Luke Maye to Draft?
- Thread starter mjrocks23
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Luis scored 44 points before and made rookie first team. He's a better scorer, and can create his shot better. Low post scoring is better and his mid-range jumper better.
But the game is trending away from low post scoring - certainly for undersized PFs (Scola measured a generous 6’8”, like Luke) and more towards spreading the court, where Luke excels.
I didn’t follow Scola’s career but I never heard he was a good defender. And I find it hard to believe Scola was a markedly better rebounder than Maye. Maye is fantastic on the boards.
He was very physical and athletic/affective in the paint, Luke struggles to finish against bigger guys on the college level.
I am going to stop, this is becoming like a free agent baseball arbitration case. Having to talk about deficiencies for a option that won't even be available anyway, for a key performer who is doing great in his current position. I wish Luke great success, just think it will be overseas if he continues after college.
Luis Scola was the 56th pick too. But Scola was a 12 and 7 guy for a 10 year career. I don't know if Maye does that. Plus Scola was a little bigger and had some of the best footwork in the post too.
Do you think Maye ball handle works for small ball 4? I understand the point you are saying. I’m not saying he can’t make a nba roster. I just think his weakness will keep him from making it.
Will LOVE to be wrong.
We should never doubt anything that Luke FREAKING Maye can do. Hell, he might up and grow 2” taller over the summer... just because.
Scola could defend his position in his prime averagely. Luke can't defend his position really in college. Need lateral quickness and that's probably Luke's weakness right now.
My other question mark with Luke is will he be a legitimate NBA 3-point shooter. He was really good distance shooting numbers in college but he's a pretty horrendous shooter for a player that has been over 40% from 3 the last 2 years. So it's puzzling why he's such a bad free throw shooter.
Is it a fact that he's 6'8" as well? I have a feeling that he's more 6'7" without much more on his wingspan... So he's the height of an NBA SF... He has the lateral quickness of an NBA Center... And he'll have to figure out a way to probably play PF in the NBA.
Lot to ask for. But dream big kid.
My other question mark with Luke is will he be a legitimate NBA 3-point shooter. He was really good distance shooting numbers in college but he's a pretty horrendous shooter for a player that has been over 40% from 3 the last 2 years. So it's puzzling why he's such a bad free throw shooter.
Is it a fact that he's 6'8" as well? I have a feeling that he's more 6'7" without much more on his wingspan... So he's the height of an NBA SF... He has the lateral quickness of an NBA Center... And he'll have to figure out a way to probably play PF in the NBA.
Lot to ask for. But dream big kid.
I hate this conversation because it invites us to have a negative conversation about a guy that has done nothing but positive things for Carolina, but the conversations about Luke and the NBA are unfair. He 100% will get a shot with a team somewhere along the line. I don't know if that means he gets a 10 day contract and some real NBA game experience, or an invite to training camp, or D-league experience, or whatever else it might mean. He's not getting drafted in the first round, and he's not a top 5 three point shooter in the NBA. Guys - just looking at percentages - Danny Green and Wayne Ellington aren't even top 40 three point shooters in the NBA. JJ Redick has the 20th best three point percentage. Steph Curry is 18th. Kevin Durant is 17th. Interestingly, Marvin Williams is top 10, with relatively high volume for a big guy at 190 attempts and .432 percentage in 52 games.
Let's just be realistic about Luke. He's going to be a Tar Heel legend forever, and we can all love him and simultaneously acknowledge that he's not a high level NBA draft prospect. He's undersized as a 4 and doesn't have the lateral quickness to be a small forward (imagine him matched up on Lebron or Paul George). He isn't at his best offensively against powerful bigs at this level, even though he fights hard every night and pretty regularly has solid games regardless. He's also not a shooting guard. Someone last week compared him to Kyle Korver - absolutely ridiculous. Kyle Korver has the 7th highest NBA/ABA career three point shooting percentage EVER (shout out to #2 - Hubert Davis).
Again, I, like presumably everyone on this board, LOVE Luke Maye. The last 3 years of Tar Heel basketball will always be some of my favorite years of all time, and Luke is one of the main reasons for my love of this era of our teams. I don't doubt that everyone else agrees with that statement. I think he can absolutely have an NBA career with the right team, because he will work his ass off, he has a high basketball IQ, and he is fundamentally sound in almost all areas of the game. He can shoot, rebound, pass, handle the ball pretty well for his size. I also think he can be coached to play solid defense, again, because he'll work hard and I believe he understands the fundamentals of team defense, which is a must at the NBA level (I know NBA-haters believe there is no defense in the NBA, but anyone who pays attention to the NBA knows that the defensive concepts in the NBA are legitimately phenomenal). All of this is to say, it's probably a 1/25 chance that the NBA pans out for him at best, and no one's taking him in the first round of the draft on those odds. Maybe a flyer in the second round, or maybe someone picks him up as a free agent and gives him a shot. Maybe he impresses in training camp, and maybe he just doesn't have it. Any of these outcomes are fine, and are not a negative reflection on Luke.
Let's just enjoy this year and next year, because we might never have another Tar Heel quite like Luke Maye ever again.
Let's just be realistic about Luke. He's going to be a Tar Heel legend forever, and we can all love him and simultaneously acknowledge that he's not a high level NBA draft prospect. He's undersized as a 4 and doesn't have the lateral quickness to be a small forward (imagine him matched up on Lebron or Paul George). He isn't at his best offensively against powerful bigs at this level, even though he fights hard every night and pretty regularly has solid games regardless. He's also not a shooting guard. Someone last week compared him to Kyle Korver - absolutely ridiculous. Kyle Korver has the 7th highest NBA/ABA career three point shooting percentage EVER (shout out to #2 - Hubert Davis).
Again, I, like presumably everyone on this board, LOVE Luke Maye. The last 3 years of Tar Heel basketball will always be some of my favorite years of all time, and Luke is one of the main reasons for my love of this era of our teams. I don't doubt that everyone else agrees with that statement. I think he can absolutely have an NBA career with the right team, because he will work his ass off, he has a high basketball IQ, and he is fundamentally sound in almost all areas of the game. He can shoot, rebound, pass, handle the ball pretty well for his size. I also think he can be coached to play solid defense, again, because he'll work hard and I believe he understands the fundamentals of team defense, which is a must at the NBA level (I know NBA-haters believe there is no defense in the NBA, but anyone who pays attention to the NBA knows that the defensive concepts in the NBA are legitimately phenomenal). All of this is to say, it's probably a 1/25 chance that the NBA pans out for him at best, and no one's taking him in the first round of the draft on those odds. Maybe a flyer in the second round, or maybe someone picks him up as a free agent and gives him a shot. Maybe he impresses in training camp, and maybe he just doesn't have it. Any of these outcomes are fine, and are not a negative reflection on Luke.
Let's just enjoy this year and next year, because we might never have another Tar Heel quite like Luke Maye ever again.
Luke would thrive in an offense like Golden State or Celtics where there is a lot perimeter play, screening, cutting etc. Luke has a nice long range jumpter, pull up mid range game, can get up and down the court. I think he has a shot in the right system and a GM will give him a shot I believe. Could he be a liability on defense on some nights? Sure. So many players in the NBA lack defense but have been able to hang around based on other skill sets they bring to the table.
IDK about Golden State. They asked their SFs and PFs to handle the ball and run point a lot. What is the reason you say Boston?
Luke has this season and next. Who the heck knows what he will surprise us with next?
Enjoy his time here, he's all Tar Heel.
Enjoy his time here, he's all Tar Heel.
It is enough for me that Luke "Bird" Maye is a Tar Heel legend! He is the definition of the Tar Heel Way and will be an example of hard work paying dividends for decades. To me, you measure greatness with lasting impact and few players have had more than him both on and off the court.
Can Slimy or ratty pull out any stories like Bird's to convince peeps like Maultsby, W. Miller, W. Miller II, D. Noel that UNC is the place to maximize your potential?
Thanks for the memories, Mr. Maye and I hope you live out your dreams!
Can Slimy or ratty pull out any stories like Bird's to convince peeps like Maultsby, W. Miller, W. Miller II, D. Noel that UNC is the place to maximize your potential?
Thanks for the memories, Mr. Maye and I hope you live out your dreams!
NO
Now, don't get me wrong. Luke has FAR exceeded expectations already...but to expect him to be able to compete in the NBA might be too much. We are talking whole other level, only 1% of college players make that level. Luke is undersized to play the 4 and doesn't have the lateral quickness to play against a NBA 3 (Durant, LeBron, George, Melo).
NO
Now, don't get me wrong. Luke has FAR exceeded expectations already...but to expect him to be able to compete in the NBA might be too much. We are talking whole other level, only 1% of college players make that level. Luke is undersized to play the 4 and doesn't have the lateral quickness to play against a NBA 3 (Durant, LeBron, George, Melo).
Man, I knew we were missing a white guy to compare to Luke Maye.
On a related note, I walked downstairs into my basement the other day where we have one of those basketball goals that hangs on the back of a door and my 6 year old was shooting on the goal like he does incessantly. And he likes to give his own commentary while he's shooting as if he's playing a televised game. It's awesome to watch and listen to. Anyway, I turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs and just as I did, my son shot the ball and I heard him say, "Kurt Rambis with the buzzer beater!" I laughed and laughed because (1) why would he design a play for Rambis to take the last shot and (2) HOW THE HELL DOES MY 6 YEAR OLD KNOW WHO KURT RAMBIS IS?
He's probably just watching 7th Heaven while you think he's playing basketball.
Another off season of hard work and another great year next year and you may eat your words
If Josh Harrelson can make a NBA roster, then I believe Luke Maye will at least get a chance and be picked up on a roster. Especially with the NBA game transforming into pace and space, there are only a handful of guys that are strictly post block to block scorers in the NBA anymore. You can’t tell me that Luke Maye wouldn’t flourish in the Warriors system.....not that he would get any playing time but a stretch 4 that shoots over 40% from 3 right now, with his incredible passing and iq, mixed with ability to dribble a basketball would be hard for a lot of late draft pick teams to pass up ala (Boston,GS, HOU).
PS: Draymond Green is 6'7
PS: Draymond Green is 6'7
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Wait wait wait...no one told me he could dribble a basketball. I take everything back, LOTTO PICK!
Your smart assness isn't going to fly here. Tell me 5 other players that play the 4 in the ACC that can start a fastbreak off the dribble..I'll wait. Not to mention you take the worst part of a good response without having anything intelligent to say about what else was stated.
Sure it will.
Bagley, Wilkins, Grantham, Adel, Chris Clarke, Brissett...I can name like 5 more if you'd like.
I'm honestly not going to start posting youtube videos to prove my point. They do, quite often. I watch a ton of ACC.
Yeah, these stretch 4's are sorta becoming a dime a dozen and they can all handle it better than the 4's we are used to.
That said, Luke is MUCH more polished than most of those guys I listed above.
You bring up a good point with Harrellson... There are dudes that have gotten drafted and gotten some run where everyone goes "Really?"
However, the Draymond thing isn't a comparison because of their height. Draymond could always defend basically all 5 positions.
I think Luke would have a better chance in the old school basketball because fewer PF's would have his skillset. Most PF's can shoot the ball today and the pace part of the NBA hurts Luke more than it helps him.
This^^^ Luke will forever be known as “Cat Killer Luke” and always be a legend to UNC fans but I don’t really see him making it in the NBA. I see him more as an overseas type player that does really well for himself and then comes back to Chapel Hill one day and joins the staff.
