Lydon another year?

[SBU72]

If JB (and many here) think TL isn't a 3, where do the pros think he'll play? To me, he is to "small" to be a 4. If these things are true, would that point to another year at SU to find his role? Who in the pros does he compare to as a stretch 4? I'm trying to find reason to hope he returns. Same for Battle and Thompson. That is some nucleus to build around.

 

[GooseMutt]

It should would but then the obvious question. PG-Who? Frank is looking less likely. Now what? Wish I knew.

 

[OrangeAl]

Agreed that Tyler has a ways to go in his development - that is, unless he wants to continue our recent trend of sending one and dones to bounce around between the end of an NBA bench and the D-league.

 

[TheGov3304]

In my opinion, Lydon should stay a year and work on his handle and ability to create his own shot off the bounce. That would also give him an extra off-season to work on adding muscle to his frame.

Comparable players:

• Chandler Parsons
• Nikola Mirotic
• Sam Dekker

 

[Fly Rodder]

I think he is a four in the NBA once he gets on the NBA diet and workout plan. I caught some of the Jazz/Nets game last night and Gordon Hayward is a lot bigger than he was in college. And he was built like Lydon at Butler, but Lydon has two inches on him with a 7 ft wingspan.

Guys with Lydon's shooting mechanics and footwork don't grow on trees. Getting him more muscular and able to defend a few big boys in the post will be on the NBA. If he wants to come back and work out for free, I'm sure SU will be happy to have him, but I don't see him back next season.

Edited to add: Otherwise Thompson wouldn't be here. He's the heir apparent at PF.

 

[GooseMutt]

I think he is a four in the NBA once he gets on the NBA diet and workout plan. I caught some of the Jazz/Nets game last night and Gordon Hayward is a lot bigger than he was in college. And he was built like Lydon at Butler, but Lydon has two inches on him with a 7 ft wingspan.

Guys with Lydon's shooting mechanics and footwork don't grow on trees. Getting him more muscular and able to defend a few big boys in the post will be on the NBA. If he wants to come back and work out for free, I'm sure SU will be happy to have him, but I don't see him back next season.

He added muscle this year and seems a bit slower and less agile. Maybe I'm imagining it

 

[Fly Rodder]

He added muscle this year and seems a bit slower and less agile. Maybe I'm imagining it

He added weight this year. There's a difference.

 

[iommi]

He added muscle this year and seems a bit slower and less agile. Maybe I'm imagining it

I'm not buying that Lydon added muscle. His arms don't look defined. He's heavier but was it good added weight?

 

[Knicks411]

I don't think there's any question he can be a stretch 4 in the NBA.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Lydon isn't as athletic as Parsons, Hayward, Dekker, etc.

I think his best shot is as a Steve Novak type, maybe slightly better. Unless he really bulks up and improve his athleticism, I cant' see him being anything more than a potential 3-pt specialist. He can't finish inside against college kids, I find it hard to believe he'll do so in the NBA.

 

[PauliePeppas]

He is Ryan Andersons clone...not nearly explosive as a Hayward or Dekker and has a longgggg way to go ball handling wise.

 

[Knicks411]

Lydon isn't as athletic as Parsons, Hayward, Dekker, etc.

I think his best shot is as a Steve Novak type, maybe slightly better. Unless he really bulks up and improve his athleticism, I cant' see him being anything more than a potential 3-pt specialist. He can't finish inside against college kids, I find it hard to believe he'll do so in the NBA.

I think he's got more potential than Novak, Novak had NO athleticism. He blocked 9 shots in 4 years of college. Total. Lydon had 67 last year. He had 64 steals in his 4 year college career, Lydon already has 67.

I like the Anderson comp.

 

[Fly Rodder]

To be fair, I wasn't comparing Lydon to Hayward as a player ... just that Hayward was a similar size and has really put on good weight since going to the NBA. Staying in college doesn't help that as much as a professional team can.

 

[Brooky03]

Lydon's gone. He's a projected mid-late first rounder and I don't see him slipping to the second round. PF's in the NBA aren't as wide and physical as they used to be; it's becoming more of a finesse position, with relatively skinny shooters aplenty. Also, I wouldn't want to come back here for another season without a PG if I were him.

 

[TinyManInside]

Hayward and Dekker both have ball-handling skills that Lydon can only dream of.

If Lydon can get a guarantee of a 1st round pick this year, he should go. The longer he stays, the more his stock will drop. Personally I don't see the NBA upside on Lydon. At best he looks like a journeyman designated shooter off the bench to me.

 

[TheGov3304]

The Ryan Anderson comparison is fair. Anderson has much more range but Lydon can develop that over time.

Imo, Lydon is more athletically gifted than Ryan Anderson.

 

[Knicks411]

Hayward and Dekker both have ball-handling skills that Lydon can only dream of.

If Lydon can get a guarantee of a 1st round pick this year, he should go. The longer he stays, the more his stock will drop. Personally I don't see the NBA upside on Lydon. At best he looks like a journeyman designated shooter off the bench to me.

I agree Lydon is much more of a stretch 4 than a guy like Heyward, who is more of a scoring wing type guy.

 

[Knicks411]

The Ryan Anderson comparison is fair. Anderson has much more range but Lydon can develop that over time.

Imo, Lydon is more athletically gifted than Ryan Anderson.

Agreed, again blocks is just one measure, but Anderson had 36 in 2 full years at Cal. Lydon nearly doubled that as a freshmen

 

[Eric15]

He blocked 9 shots in 4 years of college.

That's absolutely incredible for a guy who was what, like 6'10"?

 

[jncuse]

I will dare to do a potential comparative that is not white.

My potential comp is Patrick Patterson of the Raptors who is mainly a stretch 4. Mainly shooters with some inside game, and both can be sneaky athletic at times. Interestingly at college they both seemed better in a complimentary role.

 

[SBU72]

Hayward and Dekker both have ball-handling skills that Lydon can only dream of.

If Lydon can get a guarantee of a 1st round pick this year, he should go. The longer he stays, the more his stock will drop. Personally I don't see the NBA upside on Lydon. At best he looks like a journeyman designated shooter off the bench to me.

Is there such a thing a "guarantee of a 1st round pick"? Hasn't some underclassmen said they had been then it didn't happen? Besides, a guarantee is only good if you get compensated if the guarantee isn't followed through. Kid gets nothing if it goes up in smoke.

 

[SUOrangeSU]

I personally think he leaves after this year and I can't blame him. Mid round pick in the 1st is kind of a no brainer.
It's also good to keep our streak of 1st rounders going (not that is helping in the recruiting game right now )

 

[SUintheVille]

In my opinion, TL should and will go after this year. If he continues to play well the rest of this season, despite team woes, he will have nothing left to prove to the league. Plus, next year at Cuse may not be a banner year again. And he will get drafted in a decent slot.

 

[Knicks411]

Is there such a thing a "guarantee of a 1st round pick"? Hasn't some underclassmen said they had been then it didn't happen? Besides, a guarantee is only good if you get compensated if the guarantee isn't followed through. Kid gets nothing if it goes up in smoke.

I have to think Anthony Davis felt pretty sure he was a first round pick on draft night...

But realistically, for a guy projected to be in Lydon's position, no, there's no such thing as a guarantee.

That's absolutely incredible for a guy who was what, like 6'10"?

Novak is/was an astonishingly poor athlete. It's a credit to how great a shooter he really was that he had any kind of NBA career. I remember when the Knicks played the heat in the playoffs (2012 I think) and they basically played him off the court.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Agreed, again blocks is just one measure, but Anderson had 36 in 2 full years at Cal. Lydon nearly doubled that as a freshmen

Was checking stats this morning and Lydon's stats across the board (Points, Blocks, Rebounds, Steals, 3pt%, ft%) are better than Thomas Bryant who he is ranked one spot ahead of by Jonathan Givony in his Sophomore rankings. I would gather that most people on this board would have Bryant ranked higher.