If Moe Should Go

Submitted by rockydude on

Where should Moe go, you know?

Ok, I apologize for that. But, what would your pick be for the NBA landing place for our favorite Berliner?

I'll take the easy one, and let someone more savvy think of something smart. Golden State, with all the shooting that they already have, could provide a unique opportunity: can you imagine the pick and pop, and probably offensive sets specific to the talent of that personnel set?

Ok, what else do you have for me?

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Basketball

kscurrie2

April 15th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^

I’ve heard this argument before, and I do watch a fair amount of nba basketball. But can someone please explain how he could not get better in another full year under great coaching in college? I am not being sarcastic, I really want peoples take on this. I still think he has a few areas he could improve in. He comes back, has a consistent year of playing at a double-double level, how can his stock not improve?

Joined: 11/22/2010

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Texas Maize Rage

April 15th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^

It’s a fair question to ask. Let me preface this by saying I’m not a scout nor some NBA guru. There are a lot of things that go into a teams assessment of a player I’m sure. I will also preface this and say these are all hypotheticals. First I think you have to look at age. NBA teams will be getting a 21 or 22 year old senior as opposed to a 18 or 19 year old freshman. That’s 3 more years a team can get out of the younger player than Moe. Plus those younger players may be more “moldable” if you will, where as Moe may be to a point where what you see is what you get.You just don’t see a lot of seniors get drafted these days.The only 3 high quality players I can think of are Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. I don’t think Moe coming back would improve his footwork, agility, offensive and defensive post play (seldom plays with his back to the basket which at 6’11” you should have some post up game in the NBA), or shot blocking. I love coach Beilein but his system doesn’t mesh well with what the NBA wants for big men. When was the last time he had a post player get drafted and make noise in the league? The only one I can think is McGary and he’s like a professional bowler now. For a big guy Moe is a good shooter, probably a little inconsistent, but a good shooter. What is he going to do when his defender takes away his outside shot. He’s not going to be guarded by Nick Ward every night. He’ll have to try and get by Giannis, Draymond Green, or Anthony Davis. I just think Moe is better off going to the NBA now to start developing now as opposed to waiting one more year to be pretty much the same player he is now In sum, Moe is a project this year. He’ll be a project next year if he were to stay. NBA teams take projects in the 2nd round, maybe late first round depending on the team and their needs

Joined: 04/11/2018

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jmblue

April 15th, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^

I love coach Beilein but his system doesn’t mesh well with what the NBA wants for big men.
The NBA is moving in Beilein's direction. If we haven't produced any strong NBA post players, it's just that we haven't had that many talented ones, and one that we did have (McGary) flamed out for off-court reasons.

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Texas Maize Rage

April 15th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^

I understand the NBA is going more in the direction of bigs who can shoot, but the bigs also have to be able to play in the post, and with their backs to the basket. Moe did it on occasion but not enough to be proficient or consistent with it. Look at players like Davis, Giannis, Aldridge, Porzingis. They all have post games to supplement their outside shooting. What is Moe going to do if he has an off night with his outside shot, or the D plays him tight and takes away his outside looks? He’s not going to make up for it on the block, nor on defense. He sure as hell isnt going to blow by them like they were Nick Ward. Like college football and the NFL, NBA players are much more agile, quicker, and stronger. He’s a good player with possibly room to develop these skills, but he’s better off developing them in the NBA or even the GLeague where he is going against better competition and not 18 year old freshmen. I’m sure GLeague teams develop players and run systems similar to the NBA organizations that own themwhixh will further help him prepare for whatever team drafts him. He’s also no where near strong enough. The NBA is much more physical than college, naturally. He wouldn’t stand a chance against a player like Draymond Green

Joined: 04/11/2018

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kscurrie2

April 15th, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^

I see it this way as well. Beilein system is what the nba is going to. Very few players actually play with their back to the basket. This is why I asked how it would hurt if he came back. Believe me, I’m for kids getting paid. It was time for Burke to leave. He was national player of the year. He had nothing else to accomplish. I don’t feel Wagner is in that arena.

Joined: 11/22/2010

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Mr Miggle

April 15th, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^

Bigs that were good NBA prospects wouldn't come here because Beilein ran a guard oriented offense. They wanted the ball in the low post. Udoh transferred away.and so did Horford, the only recruit who plausibly could have developed into an NBA center. 

Then McGary came along and went in the first round. We saw his development late in the season. Unfortunately his collegiate and pro careers both got derailed.

The only questions about Wagner's game are related to his physical limitations. I think NBA teams love the skills he developed here.Certainly there is a trend towards valuing players with his offensive game. Wagner's success should lead to signing more talented bigs who have or want similar games. He at least showed that Beilein was willing to feature a big in his offense.

The other issue with getting bigs into the NBA is the top prospects are nearly guaranteed one and dones. Almost anybody with Wagner's size that's super athletic has been out of Michigan's reach with the way recruiting goes.

 

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