Alex Karaban is BACK | Page 8 | The Boneyard

Alex Karaban is BACK

nelsonmuntz said:
What did Borges make up? I know others who were one to two degrees of separation from this situation that said Karaban really wasn't sure he was going to play another season of hoops. The impression I got from them is that Karaban may not want the life of an NBA nomad. I suspect the money of another year of college was too much to pass up and he can probably help his resume for his post basketball career, but I don't think it is a slam dunk that Karaban goes to the NBA to live off two way contracts for 3 to 5 years, playing in gyms in Portland, Maine and Grand Rapids, Michigan in front of crowds of dozens. If he is a certainty to be in the NBA at the end of next season, I think he goes to the NBA. If not, he may just move on with his life.

One of the benefits of getting paid in college is that players can build up a bit of a nest egg so they don't HAVE to play in G League or Europe just to make a little cash. If they don't want to play minor league hoops, they don't need to play minor league hoops.
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I don't know. He clearly said playing in the NBA is his dream. There is some non-zero chance he could improve his stock this year and jump to the end of the first round, or get guaranteed money in the second round. Otherwise, he has to play the 2 way game. I find it very hard to believe a guy trying to live out his dream to play in the NBA would just shrug and say "nah" to playing in the G league trying to catch onto a roster full time one day.
 
Purple Stein said:
It's kind of crazy to me that the NBA has not built a more robust minor league system. Maybe it would kill college basketball. But there is space in 60 cities (including Hartford) for a two-tier (A and AA, for example) system that provides a clear, minor league infrastructure for all NBA teams.
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What suggests they need such a thing ? Say what you will about the NBA product, but they don't seem to be hurting for any kind of minor league system more than what they already have.
 
navery12 said:
I just don't see that happening. To be blunt, there are no minutes available at the 4 or 5 spot outside of injury. I just don't see anyone of significance signing up for that spot, it'll likely be a deep bench developmental piece like Singare the last 2 years
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I know people like to slot Stewart in at the 4, but I absolutely think Hurley would rather have an actual 4 he can play at that spot, rather than going small with a wing at 4.
 
Purple Stein said:
It's kind of crazy to me that the NBA has not built a more robust minor league system. Maybe it would kill college basketball. But there is space in 60 cities (including Hartford) for a two-tier (A and AA, for example) system that provides a clear, minor league infrastructure for all NBA teams.
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It’s an expensive solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist. College and international pipeline does well at providing enough players that are ready contribute. Baseball is very different because of how much more development is needed and the international infrastructure that exists (in places like the DR).
 
DRBackup said:
I know people like to slot Stewart in at the 4, but I absolutely think Hurley would rather have an actual 4 he can play at that spot, rather than going small with a wing at 4.
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Putting aside that I think Stewart is a natural 4, I think the roster construction shows we need Stewart to be playing the 4.

If we look at the 2, 3, 4 spots we have a few definites; Ball getting 30 minutes at the 2 and Karaban getting 30 minutes at the 4. That leaves 10 minutes each at those spots and 40 minutes at the 3. If we go your route and bring in an "actual" 4 for those 10 minutes its down to 50 minutes. That's a real tight squeeze to split up 50 minutes across Mullins, Stewart, Furphy, Ross. Even with Stewart at the 4 someone talented is getting squeezed out
 
DRBackup said:
I know people like to slot Stewart in at the 4, but I absolutely think Hurley would rather have an actual 4 he can play at that spot, rather than going small with a wing at 4.
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What, praytell, do you think Karaban has represented if not a wing at the 4?

Karaban isn't a post-up bruiser. He's an instinctual shooter/slasher/passer who's just physical enough to hold his own on the other end.

Do you think it's a coincidence that our team's fortunes took off when we transitioned away from the 2-big lineup with Whaley at the 4 and had Karaban anchor the position?

Stewart getting minutes at the 4 is a lot closer to Hurley's current (and more successful) philosophy.
 
Unless someone falls in our laps unexpectedly and is willing to give up PT to be part of the Program (unlikely). I see any additions being for practice purposes and/or injury insurance(knock on wood) . I think Danny really likes the roster and rotational flexibility. Could see him limiting the roster to 12-maybe 13.
 
Unless someone falls in our laps unexpectedly and is willing to give up PT to be part of the Program (unlikely). I see any additions being for practice purposes and/or injury insurance(knock on wood) . I think Danny really likes the roster and rotational flexibility. Could see him limiting the roster to 12-maybe 13.

Just looked at the portal. There are a number of European centers in the portal. We could go the Brad Underwood route and snatch up one of them.
 
Umami Zen said:
Unless someone falls in our laps unexpectedly and is willing to give up PT to be part of the Program (unlikely). I see any additions being for practice purposes and/or injury insurance(knock on wood) . I think Danny really likes the roster and rotational flexibility. Could see him limiting the roster to 12-maybe 13.
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This makes sense, way more sense than the notion that we’re going to find a 6‘8“ monster 4 and a 6‘10“ monster 5 who will agree to come here and sit on the bench just in case there is foul trouble.

No, Alex is not going to put on 25 pounds of muscle either and become a lightning quick LeBron James.

This is our team, and it is a great one.
 
Tenspro2002 said:
What, praytell, do you think Karaban has represented if not a wing at the 4?

Karaban isn't a post-up bruiser. He's an instinctual shooter/slasher/passer who's just physical enough to hold his own on the other end.

Do you think it's a coincidence that our team's fortunes took off when we transitioned away from the 2-big lineup with Whaley at the 4 and had Karaban anchor the position?

Stewart getting minutes at the 4 is a lot closer to Hurley's current (and more successful) philosophy.
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LOL. Now Karaban is a wing. Sure.

And if the key to success was playing * wing * Alex Karaban at the 4, then I find it odd that last season was a step back considering he was the only returning starter. I think maybe it had more to do with guys picked #4 and #9 in the NBA draft and an All American at PG, but that's just me, I guess.
 
navery12 said:
Putting aside that I think Stewart is a natural 4, I think the roster construction shows we need Stewart to be playing the 4.

If we look at the 2, 3, 4 spots we have a few definites; Ball getting 30 minutes at the 2 and Karaban getting 30 minutes at the 4. That leaves 10 minutes each at those spots and 40 minutes at the 3. If we go your route and bring in an "actual" 4 for those 10 minutes its down to 50 minutes. That's a real tight squeeze to split up 50 minutes across Mullins, Stewart, Furphy, Ross. Even with Stewart at the 4 someone talented is getting squeezed out
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Agreed...I don't see any way we bring in a high level 4...someone that can be a 3rd C and emergency 4 (unlikely) is it. Ross and Stewart didn't stay for 7 min of playing time
 
3rdbass said:
Ok so he was initially declared. Interesting. No wonder the confusion in the media. Glad he is back. Now I'm physched for next season. We have a legit change to win it all. C Reed, PF Karaban, SF Stewart, PG Demary and SG Ball. WIth Mullins, Smith and Reibe first off the bench.
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Maybe not the first game, but Mullins will be a starter sooner than later.
 
CONN78SEJ said:
Maybe not the first game, but Mullins will be a starter sooner than later.
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Mullins will get his minutes no matter whether he is starting or not. There will be nights Stewart is hot and Mullins not and vice versa. Right now Stewart can score in different ways and use his body which Mullins can't. Mullins will be a great 6th man and get 20+ minutes a game even if he doesn't start.
 
Umami Zen said:
Unless someone falls in our laps unexpectedly and is willing to give up PT to be part of the Program (unlikely). I see any additions being for practice purposes and/or injury insurance(knock on wood) . I think Danny really likes the roster and rotational flexibility. Could see him limiting the roster to 12-maybe 13.
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This... Let's be honest. If things go the way we hope, then we really don't "need" anyone. But it's a hard sell to any recruit, especially when there is real PT to be had at other places, to come here to be a practice player.

That being said, I would feel much better if we had some veteran 6-9 guy who can rebound and be available to give minutes in case of foul trouble or Reibe just not being ready yet. I feel like we have more than enough talent 1-3 as is.
 
WhereistheDove? said:
It’s an expensive solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist. College and international pipeline does well at providing enough players that are ready contribute. Baseball is very different because of how much more development is needed and the international infrastructure that exists (in places like the DR).
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This is a fair assessment. The G League feels very much in search of an identity - not exactly a minor league, not exactly a player development league, just this thing with NBA branding that is simultaneously disconnected from the NBA. I think this disconnection between branding and reality is where my vibes come from.
 
Would Tyler Betsy be an option? He is 6’8” might need a year to get up speed it seems. Could be a contributor next year if will to take a year with few minutes to improve.
 
boog204 said:
This... Let's be honest. If things go the way we hope, then we really don't "need" anyone. But it's a hard sell to any recruit, especially when there is real PT to be had at other places, to come here to be a practice player.

That being said, I would feel much better if we had some veteran 6-9 guy who can rebound and be available to give minutes in case of foul trouble or Reibe just not being ready yet. I feel like we have more than enough talent 1-3 as is.
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I think you will see a practice guard come in especially since we could lose all 4 of our guards this year. 3 NBA draft and 1 graduates.
 
3rdbass said:
I think you will see a practice guard come in especially since we could lose all 4 of our guards this year. 3 NBA draft and 1 graduates.
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Sure, I mean we need players to like have a full practice and stuff. It's just such a strange situation where you kind of wonder where these players will come from. I certainly get the allure of going to UConn and playing for Hurley and everything. But, I think I'd prefer, to you know, actually play. There are entire teams with little to no rosters still. There's PT out there for everyone.
 
boog204 said:
Sure, I mean we need players to like have a full practice and stuff. It's just such a strange situation where you kind of wonder where these players will come from. I certainly get the allure of going to UConn and playing for Hurley and everything. But, I think I'd prefer, to you know, actually play. There are entire teams with little to no rosters still. There's PT out there for everyone.
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St. John's is still get transfers in and they now have 12 players so I would hope we could get 2 more at least.
 
Tough with 11 - you get Team A and Team B in practice so it's 5x5 with one extra player so if anyone twists an ankle or just needs to come out with a muscle strain etc, it's 5x5 with no one else ready - another injury and no more Team A vs Team B.

We need 13.
 
3rdbass said:
St. John's is still get transfers in and they now have 12 players so I would hope we could get 2 more at least.
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Because St. John's has lots of minutes to give. 4 of their 5 starters will be new portal guys. Their portal guys are their team. Our 1-9 are totally set, and we're basically going to be recruiting guys to be emergency fill-ins or roster fillers.
 
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