Julian Phillips - any chance he stays?

#26
#26
VOLINVONORE said:
Phillips still looks square dribbling the basketball. When he gets into the lane, he often has a problem maintaining control of the ball. He dribbles the ball away and in front of hid body allowing defenders to punch the ball away and create a turnover. He has to improve his ball-handling or he will never start in the NBA.
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I'm probably gonna get roasted for this, but here goes; if you look at Plavsic prior to this year, he looked lost offensively, but this year, he actually moves to the basket quickly and with authority. Phillips is tentative in the same situation, and shy's from contact. Maybe 20 more pounds, as has been pointed out, would give him a little more courage to go to the basket more.
 
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#28
#28
If he is not a first rounder I think he should come back. He has his NIL money which is probably pretty good. That is guaranteed. He moves up into the first round next year and he hits the jackpot. At worse 2nd round will probably be there next year. In the latest projections I have not seen him even listed as a second round pick. However, I could be looking in the wrong places. I think if he comes back he will have a big year next year.
 
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#29
#29
Has a ton of potential, but needs a year in the gym. The NBA spits up too many young guys who don't have an immediate impact. They never realy seem dedicated to them. Just evaluates them and tries to use them as trade bait.
 
#31
#31
More and more teams are giving guaranteed 4-year contracts to early 2nd round picks. See Chandler and the Grizzlies last year...
 
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#33
#33
cncchris33 said:
The flaw in your argument is the way you fawn over Mashack in your current description of him while ignoring that he is in his second year, and last year looked exactly how you currently describe Phillips, this year. The difference being one was a top-60 player, and the other was a top-20 player. Don't let the recruiting rankings decide for you who is good and who isn't, nor how good a kid currently is. Those rankings are mostly based on future projections.

Truth is, Julian Phillips needs to add 20 pounds and work on his ball-handling and outside shot. An off-season of dedication and hard work in thise areas can make a world of difference. Just look at Jahmai Mashack.
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Agree on what Phillips needs to do. I don’t see those things making him more athletic. Is he going to become a post up player? He isn’t any thinner than Brandon Miller. Very similar height and build. The difference there is athleticism, instincts and ball handling. One of those can be improved.

I would suggest that you share the star gazing advice with coach Barnes. There is little doubt that Phillips has protected minutes because of his rating and his NIL deal. My frustration is I wonder where Mashack would be now had he gotten more of those minutes along the way.

My point is I’m just not sweating whether Phillips returns or not. Fawning over Mashack? Hardly.
 
#34
#34
bleedingTNorange said:
More and more or was that the only one?
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The guaranteed money for 31-40 isn't new. It's stretching into the 40s now. The 4th year is a little bit new. I know Brunson got 4 from Dallas right off top of my head...

Dillon Brooks got guaranteed $$$ and he was taken 45 in 2017. He didn't get 4 yrs though.
 
#35
#35
The general thought amongst NBA people is that the 24 draft class will be a good bit weaker than the 23 class....
 
#38
#38
bobbyutvol said:
Nowhere ready for the NBA He needs at least one more year if not two
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He will have to get a ton stronger than he is now for the nba. I agree, he has trouble in the paint against physical play. I think he should stay another year or maybe 2, but who knows what he does. He is a very good talent but he isn’t going to hit the nba court anytime soon. But he may think their g- leagues will get him ready quicker, I don’t but that is his decision. But he is nowhere ready for the nba right now, but that product is getting weaker all the time. GBO
 
#40
#40
WaywardVol said:
Agree on what Phillips needs to do. I don’t see those things making him more athletic. Is he going to become a post up player? He isn’t any thinner than Brandon Miller. Very similar height and build. The difference there is athleticism, instincts and ball handling. One of those can be improved.

I would suggest that you share the star gazing advice with coach Barnes. There is little doubt that Phillips has protected minutes because of his rating and his NIL deal. My frustration is I wonder where Mashack would be now had he gotten more of those minutes along the way.

My point is I’m just not sweating whether Phillips returns or not. Fawning over Mashack? Hardly.
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Phillips has to be stronger with the ball in his hands in the paint. He may be as big as Miller but his physicality is not there yet. Needs to get stronger in his hands and upper body. He is a great talent, but he is just scratching the surface of putting his total game together. He is not ready for the nba at this time that is for sure.
 
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#41
#41
WaywardVol said:
Agree on what Phillips needs to do. I don’t see those things making him more athletic. Is he going to become a post up player? He isn’t any thinner than Brandon Miller. Very similar height and build. The difference there is athleticism, instincts and ball handling. One of those can be improved.

I would suggest that you share the star gazing advice with coach Barnes. There is little doubt that Phillips has protected minutes because of his rating and his NIL deal. My frustration is I wonder where Mashack would be now had he gotten more of those minutes along the way.

My point is I’m just not sweating whether Phillips returns or not. Fawning over Mashack? Hardly.
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Or maybe Miller is just a much better basketball player? He has a much better outside game which opens up clearer driving lanes as he draws his man out 25' from the basket. So yeah, thise things won't make him more athletic, but being stringer and a better ball-handler certainly will allow him to get to the rim and finish much easier. Right now, he gets knocked off of his driving lane due to his lack of strength and size.

I also think you are discounting Phillips's athleticism quite a bit. He hasn't shown it off too often because he tends to get in his own way by looking like a deer learning to walk while trying to dribble into traffic. He's plenty athletic, though, if you're simply talking about his leaping ability, quickness to the ball defensively, and straight line speed.

Lastly, I don't think there is much evidence to support your theory that he's some protected pet project, and it certainly has little to do with his ranking and NIL. The NIL dollars didn't come from Barnes's pocket, so he has little incentive to make decisions based on what some non-university affiliated collective decided to pay him. His playing time and long leash are directly tied to his potential and the position he plays combined with JJJ missing several games that made Phillips more of a necessity. Who else seems to have a shorter leash that leads you to believe that Phillips is protected, and they aren't? Awaka has been allowed to play through struggles. Mashack has, as well. Same with Aidoo. The difference is that Phillips has infinitely more upside and can be the best player on the floor at times, as well as positional scarcity. JJJ and Phillips are really the only two guys on the floor who can do what they do, amd are both very versatile. Mashack is nearing that level, but is sort of restricted by his height from doing what JJJ and Phillips can do. Those other guys can be subbed out for 3 other players.
 
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#42
#42
Pappy said:
that doesn't matter anymore....it's all about the money; any amount & it's hard to blame them for pursuing it. There needs to be a 'minor' league for these athletes who do not care about getting a free education. They are keeping others from getting that opportunity IMHO.
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Actually it’s not about the money, the NBA drafts on athleticism and potential.
JP definitely as for overall progress and development, would be better served staying, he just needs more NIL support.
I think he has fantastic upside. He already grades out on stats so far this season in top 2-3’ish in reviewing the the top 20+ players in his recruiting cycle. I think he’s #2 in scoring average.

I hope he’s like many other Barnes type players and really digs playing for him! He seems to have great energy on floor and attitude on floor.
Of he comes back, and with other core, this will be another strong team next year!
 
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#43
#43
WaywardVol said:
I Mentioned this and was grilled, saying his plan has never to be a one and done. My hope was that he’d leave no doubt. That is, he’d have a great year and go pro. He hasnt had a great year. He’s been given an inordinate amount of minutes, which makes his numbers appear better than they really are. He doesn’t get bench corrected like the rest of his teammates. On offense, He looks clumsy at times, even when he seems to have a clear drive to the basket. His ball handling is suspect. 2nd round in the NBA isn’t what it is in the NFL. In fact, it’s very low percentage of even getting signed.

Mashack brings more as a defender and is at least more aggressive. I get that potential is the big word, but I don’t see it with Phillips. He has good length, but he doesn’t appear to have anywhere near the athleticism of UTs most recent 5 stars. Keon and Jayden were much better raw athletes and scorers, just not as long. Chandler’s quickness and ball skills were NBA level.

He has certainly not lived up to the NIL deal he’s getting. If he comes back, that’s fine, but I’m genuinely just not that enchanted with his game.

Watch him have a break out tourney and average 15 and 8, LOL. I think Barnes would be better served to recruit the next rung down where you know you’ll have time to develop and get at least three years. If Phillips leaves, he will be quickly forgotten by the Tennessee fan. Especially if we exit early from the tourney.

I’m a lot more excited about what Mashack will look like next year than I am Phillips (should he return). Players liken Mashack, who steadily improve, tend to really hit stride in year three.
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I agree 100% with your post. I'm more impressed with Awoka than I am with Phillips. And after that decision not to dunk the ball in that Vandy game on a breakaway really raised my eyebrow. There are more areas he needs to improve on before going to the next level. It wouldn't surprise me if he entered the portal as opposed to going into the draft.
 
#44
#44
I'm not an NBA scout so i don't know what they are thinking. But watching Phillips play is so hard for me. Everytime he touches the ball if he gets slightly bumped he hits the floor or so knocked off balance he almost falls. He needs more weight and better ball handling skills to attack the rim because his outside shot isn't that reliable yet.
 
#49
#49
CNeagleVolFan said:
There is a minor league. It’s called the NBA G-league and something called ignite if I’m not mistaken. Also, NIL has changed the dynamic of leaving early quite a bit. If Phillips came back next year there’s a very good chance he makes more in NIL than he does as a late 2nd round draft pick.
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There is also European teams that could arguably be called “minor leagues“ although the pay is decen.
 
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