Bam pic at Hornets workout

[Smashcat]

Jordan Greer‏@jordangreer42 1h1 hour ago
Bam Adebayo showing off a smooth jumper at Hornets pre-draft workout. Hit about half his 3-pointers going around the world.

 

[KYNC89]

Well if he can start doing that, he'll be in the league for a very long time. I hope he goes to a good team.

 

[YouKay]

He would be a great fit in Charlotte. Also close to home so that would be awesome for him! I think he is one of the real sleepers in this draft.

 

[78Gooses]

Bam! It was great having him play for us. Super effort. Good kid.

 

[ukwazoo]

He would be a great fit in Charlotte. Also close to home so that would be awesome for him! I think he is one of the real sleepers in this draft.

He absolutely is. GMs that pass on him will regret it.

 

[Aike]

He's jumped from 32 to 18 on Draft Express in the past couple weeks.

 

[Smashcat]

He's jumped from 32 to 18 on Draft Express in the past couple weeks.

Cool!

 

[drew_ukfan]

I've said all along he'll make his money in the league by being a stretch 4, ala ppat

 

[utbb01]

If Bam can make 15-20ft jumpers consistently he will be an Allstar!!! He has the ability to switch pick n rolls and defend!! Great rebounder and finisher at the rim!! He could be Tristan Thompson with a jumper and that's an Allstar!!!

 

[shaudyshaud]

Hopefully he's able to knock em down once the game starts .WCS had a pre-draft video showing off his jumper a couple of years ago

 

[Mojocat]

He was always a 4 that was forced into the 5 spot, clearly out of position (anyone who says Cal puts his players' draft interests above what's best for the team needs to have an answer for that one). I was only around Bam for a couple of days last summer at a UK camp, but even in that limited time you could see his shot and mechanics were pretty good.

 

[BBUK]

He was always a 4 that was forced into the 5 spot, clearly out of position (anyone who says Cal puts his players' draft interests above what's best for the team needs to have an answer for that one). I was only around Bam for a couple of days last summer at a UK camp, but even in that limited time you could see his shot and mechanics were pretty good.

Okay, I'll bite... Cal making HIS players play the way he wants seems to be working out a WHOLE lot for them in the league. Maybe, just maybe Cal is teaching them to do what they lack, not teaching them their strengths. What that turns out to be is Kentucky players getting drafted higher, getting more money, AND sticking in the league once they arrive. Them max contracts for Wall, Boogie, Towns, Bledsoe, and a host of others proves you wrong quite easily but you go ahead and keep stating what Cal is not doing. It's kind of comical if you look at it. Cal's the best but not good enough...

 

[WonderBraa]

I've said all along he'll make his money in the league by being a stretch 4, ala ppat

I don't see him being a legit stretch 4. Maybe he can do it occasionally, but his real game is inside...always will be.

 

[Aike]

He was always a 4 that was forced into the 5 spot, clearly out of position (anyone who says Cal puts his players' draft interests above what's best for the team needs to have an answer for that one). I was only around Bam for a couple of days last summer at a UK camp, but even in that limited time you could see his shot and mechanics were pretty good.

It's pretty clear that Cal values their draft interests highly, while simultaneously getting them to fill roles that help the team.

 

[Mash 2.4]

I don't see him being a legit stretch 4. Maybe he can do it occasionally, but his real game is inside...always will be.

You would think so with his build. But he really doesn't have a lot of back to the basket moves. His real strength will be if he can make the 12-18 footer which I think he can, and slashing and crashing the glass. With his work ethic and demeanor he's gonna be a steal.

 

[Smashcat]

It's pretty clear that Cal values their draft interests highly, while simultaneously getting them to fill roles that help the team.

This.

 

[Smashcat]

Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell·5h

Kentucky center Bam Adebayo just made 13 of 25 NBA 3-pointers. Wow!

 

[ORCAT]

It's pretty clear that Cal values their draft interests highly, while simultaneously getting them to fill roles that help the team.

Dead on, great post and to the point.

 

[GonzoCat90]

If you watched him in high school, he was a face-up, off the dribble guy. We've been saying for months that any team that takes him in the 20s is getting a great value, and that Ford's second round projection was insane.

Probably not a star, but with that body and those physical gifts, there aren't 30 better prospects in this draft.

 

[crawfords corner]

If you watched him in high school, he was a face-up, off the dribble guy. We've been saying for months that any team that takes him in the 20s is getting a great value, and that Ford's second round projection was insane.

Probably not a star, but with that body and those physical gifts, there aren't 30 better prospects in this draft.

Agreed. I've been saying it as long as anyone that this kid is not going to last more than 20 picks. He can do so much more than he did here. He's still maturing his game to match his freakish athletic ability. And just wait to see himwith space to work with in the NBA. Once he adjusts to the pace and physicality up there he will take off. I can't wait to see it when he does.

 

[Col. Angus]

If Bam can make 15-20ft jumpers consistently he will be an Allstar!!!

no he won't.

 

[Hoskins91]

It didn't benefit his draft stock playing Adebayo the way we did. It was possibly within the best interest of the team, but he definitely would have helped his draft position by showing he could legitimately play on the perimeter. The reason he was so low was because during the season he just looked like an undersized center who didn't really have a standout skill.

 

[Aike]

It didn't benefit his draft stock playing Adebayo the way we did. It was possibly within the best interest of the team, but he definitely would have helped his draft position by showing he could legitimately play on the perimeter. The reason he was so low was because during the season he just looked like an undersized center who didn't really have a standout skill.

Has the draft already been held? What if Bam had played on the perimeter and shown that he wasn't ready yet to knock down jumpers at a high clip? Or maybe was prone to making bad choices with the ball on the perimeter?

Would that have been good for his draft stock? Isn't it possible that the best thing for Bam's draft stock was to let him play in his comfort zone in games, while displaying his range in an empty gym (unguarded) at workouts?

Edit to add:

IMO, Bam's stock dropped through the season mostly because he wasn't rebounding well. Scouts thought they were getting a physical specimen who would be a monster on the glass. After 17 straight single digit rebound outings, they weren't so sure.

He somewhat answered those doubts by snagging double figure rebounds in 6 of the next 11 games. Now he's answering questions about his jumper as well.

But I bet he never would have dropped out of the first round if he had attacked the glass all season.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

BEAST

 

[Mojocat]

Okay, I'll bite... Cal making HIS players play the way he wants seems to be working out a WHOLE lot for them in the league. Maybe, just maybe Cal is teaching them to do what they lack, not teaching them their strengths. What that turns out to be is Kentucky players getting drafted higher, getting more money, AND sticking in the league once they arrive. Them max contracts for Wall, Boogie, Towns, Bledsoe, and a host of others proves you wrong quite easily but you go ahead and keep stating what Cal is not doing. It's kind of comical if you look at it. Cal's the best but not good enough...

It's pretty clear that Cal values their draft interests highly, while simultaneously getting them to fill roles that help the team.

Yeah, I must not have said what I meant very clearly. I was trying to defend Calipari, not take a shot at him. There is a strain of thought around here that says his #1 priority is to get kids drafted as high as he can, even at the expense of doing what's best for that particular UK team. This has always struck me as curious - because, generally, having highly drafted players and maximizing the team's performance should go hand in hand. There is no conflict there that I can see. Doing what's best for a kid = doing what's best for UK. At least, almost always. But Bam is a possible exception to that. For that kid, letting him play the 4 and showing what he could do out on the floor may have increased his draft stock. Would have been worse for the team, however - and likely worse for the kid's development........

 

[Aike]

Yeah, I must not have said what I meant very clearly. I was trying to defend Calipari, not take a shot at him. There is a strain of thought around here that says his #1 priority is to get kids drafted as high as he can, even at the expense of doing what's best for that particular UK team. This has always struck me as curious - because, generally, having highly drafted players and maximizing the team's performance should go hand in hand. There is no conflict there that I can see. Doing what's best for a kid = doing what's best for UK. At least, almost always. But Bam is a possible exception to that. For that kid, letting him play the 4 and showing what he could do out on the floor may have increased his draft stock. Would have been worse for the team, however - and likely worse for the kid's development........

I misunderstood your meaning at first, but on second read I got it.