OT: NBA Draft

[Jackie Chiles]

I swear, NBA Commisioner Adam Silver looks like a tall, skinny Gollum.

Or the original silent film "Nosferatu".

And EVERYBODY knew Flagg was going #1

[brock118]

I swear, NBA Commisioner Adam Silver looks like a tall, skinny Gollum.

Or the original silent film "Nosferatu".

And EVERYBODY knew Flagg was going #1

Like something from a Tim Burton movie

[ClassicO]

He looks more normal with hair. Aging is rough.

Screenshot 2025-06-25 at 8.42.47 PM.png (122.87 KiB) Viewed 437 times

[Goldfan]

Who watches the NBA?

[MIDMOBIRDTWO]

Who watches the NBA?

They still have the NBA? I lost interest about the time Bird and Jordan got done playing.

[scoutyjones2]

I swear, NBA Commisioner Adam Silver looks like a tall, skinny Gollum.

Or the original silent film "Nosferatu".

And EVERYBODY knew Flagg was going #1

Looks like the Penguins new hockey coach

[RamFan08NY]

Who watches the NBA?

The NB- what?

[JDW]

Some neat stories and journeys for lots of these guys.
The Illini get 2 drafted late in the 1st round, but would think both will need further development time in the G league.
It's a tough league to get into, elite talent and skill necessary.

[An Old Friend]

Some neat stories and journeys for lots of these guys.
The Illini get 2 drafted late in the 1st round, but would think both will need further development time in the G league.
It's a tough league to get into, elite talent and skill necessary.

Riley will take some time but I won't be surprised to see KJ getting early run at PG next to Herro.

[redbird1.2.3.4]

Some neat stories and journeys for lots of these guys.
The Illini get 2 drafted late in the 1st round, but would think both will need further development time in the G league.
It's a tough league to get into, elite talent and skill necessary.

Riley will take some time but I won't be surprised to see KJ getting early run at PG next to Herro.

Agreed. I'd be shocked if KJ didn't start out of the gate. Riley will head to the g League.

[JDW]

Some neat stories and journeys for lots of these guys.
The Illini get 2 drafted late in the 1st round, but would think both will need further development time in the G league.
It's a tough league to get into, elite talent and skill necessary.

Riley will take some time but I won't be surprised to see KJ getting early run at PG next to Herro.

Maybe you're right. Guess my worries with KJ is he needs to learn to not force passes that aren't there, and the opposing teams seemed to learn to go after his dribble when he was surveying the court.
I think his arm injury last season negatively affected his 3 pt. shot and that he can be much better there. I would be encouraged that he will get great coaching from the Heat staff, and KJ will soak it up quickly.
Riley has a lot of potential, what is he, still 18? With the NIL, another year of college would have seemed reasonable, but can't blame anyone for jumping up to the pros when the opportunity is there.

[An Old Friend]

Some neat stories and journeys for lots of these guys.
The Illini get 2 drafted late in the 1st round, but would think both will need further development time in the G league.
It's a tough league to get into, elite talent and skill necessary.

Riley will take some time but I won't be surprised to see KJ getting early run at PG next to Herro.

Maybe you're right. Guess my worries with KJ is he needs to learn to not force passes that aren't there, and the opposing teams seemed to learn to go after his dribble when he was surveying the court.
I think his arm injury last season negatively affected his 3 pt. shot and that he can be much better there. I would be encouraged that he will get great coaching from the Heat staff, and KJ will soak it up quickly.
Riley has a lot of potential, what is he, still 18? With the NIL, another year of college would have seemed reasonable, but can't blame anyone for jumping up to the pros when the opportunity is there.

With regards to KJ... college teams were able to collapse on him on the dribble to disrupt because his teammates shot the 3 so poorly. Teams realized they could double the ball and not get hurt badly by open shooters. That won't be the case in the pros - teams aren't rostering many wings or 4's that can't knock down open 3's these days. The space KJ operates in will be incredibly bigger even with tougher defenders.

Yeah, Riley could've made what... $2MMish staying at Illinois? Rookie salary at pick 21 is around $1.8MM and he's 1 year closer to FA. Pick 10's salary is $3MM in year 1, so even if he stayed and moved into the lottery, the upside to that was way too low to stay.

[JDW]

Some neat stories and journeys for lots of these guys.
The Illini get 2 drafted late in the 1st round, but would think both will need further development time in the G league.
It's a tough league to get into, elite talent and skill necessary.

Riley will take some time but I won't be surprised to see KJ getting early run at PG next to Herro.

Maybe you're right. Guess my worries with KJ is he needs to learn to not force passes that aren't there, and the opposing teams seemed to learn to go after his dribble when he was surveying the court.
I think his arm injury last season negatively affected his 3 pt. shot and that he can be much better there. I would be encouraged that he will get great coaching from the Heat staff, and KJ will soak it up quickly.
Riley has a lot of potential, what is he, still 18? With the NIL, another year of college would have seemed reasonable, but can't blame anyone for jumping up to the pros when the opportunity is there.

With regards to KJ... college teams were able to collapse on him on the dribble to disrupt because his teammates shot the 3 so poorly. Teams realized they could double the ball and not get hurt badly by open shooters. That won't be the case in the pros - teams aren't rostering many wings or 4's that can't knock down open 3's these days. The space KJ operates in will be incredibly bigger even with tougher defenders.

Yeah, Riley could've made what... $2MMish staying at Illinois? Rookie salary at pick 21 is around $1.8MM and he's 1 year closer to FA. Pick 10's salary is $3MM in year 1, so even if he stayed and moved into the lottery, the upside to that was way too low to stay.

Good points, thanks.