't mean someone from next tier or later in draft won't become a top tier NBA players but odds seem way less.
Why are we automatically assuming the kid is taking everyone for a ride?
The same reason Richardson got grief for tapping out when the Colts were in the red zone and needing a score.
Unless there is some major issue, players need to be there for their team. The best ability is availability. Could you imagine Peyton Manning tapping out or Reggie Miller calling in sick when the Pacers played the Knicks?
Kansas sure doesn't look like the same team after he "came back" from sitting out the Arizona game.
Let's cut the guy some slack. Some of Self's assholeishness is bound to rub off on his players.
Well, Kansas "healed up" a little bit last night. It's sort of sad that we have to talk about other teams b/c our program just doesn't have any momentum at all right now.