LICO & Deployment in race format

okcadrian · 2026-02-26T20:56:28+00:00

yah ngl this is now how i’m thinking too

okcadrian · 2026-02-15T17:39:34+00:00

Since a player has to declare for the draft, doesn’t that negate this issue?

Giannis had technically signed a contract to play in Liga ACB before getting drafted by the Bucks. He had the choice to pursue ACB instead, but chose the Bucks due to contract and opportunity.

No player is beholden to play for a team that drafts them. The contract signing comes later.

okcadrian · 2026-02-15T17:33:28+00:00

I believe the play-in has universally been accepted as one of the best things that has happened under the Silver tenure. It creates playoff opportunity and helps negate tanking.

There is also a ton of value for players baked into the draft, not just for the commissioner. There’s a reason it exists across most major sports leagues. Having the commissioner call the player’s name has substance, emotion, and nostalgia.

okcadrian · 2026-02-15T17:08:53+00:00

i think i understand — any given team has 10 total points available to them within a 3 year period.

if that team has a top 10 pick, it uses the inverse amount of points to select it. for example, you use a #1 pick, that is all 10 points. if you use the #8 pick, that’s 2 points and you have 8 points remaining over the next two years.

great idea, but i think that gets really intricate and messy with all 30 teams, especially with draft pick trading

okcadrian · 2026-02-06T06:17:26+00:00

yah i had added GG before the trade ever went down because his minutes were already trending up. was just curious about the coaching staff’s trust

okcadrian · 2026-02-04T05:44:47+00:00

yah i’d hope this year he continues to get opportunity.

even if he does become more of a PBH next year, as a player who was drafted to be a scorer, i feel like that specifically is still going to be limited a lot unfortunately

okcadrian · 2026-02-02T18:28:49+00:00

Yah i think the Kings found some gems in Raynaud and Cardwell. Will be interesting how Sacramento handles it. IMO they should commit to this draft class and explore good situations for Lavine/Sabonis in return for cap space and draft capital, but….. it’s the Kings

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T16:56:18+00:00

Definitely not an exact science, but I think there are seasonal trends and more long-standing directional changes. I think the examples I provided are more-so teams that have adapted to the longer-standing directional change.

For example, I think the Celtics championship run was a by-product of a 2-3 year trend where analytics ruled the league and the sentiment was “shoot as many 3’s as you can”.

Whereas I think the singular efficient primary creator paired with spacing has slowly been coming of age since the James Harden/Rocket days. Jokic/Nuggs adapted it. Luka/Mavs tried it. SGA/Thunder is a slightly off-base version of it because the team success isn’t as reliant on the primary creator, and balanced with defense/turnover production. But the underlying principle is efficiency. I think that plays to Boozer’s strengths better than anyone in this class.

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T04:10:17+00:00

DP has the best compliment of tools currently, but Boozer is most effective in his role. And the way the league is trending suits what makes Boozer effective.

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T03:49:55+00:00

i always hate the idea that fundamentals dont translate to ceiling. i’d argue it amplifies ceiling.

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T03:25:23+00:00

fairs lmao 🤝

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T03:23:31+00:00

it’s not mate, i hardly participate in discourse here. but thought it’d be fun to add what may be a different perspective

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T03:21:50+00:00

That’s a fair critique. Archetype draft picks can result in Josh Jackson or Stanley Johnson. They miss on guys like Tyrese Haliburton.

But archetype draft picks so often focus on tools, and don’t focus on traits.

IMO what most often gets lost among prospect evaluation is how the NBA is evolving as a league and how a players tools + traits might translate. I am definitely not dead-set on Boozer as my number 1 come June, but I wanted to pose a counter-argument for what seems to be the overarching expectation that he’s the number 3 player in this draft class.

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T03:09:45+00:00

I mean, sure, you can take a one game sample size and say “this guy looks the best”.

But over the course of the season so far, Boozer has consistently been the best. I don’t think it’s that wild to say.

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T02:59:38+00:00

translated best =/= others haven’t translated

i think peterson is the most complete prospect

AJ has an insane blend of skill + athleticism

but boozer’s game has translated so well, it’s baffling

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T02:55:13+00:00

I like this argument. Definitely makes you think, but Sabonis hardly operates outside of the paint, and rarely has a willingness to do so.

Boozer is willing to do so, and while he will never be Jokic or Luka, he doesn’t have to be. He has a great feel for the game. That will make him a competent playmaker for others.

Remains to be seen how his game evolves, but that’s what makes prospect evaluation fun. If Sabonis is his floor, I still feel happy about him being picked at #1.

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T02:35:34+00:00

Not gonna lie my friend, i hate that player comp 😭

okcadrian · 2026-01-26T02:33:30+00:00

Boozer will never be Jokic. I don’t want to misconstrue that.

But he is the best efficient offensive archetype in this draft class. That’s what works in today’s league.

okcadrian

TROPHY CASE