[FUNKYBUNCHParticipant]

Why is he ineligible? Or is that a site error? Couldn’t he maybe make the second round? Maybe? He’s been ballin’.

[SubZeroParticipant]

If Raymond Felton can be in the NBA as long as he has been, Frank Mason can match it

[D7H7NParticipant]

PG position is loaded in this draft. Frank Mason turns 23 in a few months. Undersized and not much of a passer. Some team may pick him up late second round but I expect him to get cut by preseason.

Same for Joel Berry too. Berry is gonna stay for his last year at UNC and average Mason’s numbers with Jackson leaving.

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

I think Frank absolutely has a shot to play at the next level. I think the odds are more in favor of him being undrafted, and having to go at it the hard way, but he’s an elite athlete in terms of quickness, leaping ability and strength. There’s not a lot of 6′ point guards you see finish oops with two handed dunks at the NCAA level.

He’s also really improved his 3 point shot. Pair that with his ability in the drive and kick, and the pick and roll, and I think you have a guy capable of carving out a spot for himself in the NBA. He’ll give up size, but defensively he’s good at getting under larger players, and causing trouble. Plus it helps that there’s no quit in this kid. He’s a bulldog.

I found this, and it’s something I wrote just over 2 years ago. I think Frank has improved upon what I addressed as his main weaknesses, and has even surpassed what I expected from him as a senior in terms of scoring the ball.

http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/frank-mason-iii

“If you would have asked me before the season started if I thought Frank Mason was an NBA player, I would have said no, but he’s really warming me up to the idea of him making the jump to an NBA rotation player.

It’s easy to count out a little guy by saying he’s to little, but how many undersized combo guards are scoring points off the bench for NBA teams? D.J. Augustin, JLIII, E’twan Moore, Wayne Ellington, C.J. Watson, Bayless, Nate Robinson, Shabazz Napier…well, there’s a ton.

I think Frank Mason III is progressing at a rate that he can be a rotation guard by the time his time at KU is over. He’s Bill’s guy, there’s no way he’s transferring. I think he’s the reason Tharpe left, to be honest. He beat him out.

What does he do that will translate?

He can push the ball, and provide a change of pace off the bench. He’s not big, but he’s a tenacious defender, and one who always is on point. Frank is a high level athlete, and appears to have a long wingspan which makes up some for him being 5’11”. He’s also improved his jumper a great deal, and has already made more 3’s than he did all of last year (49% from 3) and is sporting a 2/1 assist to turnover ratio despite being a combo guard.

What does he need to work on?

He has a bad habit of jumping before passing leaving him vunerable to traveling calls, and bad passes. Frank’s fearless, which is great, but sometimes he needs to know when to let up and when to push and attack. He needs more polish on his point guard skills, but compared to last season I think he’s on the right track.

All in all, I think he’s got a great foundation for a 20 year old, and I feel he’s on the way of being a very prolific NCAA guard. Most likely a 4 year player, I think it’s very realistic that Frank could average 17 ppg 5 rpg 5 apg by the time he’s a senior, and probably close to 2 steals as well.

I don’t see an NBA star, but I think he’s a player in the league, and not just a guy who plays 50-100 career games over 5 or 6 years…one that has a role and sees regular minutes.”

[Sewok15Participant]

 I agree that Frank can make it in the league. If you are going to be small you have to be an incredible athlete which Frank is. He doesn’t get pushed around much by bigger guards because his strength.  He attacks the rim fearlessly because his leaping ability. The fact that he has improved his jumpshot a ton makes him an NBA player for me. 

I feel he can at least have an Ish Smith like career as a backup PG off the bench. His energy and athleticism are reminiscent of Nate Robinson but I don’t think he has as much baggage. If his shot is really as good as this year says it is I think somebody should draft him in the early 2nd round. 

 

[IlladelphParticipant]

This is a great question.  In a point guard heavy draft class, I think Frank Mason III is a 2nd rounder at best but very well may go undrafted.  GMs are probably not going to burn a draft pick on a 4 year player who is a PG in this draft class.  

But I really like FM3, and I started to think about it.  What makes him not an NBA player.  He’s a good shooter.  He takes care of the ball.  He is a solid distributor.  He’s a good defender.  He’s fast enough.  Why wouldn’t he make the NBA?  Well, it could be that there are simply more talented PG/SG/CGs than FM3 than there are slots for them in the NBA.  In other words, he’s just not good enough.

So, I decided to look at the 76ers roster.  I picekd the sixers because they are a bad team that has some bright spots and might be on the way up.  But the roster is loaded with marginal talent outside of a few stars.  If we look at the guards on the 76ers, we see:

-TJ McConnell  – 874k/ry (rookie contract)

-Jerryd Bayless – 9.4M/yr

-Gerald Henderson – 9.0M/yr

-Timothe Luwawu – 1.3M/yr (rookie contract)

-Chasson Randle – 233K/yr

-Sergio Rodriguez – 8M/yr

-Nik Stauskas – 2.99M/yr (rookie contract)

Now, at first blush I immediately think that Rodriguez is overpaid, and adds little to the team other than perceived "veteran" presence.  Rodriguez is a career 40% shooter and is an average rotation PG.  Henderson and Bayless are overpaid and I doubt any other team would go out of their way to hand them 9 milli to provide average performance.  Though to be fair, 9 milli is apparently the going rate for mediocrity under the new CBA.  Luwawu gets a pass here because he’s a rook.  Chasson Randle is not going to be around long term and his paltry salary supports that notion.  Nik Stauskas imho is somewhat of a bust given the expectations and draft hype he had coming in to the league.  But he is still on a rookie deal so he’s cheap insurance against injury.  And last, but not least is TJ McConnell.  Now TJ has made the most of his opportunity and I love him for it.  He is not NBA talented but he has somehow managed to worm his way onto the roster and do ok considering he had zero draft hype and no one expected him to be drafted.  

What does all this mean?  It means that a high level athlete like FM3, who is skilled, is a great long-range shooter, and continues to improve and evolve could easily displace McConnell and take that spot on the Sixers.  He could also be viewed as a cheaper alternative to Rodriguez, Bayless, or Henderson.  This is not to say that I think FM3 will make a squad this year, but I think he has a decent chance if guys like McConnell can do it.  

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

 I was with you all the way until that last paragraph.  You’re mistaken if you think FM3, can "easily displace McConnell and take that spot on the Sixers. "  TJ McConnell is one of the favorites in Philly and a big part of why they’re competitive in many games this year.  He’s pass-first, gritty, fearless, has a high basketball IQ, and plays respectable defense, All of these things can be said about FM3, except pass-first. I don’t doubt that FM3 can make a squad, but as a likely undrafted and undersized scoring PG, you must be much better than the guy in front of you. FM3 is more talented than McConnell, but I don’t see him having a better impact on the court. It won’t be easy for FM3 to displace anyone, but I won’t bet against and say he can’t do it at all.  A better comparison for FM3’s chances at making a roster would be Pierre Jackson, who has found himself on many NBA teams, but has struggled with injuries along with his play on the court once getting called up.  Hopefully, FM3 stays healthy and has the opportunity to fight for a roster spot and a career in the NBA, not just the D league.  I’m rooting for him.

[JoeWolf1]

I can see Jackson, but the current NBA player I see the most similarities to FM3 is Yogi Ferrell.

Ferrell went undrafted, played well for the Nets before finding a great fit in Dallas. Fit is key when undrafted or lower pick players are trying to make their mark in the league. Yogi’s performance with Brooklyn before LaVert came back, and ultimately displaced him, gave him the exposure, and in part, the opportunity to get that Dallas contract.

A lot of undrafted guys are out performing guys picked in the 2nd these days, because the D-League allows them to catch on with a team that fits, rather than opting for an overseas contract, or sitting the bench for a contender.

[r377Participant]

Not sure if someone would waste a second rounder on him – they usually got for euro’s or other high risk/high reward type of long shots.

These 4 yr players PG that lead major schools have experience and generally have good attitudes have some value.

I think Frank will play in the NBA, how many games I am not sure….

[Author]

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