Hurley talking next year and portal

[Chin Diesel]

When you qualify your hot take with "potentially", you won't ever be wrong.

 

[superjohn]

The pollsters and media will never learn

Even our UConn guy Dauster never learns his lesson. He won't shut up about the unreal juggernaut Kansas.

 

[auror]

 

[bendm]

That's what I've been trying to tell people. We're absolutely loaded and we should be #1 preseason when AK announces he's coming back.

top to bottom is the key takeaway. having Ross and Abraham as our 10th and 11th men is amazing, but guys 10 through 13 arent winning you the chip. the top end talent, guys 1-9 are winning you the chip. we will be deeper next year but our top end talent was better last year, especially our starters, which is why getting AK back is key.

 

[Deleted at users request]

 

[Scrappy3]

I hope Alex goes in the 1st round this year. The 2024 draft is considered one of the weakest drafts in history. If he doesn’t get a first round grade this year, coming back he would need a massive season to get a 1st round grade next year in a much stronger and deeper draft.

Zach edey went from not draftable to a. Lottery pick in one year

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

It’s going to have two top 10 picks? Lol

Even better: 10 top two picks. Unfortunately, 6 go to Charlotte.

 

[Shine21]

 

[Waquoit]

It’s going to have two top 10 picks? Lol

Doesn't have to be in the next draft.

 

[metsfan2323]

"top to bottom" is the key part of the sentence, 1-5 we are probably not as good, but 6-12 we are better. It will be a very deep team.

 

[Inyatkin]

Hurley should get an award for the portal closing and four of the five guys in last year's huge draft class sticking around (and the fifth going to the NBA).

 

[uconn_jack]

As I said somewhere else, the team won't be as dominant as it was this year, at least not in the same way. What it will be able to do is play 8, 9, even 10 guys if necessary without too much drop off and just wear down opponents, more like the 2022-2023 team did. It will also have a lot of buffer against foul trouble, and (knock on wood) injuries.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I don't buy into the narrative Alex won't improve his stock by coming back.

It'll be his team, he'll lead us in scoring and up his scoring average. By transitioning into a larger on ball roll, he'll be able to show off his passing IQ more often as well. If he gets up to a 16-6-3 average on his normal splits? That's a lock first round pick, NBA teams would drool over a player with his role player skills.

Being a year older isn't as important for guys who don't project as future all stars. I don't think a playoff team passes on him at picks 20-30 because he's 21 instead of 20, they'd look at him as a more developed role player.

 

[husky99]

I don't buy into the narrative Alex won't improve his stock by coming back.

It'll be his team, he'll lead us in scoring and up his scoring average. By transitioning into a larger on ball roll, he'll be able to show off his passing IQ more often as well. If he gets up to a 16-6-3 average on his normal splits? That's a lock first round pick, NBA teams would drool over a player with his role player skills.

Being a year older isn't as important for guys who don't project as future all stars. I don't think a playoff team passes on him at picks 20-30 because he's 21 instead of 20, they'd look at him as a more developed role player.

Problem is next years draft seems considerably better. So even if he improves alot to some he is going against much better or better players in the draft.. (what the talking heads say)

 

[aceboon]

I don't buy into the narrative Alex won't improve his stock by coming back.

It'll be his team, he'll lead us in scoring and up his scoring average. By transitioning into a larger on ball roll, he'll be able to show off his passing IQ more often as well. If he gets up to a 16-6-3 average on his normal splits? That's a lock first round pick, NBA teams would drool over a player with his role player skills.

Being a year older isn't as important for guys who don't project as future all stars. I don't think a playoff team passes on him at picks 20-30 because he's 21 instead of 20, they'd look at him as a more developed role player.

even if it doesn't guarantee him as a first round lock it would definitely make him more appealing as someone that could make an opening day roster and set himself up for a guaranteed deal as a 2nd round pick. with the new CBA teams are prioritizing 2nd rounders more to fill out the margins of a roster and looking to sign them to the type of deals AJ got

 

[auror]

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Problem is next years draft seems considerably better. So even if he improves alot to some he is going against much better or better players in the draft.. (what the talking heads say)

That's not really an issue for Alex though. He's not going to be a lottery pick or even a guaranteed first rounder so the depth of the draft class is immaterial. He can definitely put himself in a much better position to catch on with a team next year if he blows up a bit next season.

Edit: should have read the whole thread. What somebody said above.

 

[Deleted at users request]

What’s Alex’s NBA comp?

 

[Huskyforlife]

Problem is next years draft seems considerably better. So even if he improves alot to some he is going against much better or better players in the draft.. (what the talking heads say)

I'm of the belief that when people say a draft is weak they really mean the top 5. Every draft has guys that will play in the league, it's just casuals who don't care to evaluate role players.

 

[bendm]

"you lay some ground work potentially with that situation in case Alex ends up going, so you obviously have some contingencies that you prepare for that way"

interpretation- hurley has identified (and possibly even contacted) some stretch 4 options in the portal incase AK stays in the draft

 

[Umami Zen]

IIRC-In the Katz interview Dan mentioned that some of the NBA teams that are drafting early (Top 10) have been through Storrs recently to continue to do their background research on DC/SC. I'm sure that in those conversations Danny takes the opportunity to talk about his other guys in the Draft and what they think of their draft positions. Tristen-Cam-AK. He has been very careful and respectful of Alex's position but I'm sure he has input from the NBA guys about what their opinion on AK(this year) is.

 

[jibsey]

Did he mention Mahaney in that interview?

 

[McLovin]

It’s going to have two top 10 picks? Lol

Maybe not in the 2025 draft, but I think there are a few potential lottery guys on the squad with Stewart, Ball and McNeeley.
Abraham, Nowell and Ross all could be NBA guys eventually (and Karaban if he returns).

 

[McLovin]

That's not really an issue for Alex though. He's not going to be a lottery pick or even a guaranteed first rounder so the depth of the draft class is immaterial. He can definitely put himself in a much better position to catch on with a team next year if he blows up a bit next season.

Edit: should have read the whole thread. What somebody said above.

Duncan Robinson?

 

[McLovin]

Zach edey went from not draftable to a. Lottery pick in one year

That’s apples and oranges IMO. Before this season the NBA looked at Edey as just tall.

He is still just tall, but he just put together a historic season and even more insane postseason that someone will take a late first round flyer just due to his elite skill in the post + 7’4” height.

Doesn’t mean it will translate to NBA success, however.

 

[auror]

Did he mention Mahaney in that interview?

He did. Likes his on/off ball versatility, shooting, creativity (a bit lacking with our other guards but Cam and Tristen had it). Was tough to prepare for him 2 years ago. Loved how serious he was about his future and winning on the visit, etc.

 

[BG17]

What’s Alex’s NBA comp?

Joe Ingles

 

[Drame]

Even our UConn guy Dauster never learns his lesson. He won't shut up about the unreal juggernaut Kansas.

Why do you want to be #1 so bad. Better to keep the pressure off. Hurley says this might be our most talented team, but definitely not the most experienced or #1.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Maybe not in the 2025 draft, but I think there are a few potential lottery guys on the squad with Stewart, Ball and McNeeley.
Abraham, Nowell and Ross all could be NBA guys eventually (and Karaban if he returns).

Agreed on all of this. The question is how many of those guys will play like that this year.

 

[That Guy]

Why do you want to be #1 so bad. Better to keep the pressure off. Hurley says this might be our most talented team, but definitely not the most experienced or #1.

Agreed. I honestly hope we're like 10th going into the season. It will keep the pressure off our young team and give Dan a way to tell them we're being disrespected which will allow them to play with a chip on their shoulder.