[zolaParticipant]

For me going to Overtime league is like cheating. Like they don’t believe in themselves and want to hide something. Thompson brothers will be 20.5 years old on draft day, still they won’t play one competitive basketball game in their career.

Who is their couch in Overtime? They already know everything, they don’t need a couch? It tells a lot about their work ethic too. Basketball, especially today is much more than athleticism. What we know about their IQ and understanding of a game when they play in a league without serious basketball sets, offensively or defensively?

Dariq Whitehead was projected higher than Ausar at the beginning of season, but after he struggled he is now much lower than him. But I would still pick him before Ausar. He is year and half younger and he has already seen what are his weaknessess. He will work to improve that, but Ausar will enter the league thinking that he has no holes in his game.

Colby Jones is just half year older than them and he has almost 100 college games under his belt. I wouldn’t be affraid to send him on a floor in this year playoff. I would pick him before them any day.

Gennerally I don’t like players who skip college. Maybe I’m to harsh, but I wouldn’t draft them at all.

[HitsterParticipant]

Could the twins have declared last year as they are 20 now but they skipped their last year of HS?

Also I thought players had to graduate HS in theory?

[Evan TomesKeymaster]

They have to be a year removed from their high school class, 2022, so this is their first year eligible.

[BothTeamsPlayedHard-Participant]

The perception of them in the draftnik community is benefited by the fact that they weren’t challenged in the way guys in college, the G-League, NBL, or elsewhere have been. This is really indisputable. The reputation or standing that they built up on the AAU and camp circuit isn’t going to change when they basically have never left it and are playing younger kids in a very loosely organized OTE. It does when guys face real opposition, coaching, gameplans, etc. This doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t work out. They profile quite similarly to Andre Jackson, which is important. I don’t like the shot on any of them, and that is a greater concern now more than ever when assessing perimeter players. The fact that the form on the Thompsons looks like it needs a complete rebuild is especially concerning. Can they defend, get out and run, and create off the dribble? Sure. If the shot comes around, any of them can and would work out quite well. Still, when factoring in that Jackson is (just) one year older than them, does it make a ton of sense that Jackson is viewed as a 2nd rounder should he enter the draft and the Thompsons are top 5-10? I don’t think so.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

hmmmm… scouting circles like the Thompson twins upside. Scouts on the consensus have Amen a lock at 4 and Ausar I haven’t seen below 8, in fact usually 5th overall. Every single regular dude out there though seems to not be high on the Thompson twins for competition reasons. It’s a fair point in reason, but I don’t buy it. Sure I wish they were more proven to our eyes for the most part, but I wouldn’t rule out OTE just because they are the new league that’s not established. OTE had no traction last year. Jean Montero played well when he showcased himself against last year’s draft class by when it was time to, but the fact is he wasn’t big enough to play in the NBA. He was on the fringe like Mike Miles this year. Montero was 19 last year come draft time.
This year the Thompson twins are 20 on draft night. They are also bigger, faster, stronger, jump higher, and have the overall athleticism than a Montero. In fact they have more athleticism than about everyone. Enough to be an elite athlete at least in the league. That you can’t teach. They are pretty assertive too. (Unlike Leonard Miller last year) This is the 1st year OTE has had a prospect like either of the Thompson twins. Doubt they play in the combine because they can very well hit the lottery in the draft, but they have improved some over the year. Sure, it would be nice if they were in college to see their weaknesses more exposed, or even the GLeague. But it’s not the case. OTE will improve every year it exists and the Ignite will too. This shouldn’t be a slight to the Thompson twins, maybe an easier route… but you can still tell what’s there. I don’t think they’ll be ready day 1 in the NBA or anything at least offensively, but defensively they’re already there and they’ll be in the rotation by mid season just like many other rookies.
I guess I’m saying I agree with the premise of the Thompson twins not having the competition, but I believe they can succeed unlike the majority of people on here. I’ll agree to disagree with you guys on this one.

[BothTeamsPlayedHard-Participant]

I never said they could not succeed. What I stated was that they are similar to Andre Jackson. If put into a situation in college, G-League, or elsewhere, they probably would have been viewed in a more similar light. It is very easy to have watched a UConn game and see the opposing team’s regard for Andre Jackson’s shot. Can he create? Yes. Is he a fantastic athlete? Yes. Is he a long and troubling defender? Yes. Can he become a good NBA player? Yes, but we know where the holdup is. That is not necessarily a bad thing. With the Thompsons, it is the same story, but because they played at a lower level they are perceived differently. It is whole lot easier to get highlight dunks in the OTE environment, but those shooting forms are not pretty. Are they going to be smaller versions of Ben Simmons back when he played basketball as opposed to being a professional check casher? Maybe, but how many 6’6″ point wings are getting minutes who can’t shoot? How many can be building blocks for rebuilding teams? Just because I question the preparedness of OTE, have legitimate concerns about their shooting form, and think they are quite similar to someone with far less draft hype, it does not mean I think they cannot succeed. It means I have layered assessments.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

their shooting is a work in progress, but unlike Simmons it’s improving. Both twins have more alpha in them than Simmons too. Andre Jackson’s had some college games under his belt. I can see if you judge them in that light. I think the twins’ athleticism are even slightly greater than Jackson’s. Play making I’d say both the twins, although it’s hard to evaluate for sure since they didn’t go the college route. Jackson’s game outside of scoring will probably get him drafted. So in theory Thompson Twins are plus versions of Jackson – yes. But can create in theory better opportunities. They are big enough and wired to play tough bully ball. 3 level defensive players don’t grow on trees either. I wasn’t saying you per say were dissing the twins, but justifying why I believe in them as opposed to how I hear many don’t.

[HitsterParticipant]

With a lack of standout players from the NCAA teams going into this years draft teams with a top 10 pick will be looking closely at the Thompson Twins. Teams will find out a lot more about them during the workouts. But their size, athleticism and defensive potential will be big selling points and Amen in particular could have huge upside and is maybe a better fit on a lot of teams who miss out on Wemby than Brandon Miller and possibly Scoot.

I have Amen going in the top 5 with an upside to go 3rd and an outside chance to go 2nd. Ausar I think will be in the 5 to 10 mix likely going in top 8 with an upside to go 5th.

[zolaParticipant]

I think today skill is more important than athleticism. Although they are top athletes, it is still too early to say they will be good defenders, let alone offensive players. A quick mind is almost as important as quick legs. How often do we see someone drastically improve their shot? That is much more the exception than the rule. And their shooting needs huge improvement. They are also not overly crafty handlers, they are more straightline drivers. I don’t see them being better than Jarrett Culver, except that they are slightly better athletes.

[HitsterParticipant]

A good basketball IQ is always important as often you do get an athletic freak who may not have the best understanding of the game and it can certainly help a player prolong their career once they lose some speed. I’d say the key thing is often how teachable a player can be as you cannot teach athleticism and you you have a guy who excels at that and you can inmprove his fundamentals and basketball IQ then you have an elite player.

[Author]

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