Joel Berry, will next season be his last for us?

[DSouthr]

WE kind of touched on this topic in some other threads but maybe it deserves its own discussion. many and heck IDK maybe most, feel that next season is likely Joel;s last with us and because of that consideration that Roy really needs to bring in a pg from this 2017 class. Now me I stand outside of that box, I am not convinced Joel will enter the draft after next season. And because I don't think we will lose Joel after next season I am not nearly as paniced about the need to get a PG in this 2017 class.

SB nation had their 2017 first round mock draft picks that I reviewed this morning. Joel was not on their 1st round list but guys like Ball, Fox, Dennis Smith, and I think the kid that picked Arizona were. IN addition, there were several 2 guards that are much more likely to end up being PGs in the NBA, like Jackson and Adkins, Allen, Monk ect. You have to ask yourself, how many PG will be drafted? Joel is smallish by NBA standards, they now want that 6'5" pg with solid ball handles, heck they play wings and at times power forwards at the point in the NBA now days. So assuming our 6'0 kid is a lock for the next draft IMO at least is not an assumption I can make at this point.

The next draft is already being hyped as maybe the deepest in the last 10yrs and to some one of the deepest ever. A draft as deep as that is not typically a draft that is safe for a border line (if by nothing other than perception) PG to enter. Who knows what the 2018 draft will shape up to be but it does not look like it will be nearly as deep as 2017 and especially for PGs.

I am not knocking Joel at all but the timing IMO is not great for him to be looking at entering the 2017 draft. IMO Joel will be as good a PG as you will find in the college game next season but there was not a better big man than Brice last season and even in a weak draft he fell to the 25th pick, Brogden fell out of the first round and Marcus fell to pick #55, Ulis fell to second round, how about Yogi. That was in what was widely considered a weak draft, imagine what would have happened had it been a very strong draft like the 2017 one is rounding out to be? Note, the PGs that went in the lotto were LONG PGs, guys that fit the long PG desire that the NBA has now days.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I am just going to enjoy the heck out of JB this year. This kid is one of the toughest Heels in quite some time. I Love his competitiveness and leadership and believe he will be one of the top PGs in the nation.

His pro prospects???? I have no idea really and just want him to stay healthy and tear it up in the upcoming season.

 

[trestyles]

He ate d jackson from ND lunch twice this year. D Jackson was considered a lotto pick, but dropped to the 2nd round. We never know with the NBA on draft night.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

1. With normal year-to-year improvement, Joel should be in good shape to enter the draft if he wants to.

2. I'd put it a little under 50-50 for now that he wants to. Hard to read the kid, but nothing I've seen makes me think he feels any urgency to leave.

3. It will be his team next year. If he leads it to a Final Four - which is plausible, but a lot of questions still have to be answered - he may feel he's learned what he needs to learn and has proved what he needs to prove. Yes, we got even further this past season but that wasn't really "his" team. So that matters.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Joel is short and, as DSouthr pointed out, the pros seem to want long PGs these days.

But they also want PGs who prove they can take charge and run a team. That's where Joel may be able to move up. This is the year he gets to prove that.

 

[gary-7]

WE kind of touched on this topic in some other threads but maybe it deserves its own discussion. many and heck IDK maybe most, feel that next season is likely Joel;s last with us and because of that consideration that Roy really needs to bring in a pg from this 2017 class. Now me I stand outside of that box, I am not convinced Joel will enter the draft after next season. And because I don't think we will lose Joel after next season I am not nearly as paniced about the need to get a PG in this 2017 class.

SB nation had their 2017 first round mock draft picks that I reviewed this morning. Joel was not on their 1st round list but guys like Ball, Fox, Dennis Smith, and I think the kid that picked Arizona were. IN addition, there were several 2 guards that are much more likely to end up being PGs in the NBA, like Jackson and Adkins, Allen, Monk ect. You have to ask yourself, how many PG will be drafted? Joel is smallish by NBA standards, they now want that 6'5" pg with solid ball handles, heck they play wings and at times power forwards at the point in the NBA now days. So assuming our 6'0 kid is a lock for the next draft IMO at least is not an assumption I can make at this point.

The next draft is already being hyped as maybe the deepest in the last 10yrs and to some one of the deepest ever. A draft as deep as that is not typically a draft that is safe for a border line (if by nothing other than perception) PG to enter. Who knows what the 2018 draft will shape up to be but it does not look like it will be nearly as deep as 2017 and especially for PGs.

I am not knocking Joel at all but the timing IMO is not great for him to be looking at entering the 2017 draft. IMO Joel will be as good a PG as you will find in the college game next season but there was not a better big man than Brice last season and even in a weak draft he fell to the 25th pick, Brogden fell out of the first round and Marcus fell to pick #55, Ulis fell to second round, how about Yogi. That was in what was widely considered a weak draft, imagine what would have happened had it been a very strong draft like the 2017 one is rounding out to be? Note, the PGs that went in the lotto were LONG PGs, guys that fit the long PG desire that the NBA has now days.

Damn you, Dave

Seriously, none of that stuff is gonna be any mitigating factor. There's nothing that says the NBA wants "long" PGs. Chris Paul, Steph Curry and others would beg to differ. Some do, some don't --- it depends on the team... and more importantly, that's a factor that won't change whether he comes out as a Junior or Senior.

Here's the reality: Unlike so many "prospects', JB went out on the court and showed what's up. More importantly, he went out there in MARCH and showed what's up. When you win the Everett Case and score 20 in the Natty game, on top of being the best all-around PG in the ACC, now comes the notoriety. When I'm bored I've scanned some college basketball stories from other sites and teams and Joel Berry is now the name most associated with UNC. Count on him being preseason 1st team All-ACC, prominently mentioned on the Cousy watch, and likely on Wooden watch, etc, etc.

Trust me, and I don't hafta to tell you this, nobody wants JB to stay all 4 years more than me. We are watching, no longer the next, but the current great Carolina PG (and I SMH incredulously at those who still don't get that, but that's a whole 'nuther thread ). There's a chance he stays --- JB and his dad have things in perspective and have never been in a hurry, BUT... If he has the kind of season we hope he does all bets are off... and if we win it all on top of that? We can unfortunately likely say "Fuggettaboutit"...

 

[Archer2]

At his height, and not possessing blazing speed, I think he's a four year guy. At least, that's what I hope.

 

[trestyles]

Short PGs to name a few besides Ty Lawson. Apologize for spelling

DJ Augustine
Patrick Beverly
Trey Burke
Eric Bledsose
Isiah Cannan
Darren Collison
Shane Larkin
Shabazz Naiper
Phil Pressy
Ish Smith
Isiah Thomas
Kemba Walker

 

[gary-7]

At his height, and not possessing blazing speed, I think he's a four year guy. At least, that's what I hope.

Arch I know you are kidding about the speed. JB plays umder control but when he turns on the jets everyone else looks like they're standing stll. Jes sayin...

 

[Archer2]

Ty had blazing speed. Joel is fast but not what I would consider blazing speed. I think that if he has a great year he could go, but I could easily see him returning too.

 

[Steat]

Damn you, Dave

Seriously, none of that stuff is gonna be any mitigating factor. There's nothing that says the NBA wants "long" PGs. Chris Paul, Steph Curry and others would beg to differ. Some do, some don't --- it depends on the team... and more importantly, that's a factor that won't change whether he comes out as a Junior or Senior.

Here's the reality: Unlike so many "prospects', JB went out on the court and showed what's up. More importantly, he went out there in MARCH and showed what's up. When you win the Everett Case and score 20 in the Natty game, on top of being the best all-around PG in the ACC, now comes the notoriety. When I'm bored I've scanned some college basketball stories from other sites and teams and Joel Berry is now the name most associated with UNC. Count on him being preseason 1st team All-ACC, prominently mentioned on the Cousy watch, and likely on Wooden watch, etc, etc.

Trust me, and I don't hafta to tell you this, nobody wants JB to stay all 4 years more than me. We are watching, no longer the next, but the current great Carolina PG (and I SMH incredulously at those who still don't get that, but that's a whole 'nuther thread ). There's a chance he stays --- JB and his dad have things in perspective and have never been in a hurry, BUT... If he has the kind of season we hope he does all bets are off... and if we win it all on top of that? We can unfortunately likely say "Fuggettaboutit"...

Gary, I agree with you 200%. If Berry would not have gotten hurt in the title game, he may have gone for 30+ and the outcome could have been different. Many don't realize that he got hurt early in the second half and was not the same player. I watched every minute of the 2 allumni games this summer and Joel was the only current player that was on the level of the former players. At times, he was toying with the former players. Joel may average 20+ points a game next season.

 

[trestyles]

Ty had blazing speed. Joel is fast but not what I would consider blazing speed. I think that if he has a great year he could go, but I could easily see him returning too.

Trey Burke didn't have blazing speed fyi. Shabazz Napier either. It's not a requirement if you are short for the nba. As long as you can put the ball in the basket, and berry knows how to do that. Like Marshall said he only needs to worked on making his teammates better.

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

Boys, JB is the toughest, best PG we've had since '05--no disrespect but he'll chase Mr. Felton--by the way, welcome, Jalek!!! Wooooooo!

 

[Ozheelfan]

Let's just say if JB has nothing to stay in school for we'd all be happy.

 

[Bubspub88]

gotta love the off season - can we pin this for when he has a bad game and some are asking for Britt to run point

 

[gary-7]

Gary, I agree with you 200%. If Berry would not have gotten hurt in the title game, he may have gone for 30+ and the outcome could have been different. Many don't realize that he got hurt early in the second half and was not the same player. I watched every minute of the 2 allumni games this summer and Joel was the only current player that was on the level of the former players. At times, he was toying with the former players. Joel may average 20+ points a game next season.

I still haven't seen the first alum game but someone I know who did said pretty much the same thing.about JB.

 

[Steat]

I still haven't seen the first alum game but someone I know who did said pretty much the same thing.about JB.

I will see if I can dig it out. It's on You Tube....

 

[DSouthr]

Damn you, Dave

Seriously, none of that stuff is gonna be any mitigating factor. There's nothing that says the NBA wants "long" PGs. Chris Paul, Steph Curry and others would beg to differ. Some do, some don't --- it depends on the team... and more importantly, that's a factor that won't change whether he comes out as a Junior or Senior.

Here's the reality: Unlike so many "prospects', JB went out on the court and showed what's up. More importantly, he went out there in MARCH and showed what's up. When you win the Everett Case and score 20 in the Natty game, on top of being the best all-around PG in the ACC, now comes the notoriety. When I'm bored I've scanned some college basketball stories from other sites and teams and Joel Berry is now the name most associated with UNC. Count on him being preseason 1st team All-ACC, prominently mentioned on the Cousy watch, and likely on Wooden watch, etc, etc.

Trust me, and I don't hafta to tell you this, nobody wants JB to stay all 4 years more than me. We are watching, no longer the next, but the current great Carolina PG (and I SMH incredulously at those who still don't get that, but that's a whole 'nuther thread ). There's a chance he stays --- JB and his dad have things in perspective and have never been in a hurry, BUT... If he has the kind of season we hope he does all bets are off... and if we win it all on top of that? We can unfortunately likely say "Fuggettaboutit"...

Damn you back

My friend, nothing says the NBA wants "long" Pgs now days other than their actions...As in note the PGs taken in this last draft... Now gary, you know as well as I do the NBAs new thing is players that play multiple positions, they are very consistently now days taking college 2 guards with more length than the typical PG and turning him in to a NBA PG. Steph Curry, OK, but are we now suggesting that Joel is the deadly shooter that Curry is? Fact is and you got to agree, Curry is GSWs starting PG for one reason and one reason only and that is his 3pt shooting ability, he is a defensive liability. And when Curry leaves the game, what lil small PG came in for him, Livingston? LOL

A factor that will change that decision to come out or not will be does he even have a guarenteed 2nd round spot? No offense to Joel but there are simply put other PGs that will be taken ahead of him as well as some 2 guards in college that will be drafted to play the point in the NBA. You have to ask yourself, how many guys will be drafted in the next draft to play PG and if 5 or 6 guys are drafted to play the point before Joel's name is called it gets real dicey if his name would be called and I don't think Joel will leave unless he at very least is assured of a second round spot. Right now I don't think it is safe to assume he is a guarenteed 2nd rounder.

 

[DSouthr]

I still haven't seen the first alum game but someone I know who did said pretty much the same thing.about JB.

Not a dig toward any player but I want to caution folks not to read to much in to those alum games. They were glorified pick up games. I mean you can notice how a player shoots form wise, as in the case of Theo, but there was very little intensity in those games from either side.

I understand we are all starved at this point for insite on our players because it seems like forever now since we last saw them play and forever before we can see them again and with these couple bones we can tend to conclude way to much from and I just want to throw out a caution about that.

 

[Archer2]

Let's just say if JB has nothing to stay in school for we'd all be happy.

Indeed Oz.

But I have to be honest when I say that this team has more question marks than last year's team. The seniors will be sorely missed. Brice's numbers, in particular, will be hard to replace. He was a walking double double last year, something that is invaluable to a team that struggles from the perimeter. And while Isaiah may be capable of that if he can play 30 MPG, he hasn't shown that he can govern his penchant for fouling enough to do that. I'm praying it clicks for him this year, much as it did for Brice who had the same issue until midway through his junior year.

Back to the thread, one of the givens of next year's team is that Joel will be very solid, if not spectacular. We are in good hands there. I just hope he doesn't feel too much pressure to be "the man" and think that he has to score a bunch of points every game. If JJ and Isaiah can both average 15 PPG like I know they can, again barring foul issues with Isaiah, he won't feel like he has to carry the load. I really think we need all three to average 15+PPG in order for us to return to the Final Four. If they do and Kennedy chips in 10 PPG, that leaves the rest of our guys to chip in 25 PPG in order for us to reach 80 PPG, a benchmark that would suffice to put pressure on any team we play. I think Theo and our bench are capable of providing 25 PPG.

Joel, JJ, and Isaiah are going to have to lead this team, night in and night out. And perhaps Theo as well, I certainly think he's among our four most crucial guys.

And as Dave said, there was very little defense in the alumni games. I saw a few things that made me very happy(the play of Joel/JJ/Tony), and some that disappointed me(Theo's jumper and many missed wide open treys). Can't wait to see the entire team to get a better idea of what we've got.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

A factor that will change that decision to come out or not will be does he even have a guarenteed 2nd round spot? No offense to Joel but there are simply put other PGs that will be taken ahead of him as well as some 2 guards in college that will be drafted to play the point in the NBA.

That's an interesting way to think about it. So I went to my usual mock draft sites to see what PGs and combos they were projecting in the 2nd round. Some of these guys are familiar names, so they give us a chance to compare JoelB against known quantities (with the obvious caveat that we don't know how much any of them will improve this coming year).

2ND ROUND PGs and COMBOS on NBA Draft.net

31 Aaron Holiday (SO) 6'1
40 Melo Trimble (JR) 6'2
51 Frank Mason (SR) 5'11
52 EC Matthews (SR - Combo) 6'5
56 Rodney Purvis (SR - Combo) 6'4
59 Diego Flaccadori (Italy) 6'4

Where would JoelB slot in among that group? I'm thinking he should be in the upper half - at least. Trimble and Mason are players we've seen and he compares favorably, imo.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

2ND ROUND PGs and COMBOS on DraftExpress

35 Malik Newman (SO) 6'4
46 Isaiah Briscoe (SO - Combo) 6'3
52 Devonte Graham (JR) 6'2

It's interesting to note that there is ZERO 2nd round agreement between these 2 mock draft sites at this stage in the guessing.

 

[Archer2]

It's a pretty subjective thing at this point, WWJD. Interesting though.

 

[HeelFan58]

The more important thing is who will make a team and the ones that do will they ride the end of the bench(great job if you can get it). The long PG's and SG's go quickly. The new thinkers put a large amount of emphasis on wing span and reach so a 6'3" guy with long arms can also meet the bill.

 

[DSouthr]

I looked at several sites for 2017 projections, NBA draft room did not show Joel in the second round, most did not show more than the 1st round but he was not listed in any of them. Chad Ford, who is pretty good had Joel listed at 61, I think it was. Of course Joel can rise in the standings but as of right now he is not projected as a 1st or 2nd round selection in any mock I seem able to find.

But...a lot of LONG PGs or 2 guards that will be converted to the point are listed in the first and second rounds...

 

[soap - new and improved]

Gary, I agree with you 200%. If Berry would not have gotten hurt in the title game, he may have gone for 30+ and the outcome could have been different. Many don't realize that he got hurt early in the second half and was not the same player. I watched every minute of the 2 allumni games this summer and Joel was the only current player that was on the level of the former players. At times, he was toying with the former players. Joel may average 20+ points a game next season.

I took a few weeks off after the Title game. What type injury did Joel have, and what point (time) in the game did it occur?

 

[trestyles]

I always don't count all freshmen on mock drafts as well. Just 3 seasons ago both the harrison twins was a top 10 pick on everyone Mock before their Fr. year. Last year Malik Newman and Isiah Briscoe was top 15 picks for PGs on mock drafts. PJ Dozier was first round as well.

I know it's okay to reference them to get a good feel, but when nbadraft.net had Joel James a #6 pick before his Soph or Jr. season, you just can't take them serious.

 

[DSouthr]

I took a few weeks off after the Title game. What type injury did Joel have, and what point (time) in the game did it occur?

He caught an ankle early in the second half of that game and was clearly effected by it. Sucked considering he has a strong first half for us. He wore a boot for a week or 2 after that game but is good to go now.

 

[heelmanwilm]

Yes


No


I dont know

 

[soap - new and improved]

He caught an ankle early in the second half of that game and was clearly effected by it. Sucked considering he has a strong first half for us. He wore a boot for a week or 2 after that game but is good to go now.

Thank you for the info David. I knew he had a comparatively lesser 2nd half, wasn't aware of the injury.

 

[gary-7]

I looked at several sites for 2017 projections, NBA draft room did not show Joel in the second round, most did not show more than the 1st round but he was not listed in any of them. Chad Ford, who is pretty good had Joel listed at 61, I think it was. Of course Joel can rise in the standings but as of right now he is not projected as a 1st or 2nd round selection in any mock I seem able to find.

But...a lot of LONG PGs or 2 guards that will be converted to the point are listed in the first and second rounds...

Dave, I'm afraid you're whistlin' in the graveyard, brother.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I looked at several sites for 2017 projections, NBA draft room did not show Joel in the second round, most did not show more than the 1st round but he was not listed in any of them. Chad Ford, who is pretty good had Joel listed at 61, I think it was. Of course Joel can rise in the standings but as of right now he is not projected as a 1st or 2nd round selection in any mock I seem able to find.

But...a lot of LONG PGs or 2 guards that will be converted to the point are listed in the first and second rounds...

My guess, when I didn't see Joel in those mocks, was that they don't think he'll enter, not that they dismiss his ability.

Then again, the 2016 team was not his team. It was Marcus and Brice's team. Which is to say that Joel may not be strongly on everybody's radar . . . yet.

The 2017 team will belong to Joel and Justin. And in Roy's usual scheme - emphasizing point and front line - that means it will be Joel's team. If he is as good as we think he will be, he'll get plenty of attention.

 

[gary-7]

My guess, when I didn't see Joel in those mocks, was that they don't think he'll enter, not that they dismiss his ability.

Then again, the 2016 team was not his team. It was Marcus and Brice's team. Which is to say that Joel may not be strongly on everybody's radar . . . yet.

The 2017 team will belong to Joel and Justin. And in Roy's usual scheme - emphasizing point and front line - that means it will be Joel's team. If he is as good as we think he will be, he'll get plenty of attention.

He will indeed. I'll say it straight out --- JB is just better than any of those projected PG entries on that draft list.

Again, selfishly I wish he could stay for 3 more years, much less 2 ... we kinda got cheated out of what should have been a bigger freshman season (I won't rehash that sore subject, but...), but at least we'll get one more season out of him than we got with Butter.

Another factor that has just reared its head is the new NBA salary cap... and trust me these kids can't help but notice. In fact...


JB has his head on straight and his first goal is gonna be to lead this team to the promised land, and if that's gonna happen it will require a big season from #2. After that I'll wish he stays, but if not, then I'll become a fan of whatever NBA team is smart enough to snag him.

 

[DSouthr]

He will indeed. I'll say it straight out --- JB is just better than any of those projected PG entries on that draft list.

Again, selfishly I wish he could stay for 3 more years, much less 2 ... we kinda got cheated out of what should have been a bigger freshman season (I won't rehash that sore subject, but...), but at least we'll get one more season out of him than we got with Butter.

Another factor that has just reared its head is the new NBA salary cap... and trust me these kids can't help but notice. In fact...

View embedded media

JB has his head on straight and his first goal is gonna be to lead this team to the promised land, and if that's gonna happen it will require a big season from #2. After that I'll wish he stays, but if not, then I'll become a fan of whatever NBA team is smart enough to snag him.

All I am saying is it is not a a guaranteed done deal that next season will be his last with us. Can it be, absolutely, just saying it is not yet in stone either way. Let's say Joel leads us to a similar season as we had last season, final 4 or better then I would say the chances of a senior season are slim, and likely none if we were to win it all. BUT, what if we do not have that great a season, what if we don't win the ACC and drop out in the sweet 16. To compound things what if that occurs and Roy snags a couple of very high profile big men from this 2017 class, all the sudden that he is gone could look like, well maybe not.

I think it is important to understand, just because a kid plays great in a season of college ball does not mean the NBA will jump for him and that IMO is especially so for a guard that is not exceeding the metrics for his position. Look at Yogi, a darn good college guard, look at Perentes a darn good college guard. All the talking heads were pimping Ulis last season and he fell hard to the second round in a much weaker draft than we will see in 2017. Knowing these things I honestly do not understand how it is that so many feel it is as close to 100% that he is gone after next season?

I love Joel Berry's game, I may be the guy that stuck the key in that cranked the Joel Berry band wagon up to begin with. But I am taking off my Tar Heel blinders and looking at reality of who the NBA is drafting and why. And that reality is that as of right now the NBA is not looking at Joel as a guy they are looking to draft in the next draft, the mock drafts do not show that they do, not right now, that can change but many are talking here as if it is a done deal.

I look at guys that are similar length wise in kemba walker and Ty Jones, both cashed in on leading their teams to nattys and then rode that high to a nice NBA draft position. But had their teams flamed out in the sweet 16 would they have been drafted where they were, I strongly doubt it, don't know where they would have been drafted nor does anyone else but we do know that they got a strong pop for leading their teams to the natty. And by the way, either of those guys really taking the NBA by storm today?

You guys already know that the NBA drafts potential over production and players that exceed the standard height and length measures for their position are deemed to have more potential. I don't have to agree that to be smart to realize it is how the NBA seems to want to do things. There is a ton that the NBA does that to me is straight up dumb but off the top I would think they would value production, proven production at the college level over the maybe of potential but they don't, else Brice would have been sitting in the green room and would not have been sitting in there long before he heard his name called. Brogden darn sure would not have been a second rounder but close to if not well in the lotto but that isn't what we saw nor what we should expect to see.

 

[ChiShankCity]

He will indeed. I'll say it straight out --- JB is just better than any of those projected PG entries on that draft list.

Again, selfishly I wish he could stay for 3 more years, much less 2 ... we kinda got cheated out of what should have been a bigger freshman season (I won't rehash that sore subject, but...), but at least we'll get one more season out of him than we got with Butter.

Another factor that has just reared its head is the new NBA salary cap... and trust me these kids can't help but notice. In fact...

View embedded media

JB has his head on straight and his first goal is gonna be to lead this team to the promised land, and if that's gonna happen it will require a big season from #2. After that I'll wish he stays, but if not, then I'll become a fan of whatever NBA team is smart enough to snag him.

First off, I think Berry is a better prospect than Paige. Berry is better built and the NBA season is an 82 game grinder. His body can deal with it more. I think Berry's limited versatility will really hurt him and UNC PG's aren't translating all that great in the NBA. Ty had an elite NBA skill that you can't teach in his speed. Joel doesn't have an elite NBA unteachable skill. And typically those guards haven't translated well.

The salary cap may change in June 2017. That's when the CBA contract ends and the owners ALWAYS win in those battles so I'm assuming there will be a few significant changes to the salary structure. Also, the rookie scale hasn't increased despite player salaries increasing. The rookies have always gotten screwed. So the salary structure when Joel is draft eligible is really irrelevant right now because no one knows what it's going to be.

The other factor is next year's draft is apparently loaded. There's more 5 star incoming freshman than in typical seasons. Then you factor in the surprise 5 freshman who play above their ranking who will get drafted pretty high. It might be tough for Joel to hear his name called.

NBA comp wise... DJ Augustin. Couple years he averaged 15pts/6ast. Just made 29 million on a contract. I don't see Joel being a starter like Augustin was. But seems like that's a reasonable comparison if Joel maxes out.

 

[gary-7]

First off, I think Berry is a better prospect than Paige. Berry is better built and the NBA season is an 82 game grinder. His body can deal with it more. I think Berry's limited versatility will really hurt him and UNC PG's aren't translating all that great in the NBA. Ty had an elite NBA skill that you can't teach in his speed. Joel doesn't have an elite NBA unteachable skill. And typically those guards haven't translated well.

The salary cap may change in June 2017. That's when the CBA contract ends and the owners ALWAYS win in those battles so I'm assuming there will be a few significant changes to the salary structure. Also, the rookie scale hasn't increased despite player salaries increasing. The rookies have always gotten screwed. So the salary structure when Joel is draft eligible is really irrelevant right now because no one knows what it's going to be.

The other factor is next year's draft is apparently loaded. There's more 5 star incoming freshman than in typical seasons. Then you factor in the surprise 5 freshman who play above their ranking who will get drafted pretty high. It might be tough for Joel to hear his name called.

NBA comp wise... DJ Augustin. Couple years he averaged 15pts/6ast. Just made 29 million on a contract. I don't see Joel being a starter like Augustin was. But seems like that's a reasonable comparison if Joel maxes out.

JB can absolutely equal and/or exceed what Augustine did. Obviously it has to be the right situation but JB is WAY more versatile than many fans realize. He has increased his shooting range and efficacy, he can run an offense, has tremendous floor and spacing awareness, he can defend bigger players, can finish over and around bigger players, can create his own shot and has a deadly mid-range game... and it doesn't hurt that he's strong as a bull.

As one of our players (who is now a senior) put it a while back, "People still have no idea what Berry can do. Just wait". Ray Felton has attested to that as well. Again, the NBA is a crap-shoot --- especially for a Guard --- and SO much depends on who drafts you and what their roster/contracts look like. There are a lotta guys with starters ability who end up as journeymen, but JB at least has a legit shot. I want JB playing PG for UNC as long as we can keep him, but ultimately either way I hope he makes what turns out to be the right decision for his future. I just hope to enjoy the hell outta this season!

 

[Archer2]

Me too, Gary. I plan on enjoying next season to the fullest, as I do every season. I feel blessed to have been a UNC fan for 55 years and to have enjoyed the players and the staff we've had for so long.

 

[shun1]

Me too, Gary. I plan on enjoying next season to the fullest, as I do every season. I feel blessed to have been a UNC fan for 55 years and to have enjoyed the players and the staff we've had for so long.

Hi Archer2, you are my kind of fan.

!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TAR HEELS !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DSouthr]

Me too, Gary. I plan on enjoying next season to the fullest, as I do every season. I feel blessed to have been a UNC fan for 55 years and to have enjoyed the players and the staff we've had for so long.

"AS I DO EVERY SEASON" !

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

"AS I DO EVERY SEASON" !

Yep. Even though most teams drive me nuts a few times each season.

I became a Heels fan in the mid 1960s. It's hard to imagine a more rewarding team to have followed over that long time period. Is there one?

I wish my stock market picks were as good.