The Paradigm Has Shifted

[arxpert]

It has been brought to my attention that Jaden Bradley is going Pro. I don't see it at the moment, but I think he would actually be a good Pro player if he lands with the right team.

In fact, I think the Wizards would be a good landing spot for someone like him. He can be competitive with a very young team in practice and get some minutes in real games.

But if he ends up on a good team, forget about it. He will just be buried and that will do nothing for his overall game.

That is all if he is even drafted or signed UDFA and/or makes a team after Summer League. G-League is non-specific. Unless on a Two-Way or some specific type of Exhibit contract, the whole G-League is basically a giant FA pool where anyone can get picked up by any team at any time. I don't see G-League for Bradley nor Caleb Love for that matter.

Otherwise maybe Jaden's plan is to follow Caleb Love abroad together and play together somewhere. That would be cool as hell and I would follow that team if it happened.

This now Officially makes Arizona a Lottery Ticket instead of a Contender.

No different than a Coach Cal's 1 and Done Teams of the past, the Ceiling is only the Roof. My expectations are far lower today, though the Roof can still be the Promised Land.

My theory now holds true water. Bryce James, POINT GUARD, ~8+ AST per game dishing to 2 Elite Scorers, a deadly spot shooter, and an Ogre. I have no doubt that Bryce will have excellent court vision and make the right high IQ pass. Delly becomes Kyle Korver/Mike Miller with Bryce dishing the rock. Highly Versatile situation now if Tommy doesn't fuck it all up by adding 1 or 2 guys from "Campbell" to eat up everyone's minutes as he has in the past made this mistake.

I truly say now... Just fucking ride with it Tommy. It's 1 year. Let the fucking dogs out. You (Tommy) fucked it up last year and held Carter back on a leash. Wasted it.

Use it or Lose it.

Release the fucking Kraken this year Tommy.

I think this is creatively one of the best rosters in the whole Nation, but can it win That I am not sure.

The way to win is to play as good of defense as there will be good offense from this group. Will there be any DEFENSIVE Buy In this year? Or is this just a place to build draft stock now?

Did Tommy finally give in and stop trying to develop for now? I sure as hell fucking hope so. Let these younglings go out there and die on their hills. It is THEIR futures on the line. Tommy has a contract. Tommy is closer to the Hot Seat than people think, but still has about 2 seasons before that will get talked about. If he squanders and fucks up these 1 and Done Elite Prospects including LEBRON's SON??? He could be in deep shit. You don't mess with Lebron. Even though Michael Jordan is the GOAT of GOAT's, Lebron has absolute Power in this Generation to make or break Anyone.

So let's all hope that Tommy does the right thing and puts Bryce in there to Swim in the Deep End. It won't be Tommy's fault if Bryce sinks. Bryce will be expected to Practice and earn his spot. It is up to Bryce if he is up for the challenge competitively as a Two-Way player.

Conventional Wisdom says without any further additions that we will have a true NBA style lineup:

PG - Brayden Burries
SG - Tony Del Taco
SF - Koa Peat (Big Ass SF for College mind you)
PF - Tobe Awaka (moonlighting as Dennis Rodman this season)
C - SloMo Krivas

6th Man - Aristode

Backup Guard - Nelly
Backup Swing G/F - Bryce James
Backup Centers - Sidi or Mabil (I am wagering Sidi would play over Mabil at the moment)

That is basically a highly versatile 8 man lineup with MANY viable rotations to go to with 2 big ass stick bug "Centers" as options to play a 9th man and if either of those 2 Sidi/Mabil can stretch the floor then they will most definitely garner minutes popping 3's and then playing defense.

3+D. Say it with me. 3 and D

My Personal Expectations:
1. Koa Peat for National Player of the Year is on my Bingo Card.
2. Brayden Burries as the next D-Wade/Spider Mitchell is on my Bingo Card.
3. Bryce James becomes the next memorable "Arizona" Point Guard... that is not on your bingo card. But he is on mine.

Putting the Veterans as the "20-27min per game" off the bench players would be a lot smarter from my POV as it would allow the Youngsters to get their feet wet early in the games and know that we have Reliable Assets that can come in and Stabilize the ship.

This is what I screamed for last year with Carter Bryant. Tommy fucked that all up.

Carter should have been the Starter and let KJ/Delly come in off the bench after about 8 minutes in the 1st half (or personal fouls whichever came first) and let Carter get up some shots. Not the other way around where he had to stand around and watch Bricks then come in and try to energize the team as a Two-Way superstar who couldn't get it going most nights due to Tommy putting that leash on him.

Tommy may have to secure 1 more player and/or BUT, if he does, it better be a very elite role player. Someone like a College version of Bobby Portis, Dillon Brooks, Marcus Smart... a Pest defensively who can 3+D. Nothing more. Nothing less. We have our team.

I don't want to see anyone coming in here thinking they can destabilize the lineup trying to get their NIL stock up or draft stock because they are Seniors/Grad Transfers. We are going for broke and in doing so we may hit pay dirt if we stay the course.

Then 1 of Sidi Gueye or Mabil Mawut will be forced into playing some minutes inevitably. Whoever wants to grab the brass ring more. I am guessing Sidi will be that guy.

Potential Players I would look at if any Withdrawal from the Draft Process and are in the Portal or Enter:

Chad Baker-Mazara
Melvin Council, Jr
Cedric Coward
Muodubem Muoneke
Jaland Lowe

Great players, not great fits due to probably wanting too much Usage Rate
R.J. Luis*
Josh Hubbard*

[arxpert]

OR HAS IT.

This was an exercise in what happens if Bradley has had enough.

If he does somehow return, then it is par for the course.

Bradley
Burries
Peat
Awaka
Krivas

or

Bradley
Burries
Delly
Peat
Krivas


My lineup with be:

Bradley
Burries
Aristode
Peat
Krivas

Awaka and Delly off the bench as Veterans getting 22-27min and working hard, but letting the youngs get their feet wet.

Aristode shows up a monster, we have options.

Bryce is underrated. Criminally.

Sidi looks good to me too. Darkhorse scenario.

[arxpert]

Looks like a few of my withdrawal targets already found homes for when they bitch out of the draft. Interesting how the fits I found were on some big time programs lists as committed already. For doing half my homework, not bad.

That's called a finger on the pulse.

Let's see which cowards wimp out of the draft and go from there.

[KansasCityCats]

I'm on my way to a meeting and don't have time to read anything beyond the first paragraph.

I'm confused. Is there a real announcement regarding Jaden Bradley's status? 

[arxpert]

I'm on my way to a meeting and don't have time to read anything beyond the first paragraph.

I'm confused. Is there a real announcement regarding Jaden Bradley's status? 

He is staying in for now and not seriously considering a return yet. It is going to the limit at the moment unless scouts definitively say he has no shot.

There are some teams AS I MENTIONED that are interested. Mainly Bad Teams who believe they can find a nice Guard to come in and compete with what they have for minutes such as the Wizards with Bub Carrington, Utah with Collier, and the Hornets who are looking to get a Guard to play off LaMelo who can shoot and also drive hard.

His profile fits the bad teams to a T.

So if he can get "undrafted" and sign a Two Way with some guaranteed money like 3-5 million or so then he is definitely gone. Keshad Showtime Johnson earned some coin last year. Pelle earned some more guaranteed money too.

It sounds like there is some mutual interest and it makes a lot of sense. The Wizards are basically a core team that is all under 26 years old for the most part and will get even younger once this summer is over and Jordan Poole is traded eventually as well.

So Bradley can easily slot in with Bub Carrington or in a "Pritchardian" bench role until Poole is gone. Bradley is viewed as someone who can push an All NBA 2nd Team Rookie who was only 18 last year when drafted and played all last year at 19 years old. It would open the Wizards up to being able to draft someone besides Jeremiah Fears or Tre Johnson --- or take Tre Johnson at 6'6" and not have to force him into a "SGA" role immediately.

So it is definitely a possibility that Bradley will take his loaf of bread now if there is an agreement in place. If not, he still has some time to pull out, but as of now there are more than rumblings about him staying in.

Now go read the rest and how it would affect the team if he doesn't come back and why Bradley may also be getting slipped some dough even to bounce out.

My bingo card has Bryce James dishing a lot of Assists next year.

Speculation maybe, but I won't be shook if it happens.

[|ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ|]

I haven't seen anything saying JB is seriously considering not returning. Any links to sources that say otherwise?

[KansasCityCats]

I couldn't imagine scouts giving him a serious look this season because he didn't have enough consistency with the outside shot.

Bradley is a well rounded player that should fit the above description of a player that eventually earns time in the league. I think he strictly "tested the waters" so he knew what to improve throughout his senior season. 

[arxpert]

I couldn't imagine scouts giving him a serious look this season because he didn't have enough consistency with the outside shot.

Bradley is a well rounded player that should fit the above description of a player that eventually earns time in the league. I think he strictly "tested the waters" so he knew what to improve throughout his senior season. 

We will find out, but don't get mad when he does take a bag and develop in a situation where he can earn good money and actually compete with other players who are actually younger than him at his exact position and not nearly as big nor de facto better than him. Especially tanking teams.

His game is not going to improve at Arizona this year. He is what he is. His chance was last season and he chose he stand in the corner and watch Caleb Love instead of taking over games early enough to impact the final score.

I seriously would not be shocked if the Wizards, Hornets, Jazz, Sixers type teams all took a look at him to be the back up PG. He has all the tools to develop.

I was Bradley's biggest fan when he gutted it out for the team in spite of Tommy a couple years ago as the only one who cared to show up in the Big Dance. Maniac Mode activated. Got himself to the rim and to the FT line. Last year he developed a 3pt shot that I felt was reliable enough, but stopped attacking the rim with ferocity.

It isn't like as if Bradley were to go in Undrafted that he would be just another DO NOTHING ZEKE NNAJI.

The only Wildcat that is paid to do absolutely nothing in the NBA. Criminal tbh.

If Bradley returns then he will have his spot, but we have true Alphas on this roster now. Young Bucks that aren't going to defer to him. So I am sure that is weighing heavily on his mind no matter what feedback he gets.

Tommy isn't going to last if he puts out a lineup like:

Bradley
Evan Nelly
Tony Delly
Awaka
Krivas

Then mixes in all the Real talent. Tommy is already on the hot seat. It is just under the radar. If he blows the talent he brought in this year and in the process spits in the face of Lebron James via his Son... that will be the end. Even if it is 2 years from now.

Don't act surprised.

My hope is Tommy Learned from last year with Carter and brings Delly and Awaka in off the bench so that we have RELIABLE Veterans that we know what we will get out of them so that we can have our young players get their feet wet early and often with a green light. When you have names like Burries, Aristode, JAMES, and Peat... not to mention those 2 NBA Africa kids, you don't Squander it.

[KansasCityCats]

I think Jaden has serious room to improve his jumper for scouts.  Essentially every stat improved throughout his Junior season...except the outside shot, which took a HUGE hit.

Without Love jacking up unnecessary 3's (early in the clock), Bradley has an opportunity to showcase his true PG skills with a decent 3PT%, which "should" likely be around 40%.

James truly seems like the guy with athleticism that may not be ready to contribute immediately.  With Delly, Evan and Bradley gone in 2026-27, James has a chance to play alongside Aristode at the Wing and showcase is sophomore progress.  It'll be interesting to see how that situation develops; hopefully he surprises and earns immediate PT but I can't envision a situation where our deep backcourt allows for him to step in and dominate at the D-1 level as a true freshman.

[arxpert]

I think Jaden has serious room to improve his jumper for scouts.  Essentially every stat improved throughout his Junior season...except the outside shot, which took a HUGE hit.

I think that mainly happened because Love was ball hogging and chucking. Bradley took a big time backseat to Love. I never liked seeing that last year and it hurt the team a lot early on. However, Bradley is a player who can get the job done. I think Pro scouts like him. He can get to the rim. He can hit the 3. He can hit at the FT line. Excellent defensive recognition imho. 1 steal per game type guy. Great instincts and plays with personal pride. Definitely not too small for a 6th Man role. If Pritchard and McConnell can make a career of it, there's no reason Bradley can't.

I simply won't be surprised if he remains in the draft pool.

If he returns all I can think is he will get buried again under Burries, Peat, and Tommy's forceful way of having to utilize SloMo. I would want him back for the sake of selfishness to be a better team, but I would understand overall if he is making a back room UDFA deal with some good money. The 2026 class is far more loaded than this class. 2025 has about 22-25 players that will make a Strong impact IMHO. Not much of a 2nd round to write home about. Not a ton of international prospects (stashes) either.

All in all, please return to the Zoo Bradley. We need the steady hand who can go 5-11 from the field, 2-5 from 3pt land and hit 6FT's with 2 steals...