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Mock NBA Draft

I think it's time for these kids to realize that 2, 3, or 4 years in college MAY do them well... (Duval, Hurt, DJ)... Develop, and get better in college, get a free education, enjoy your youth, and when it's your time to go, KNOW it's your time to make a mark on the league... 3 players who were top 20 or top 10 in their respected classes coming into college, not selected in the draft. And that is just from Duke. Several others out there... I just hope for the best for them, but the journey got a lot tougher...
 
I think it's time for these kids to realize that 2, 3, or 4 years in college MAY do them well... (Duval, Hurt, DJ)... Develop, and get better in college, get a free education, enjoy your youth, and when it's your time to go, KNOW it's your time to make a mark on the league... 3 players who were top 20 or top 10 in their respected classes coming into college, not selected in the draft. And that is just from Duke. Several others out there... I just hope for the best for them, but the journey got a lot tougher...

Just the three you mentioned for example came to Duke simply because they couldn't go straight into the draft out of high school and of course none of the three were anywhere ready with Hurt staying for two years. I don't know the answer but for years I've said the NBA is just using college programs for the lack of a better word their version of the MLB's farm system. The NCAA is a big part of the problem also. They just need to do what MLB does is either go ahead a let them go into the draft out of high school or is they commit to a college program stay 3 years or at least two. It's just going to keep happening. Hopefully both DJ and Matthew can latch on somewhere. Europe's not a bad option for both. OFC
 
Draft went as expected, except I thought Hurt would go in the late second round. I said all year I did not think Johnson was a lottery pick and he wasn't. Considering his last 2 years he was lucky to go at 20. Still, he went first round so he will make money. Hurt and Steward did not hear their name called. Hurt should have come back. We are going to miss his shooting. Now we are back to hoping that new guys can make outside shots. I don't think his upside/ceiling was undrafted. Hurt could have made good money at Duke this year with the new rules and worked on his defense and strength and all around game. Most disappointing Duke draft ever? Sorry for the mini rant but now we are losing guys to "undrafted." Just because Duke recruits you does not mean you are an NBA player.
 
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I was surprised Hurt didn't get drafted. I thought sometime in the latter part of the 2nd round he would be the best shooter left on the board, and that coupled with his size I thought would get someone to pull the trigger.
 
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Can you imagine this team with Hurt? Even if he just played 20 minutes a game he would light it up and score like 16 a game. Our inability to hold onto players has really hurt us, pun intended.
 
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Another round of guys who entered and didn’t get drafted. I wonder if they actually expected to go in the first round. If so what a blow. You’re considered fringe at best and aren’t gonna get paid nearly what you thought you would. Oh well.
 
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Glad to see Hurt get that two-way contract with Houston. Surprised me that he wasn't drafted late. Defensive liabilities aside, he's a steal for the Rockets based off his shooting alone.
 
Have any of our guys from last year done anything in the NBA? I dont follow the NBA very much, but I haven't heard from them. Our last 2 drafts have been lackluster. A lot of talent out the door.
 
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Have any of our guys from last year done anything in the NBA? I dont follow the NBA very much, but I haven't heard from them. Our last 2 drafts have been lackluster. A lot of talent out the door.
A few guys that could've done with staying multiple years have left of late. But, that's the game now. It is what it is.
 
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Not at all surprised Hurt didn't get drafted and it's a long shot, imo, he makes the Rockets roster.

He's not going to be a good defender in the NBA and his shooting is up and down. Maybe it will gain consistency.

But with the NIL deals, that could start to keep some of these kids in college. Although Whitehead turned down $500K in the G-league.
 
Jalen Johnson is tearing up the summer league. Hurt and Steward, not so much.
He looked good in the one game I watched but you could still see the questions marks there. No one doubted he could score but what is his position? On a fast break he looks good trapped in a half court setting he gets exposed . Going to be interesting to see if Reddish gets moved during the season .
 
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Holy cow Mac McClung signed with the Lakers.
The Lakers have an interesting locker room I’ll give them that. Whether they can win a title or not may be enough to seduce me back for a few games here and there but I’ll probably shower a lot if I cave into this evil entity known as the nba
 
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Based on roster spots alone, I'd be surprised if he was on the Lakers (rather than their g league team). Unless they have injuries.
 
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Hurt with zero points in his last summer league game. For a scorer that is not good. Him and DJ did not exactly light the summer league on fire. Johnson averaged nearly 20 and 10. MacClung shot terribly so maybe he won't be getting pt for the Lakers as I predicted.
 
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Hurt with zero points in his last summer league game. For a scorer that is not good. Him and DJ did not exactly light the summer league on fire. Johnson averaged nearly 20 and 10. MacClung shot terribly so maybe he won't be getting pt for the Lakers as I predicted.
Hurt should find a place eventually. Too good of a pure shooter not to. Especially with how much the league values 3 point shooters. DJ screwed up. Don't knock the kid for leaving. But, he should've stayed at least another year in college.
 
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I don't know. This was Hurt's chance to shine and he barely scored. The one highlight I saw had him jogging back on defense and being dunked on after taking a bad 3. So disappointing that him and DJ left to get few minutes in the summer league, but it's their life. Johnson looks like the player we all thought he would be.
 
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I don't know. This was Hurt's chance to shine and he barely scored. The one highlight I saw had him jogging back on defense and being dunked on after taking a bad 3. So disappointing that him and DJ left to get few minutes in the summer league, but it's their life. Johnson looks like the player we all thought he would be.

Well, Hurt should at least end up in the Euro league. I'm with ya man. Very disappointed in both of them leaving. But, no PB if Hurt stays. And I honestly figure no Keels if Dj stays. Too bad Johnson couldn't do that at Duke.
 
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Hurt wouldn't have done himself any favors by staying. I don't blame him at all. Dj on the other hand....
 
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Hurt wouldn't have done himself any favors by staying. I don't blame him at all. Dj on the other hand....
I think that's the part a lot of fans sometimes forget. Sure, we as Duke fans want them all to stay the extra year(s). I know I do. But I think the question they're asking themselves more often than not is "will an extra year at Duke help my draft stock or not?" The older you get, the less the NBA is going to draft you on potential.

Hurt wasn't going to get any quicker or more athletic by staying another year at Duke. He might have become a marginally better defender. But that wouldn't have been enough to improve his draft stock.

DJ wasn't going to get any taller staying another year at Duke. If he felt confident he was going to be the starting PG for Duke next year and be the primary ball handler, maybe there's an argument to be made for "stay and show the NBA you can play PG, because you're too damn short for a combo guard or a shooting guard." But even if he was guaranteed the starting PG spot, no guarantees that a season at PG at Duke would convince the NBA that he had those skills, rather than cement in the NBA scouts' minds that he does not in fact have those skills.

I think staying an extra year makes more sense for someone like Tre Jones, who'd proven himself a great defender, a very good assist/turnover guy, but had big question marks on his outside shooting. The extra year at Duke allowed him to show the NBA that he was a capable and clearly improving shooter.

But when the knock on a player is that they don't have the size and/or athleticism to play the position they'd have to play in the NBA, staying an extra year just isn't going to change that.
 
I think these guys just want to play professionally. If not the NBA, then somewhere else. Also, playing for Duke may not be for everyone. There is a lot of pressure, (maybe even more than some NBA teams), you have to study, and last year the players did not experience any of the good things like a successful season or making the tournament. From now on I will just assume if a guy is top 30 he is one and done. If they return I will be pleasantly surprised. Maybe the new endorsement deals will make some borderline guys stay, but who knows anymore.
 
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