Bradshaw to begin practicing

[Joneslab]

I think what we're going to see out of Bradshaw is a very high motor. When he gets in there and gets comfortable he's going to be a much different type of player than those mentioned. The poster brought up Camara and Stevenson and those guys...well, those players were maybe built the same but didn't have the energy Bradshaw plays with, at least the couple times I saw him.

You just don't know how much he got behind because of the injury. You also never know how big guys are going to gel with the team.

[George]

The poster brought up Camara and Stevenson and those guys...

Lazy comparisons. Unless he turns out to be a complete bust, Bradshaw brings a skillset that similarly-built guys in the Tubby and BCG eras wouldn’t have even pretended to possess.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I think what we're going to see out of Bradshaw is a very high motor. When he gets in there and gets comfortable he's going to be a much different type of player than those mentioned. The poster brought up Camara and Stevenson and those guys...well, those players were maybe built the same but didn't have the energy Bradshaw plays with, at least the couple times I saw him.

You just don't know how much he got behind because of the injury. You also never know how big guys are going to gel with the team.

I can tell you right now based on the 13 minutes we saw that he's hell bent on standing outside on that 3 point line and waiting on a kick out.

If he's a sniper from outside great but if not, only use is if he's pulling out a big like Dickinson out of the paint...

[KentuckyWild2020]

Lazy comparisons. Unless he turns out to be a complete bust, Bradshaw brings a skillset that similarly-built guys in the Tubby and BCG eras wouldn’t have even pretended to possess.

Not lazy comparisons at all. Since Durant come out of college every player who's tall slim and can shoot a three is now considered the next big thing. Even if there are not teams are afraid to draft and pass up players like that. By no means is Camara or Stephenson like Durant but let's hope that Bradshaw can actually be different by shooting the ball from the outside and also putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim, he aint posting or backing anyone down that has size...

[Jeff ROCKober]

I will take the stats that Marquis Estill brought to Kentucky during the Tubby era. Bradshaw is bigger for sure and likely more athletic. I am hoping he can be a good defender. His true test will come soon against North Carolina.

[Joneslab]

We need rebounding most of all so if Bradshaw can get in there and get a few tough rebounds he can help just based solely on that.

Don't think he'll take enough threes to matter a whole lot one way or the other.

Basically I just hope he can stay healthy because Mitchell is playing too many minutes and eventually he'll just get too worn down.

[George]

Not lazy comparisons at all. Since Durant come out of college every player who's tall slim and can shoot a three is now considered the next big thing. Even if there are not teams are afraid to draft and pass up players like that. By no means is Camara or Stephenson like Durant but let's hope that Bradshaw can actually be different by shooting the ball from the outside and also putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim, he aint posting or backing anyone down that has size...

But you didn’t compare him to Durant; you compared him to Camara and Stephenson just because all three are tall and skinny.

[KentuckyWild2020]

But you didn’t compare him to Durant; you compared him to Camara and Stephenson just because all three are tall and skinny.

Because it's true. Why do you think Ivisic is already projected 1st or 2nd round if he never steps foot on a college court.

Again, none of these players are going to be Durant because they don't have the handles at that size.

Still teams gamble and draft bigs who can spread the floor even if it's not warranted, they don't want to be the team who missed in case one does actually pan out..

Calipari did not do himself any favors by having Davis and Towns inside instead of spreading the floor and utilizing all skills. I am 100% convinced this hurt him in recruiting getting the best bigs the past 5-7 years, i am sure coaches used that against him...

[KentuckyWild2020]

We need rebounding most of all so if Bradshaw can get in there and get a few tough rebounds he can help just based solely on that.

Don't think he'll take enough threes to matter a whole lot one way or the other.

Basically I just hope he can stay healthy because Mitchell is playing too many minutes and eventually he'll just get too worn down.

That's the problem, i don't think he will get those tough rebounds unless he's just standing there and the ball bounces his way. This dude is going to be bodied in the paint but i agree, Mitchell just needs to be preserved as the season moves on...

[Catsrock]

Because it's true. Why do you think Ivisic is already projected 1st or 2nd round if he never steps foot on a college court.

Again, none of these players are going to be Durant because they don't have the handles at that size.

Still teams gamble and draft bigs who can spread the floor even if it's not warranted, they don't want to be the team who missed in case one does actually pan out..

Calipari did not do himself any favors by having Davis and Towns inside instead of spreading the floor and utilizing all skills. I am 100% convinced this hurt him in recruiting getting the best bigs the past 5-7 years, i am sure coaches used that against him...

I’d go back slightly before Durant for the start of the trend. Amar’e Stoudemire was built up for years as the “future of the game.” That is—a big with guard-like skills. Durant is just better at it than Stoudemire. But as far as watching the game goes—I’d rather watch guys show skill than having refs call the game in a way that allows a Shaq to bump thinner guys anywhere he wants to then dunk. Strength is a good thing in virtually any sport. But that’s not what Naismith wrote in the rulebook. If I have this spot the bigger guy can’t knock me out of it without fouling.

Present day gives the ultimate example of the trend. Wembanyama is 7’4” and rail thin. Has spent his life developing ball handling and outside shooting. Truthfully—if he ever has any lower body strength there should rarely be a need for him to shoot 3’s. But that is what modern bigs want to do.

And I agree that it’s a mistake for Cal to take that away from an AD or Townes. Told them that was cute but if they want to be rich they needed to show what they could do inside. Worked out with AD—we won a title. But both players could have done some of both and I’m quite sure they would still have gotten rich.

[George]

I’d go back slightly before Durant for the start of the trend. Amar’e Stoudemire was built up for years as the “future of the game.” That is—a big with guard-like skills. Durant is just better at it than Stoudemire. But as far as watching the game goes—I’d rather watch guys show skill than having refs call the game in a way that allows a Shaq to bump thinner guys anywhere he wants to then dunk. Strength is a good thing in virtually any sport. But that’s not what Naismith wrote in the rulebook. If I have this spot the bigger guy can’t knock me out of it without fouling.

Present day gives the ultimate example of the trend. Wembanyama is 7’4” and rail thin. Has spent his life developing ball handling and outside shooting. Truthfully—if he ever has any lower body strength there should rarely be a need for him to shoot 3’s. But that is what modern bigs want to do.

And I agree that it’s a mistake for Cal to take that away from an AD or Townes. Told them that was cute but if they want to be rich they needed to show what they could do inside. Worked out with AD—we won a title. But both players could have done some of both and I’m quite sure they would still have gotten rich.

Stoudamire was going to play for Cal if he’d gone to college.

[Joneslab]

That's the problem, i don't think he will get those tough rebounds unless he's just standing there and the ball bounces his way. This dude is going to be bodied in the paint but i agree, Mitchell just needs to be preserved as the season moves on...

A lot of times those guys can use their length to grab rebounds even if they're out of position. Usually depends on their motor and how bad they want it.

I don't expect him to be Oscar Tshiebwe, obviously, but if you saw him standing next to Tre Mitchell the other day and how he just dwarfs Mitchell then you see how important he can be...even if it's in a role.

[Joneslab]

And the reason big guys who can shoot are basketball manna is because they can shoot over the top of people and because they can play at three levels (if they're good).

Who wouldn't want a guy who can post it and shoot it? I mean it's obvious why they would be coveted.

Thing is, not all those guys are the same just because they look the same. I mean if we lived in a world like that then Shagari Alleyne and Wembanyana would be equals.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Stoudamire was going to play for Cal if he’d gone to college.

He was going to Memphis, it is known..

Tmac to Kentucky,
Kobe to North Carolina
Nowitzki to UK ??
Dwight Howard JR Smith North Carolina
Jermain Oneal UK??

Stansbury at Missippi had Monte Ellis, Travis Outlaw and Jonathon Bender ( Durant before Durant but was injured),
Darius Miles St. John's
Garnett to Maryland,
Bynum to Uconn
Al Harrington G. Tech but Seton Hall may have keep him close
Rashard Lewis Deshawn Stevenson Kansas
Shaun Livingston Duke
Kendrick Perkins Memphis
Lang Telfair Amir Johnson UL
Al Jefferson Arkansas
Gerald Green Oklahoma State
T. Chandler UCLA

[Joneslab]

No he wasn't, he was going to Memphis, it is known..

Cal coached Memphis at the time.