'21 CA CG K.J. Simpson Jr. (VERBAL to COLORADO)

[Da Lama]

2021 Top Basketball Recruits in California

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Hindsight there is no other California recruit in the entire 2021 class that had a better freshman season than KJ. Peyton Watson struggled behind all conference wings at UCLA, Jahmai Mashack (who we recruited hard) was stuck on the bench at Tennessee, Nate Bittle and Isa Silva didn't do much at Oregon and Stanford respectively. Love how Tad stuck with this kid and how this played out for the buffs.

Bittle is/was/will be overrated trash and no better than Lovering. Perfect fit for Whoregon.

 

[MarkW]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1790147657786159193

 

[MarkW]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1790444494367694973

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1790442045162582463

 

[Not Sure]

It’s crazy to me that he’s considered a 2nd round guy while DaSilva and Williams are considered sure fire first round picks.

It’s also crazy to me that a team with three first round picks couldn’t get out of the second round of the NCAA tournament.

 

[Tony G.]

It’s crazy to me that he’s considered a 2nd round guy while DaSilva and Williams are considered sure fire first round picks.

It’s also crazy to me that a team with three first round picks couldn’t get out of the second round of the NCAA tournament.

3 1st rounders is great except when 1 plays like a freshman and not a 1st rounder.
We should have spent some $ and picked up Knect. We would have had 4 draft picks and gone further in the tourney.
We knew we had a lot of potential. We had an open roster spot and were 1 player away from having a special year.
Sometimes you have to spend the money.

 

[MarkW]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1790500917638230126

 

[slider]

It’s crazy to me that he’s considered a 2nd round guy while DaSilva and Williams are considered sure fire first round picks.

It’s also crazy to me that a team with three first round picks couldn’t get out of the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Lacks size which is a big deal in the NBA

There are 5 total NBA players listed at under 6’1

 

[BuffinCali]

He reminds me of Jordan Farmar, who was 6'0" in the NBA. He carved out a solid 10 years in the league as a starter and backup. Both penetrate to the bucket hard and can score quickly at PG.

Here is the Day Two Draft Combine Risers snippet from ESPN:
KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado: Simpson was his usual self on Tuesday, showcasing his aggressiveness as a scorer racking up 16 points and 3 steals. Despite his size, measuring at just over 6-feet barefooted, Simpson gets into the paint effectively with a fearless approach going downhill and a good understanding of how to work his way to the rim. On the heels of an efficient junior year at Colorado, there has been curiosity from teams if Simpson can find a niche as a microwave-type scorer off the bench, or if he's best suited for a strong career overseas.

Some of Simpson's weaknesses were evident -- he doesn't have great vision as a playmaker, nor is he a high-level passer. But the No. 47th-ranked player in our Top 100 is an excellent athlete (reinforced by positive combine testing), changes speeds well off the dribble and proves tough for defenders to stay in front of. He did well on Tuesday to remind scouts he was one of the top guards in college basketball last season, and his mix of speed, strength and scoring instincts at his size should give teams something to think about. -- Woo

 

[MtnBuff]

Lacks size which is a big deal in the NBA

There are 5 total NBA players listed at under 6’1

This is the issue. If he were 3-4 inches taller he might be a lottery pick.

You have to ask though, even with his quickness and his toughness watch the playoff series going on right now. Who does he defend in the Nuggets starting line-up? The T-Wolves starting line-up? He might be able to match up with Conley but won't have advantages of quickness. And we see Conley struggling against Murray and KCP on the defensive end.

I think he can be an effective player in the NBA, likely as a back up point guard who can provide a burst of energy and some offense off the bench but it's going to be tough for him against players who are bigger than he is and still have the athleticism.

 

[Buffnik]

Size makes for a shorter career, too, because you have to be quicker & more explosive than guys who are 4" taller than you or guys like Brunson who are built thicker & naturally stronger.

Maybe he could be a Ty Lawson type of career.

 

[BuffsNYC]

What's the money difference between NBA backup CG and all-star in Europe or Asia?

 

[leftybuff]

What's the money difference between NBA backup CG and all-star in Europe or Asia?

Dollars v. Euros v. Yuan etc.

 

[Buffnik]

Dollars v. Euros v. Yuan etc.

Maybe looking at $2.5-$4M for a top paid European basketball pro, based on a quick search.

For comparison, Nuggets are paying Jalen Pickett $1.7M this year and his 4-year deal averages a little over $2M (rookie picked at the top of Rd2).

 

[BuffinCali]

Size makes for a shorter career, too, because you have to be quicker & more explosive than guys who are 4" taller than you or guys like Brunson who are built thicker & naturally stronger.

Maybe he could be a Ty Lawson type of career.

You bunch of size queens!

 

[Buffnik]

You bunch of size queens!

I'm reminded of when Kevin McHale went into a front office job and criticized a trade. "He traded a 6'10" pussy for a 6'8" pussy. You never give up 2 inches of pussy."

Size absolutely matters in basketball.

 

[BuffinCali]

The kid had a great 3 days in Chicago and made himself some money in the process!

Who stood out during Wednesday's scrimmages?​

KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado: After a strong first scrimmage, Simpson (ranked No. 47 in our ESPN 100) wrapped up the combine with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a win. Simpson, who averaged 19.7 points for a Colorado team that won two NCAA tournament games, helped his cause in Chicago with his passing ability -- showing unselfishness and creativity with impressive timing and pace. He's smart using screens, drives the paint with his head up and can operate in short and midrange spots.
Simpson measures at 6-foot-1½ in shoes and 187 pounds, so demonstrating his point guard abilities rather than at combo like he has been billed most of his career was important. Defensively, he pressured the ball and fought over screens -- critical at his size. In a league filled with oversized wings, some NBA teams won't consider drafting a player of Simpson's stature, so showing he can be productive in a different role was a positive step in positioning himself to get drafted.

 

[MtnBuff]

Maybe looking at $2.5-$4M for a top paid European basketball pro, based on a quick search.

For comparison, Nuggets are paying Jalen Pickett $1.7M this year and his 4-year deal averages a little over $2M (rookie picked at the top of Rd2).

The big difference in money comes if a guy can make it to his second contract. Then a lot of bench guys are making $4-5 million per year.

If he doesn't make the NBA a top Euro league is definitely still a solid option for him.

It should be kept in mind that in those leagues they are not only paid well but the team usually covers their housing expenses, meals, transportation, and more so the money they make they keep. They can also get some favorable tax treatment as well.

If a guy is smart a few years in Europe can be a great experience that leaves them financially set for life.

Simpson would be a good fit for the style they play there.

DaSilva will almost certainly go there and do well if he doesn't stick in the NBA. Their leagues have limits on the number of American players allowed per team but Tristan is a German citizen so would be highly sought after.