I would not be surprised either way (stay or go) with Stanley or Hurt. The challenge I see for both of them is that their biggest “faults” are less correctable than say Tre (shooting) or Wendell (decision making and finishing). Stanley is not getting bigger and Hurt is not suddenly getting much more athletic. I’d assume that if they show enough to get a first round guarantee, they’d both go, but if not they’d do a Tre and give it 1 more year.
Wendell on the other hand might be even better served to stay so he got one more year of skill development to maximize both his draft slot and his chance to hit the ground running in the NBA.
Cole Anthony is down to 7 in SI’s latest mock. The injury obviously isn’t his fault, but there is now some questions over how good he really was prior to the injury. If he keeps slipping, I wonder if that motivates him to come back and play in order to restore his preseason top-3 status. There’s still a big difference between being picked #3 versus being picked #7.
On the Duke front, Carey checks in at #21. Nobody else is in the first round.
https://www.si.com/nba/2020/01/07/nb...-james-wiseman
I think Jeremy Woo is undervaluing both Carey and Hurt. When you're playing limited minutes with so many other talented players, your stats don't reflect your talent and potential. I expect Carey to be a top 15 pick (maybe top 10) and Hurt to be a first rounder when it's all said and done.
Although certainly possible, it is hard to imagine a guy returning to school after missing significant time AND being a projected lottery pick. Anthony seems like a guy who wants to get to the league as fast as possible given his lineage. Plus, I’d think he risks showing more shortcomings rather than improving his stock with another year under Roy...
And what's up with 3 Arizona guys as top 18 picks? Is JW drinking the Zona koolaid or is Sean Miller severely undercoaching his team in a "down year" of college basketball? They are ranked #24.
Q "Why do you like Duke, you didn't even go there." A "Because my art school didn't have a basketball team."
I doubt being at 7 would change his decision. He is a high lottery pick and will make his big money on the second contract. These guys get shoe contracts as well. Yes he loses 4-6M but he could get another knee injury and that will be that. He is going as long as he is in the lottery. He would be smart not to come back to UNC- if he underperforms due to nagging pain or incomplete recovery- he could fall even more. Zion did not have surgery when injured. Anthony has a built in excuse to wait it out.
Hard at work making beautiful things.
You'll really be surprised if at least six players off this team leave for the NBA after this season? Even if Duke wins a national championship I'm pretty sure you'll end up both shocked and surprised. I won't say how shocked you'll be but I think you're going to be very surprised.
Some quibbles with the above in bold--though I agree with your conclusions that either Hurt or Stanley could come back.
Disagree about Hurt's athleticism. Yeah, he won't have a 50" vert in a year, but he can absolutely get stronger, in both upper and lower body, and can get better at sliding his feet quickly on defense. The NBA will love that he's tall and can shoot, but right now he lacks the strength to defend the post, or the quickness to defend the perimeter (at a professional level). More time to work on his body can make a difference there. He might be back, depending on his projections.
For Stanley, I disagree about the bolded part above--he can absolutely get bigger. Strength training is one of the things colleges do well in the offseason. The one thing he can't do is get any younger. And that might push him towards starting his pro career. But I don't think that's a foregone conclusion yet.
You are putting words in my mouth. I said I'd be surprised.
Shocked at the first list, with shocked being a high level, extreme reaction.
Surprised at the second list, with surprised being somewhat mild. I would categorize "very surprised" between "shocked" and "surprised" and I would not be very surprised to see Joey or Wendell back, just surprised.
He's been 6'7" and drained threes.
He has enrolled to play for Coach K, who will welcome 5 Star recruits Jeremy Roach, DJ Stewart, and Jalen Johnson, who (and we can nitpick Duke not playing positions, players having to earn PT in practice etc etc) are slated to play the 1-3 spots in 2020-21, which would leave Joey playing the same role next year.
I expect Joey to continue to hustle on D and try to make it as a 3 and D bench player at the next level. His best chance to shine will be this year, when he's only competing against Alex and Jordan (and Wendell when he's back) for PT. Next year he's still competing against Alex and Jordan, plus new guys and he's a year older and less "valuable" as a draft prospect.
Hard at work making beautiful things.
NBAdraft.net 2020 mock draft, updated today:
Vernon Carey, Jr. (11)
Tre Jones (40)
Cassius Stanley (41)
NBAdraft.net 2021 mock draft, updated today:
Jonathan Kuminga (2) (odd that he is in this mock draft at all considering that he is currently a high school junior)
Jalen Johnson (5)
Wendell Moore (10)
In the NBAdraft.net world, I am a surprised to see Wendell Moore as a 2021 lottery pick, and can't help but think that there is at least a possibility that Tre and/or Cassius will consider coming back in 2021 if they are projected 2nd rounders in 2020. I also look forward to Matthew Hurt's junior year at Duke...
"I don't like them when they are eating my azaleas or rhododendrons or pansies." - Coach K
The Athletic released a new mock this morning ($)
Carey - 21
Jones - 23
Hurt - 25
Stanley - 48
I agree but saying the difference between being #3 in 2021 and #7 pick in 2020 is a "loss" of 4-6M is only part of the story because of course going in 2020 affords the player to make an additional years' salary/endorsements which is certainly in the millions. The time value and opportunity cost makes starting the NBA career a year earlier usually the wise move (assuming it's not going to impact their second contract and assuming their NBA "retirement age" would essentially be the same regardless of that decision).