u/Affectionate_Use_179

Not saying Wilson should go over Dybantsa or that he’s the better overall prospect. I get why AJ is projected higher. He’s a more polished scorer and creator right now. But I honestly think people are acting like these guys are in completely different tiers when the numbers and measurements say otherwise.

Official combine measurements:

Dybantsa:
6’8.5 barefoot
217 lbs
7’0.5 wingspan
8’10 standing reach
42 max vertical

Caleb Wilson:
6’9.25 barefoot
210.8 lbs
7’0.25 wingspan
9’0 standing reach
39.5 max vertical

AJ is the slightly better pure athlete vertically, but Wilson is taller with a better standing reach. Physically these guys are a lot closer than people think.

The production was also really interesting.

Per 36:
Wilson: 22.8 pts / 10.8 reb / 3.1 ast / 1.6 blk / 1.7 stl
Dybantsa: 26.4 pts / 7.1 reb / 3.8 ast / 0.4 blk / 1.1 stl

Wilson was also more efficient almost across the board:
62.6 TS%
59 eFG%
127.7 ORTG
97.8 DRTG
14 BPM

Compared to:
60 TS%
55 eFG%
122 ORTG
108.8 DRTG
11.7 BPM for Dybantsa.

AJ clearly has the advantage as a perimeter scorer and offensive creator. That’s why he’ll go higher. But Wilson impacts games in so many other ways. Defensive versatility, rebounding, rim protection, transition play, weakside help, finishing, overall chaos defensively.

Everybody already talks about Wilson’s upside. My point is more that his CURRENT impact and production are probably getting overlooked a little because so much of the conversation focuses on his long-term ceiling.

Different strengths. Different weaknesses. But I definitely think they belong in the same overall tier of prospects.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe that Wilson and Dybantsa are on the same tier or is Dybantsa on a different tier?

He fits Graham's SLAP philosophy almost perfectly. He measured 6’9 barefoot, 250.6 pounds, with a 7’3.5 wingspan, huge hands, a 33.5 standing vert and a 39 inch max vertical.

That’s an NBA-ready body with real explosion. He also fits the new modern big in the NBA to a T. Strong enough to bang, athletic enough to run, and mobile enough to switch.

Offensively, I think he would fit really well with Giddey, Buzelis and potentially Caleb Wilson. He can run the floor, finish in transition, screen, roll, pop, and keep up with the fast pace the Bulls want to play. He only shot 34% from 3 on low volume, but he hit 78% from the line, which gives me confidence that the jumper can develop.

At the combine he shot 17/25 on the 3-point star drill and 16/30 on off-the-dribble 3s (which he will not be doing in the NBA). That doesn’t mean he’s suddenly KAT, but it does make the shooting upside interesting.

Defensively is where I really like him. He has the tools to protect the rim, switch onto smaller guys, recover in transition and maybe even guard at the point of attack in some matchups. His combine movement numbers were crazy for a 250 pound big: 10.59 pro lane agility, 2.91 shuttle and 3.17 three-quarter sprint. That’s not normal big man movement. He tested like a guard.

The rebounding is another big selling point. His numbers probably would have looked even better if he wasn’t playing with so many other NBA caliber bigs. He plays with force, gets off the floor quickly and doesn’t need plays called for him to impact the game.

If the Bulls are building around pace, length, athleticism and defensive versatility, Morez Johnson makes a lot of sense at 15.

What do you guys think about him if he’s still there?

After much film study and deliberation, I honestly think the Bulls should swing for upside in this draft and go Caleb Wilson at 4 and Cameron Carr at 15 if they’re there.

If Buzelis and Giddey are really part of the long term plan, these 2 fit perfectly with them. Giddey wants to push pace and play fast, and both Wilson and Carr are long athletes that can run, defend, switch and finish in transition.

Wilson especially feels like the exact type of modern defensive forward the Bulls have been missing. 9 foot standing reach, insane vertical pop, covers ground everywhere defensively and still has huge offensive upside if the skill keeps developing.

Carr at 15 would just add even more speed, length and athleticism on the wing. Bulls need to stop drafting for “safe” and start drafting for ceiling and identity.

What are your thoughts if these are the two players the Bulls select?

I’m officially calling it. VJ Edgecombe is the Boston Strangler.

This dude started his NBA career by dropping 34 in his debut against Boston. Then in Game 2, he gave them 30 and 10 in the playoffs. Then in Game 7, in Boston, he puts up 23 points and helps send them home.

That’s not normal rookie stuff.

And it’s not just empty numbers either. He looks like he actually likes playing there. No fear, no panic, just attacking, competing, and making big plays in a tough environment.

For a rookie to have multiple big moments against Boston already is crazy.

I don’t know if “Boston Strangler” is too soon…

but I’m running with it.

The contested mid-range shot.

Everyone keeps saying Philly “locked them up,” but it’s more specific than that.

To me, the whole thing comes down to this: the best thing you can do on defense is take away layups/dunks and catch-and-shoot 3s.

That’s exactly what the Sixers are doing right now.

They’re not overhelping, not scrambling, not giving Boston those easy rhythm looks. Embiid is just parked in the paint and they’re basically saying:

• no easy 3s
• no easy rim attempts
• everything else? go ahead

So what’s Boston left with?
A ton of contested 2s and iso ball.

You can see it clear as day. The offense went from flowing to “your turn, my turn.” Less movement, more late clock possessions, more tough shots.

And honestly… Philly will live with that all day.

Because if you’re forcing a team to beat you with contested midrange/iso looks for 48 minutes, that’s a win defensively, no matter who you’re playing.

At this point it feels like the Sixers are basically betting:
“you’re not going to hit enough tough 2s to beat us.”

And so far… they’re right.

I don’t see many people talking about this, but Michael Heldman could be a real find for the Saints.

Dude was the #1 graded edge defender in college football last year (PFF) and somehow went undrafted.

Athletically, he’s insane:

• 6’4”, 260
• 4.68 forty
• 29 bench reps
• 40” vertical
• 9.88 RAS (basically elite across the board)

So why did he go undrafted?

• Played at Central Michigan (MAC competition)
• Can get overpowered at times
• Didn’t really break out until his final season

But the upside is obvious.

He’s a high motor guy who keeps coming, wins on effort, and could easily carve out a role as a situational pass rusher early.

Low risk, high reward type signing.

Feels like one of those guys we look back on and say “how did he go undrafted?"

With the drafting of all of these WRs, do you think the Saints may try to trade Olave to avoid paying him if Tyson and Lance really start to look good early on?