Updated Mock Draft (Wasserman)

[RuffRuff]

I hope Liam has a wonderful tournament. He has shot poorly and had a very difficult time guarding players.

Me too - would really like for him to go out positively and with his stock as high as possible, for him personally and for our ability to attract his profile.

 

[Agent0]

Well maybe if he was 6/8
Measured 66.5 at the combine

Yes 6’6.5 barefoot. Good thing he plays in shoes!!!

 

[NHUConnfan]

Guys, Solo Ball isn't going anywhere. His defense (in its current state) is unplayable in the NBA. Until he shows that he can consistently keep defenders in front of him, there will not be a team that bites on him. It doesn't matter how good of a shooter you are, you have to play a base level of defense and he's not close to being there.

 

[RuffRuff]

Guys, Solo Ball isn't going anywhere. His defense (in its current state) is unplayable in the NBA. Until he shows that he can consistently keep defenders in front of him, there will not be a team that bites on him. It doesn't matter how good of a shooter you are, you have to play a base level of defense and he's not close to being there.

Have we seen how that’s worked for Hawk? He’s getting outmuscled, he’s uni faceted and he can’t defend. It’s all impacted his shooting, which is not good. And he’s 3 inches taller than Solo. In as deep a draft as this is, Solo isn’t touching the first round.

 

[uconn1999]

Thomas Sorber declares and signs with agent
1st rd projection

 

[IndyLives]

Solo clearly isnt ready & any sane GM wont pick him in the 1st Round. he would benefit from another year at UConn where he could score 20 ppg and improve his defense.

 

[BGesus4]

Of the player, his ranking is based on potential not production.

The point of a mock draft is to predict what will happen (based on potential and all other relevant factors) and what he’s predicting regarding solo and this year’s draft will not.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Solo clearly isnt ready & any sane GM wont pick him in the 1st Round. he would benefit from another year at UConn where he could score 20 ppg and improve his defense.

Solo is unplayable at nba level due to defense. I dont care what he does shooting wise. I like the kid, he;s gonna be a big time player near year. But, until he can at least play passable defense, he will never get off bench for meaningful minutes in pros.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Look at the history of the NBA Draft and there are literally hundreds of players who could shoot the **** out of the basketball and never broke an NBA roster because they couldn't defend at the most minimal level.

I like to compare these players to Jimmer Fredette, who did play more than half the season for 4 seasons, but he only got to play on the worst NBA teams...and he was pretty bad on those teams. Realistically, if Solo Ball doesn't level up his defensive skills, Jimmer is like the tippy-top of his ceiling in the NBA. And that's not worth a 1st rounder. Honestly, probably not even worth a 2nd rounder. There are undrafted players in the NBA with more meaningful minutes because they are more physically gifted, can defend, and learn to shoot good enough.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Solo is unplayable at nba level due to defense. I dont care what he does shooting wise. I like the kid, he;s gonna be a big time player near year. But, until he can at least play passable defense, he will never get off bench for meaningful minutes in pros.

He is working on it. Has improved and his rebounding is better too. Passing is a little better as well. I don't think he's ready but I'm not sure he's ever going to be. If he's a borderline late 1st early 2nd he should probably go.

Agree with the basic premise that the NBA is drafting on potential. So you see Andre or Jordan Walsh, with incredible athleticism, great man defense, good rebounding and sub-par shooting. You are more likely to project that they can become better shooters. Magic Johnson couldn't shoot from outside, nor could Jason Kidd when they joined the league.

 

[NHUConnfan]

He is working on it. Has improved and his rebounding is better too. Passing is a little better as well. I don't think he's ready but I'm not sure he's ever going to be. If he's a borderline late 1st early 2nd he should probably go.

Agree with the basic premise that the NBA is drafting on potential. So you see Andre or Jordan Walsh, with incredible athleticism, great man defense, good rebounding and sub-par shooting. You are more likely to project that they can become better shooters. Magic Johnson couldn't shoot from outside, nor could Jason Kidd when they joined the league.

To add to your point, I think NBA teams are more intrigued these days with players who show athleticism and defense in college because they often can work on the shooting, especially if it's a mechanics issue. You can't teach athleticism, and being able to play good defense at college shows good basketball IQ and a moldable player.

For an undersized guard (and Ball would be undersized in the NBA), they need to see quickness and a knack to disrupt plays. Steals is going to be a key stat moving forward. Diarra had 2x the steals Ball had this year, and he was doing that on one leg. That's the biggest area of opportunity for Ball on the defensive end, and he absolutely has to be better there.

 

[husky429]

Magic Johnson couldn't shoot from outside, nor could Jason Kidd when they joined the league.

I will never understand comparing today's drafting to the old-timers. Magic joined the league 46 years ago for God's sakes--he NEVER became a shooter by today's standards. 30% career shooter on 1.2 attempts per game would send you to the G-League in a hot minute in 2025.

 

[RuffRuff]

To add to your point, I think NBA teams are more intrigued these days with players who show athleticism and defense in college because they often can work on the shooting, especially if it's a mechanics issue. You can't teach athleticism, and being able to play good defense at college shows good basketball IQ and a moldable player.

For an undersized guard (and Ball would be undersized in the NBA), they need to see quickness and a knack to disrupt plays. Steals is going to be a key stat moving forward. Diarra had 2x the steals Ball had this year, and he was doing that on one leg. That's the biggest area of opportunity for Ball on the defensive end, and he absolutely has to be better there.

Ball is a massively limited player at this point - he does one thing well, shoot outside jumpers. This is at the sake of not doing many other things well, primarily defend, where he's a liability. He has slow feet, and I’m not sure you can teach that. He doesn’t have a nose for the ball, lacks physicality and isn’t great off the dribble. I know his beautiful shot is intoxicating, but it’s only one part of being a two way player. He’s a shorter Hawk without having the benefit of Ajax to hedge the defensive gap. For us to be NC caliber next year we need to see another leap there.
We either hide him or he has to get better.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I will never understand comparing today's drafting to the old-timers. Magic joined the league 46 years ago for God's sakes--he NEVER became a shooter by today's standards. 30% career shooter on 1.2 attempts per game would send you to the G-League in a hot minute in 2025.

You think the greatest PG of all time would be in the G League today? It was an example. There are lots of others. Horford didn't shoot 3s in college. Now he's good at it. Once you are picking in the late part of round 1 and into round 2 you are picking guys who have holes in their game. Maybe it's shooting, maybe it's athleticism, maybe it's how they read/react, maybe it's defense. Whatever it is you are hoping they can fix it or play around it. An unathletic guy has less chance to fix that than a guy who needs to shoot better. Like my Jordan Walsh example.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Flagg is not considering coming back to Duke, just like Liam will not be coming back to UConn. Liam is a lottery pick and Dan Hurley will pack his bags for him and forge his signature on the NBA early entry paperwork if needed, he's gone. Alex will have a legitimate decision to make and NIL will play a factor there

Let me dream man!

 

[Icehawk]

I'd take a 6'9" PG in a New York minute even if he shot 0% from the outside

 

[Tenspro2002]

I'd take a 6'9" PG in a New York minute even if he shot 0% from the outside

Isn't this literally Ben Simmons?

 

[bendm]

2025 NBA draft: Top 50 prospects to watch in March Madness

From Cooper Flagg to Johni Broome to Augustas Marciulionis, ESPN's draft insiders share potential pro players to watch during the NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

Liam in the lotto and AK going 21(??!!) but at least no ball. I don’t see how we pull 3 starters out of the portal so to be safe Id want a PG and someone that can play either SF or PF. That gives us some flexibility to start them alongside either Stew or Mullins. We won’t know who wins that last starting spot until the fall.

 

[uchusky32]

To add to your point, I think NBA teams are more intrigued these days with players who show athleticism and defense in college because they often can work on the shooting, especially if it's a mechanics issue. You can't teach athleticism, and being able to play good defense at college shows good basketball IQ and a moldable player.

For an undersized guard (and Ball would be undersized in the NBA), they need to see quickness and a knack to disrupt plays. Steals is going to be a key stat moving forward. Diarra had 2x the steals Ball had this year, and he was doing that on one leg. That's the biggest area of opportunity for Ball on the defensive end, and he absolutely has to be better there.

He also needs to improve his handle being undersized.

 

[jibsey]

Ball is a massively limited player at this point - he does one thing well, shoot outside jumpers. This is at the sake of not doing many other things well, primarily defend, where he's a liability. He has slow feet, and I’m not sure you can teach that. He doesn’t have a nose for the ball, lacks physicality and isn’t great off the dribble. I know his beautiful shot is intoxicating, but it’s only one part of being a two way player. He’s a shorter Hawk without having the benefit of Ajax to hedge the defensive gap. For us to be NC caliber next year we need to see another leap there.
We either hide him or he has to get better.

He’s been rebounding well lately, and we’ve seen that he has ups. Defensively he needs work but he’s young.

 

[Agent0]

2025 NBA draft: Top 50 prospects to watch in March Madness

From Cooper Flagg to Johni Broome to Augustas Marciulionis, ESPN's draft insiders share potential pro players to watch during the NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

Liam in the lotto and AK going 21(??!!) but at least no ball. I don’t see how we pull 3 starters out of the portal so to be safe Id want a PG and someone that can play either SF or PF. That gives us some flexibility to start them alongside either Stew or Mullins. We won’t know who wins that last starting spot until the fall.

This is just looking at kids who made the tourney.

 

[Fishy]

Go look at who wasserwhatever proposed drafting early on last year and then tell me if this thread should even exist.