Better NBA prospect... | Syracusefan.com

Better NBA prospect...

Jasoncuse

2022 Iggy Winner: NCAA Tourament
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CJ or Trevor (in a year or two)?

That was laughable going into the season, or even a month ago, but I think it's a real debatable topic at this point.

I think CJ has had a great year, hitting some big shots for us and coming up clutch when needed. I also think he has struggled at times. I'm really not sure if he's an NBA player at this point. I think Grant is a tweener, but CJ might be in an even more precarious spot. He's got an NBA PF game, but more of a 2g/SF body. His handle has really disappointed this year. He simply struggles to beat his man one-on-one when tightly guarded. When coming off a pick or rolling around a screen, he has success because of the space afforded by the screen. He's struggled with isolation or when trying to drive from outside the 3 pt line. It's not harming the team, and he's still putting up numbers and playing well overall, but in terms of the NBA, I think his stock has to have really slid. I don't know if I even see him getting drafted unless he wows in the pre-draft process. And I hate saying that.

Cooney on the other hand could continue carving out his niche and potentially be an NBA specialist. Another year or two of offseason work with Autry/Gerry/Hop to make his shot even more consistent, and he will have a pretty good shot of sticking. I don't see why he couldn't perfect his catch and shoot, while continuing to improve his dribble drive, to become a poor man's JJ Redick.


I think with more refinement, Cooney's specialized skill would be more appealing to NBA teams than an undersized PF or SF without the ball skills needed in CJ.

And I could be totally wrong and neither are a good enough prospect, or I'm totally off on CJ.
 
CJ or Trevor (in a year or two)?

That was laughable going into the season, or even a month ago, but I think it's a real debatable topic at this point.

I think CJ has had a great year, hitting some big shots for us and coming up clutch when needed. I also think he has struggled at times. I'm really not sure if he's an NBA player at this point. I think Grant is a tweener, but CJ might be in an even more precarious spot. He's got an NBA PF game, but more of a 2g/SF body. His handle has really disappointed this year. He simply struggles to beat his man one-on-one when tightly guarded. When coming off a pick or rolling around a screen, he has success because of the space afforded by the screen. He's struggled with isolation or when trying to drive from outside the 3 pt line. It's not harming the team, and he's still putting up numbers and playing well overall, but in terms of the NBA, I think his stock has to have really slid. I don't know if I even see him getting drafted unless he wows in the pre-draft process. And I hate saying that.

Cooney on the other hand could continue carving out his niche and potentially be an NBA specialist. Another year or two of offseason work with Autry/Gerry/Hop to make his shot even more consistent, and he will have a pretty good shot of sticking. I don't see why he couldn't perfect his catch and shoot, while continuing to improve his dribble drive, to become a poor man's JJ Redick.


I think with more refinement, Cooney's specialized skill would be more appealing to NBA teams than an undersized PF or SF without the ball skills needed in CJ.

And I could be totally wrong and neither are a good enough prospect, or I'm totally off on CJ.

I think it is too early to say anything about Cooney. We still don't really know what kind of shooter he is - is he going to settle as a 35% shooter? 38%? 45%? Over a big sample size, those are massive differences. I tend to think Cooney settles in right around or under 40%, which is excellent but not earth-shattering.

There is often this tendency to point to one or two players in the NBA and say "if he can do it, why can't X?" When Gerry McNamara was graduating, that player was Chris Quinn, for example. When Rick Jackson was coming out, it was Dejuan Blair. When Rautins was angling for a position, that player was Steve Novak. But there are very few Steve Novaks in the league, for example, and Novak himself is a 43% shooter (from NBA distance) and very tall. Along the same lines, Reddick was an insanely good college basketball player for four full years. Like, really, really good. If Cooney approaches that type of performance (and in fairness the first half of this season has been not too far off) he is going to be a legitimate player of the year candidate.

On Fair, I tend to agree. I don't really think he's regressed - he's just found his level, which is a superb college player who is at his best as a second option.
 
I do not see Trevor as an NBA prospect. He can't handle the point & he lacks size for a 2G at the next level. Additionally he has good athleticism for college, but well below average for an NBA 2G. He would probably have to shoot around 50% consistently from trey range to get a serious look. If he's lucky he'll get drafted in the 2nd round as a senior.

CJ will get drafted & though he probably won't star in the NBA, I can see him as a rotation guy down the road. He has smarts, work ethic, and he is very smooth. If he were two inches taller no doubt he would be a mid-first round pick.
 
I see both as role players in the NBA. Cooney, if he can develop consistency, will play the Kyle Korver/Wally Szerbiak type role. CJ isn't a dominant player who translates in to a starter in the NBA IMO. I would guess he would get minutes similar to the ones Warrick got for years.
 
Better prospect is Cooney. CJ isnt playing in the NBA. Cooney will be scoring more ppg than CJ ever did imo in the next 2 years. His overall game will get a lot better , he still has a lot of room to get better and will get a chance to make the NBA.
 
really good question. ok. so imagine i have my drink,and my little dish of charcuterie and a half chewed ritz cracker in my mouth and this totally blank look on my face that says "i'm sorry what's the punchline ?"
 
I don't think either one of them is a good NBA prospect. Cooney has a niche skill that NBA teams find valuable, so I guess he is the better prospect, but that's not the same thing as saying he is likely to get an NBA contract.
 
I see both as role players in the NBA. Cooney, if he can develop consistency, will play the Kyle Korver/Wally Szerbiak type role. CJ isn't a dominant player who translates in to a starter in the NBA IMO. I would guess he would get minutes similar to the ones Warrick got for years.
Korver and Szczerbiak were both 6'7''. Cooney is 6'3'' maybe. The only reason you picked those two is because they are white and could shoot a little bit.
 
Good question, I'd say CJ though I think both of them are Europe bound (where I think they'll thrive). Does anyone remember Donald Royal? For some reason, CJ reminds me of him a little.
 
I love CJ - but he's not an NBA player. He'll have a great career overseas. I just don't see his craftiness translating to the NBA - at the end of the day he lacks high-level athleticism and a consistent 3-point shot.

I'm not sure about Cooney. Others have mentioned that he has two more years to develop - how often does the NBA draft guards who are two months shy of their 24th birthday?
 
" 41 inch vertical? The kid's super athletic and has two more years to grow."


but anyone else notice that slight shuffle step top of the key on the breakaways. one foot takeoff launch?
 
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I think Cooney has a better chance. I don't see CJ as an NBA player really when it's all said and done unless he changes his game big time.

Cooney at least has the potential to be an elite shooter with alright size and works his butt off defensively. I think he's a long shot too, but he has a chance to catch onto an NBA team IF he can continue to be an elite shooter.
 
Korver and Szczerbiak were both 6'7''. Cooney is 6'3'' maybe. The only reason you picked those two is because they are white and could shoot a little bit.
No i picked them because they are similar style players and play/played roles off of the bench. Also "they could shoot a little bit" is an understatement. Wally was a SG that shot 40% from 3 for his career. Korver is a SG who has shot 42% from 3. Why does race also have to come into play? They were players of that type that came in to mind. He wouldn't be Reggie Miller or Ray Allen because they were stars, though similar style players. He wouldn't even be a Reddick because he starts and I don't think Cooney would. Yeah Korver and Szerbiak were 3 inches taller but they play the same position.
 
I don't see CJ making a roster next year. I think Cooney has the chance to turn his shooting ability into a ticket into the league, but he has work to do.

To me he I think he has the potential to be a better version of Andy Rautins by the time he is a senior. Andy got his chances. If TC can continue to improve I see no reason he can't have the same or better opportunities than Andy did/does.
 

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