Daily Drop: With Cadeau On Board, What Will Be UNC's Starting 5?
In today's Drop, Jacob & AJ share their thoughts about what might be UNC's starting 5 next sesaon.
Daily Drop: With Cadeau On Board, What Will Be UNC's Starting 5?
- Thread starter andrew jones
- Start date
1) Elliot - Seth
Daily Drop: With Cadeau On Board, What Will Be UNC's Starting 5?
In today's Drop, Jacob & AJ share their thoughts about what might be UNC's starting 5 next sesaon.northcarolina.rivals.com
2) RJ - Wilcher
3) Cormac - Wojcik
4) Ingram - Withers - High
5) Bacot - Washington
Will be interesting to see if Seth is putting in the work over the summer to improve his game, after losing confidents this past season. Seth stats were much better during his senior season in high school, as with most freshman the level of competition which they face in college is totally different as most would agree. Seth needs to backup EC and get limited minutes, if this does not happen he will be in the portal after next season. RJ needs to play off the ball in order to provide EC full realm of this team going forward. Having RJ run the point when EC is subbed out could lead to some chemistry issues do you think?
Actually, I think if RJ doesn't get the ball in his hands when Cadeau is out, that is what will cause chemistry issues. Apparently, some conversations had to take place and some strings had to be pulled with RJ to get this reclass to work. I think Hubert has to give the PG minutes to RJ if Cadeau is not on the floor.
I don't think this is unreasonable. The only chance RJ has to make the NBA is if he can show he can play PG. He deserves an opportunity to lead this offense at times. He's been a pretty good soldier for this program.
Withers better be able to shoot it... But it's a pretty flexible roster so if someone doesn't perform like we expect them to, we can make some changes to the lineup. Something I don't think we had last year.
They have 3 years of film to decide if RJ can play point guard or not, having him sharing the duties this season is not going to enhance his status.
i think that depends on whether Cadeau gets the ball to RJ in good position reasonably often. If so, RJ could be fine dedicating himself to SG.
If, however, Cadeau is mainly trying to set up Armando, Ingram and Withers, while RJ is open and just twiddling his thumbs waiting to get the ball, that could be a problem. In which case, RJ needs to back up at point, just so he can get his hands on the ball and score.
All that said, I still think having RJ be backup at point makes more sense than having Seth as backup. Partly because of RJ's experience and his ability to create. Partly because when RJ moves off SG, that lets Ryan and Wilcher play more at SG, where I think they will add more value than having Seth at PG.
This is pretty much my projection as well. The only tough task that I see is Hubert showing the ability to manage the rotation. 11 deep. We could literally have 2 different starting 5 rotations. As the season goes on, maybe halfway through ACC play I can see a few players minutes getting decreased. I think Hubert will eventually narrowing down the rotation.
I am a huge RJ fan, but with his size and skill level I can’t see him on an NBA roster.
One of those two variables is not going to change, and it’s unlikely his skills/instincts will either.
RJ will have the opportunity to make a lot of money internationally as a scoring lead guard.
RJ can definitely make an NBA roster. Undersized but can shoot.
Aaron Holiday / 6-0 / Hawks
McKinley Wright / 5-11 / Mavericks
Carlik Jones / 6-0 / Bulls
Chris Paul / 6-0 / Suns
Patty Mills / 6-0 / Nets
Tyus Jones / 6-0 / Grizzlies
These are just a few undersized guards who are on NBA rosters currently.
Question my friend, do all of these players play point guard or off guard or a combination?
i don't judge any of our players based on last year. last year was a dumpster fire in which nobody played up to their potential. let's revisit the question of RJ's NBA potential after this coming season.
RJ is a member of the team. He has had ample opportunity to display his PG skills. I think most will acknowledge that he doesn’t do much to generate good looks for his teammates, a very crucial asset of a good PG. He is a short SG that can play PG in a pinch. He isn’t particularly fast or adroit with the ball, meaning his NBA chances are very slim. He may end up overseas though and I think that’s his ceiling. HST, Hubert should do what’s best for the team. If that means RJ at SG, so be it. He’s a grown man, he can handle it.
Dean said something along the lines of the team coming first on the court and the individual coming first off the court.
He deserves the opportunity to play at the point? Oh yeah sure, like he hasn't had that opportunity so far? LOL Oh, so we should worry more about RJ's chances to make it in the NBA than doing what is best for this team? OK, gotcha chief...👌🤣
Have to admit, I don't know much about Holiday, Wright and Carlik Jones, but the last three were all phenomenal in college and elsewhere:
- Chris Paul, you can't compare RJ to him. He was a top 5 pick in the draft and has been one of the great lead guards in the last 15yrs
- Patty Mills was selected for the world team at the nike hoop summit, began playing open international ball at 18, was outstanding at St Marys and was criminally underrated going into the draft.
- Tyus Jones was a consensus top 10 HS talent, NCAA tournament MVP and National Champion.
- You could have also mentioned Jalen Brunson as an undersized guard. But again, his pre-NBA resume is also outstanding.
As I said above, I'm a big RJ fan, and would dearly hope he could develop the skills to be mentioned with the above players. But based on his first 3yrs I don't see it.
Also, nothing wrong with overseas contracts. James Michael McAdoo is killing it in Japan and there are many other Heels doing very well around the world.
I would definitely like to see RJ back up at point on a team with enough shooters that he doesn't get stuck dribbling all the time or taking desperation shots. He had more of that support 2 years back and did better under those circumstances.
Remember, we're probably only talking about RJ playing 10 minutes at PG, give or take.
I imagine Seth will also do better with more shooters on the floor - one of whom would be RJ (on the theory that you don't want both Cadeau and RJ on the bench at the same time). But while Seth can play backup point, I don't see that as having our strongest team on the floor.
That said, Seth will get some minutes. So maybe he can make his case for more minutes at point. I think we're all hoping he's improved enough to be a no-dropoff player from the bench.
@Archer2:
While I don't think RJ is anywhere close to an NBA-caliber PG, he can be a decent PG for us in our rotation. I saw a pretty good decision-maker during the March run when we had a legitimate spread floor and everyone moved without the ball well and cut and moved with a purpose. I do think he has a couple of NBA traits. He's an above-average tough shot maker IMO, and that's something he needs to be to make it in the NBA as an undersized and average athletic guard. I think he can get separation on switches from ball screens without too much effort. He has the ability to split a ball screen and not every guard can do that.
You also only need one team to think you're good enough. Gabe Vincent was 13/3/3 guy in college and is now starting in the NBA Finals for the Heat. Granted Vincent is 6'3" and RJ isn't. Cameron Payne has had a good backup PG career in the NBA and was an 18/3/6 guy at Murray State. Numbers RJ probably could put up in a worse conference.
I'll disagree with your last point. I do think a college basketball coach has to make sure his player is better prepared for his next career stop. I think if you coach at a program that recruits future NBA players, you do have to try to get them prepared for the next level along with trying to win games. But that's my opinion.
@DSouthr:
I've said before that I think it's really hard to grade our coaches the last 2-3 years because Caleb Love is a really difficult player to coach and play with. So I'm more open-minded to RJ's ability without a Caleb Love (and to a lesser degree no Leaky Black) on this team anymore. So I don't consider his opportunity in his first 3 years the same as the potential opportunity this coming season.
And no, I don't think we should worry more about RJ's chances to make it in the NBA. But I would absolutely take into consideration what his future holds as a basketball player. And if RJ made some sacrifices and that was part of what brought Cadeau here, I don't think it's unreasonable to have RJ be the lead guard with the second unit when we're staggering our rotations. If it doesn't work, then you move to the next option.
I'm also not as high on Seth Trimble as you are.
CHIEF!
KJ, you just shared absolute truth !!! Yes, we have 3yrs of book on RJ as a PG, as a player he can for sure play at this level but as a PG... NO...
Very clearly you are not as high on Seth as I am, not sure why it was important to share that, I doubt anyone didn't realize that CHIEF!
I believe our UNC head coach should be focused exclusively on UNC winning basketball games, sorry if that is to old school for your taste. Last I checked RJ was just simply a basketball player, I have not heard he was elevated to head coach or athletics director and as such I really don't think our head coach should be begging for approval over who he brings in, what position he brings guys in to play, or how many minutes that incoming player should get. I mean hey, why waste money paying a coach what you want the players to do, right?
I will assure you of this much, Dean Smith never asked his players if it was OK to bring in another player, if it was OK to bring a big time freshman in. Did ya know that CHIEF?
C'mon y'all... there ain't but 3 starters we know for sure (barring injury or a sudden case of insanity amongst the staff) --- EC, RJ, MandoDaily Drop: With Cadeau On Board, What Will Be UNC's Starting 5?
In today's Drop, Jacob & AJ share their thoughts about what might be UNC's starting 5 next sesaon.
I thought Seth was relevant because it's him and RJ in your PG rotation. Without seeing a minute of any meaningful basketball next season, I'd be more comfortable with RJ at the PG over Seth for some of the second unit.
And I don't care if you're more old school. That's fine. I don't really care what Dean asked of his players either.
And jeeze, simply a basketball player? Doesn't sound like much of a family to me! Is this "The Carolina Way" everyone talks about?
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