Saw some rumblings about the Batcho Man.
18.7 ppg
6.8 rpg
FG% 73.5
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/4683631/daniel-batcho
Looks good to me.
Quote from: arxpert on January 26, 2025, 12:28:01 AMSaw some rumblings about the Batcho Man.
18.7 ppg
6.8 rpg
FG% 73.5
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/4683631/daniel-batcho
Looks good to me.
Can confirm. Very good.
Better Frenchman than Adama?
Call him Daniel-Alpha Batcho.
Quote from: |ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ| on January 26, 2025, 10:43:20 AMQuote from: arxpert on January 26, 2025, 12:28:01 AMSaw some rumblings about the Batcho Man.
18.7 ppg
6.8 rpg
FG% 73.5
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/4683631/daniel-batcho
Looks good to me.
Can confirm. Very good.
Better Frenchman than Adama?
Call him Daniel-Alpha Batcho.
France has quietly been putting out some of the best talent "the world" has seen lately. I'm not saying Batcho is a NBA player yet, but he has the size and tools. Adama ALPHA-Bal will be drafted and is 1 of the 450.
The weird thing about the NBA is there is really not much of a Farm System. Unless you are are on a Two Way Contract or some special contract, then it doesn't matter where you play in the G-League, any team can "call you up" to the Show at any time for any reason. So it isn't like the "Suns G-League Team" is a farm team for just the Suns. Only players on Two Ways or Protected contracts.
That is why the 2nd round of the draft after like Pick "38" or so is really Moot and most players try to get Agents to make it clear they don't want to be drafted. No guaranteed money in the 2nd round and most of the time no Two Way deals. It is better to go undrafted, pick your landing spot and make a good contract. Keshad Showtime Johnson is illustrating this point currently.
I really expected Bal to improve this season. He quietly plateaued against sub-par competition. Shooting above 50% FG in only 4 games this season (and 2 of his last 17) is quite a struggle. Hopefully he can pick it up against the remaining WCC schedule.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on January 27, 2025, 09:21:08 AMI really expected Bal to improve this season. He quietly plateaued against sub-par competition. Shooting above 50% FG in only 4 games this season (and 2 of his last 17) is quite a struggle. Hopefully he can pick it up against the remaining WCC schedule.
Good thing NBA doesn't really base their scouting on raw statistics. They look at the measurables and the potential on guys like ALPHA. His length and pull up jumper will be enough as he gets into Professional training programs. I hope he goes undrafted on a Two Way.
Sometimes. Bal was projected to be a first rounder last season, based on measurables. He isn't on any major draft boards, so a two way would be ideal because second round contracts are worthless.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on January 27, 2025, 09:37:11 PMSometimes. Bal was projected to be a first rounder last season, based on measurables. He isn't on any major draft boards, so a two way would be ideal because second round contracts are worthless.
2nd rounders aren't worthless - Especially with NIL now, the Top Teams can stay very strong by drafting "NBA Ready" talent that spent 4 or 5 years in College developing their bodies and game such that they can come in an immediately be NBA level Role Players straight from the 2nd round with very low commitment in this new CBA Apron Era.
The NBA is also 1 giant Farm System unless you are on a Two Way or some sort of special contract.
Any team can pick anyone up at any time who isn't on said contract.
If the Warriors pick ALPHA with their "50th" pick, then he goes to the G League, he can just be picked up by the Hornets once Summer League is over and rosters finalize.
That is why it is best to go Undrafted and make your own terms. Get some Guaranteed Money even if you aren't on a Two-Way if possible.
Keshad was dominating the G-League and parlayed it into a big contract (relatively).
I have no doubt that someone will sign ALPHA and then send him on Assignment at worst. This protecting their investment.
Think of it like the new NFL Expanded Practice Squad rules. Anyone can be plucked who isn't "protected". No one usually does because it becomes Tit-For-Tat. The league rarely needs to do it.
The NBA is "The 450". 450 of the best players on Earth that are not at the Collegiate or HS Level which maybe accounts for about 10% in actuality.
Each year there is about a 20 to 45 player fluctuation in who belongs in "The 450" and until Expansion inevitably comes, it will remain 450.
Lebron is already earmarked a team in Vegas (under the table)
It is of my personal belief that Seattle will get the Sonics back.
I think it will start with 2 teams. Vegas and Seattle. (30 Roster Spots and a couple more G League Teams)
Vancouver, Montreal both have a case.
Mexico City has a big case and would be a pain in the ass, but a case none the less.
Lesser towns like Kansas City, St Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, San Jose, San Diego, Tampa, Virginia Beach, and maybe even the filth and disgust of Pittsburgh are all trying desperately to get a team - Perhaps they will become the necessary additions to change the way the G-League is and actually make it into a real league.
If the WNBA can start garnering the respect it is getting due to Caitlin Clark, the Modern GOAT --- then I think that the G League could really become a very competitive secondary American league. Especially with NIL money being thrown around at a high rate, a lot of players will "Age Out" of being NBA Viable in the name of earning 4-8 million over the course of their college career. Enough to not really care at all tbh.
I can see it happening.
The cool thing would be if the G-League can do what I am talking about then there could be a possibility of Relegation from the NBA. Tanking should never be rewarded and currently the worst thing that can truly happen is you have the Worst Team in the league and they get close to a 50% chance of landing Pick #5 in the Lottery. Ask Detroit Fans. The Worst team for 4 years recently right? They got Cade Cunningham #1 overall and all those other times being the worst, they landed that 5th pick because of the Tankathon lottery odds.
It seems patently better to be competitive and try to at least be 2nd worst.
A Robust G League could also put some sustained pressure on the OG Franchises.
Maybe the team won't lose their spot to the G-League Champion Outright, but maybe they get forced to play a 7 Game Series to keep their spot for the next season and if they lose, they get that #5 pick automatically too. So that next season they play more seriously and try to battle their way back into the NBA, where if they do, they end up with Automatic Odds of landing #1, #2, or #3, but not below that.
Oh well.. these are the thoughts of a progressive thinker as the league is basically the richest per capita of players and the single most "Player Controlled" league on earth.
Perhaps this is a way to fight back from an Ownership perspective because it is absolutely no fun watching "LaMelo Ball" become a Billionaire while leading the Hornets no where and not caring at all.
I think you misread. We're saying the same thing. 2nd round players aren't worthless; their contracts are. Agreed that players are better off being undrafted, if they aren't 1st rounders.
KC has never attempted to get a team. They built the T-Mobile center for the Pittsburgh Penguins. When that deal went south, they recognized how much money the arena made without an official sports team tied to its name and pushed away every future opportunity. It's a money machine because people actually show up to our conference tournament (unlike LA and Vegas).
We also earned the World Cup over almost every other major North American city because this town understands how to market itself. I wish a city like Phoenix could learn how to do the same; they'd benefit from something simple, like an MLS expansion bid.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on January 28, 2025, 05:42:40 AMI think you misread. We're saying the same thing. 2nd round players aren't worthless; their contracts are. Agreed that players are better off being undrafted, if they aren't 1st rounders.
KC has never attempted to get a team. They built the T-Mobile center for the Pittsburgh Penguins. When that deal went south, they recognized how much money the arena made without an official sports team tied to its name and pushed away every future opportunity. It's a money machine because people actually show up to our conference tournament (unlike LA and Vegas).
We also earned the World Cup over almost every other major North American city because this town understands how to market itself. I wish a city like Phoenix could learn how to do the same; they'd benefit from something simple, like an MLS expansion bid.
Phoenix is a classic example of a hell hole that expanded too fast due to becoming a safe haven for "cali money" to run to as costs went through the roof over there. There are communities in PHX that are master-planned that are 1 hour from Sky Harbor now and still part of the greater "Phoenix" area. It is absolutely a nightmare and dystopia what has happened to Phoenix.