Isaiah Todd in G-League
Wonder how he's liking it there? Played first game in the bubble today: 17 mins, 2 pts, 3 rebs, 1-4 FGs. The G-League Ignite team is clearly focused on developing their two lottery picks. Not sure what's next for a guy like Todd, who seems to have no chance of getting drafted. I suppose he'll just keep playing in the G-League or go overseas next year.
It's not like Michigan's missing him, but he did have some nice tape back in the day.
February 10th, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^
I fee like Isaiah Todd could have high draft pick in the 2021 or 2022 NBA draft through Juwan Howard and Michigan. Hopefully he proves himself in the G-League next season and finds a spot in the NBA.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:01 PM ^
You might be right - but with Dickinson killing it, who knows how he would have fit in this year?
The way things are working out, probably a good thing for Michigan he didn't come - could've had a "negative Butterfly Effect" on our team's chemistry this season, the recruiting of Moussa Diabate on next year's team, and even getting Brandon Johns more quality playing time this year in prep for next season.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:34 PM ^
Or it could've made our team even better. Who knows. Doesn't matter, though. It's in the past.
February 10th, 2021 at 9:47 PM ^
He's not a C. He was recruited to play Livers' role. That said, Johns and Williams are just fine.
He plays over Williams, but I don't know if he even plays over Johns to be honest. Maybe because if he doesn't it's hard to recruit top 10 guys.
Getting a better Johns/Williams in the short-term isn't really that valuable at the moment. Williams doesn't play enough and the experience he's getting now could be more important 2 years from now.
I wish Todd well though, at least he's getting paid.
February 10th, 2021 at 10:52 PM ^
I likeWilliam's. Solid glue guy for 4 years..
February 12th, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
Update: Todd is playing well tonight...and he is NOTHING like a C, which I feel like I've been screaming for a year now.
He literally said himself that Howard recruited him as a point forward like LeBron and he'd be bringing the ball up at times.
Which is exactly what he's doing for his team in the G-League.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
Players in the G League's yearlong developmental program will receive a salary up to $500,000, including financial incentives for playing in games, completing community events and attending life-skills programs coordinated by the G League's oversight of the program, sources said. Todd's salary will be about $250,000 if he reaches all the bonuses that are in the contract. think he is ok
February 10th, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
Short-term he'll be fine. No big contract in the future though.
Oops.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^
If he develops he will get a big contract. No different than if he went to college. College isn't for everyone. Their are lots of people in life who succeed without a college degree, and the kid is getting paid to play a sport. I don't really see the downside to that.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:35 PM ^
Have you seen a G League game? That is some terrible basketball.
February 10th, 2021 at 10:14 PM ^
Have you seen an NCAA game? Compared to the NBA, it's terrible basketball.
February 11th, 2021 at 6:30 AM ^
have you seen the pistons play? THAT is some terrible basketball...lol
February 11th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
More people tune into NCAA basketball games than GLeague games. Hell, how the fuck do you even watch a GLeague game?
Point being, there is a better marketing opportunity for yourself playing in college then there is in the GLeague.
Wake me up when a GLeague highlight makes Sportcenters top 10.
February 11th, 2021 at 5:35 AM ^
One downside is that outside of mgoblog he gets no exposure, which is a killer for both endorsements and after basketball jobs. We kids in college may not get paid during college, that exposure and name recognition benefit them considerably after they leave.
February 10th, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
Played FIRST game. Seems you may be jumping to conclusions. And, not sure there is joy to be had in speculating on whether a teenager's decision was bad...especially when we are #3. Success on the court has made me totally forget this guy, but best of luck to him.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
It's a JUMP... to conclusions mat!
February 10th, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
Yes this is horrible idea
February 10th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
"You see, you have this mat, with different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP to."
February 10th, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^
Its the moops
February 10th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
While rooting for a kid to fail is always a bad look, I think the question of G-League vs NCAA is a relevant debate.
It's not always about $$ vs education/coaching anymore. As a fan of college basketball, I feel there are many more followers and viewers on the college level and much more media coverage. If I was an NBA scout however, maybe G League is the better platform for easier access to players and easier to pair a player with a team based on needs/potential?
I think a lot comes back to missing out on the collegiate athletic experience and competition (especially B1G) and of course the NCAA tournament, which I feel is the most exciting and compelling in all of sports.
Thoughts?
February 10th, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
College sounds fun for an 18 year old. $250k salary sounds like a different kind of fun. LaMelo Ball got drafted with the 3rd pick out of Lithuania. Bottom line is that NBA scouts will find you if they think you're worth scouting.
February 10th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
I think the biggest thing these kids could be missing out on is building the brand. No one watches the G-League except for gamblers, diehards, and family members. Going to a college automatically gains you fans that will at the very least casually follow you you're entire career. That's jersey sales, shoe sales etc. Even one semi-remarkable year in college can really alter the trajectory of one's Q-rating.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:08 PM ^
It also makes you an alumnus, which is nice.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:53 PM ^
Hell, you might even get an education!
February 10th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
It's the first game for a guy who was noted as being somewhat of a developmental type. Highly suggest pumping the brakes.
February 10th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
I think it is too early to speculate about Todd himself but I do think there are a couple of interesting things to ponder with this first year of the G-League development team:
1 - What happens to guys like Todd that went to this team because they weren't draft eligible but will be next year if they aren't drafted? Do they go in the G-league draft? Are they on a 1-year contract for this Ignite team? Does Todd have any obvious path to a contract of some sort next season if he isn't drafted?
2 - What is the future of this team? This was really hyped as a potential threat to the NCAA when it was formed pre-pandemic. With all that's happened since, what is its future? Will the NBA be willing to throw around money to high school kids as they were? Does this grow? Do players get scared off from it as an option?
February 10th, 2021 at 2:01 PM ^
I think it’s likely to be a flash in a pan so to speak. Once NIL laws are passed wholesale - basketball seems to be the sport where these top end players will benefit the most. If schools are allowed to reimburse them and they join with a blue blood like brand with all the national exposure they get - i don’t think you’ll see any of these guys go this route
February 10th, 2021 at 2:09 PM ^
I don't think it's fair to guess this team has failed during a pandemic. I for one would love to watch this team play.
February 10th, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
Really? I'm interested to a point, but no more than "oh hey - Chet's AAU team is playing on ESPN8 tonight, maybe I'll watch a few minutes."
I never said it was a failure. But it is still an experiment. Todd was always an unknown high-potential, low-floor prospect at this stage. He might make $250k this year or he might make less. He might get great NBA coaching and attention...or he might be over-shadowed by others. They're only playing a few games.
I think this will always be an interesting option for the elite of the elite guys. I'm less convinced of how this option plays out for guys like Todd that have less sure draft status. If Todd struggles and doesn't get drafted, he's going to hope for a G-League spot or heads over-seas. And in parallel, is the NBA going to give a guy like Todd a $250k contract next year depending on how it works out? Hard to say....that's what I'm interested in.
I'd love for the NBA to have a true minor league option for guys to make a living like the MLB or NHL while they work toward getting a pro contract. I'm just not sure if this is it or not.
February 10th, 2021 at 1:59 PM ^
I wonder how he would have worked into the rotation this year. I would say most likely he would have shaved some minutes off of Hunter early when Davis was starting, and Johns. Possibly Hunter wouldn't have gotten as much of an opportunity to show what he had during the brief non-conference schedule; and instead Todd would have been our small ball 5.
In the end, it probably worked out for the best. Todd with his measurables is someone who can be a high enough pick without a lot of film. Still, he is getting paid to play and in the end, he may end up going around the same spot in the draft that he would have if he came here.
There was no chance really of him staying here two years, so in-turn if by losing him we got the chance to have Hunter develop quicker and keep Johns around, I think it all worked out.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
"who seems to have no chance of getting drafted."
He just played his first game. He will show up on draft boards soon enough. Remember how Franz wasn't on draft boards at the beginning of the season? Now he's fringe lottery. Josh Christopher is having an inefficient season on a losing team and he's still considered lottery. Things will change for Todd.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
He's probably liking the G-league to the tune of about $250k. Can't really blame him.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
Yeah, really hard to blame a work-in-progress type player for taking guaranteed money early in his career. Even if he never pans out as an NBA rotation guy, stacking a few 6-figure contracts is not a bad way to start adulthood. Best of luck to him.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
Its weird and disturbing how much joy this board seems to get from trying to prove Todd made the wrong choice. He is going to make $250k this year and gets to spend all of his time playing and focusing on improving his basketball against higher quality players than he would face in college all while not having to pretend to be a student.
He made what was the right choice for him, its time to move on.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:19 PM ^
It was probably inadvertently the best choice for us too. Seems like this should be part of the equation.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
This is 99% the right take. The only part of it that's wrong is generalizing to the board. Most of us are reasonable human beings, it's just those small fraction who aren't that are vocal and creating juvenile threads gloating in the possibly poor choice of a teenager waaay before it's conclusive that it was actually a poor choice.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
Agree and I think the overwhelming negs on the OP bear out that more disagree with the tone of the post than not.
February 11th, 2021 at 6:54 AM ^
He could’ve done all of those things, except the quality of competition, by going to college...However, it wouldn’t have been at UM & might’ve been tough to find in 1 package...
February 10th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
Big jump from H.S. ball to G League action. I checkout Josh Christopher when I can too, questionable shot selection but he is definitely the goods.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:10 PM ^
I think some of Christopher's problems in college are just crappy coaching.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:09 PM ^
Wow this is harsh.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:33 PM ^
"has no chance of getting drafted"? what are you on about man?
February 10th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
Let' say it all together folks:
"Just because I don't like that a player didnt pick/stay at Michigan, doesnt mean it was the wrong choice for them, or that I should act like a child and find pleasure in their struggles. Because thats something a weirdo would do"
February 10th, 2021 at 2:40 PM ^
I'm good with taking shit about Josh Christopher because his whole Michigan recruitment was just a egotistical manipulation of Michigan staff, fans, and media to boost his brand, but talking shit about Todd is unnecessary. He wanted to get the bag and go to the NBA. Can't blame him for that
February 11th, 2021 at 12:46 AM ^
Cristopher had every right to do what’s got for him. But if by eschewing Michigan for asu was an effort to build his brand, he made the exact wrong choice. Absolutely nobody is talking about or watching asu, which plays in a shitty conference. Can’t say the same for Michigan.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
Bad form. OP should feel bad.
February 10th, 2021 at 3:05 PM ^
Honest question for the board:
How often are one and done players immediately impactful in their one year of college?
I don't follow non-Michigan teams enough to know, but I have a feeling that most one and done are more Mo Bamba than Zion Williamson. I'm going to speculate that Hunter was much more ready to play at a collegiate level than Isaiah Todd would have been (which isn't to say that Todd's ceiling may be much higher).
February 10th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
I wish him well. Best of luck, young man.