NBA mock drafts have...

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

Happy for Yax. Very hopeful we can scrape together money for at least one of Morez or Mara.

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

We kept Yax here one extra year. Maybe we can keep either Mara or Morez one more.

WolverineCasual said:

Happy for Yax. Very hopeful we can scrape together money for at least one of Morez or Mara.

I think Morez is gone .. Best comp , Bam Adebayo

Hot Take, I say Trey could be a 1st rd pick this year. He only keeps getting better.

djsjr5 said:

I think Morez is gone .. Best comp , Bam Adebayo

I'd take Mara!

WolverineCasual said:

I'd take Mara!

I’ll take both but better chance of Mara imo

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

You have to think that bigs would line up to play for Dusty. Yax played himself from borderline first to the lottery. I don't think Mara or Morez were even on draft boards to start the season and now they're getting first round grades...

Pump it up said:

We kept Yax here one extra year. Maybe we can keep either Mara or Morez one more.

I'd take Morez. Mara is a defensive dynamo but Morez has elite potential on offense in college. He could be a clear number one next year with McKinney and EC as the other primary options. Plus whoever we get in the portal of course.

JScholt said:

I'd take Morez. Mara is a defensive dynamo but Morez has elite potential on offense in college. He could be a clear number one next year with McKinney and EC as the other primary options. Plus whoever we get in the portal of course.

Ideally I'd also prefer Morez (although Mara's defensive presence is insane), but I agree it's less likely.

WolverineCasual said:

You have to think that bigs would line up to play for Dusty. Yax played himself from borderline first to the lottery. I don't think Mara or Morez were even on draft boards to start the season and now they're getting first round grades...

Yeah, I don’t think we’re gonna have issues finding a high caliber big through portal anytime soon.. these guys pay attention to what’s going on with our program

djsjr5 said:

Yeah, I don’t think we’re gonna have issues finding a high caliber big through portal anytime soon.. these guys pay attention to what’s going on with our program

Five draft-worthy bigs (four in the first round) over two years is pretty insane.

WolverineCasual said:

Five draft-worthy bigs (four in the first round) over two years is pretty insane.

Cadeau likely to be here too will be very attractive for bigs

franchise122 said:

Hot Take, I say Trey could be a 1st rd pick this year. He only keeps getting better.

I would not be surprised if that is the case but I think he comes back because he will get paid and I think he has the potential to be a Top 10 pick the following year.

djsjr5 said:

Cadeau likely to be here too will be very attractive for bigs

Not sure why but I think Cadeau might be a 1-and-done type player for us and potentially leave for some other place that would pay him boat loads of money.

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

Cason will really need to tighten up his handle and get more consistent with his shot.

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

I wish Mara and Johnson would stay one more year, but probably wishful thinking on my part.

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

How much PT was Mara getting at UCLA last season? ~15 minutes a game? Unreal development by Dusty.

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

I actually think that Morez is a more likely stay than Aday. This is NOT based on anything I have heard; rather, it is based on the relative possibilities of moving substantially up the following draft if they do. Morez is younger, and IF he expands his game to include a reliable 3 point shot, he could be a lottery pick in a weak ‘27 draft. By contrast, while Aday clearly has areas where he could improve, there is, IMO, a ceiling on where he can get drafted. Of course all this could change over the next few months, and might also be impacted by how each feels about the decision and perhaps more importantly, whether a first round pick is guaranteed instead of possible, or even likely. In today’s NIL world, if there is a chance you aren’t going to get taken in the first round, you come back. On the other hand, if those guys continue to move up boards, they will, and should, be gone. As to Trey and L.J., Trey may well make the league, But not after this year, and maybe not after ‘27 or early at all. Although he’s going to be a terrific college player, his athleticism is not great by NBA standards, and that might hurt him draft wise. L.J. has a long way to go. He’s very talented. He’s also very small for an NBA guard, and PG is not (at least yet) a natural position for him. Jace Richardson was, at the end of last year, way more productive than L.J. Is now, and he almost slipped out of the first round entirely for the very reasons described above.

MHoops1 said:

I actually think that Morez is a more likely stay than Aday. This is NOT based on anything I have heard; rather, it is based on the relative possibilities of moving substantially up the following draft if they do. Morez is younger, and IF he expands his game to include a reliable 3 point shot, he could be a lottery pick in a weak ‘27 draft. By contrast, while Aday clearly has areas where he could improve, there is, IMO, a ceiling on where he can get drafted. Of course all this could change over the next few months, and might also be impacted by how each feels about the decision and perhaps more importantly, whether a first round pick is guaranteed instead of possible, or even likely. In today’s NIL world, if there is a chance you aren’t going to get taken in the first round, you come back. On the other hand, if those guys continue to move up boards, they will, and should, be gone. As to Trey and L.J., Trey may well make the league, But not after this year, and maybe not after ‘27 or early at all. Although he’s going to be a terrific college player, his athleticism is not great by NBA standards, and that might hurt him draft wise. L.J. Has a long way to go. He’s very talented. He’s also very small for an NBA guard, and PG is not (at least yet) a natural position for him. Jace Richardson was, at the end of last year, way more productive than L.J. Is now, and he almost slipped out of the first round entirely for the very reasons described above.

I think Cason is getting thicker every month now. Hes really working in the weight room I think, esp his shoulders. Getting close to McKenney in a muscular look.

MHoops1 said:

I actually think that Morez is a more likely stay than Aday. This is NOT based on anything I have heard; rather, it is based on the relative possibilities of moving substantially up the following draft if they do. Morez is younger, and IF he expands his game to include a reliable 3 point shot, he could be a lottery pick in a weak ‘27 draft. By contrast, while Aday clearly has areas where he could improve, there is, IMO, a ceiling on where he can get drafted. Of course all this could change over the next few months, and might also be impacted by how each feels about the decision and perhaps more importantly, whether a first round pick is guaranteed instead of possible, or even likely. In today’s NIL world, if there is a chance you aren’t going to get taken in the first round, you come back. On the other hand, if those guys continue to move up boards, they will, and should, be gone. As to Trey and L.J., Trey may well make the league, But not after this year, and maybe not after ‘27 or early at all. Although he’s going to be a terrific college player, his athleticism is not great by NBA standards, and that might hurt him draft wise. L.J. has a long way to go. He’s very talented. He’s also very small for an NBA guard, and PG is not (at least yet) a natural position for him. Jace Richardson was, at the end of last year, way more productive than L.J. Is now, and he almost slipped out of the first round entirely for the very reasons described above.

Fair enough - having said that I think the NBA will bet on potential to get kids at a discount early and so I would not be surprised to see a team pick Morez somewhere in the 14-20 range of the draft just because his upside is so high. He can clearly shoot - needs more volume, is a great FT shooter and a bruiser with an NBA type body already. Barring a strong NIL contract I think he is gone - Mara (I am the opposite of you) I could see staying because bigs with his height will always get drafted and I am not sure he gains a lot by going now versus collecting some NIL money to come back another year and then going after that. Agree on Cason - very raw but yeah his game is sloppy at times. Trey is still a true freshman but he is just so savvy. I hear you that he may not be as athletic or fast as some of the NBA players but I can see him have an Eric Gordon/Marcus Smart type of role in the NBA and there is always room for those type of players (and Trey certainly seems to have the desire to play tough defense).

Amaizingblue said:

Cason will really need to tighten up his handle and get more consistent with his shot.

True - when he is on, he is on. When he is sloppy - oh boy.

CoolRunnings said:

Not sure why but I think Cadeau might be a 1-and-done type player for us and potentially leave for some other place that would pay him boat loads of money.

Possible.. you never know. Why I used my words carefully saying “likely”

CoolRunnings said:

Yaxel as a Top 15 pick now and both Mara and Morez going in the first rounds (in the 20s). All three probably very deserving. Mara will probably need some developing in the NBA (and he needs to drastically improve his FT shooting) but I think Morez and Yaxel certainly seem pretty NBA ready to me right now. Trey and Cason would probably be leaving in the 2027 draft - especially with the way Trey M plays right now already.

I agree with everything but Cason. I don’t think he will ever play in the NBA.

CoolRunnings said:

Fair enough - having said that I think the NBA will bet on potential to get kids at a discount early and so I would not be surprised to see a team pick Morez somewhere in the 14-20 range of the draft just because his upside is so high. He can clearly shoot - needs more volume, is a great FT shooter and a bruiser with an NBA type body already. Barring a strong NIL contract I think he is gone - Mara (I am the opposite of you) I could see staying because bigs with his height will always get drafted and I am not sure he gains a lot by going now versus collecting some NIL money to come back another year and then going after that. Agree on Cason - very raw but yeah his game is sloppy at times. Trey is still a true freshman but he is just so savvy. I hear you that he may not be as athletic or fast as some of the NBA players but I can see him have an Eric Gordon/Marcus Smart type of role in the NBA and there is always room for those type of players (and Trey certainly seems to have the desire to play tough defense).

I don't think Morez is done climbing . Before last summer, he wasn't on the NBA's radar . Lately he's flashed some things that really raise his ceiling . If he continues to build off of that .. he could be squarely in the middle of the first round . Mara I think is about as high as he's ever going to get . If he stays a potential late first rounder he probably needs to go - although I bet he ends up in the second round no matter what .