Does Cliff G League it after this season?

[Morrischiano2]

To me this is one of the biggest questions after yesterday.

Will Cliff go to the G League to further work on his game? He will talk to RHJ about his journey after not getting drafted.

RHJ signed a two way deal with the Raptors. Between the G League and the 4 games in the NBA, he’ll make at least $500K this year.

 

[SBP]

He will go study with a Big Man coach this summer hopefully

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

I sure hope he returns.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

To me this is one of the biggest questions after yesterday.

Will Cliff go to the G League to further work on his game? He will talk to RHJ about his journey after not getting drafted.

RHJ signed a two way deal with the Raptors. Between the G League and the 4 games in the NBA, he’ll make at least $500K this year.

It's 50-50 because while we all want him back how much further is he really going to develop in college vs against professional on a daily basis where he's not worried about classes and other stuff.

The one thing for returning is his affinity towards the school, program and teammates. Working against his return are things like a real paycheck, professional coaching, better competition.

My guess is that he declares after the NIT is done.

 

[RUPete]

It's 50-50 because while we all want him back how much further is he really going to develop in college vs against professional on a daily basis where he's not worried about classes and other stuff.

The one thing for returning is his affinity towards the school, program and teammates. Working against his return are things like a real paycheck, professional coaching, better competition.

My guess is that he declares after the NIT is done.

This is a fair post. He may be leaning a certain way but may not be sure at this point. He is a very hard worker and could benefit from a full time focus on the game. Not sure where he is with his degree as I believe he is a good student.

 

[RUDiddy777]

It's 50-50 because while we all want him back how much further is he really going to develop in college vs against professional on a daily basis where he's not worried about classes and other stuff.

The one thing for returning is his affinity towards the school, program and teammates. Working against his return are things like a real paycheck, professional coaching, better competition.

My guess is that he declares after the NIT is done.

Plus he’ll have completed his degree. And I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being able to go home. Been a blessing to have Cliff, but if I were in his shoes, I don’t think I would come back.

Seems like he’d be a “slam dunk” for first team B1G next year, though I don’t know if that would help his draft stock.

 

[RUPete]

Plus he’ll have completed his degree. And I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being able to go home. Been a blessing to have Cliff, but if I were in his shoes, I don’t think I would come back.

Seems like he’d be a “slam dunk” for first team B1G next year, though I don’t know if that would help his draft stock.

Given his position, I just don’t know how high his stock will ever get in today’s NBA. If he continues to work on his D around the rim, shot blocking and finishing he could do well similar to Mitchell Robinson.

 

[Knightmoves]

It's 50-50 because while we all want him back how much further is he really going to develop in college vs against professional on a daily basis where he's not worried about classes and other stuff.

The one thing for returning is his affinity towards the school, program and teammates. Working against his return are things like a real paycheck, professional coaching, better competition.

My guess is that he declares after the NIT is done.

Good to hear that RHJ will make 500K this year, mostly because he got roster time in the NBA.

But if Cliff only plays in the G league next season with no NBA, then how much does he make, maybe 50K?

Keep in mind that the G league has Centers like Trevion Williams from Purdue, Luka Garza from Iowa and others that appear to be stalled at that level. How likely is it that Cliff will make an NBA roster next season?

 

[Perricone7]

I think cliff would be crazy to leave. For a variety of economic and social reasons. Frankly, I don’t know why everyone’s so confident he’s a lock for a g league spot at this time.

 

[HALL85]

This is where NIL May make it more lucrative for him to stay. If he’s that critical to the teams success and can get a $100k NIL deal, it might be worth it for him to stay vs risking getting less in the G league.

 

[RUmaz]

This is where NIL May make it more lucrative for him to stay. If he’s that critical to the teams success and can get a $100k NIL deal, it might be worth it for him to stay vs risking getting less in the G league.

Thought I saw somewhere he can’t get NIL money for himself due to his immigration status. He got something small this year but had to donate it. Hearing this could change but not a definite.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Given his position, I just don’t know how high his stock will ever get in today’s NBA. If he continues to work on his D around the rim, shot blocking and finishing he could do well similar to Mitchell Robinson.

He's so far from being an NBA player in everything but dunking it's tough to compare him to anyone. Maybe upside as a more athletic Kevon Looney but he's a long way from that.

I don't think he'd get a 2-way. Strictly G-league. Maybe not even last a full season. I love Cliff at Rutgers but he's really bad at most of the things NBA players have to be good at.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Thought I saw somewhere he can’t get NIL money for himself due to his immigration status. He got something small this year but had to donate it. Hearing this could change but not a definite.

He's on a student VISA. He can make NIL money when they travel overseas this summer. The student VISA/NIL thing is not going to change because it's not just an athlete thing it's ALL of the foreign students in the country on Student VISAs.

Cliff is Nigerian and education is SUPER important to Nigerians, hopefully that factors in and he works to get an advanced degree at Rutgers.

 

[GM]

If Derek becomes a legit PG or we get some PG in the portal, I think he could benefit a lot simply from that.

 

[MiloTalon13]

If Derek becomes a legit PG or we get some PG in the portal, I think he could benefit a lot simply from that.

I'd love to see his lob dunks numbers from this year and last - seemed like he got twice as many last year.
Griffiths will open up the floor for him to get more lobs too and I'm sure will throw him some too.

 

[RUPete]

He's so far from being an NBA player in everything but dunking it's tough to compare him to anyone. Maybe upside as a more athletic Kevon Looney but he's a long way from that.

I don't think he'd get a 2-way. Strictly G-league. Maybe not even last a full season. I love Cliff at Rutgers but he's really bad at most of the things NBA players have to be good at.

The thing is, when the Knicks drafted Robinson, he was raw as hell, but he had rim protector written all over him. I can see Cliff working his way into that and maybe better offensively. He has all the physical tools and work ethic.

 

[mikeyoc]

Good to hear that RHJ will make 500K this year, mostly because he got roster time in the NBA.

But if Cliff only plays in the G league next season with no NBA, then how much does he make, maybe 50K?

Keep in mind that the G league has Centers like Trevion Williams from Purdue, Luka Garza from Iowa and others that appear to be stalled at that level. How likely is it that Cliff will make an NBA roster next season?

Not based on what we know so far. Still learning the game. That's pretty obvious. Not a knock.
He only started playing at age 14.

 

[SBP]

Plus he’ll have completed his degree. And I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being able to go home. Been a blessing to have Cliff, but if I were in his shoes, I don’t think I would come back.

Seems like he’d be a “slam dunk” for first team B1G next year, though I don’t know if that would help his draft sto

You really think, objectively, he’s ready for even G League? It’s not a “teaching” league. He has a lot of work to do. He needs a big man coach. If TJD came back, think of what Cliff needs to do. His offensive game is a long way away. No knock, just observation. They don’t play D in the league… they score.. they have moves… dunking ain’t nothin, everyone dunks. So that said, he will probably declare, get eval, come back and work.

 

[NickRU714]

The student visa/no NIL is a real monkey wrench.

Can he even accept funds from an agent for pre-draft workouts expenses?
Even if he did declare and stay in the draft - how long does it take to switch his visa status?

 

[Yeah Baby]

He's so far from being an NBA player in everything but dunking it's tough to compare him to anyone. Maybe upside as a more athletic Kevon Looney but he's a long way from that.

I don't think he'd get a 2-way. Strictly G-league. Maybe not even last a full season. I love Cliff at Rutgers but he's really bad at most of the things NBA players have to be good at.

Best Defensive 6’11” guy Ive ever seen. He can guard 1-5. His defense is far superior to his dunking.

 

[Shelby65]

Not based on what we know so far. Still learning the game. That's pretty obvious. Not a knock.
He only started playing at age 14.

Disagree. He’s not ‘still learning’. Missing middle school ball is hardly an issue anymore. And he’s not going to get much better by now. I hope he comes back but basketball-wise there’s not much reason to.

 

[RU677381]

Were I he, I would declare, not get an agent, and get an evaluation. An earlier poster said, and I agree, that he would be better off concentrating full time on his game and not worrying about classes.

 

[RUDiddy777]

I think cliff would be crazy to leave. For a variety of economic and social reasons. Frankly, I don’t know why everyone’s so confident he’s a lock for a g league spot at this time.

You really think, objectively, he’s ready for even G League? It’s not a “teaching” league. He has a lot of work to do. He needs a big man coach. If TJD came back, think of what Cliff needs to do. His offensive game is a long way away. No knock, just observation. They don’t play D in the league… they score.. they have moves… dunking ain’t nothin, everyone dunks. So that said, he will probably declare, get eval, come back and work.

Agree with most of what you said. Think some of the teams do use their G League teams for development and if I were a GM, I might take a risk on someone with Cliffs measurables - 6-11 with point guard speed. Would think he could follow Harper to Toronto. He’s developing nicely there.

TJD is a fair comparison and you’re probably right. Id love for Cliff to come back, but if I had my degree, I wouldn’t want the distraction of class so that I could focus full time on my craft.

 

[RUDiddy777]

Disagree. He’s not ‘still learning’. Missing middle school ball is hardly an issue anymore. And he’s not going to get much better by now. I hope he comes back but basketball-wise there’s not much reason to.

He missed middle school and struggled to get on the court due to grades/school closing. Think he still has a good bit of room to develop, part of that is just going to be getting reps and reps and reps.

 

[Shelby65]

Agree to disagree. What you see is nearly the finished product. he doesn’t usually know where on the court he is when he makes a move, and if not by now…

 

[RUPete]

Agree to disagree. What you see is nearly the finished product. he doesn’t usually know where on the court he is when he makes a move, and if not by now…

Are you a coach? Not trying to be a smart ***. You seem to have coach observations. But I think part of Cliff’s problem on offense is when things get stagnant giving time for the double teams to come. It’s not entirely his fault.

 

[SBP]

Agree to disagree. What you see is nearly the finished product. he doesn’t usually know where on the court he is when he makes a move, and if not by now…

Could not be more wrong...surely you remember my man Roy Hinson...

 

[billgumpper]

Thought I saw somewhere he can’t get NIL money for himself due to his immigration status. He got something small this year but had to donate it. Hearing this could change but not a definite.

He cant keep any nil money.

 

[billgumpper]

Best Defensive 6’11” guy Ive ever seen. He can guard 1-5. His defense is far superior to his dunking.

Really, his post defense was awful against any half decent big man this season. Players 2 and 3 inches shorter than him were eating him alive.

 

[billgumpper]

Disagree. He’s not ‘still learning’. Missing middle school ball is hardly an issue anymore. And he’s not going to get much better by now. I hope he comes back but basketball-wise there’s not much reason to.

I dont see him improving either, he is what he is at this point.

 

[billgumpper]

Are you a coach? Not trying to be a smart ***. You seem to have coach observations. But I think part of Cliff’s problem on offense is when things get stagnant giving time for the double teams to come. It’s not entirely his fault.

Cliff's problem on offense is that outside of dunks he struggles to score.

 

[LETSGORU91_]

He cant keep any nil money.

Cliff needs to get a quickie marriage and start working to become a US citizen. During the process of becoming a U.S. citizen (which will take 3 to 8 years), he would be a conditional or permanent resident which allows him to live and work in the U.S. Ergo, he could then keep any and all NIL money and happily play at Rutgers with some loaded talent on the way. Easy, peasy. Get married Cliff.

 

[RUPete]

Cliff's problem on offense is that outside of dunks he struggles to score.

Not all the time. Does he need to polish his post game? No question, but he’s not clueless out there. Many times when he has issues it’s about being a little off where he posts up or starts his move. And it seems to be more at home when more adrenaline is involved.

 

[jerzeyguy]

I think he's out. Of course money talks, but it'll probably need to be alot. I wonder how much Trayce Jackson Davis got this year

 

[RUPete]

Cliff needs to get a quickie marriage and start working to become a US citizen. During the process of becoming a U.S. citizen (which will take 3 to 8 years), he would be a conditional or permanent resident which allows him to live and work in the U.S. Ergo, he could then keep any and all NIL money and happily play at Rutgers with some loaded talent on the way. Easy, peasy. Get married Cliff.

This has been a good discussion, let’s keep it that way.

 

[Shelby65]

Are you a coach? Not trying to be a smart ***. You seem to have coach observations. But I think part of Cliff’s problem on offense is when things get stagnant giving time for the double teams to come. It’s not entirely his fault.

Could not be more wrong...surely you remember my man Roy Hinson...

I do remember #32, and #20 before him. I remember them as better offensive players after 3 years. I think Cliff is a better defensive player.

 

[MiloTalon13]

He cant keep any nil money.

He can when Rutgers men's basketball takes its trip overseas this summer.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Cliff's problem on offense is that outside of dunks he struggles to score.

It's not just shooting, he doesn't set picks well other than ball screens, he's not a good passer, doesn't read situations well, forces up bad shots when doubled, turns it over when doubled, rarely kicks out offensive rebounds for 3's, he's unable to handle the ball at all, he can't really drive to the hoop from the perimeter, doesn't have great hands...
And getting better in the low post or getting more touches in the low post is not going to help him become an NBA player.

 

[Joey Bacala]

Hire Patrick Ewing as Cliff's personal tutor right now.

 

[MiloTalon13]

Hire Patrick Ewing as Cliff's personal tutor right now.

He has Ewing’s HS teammate