Kai Sotto Thread

[The_Big_Cat]

Kai didn't participate last year's summer league, Right? So scouts didn't see what he can do... Actually he did a wrong move to not participate last year's summer league.. And going to the NBA is not fast pace, it's a sprint... Many NBA players that also undrafted but still not give up and waiting for their time... Check at most of Miami Heat's players, almost all of them are undrafted, But they work hard to reach their dreams... Even Iran's Hamed Haddadi, he joined NBA draft in 2004 but only get his chance in 2008.. This is what i disagree with you... You didn't trust a process, Blaming his weaknesses and pointing that he's not an NBA material... Kai will not a NBA material if he will surrender, just like some players who failed and accept the reality... But Kai isn't... Kai's potential is not finished yet... We will not know when we will say Kai is already done in his dreams... Only Kai can answer that... As for now, Kai is working hard again in his dream and you should appreciate it... I think even Kai knows what he will do for his upcoming summer league stint... I hope he see an opportunity, even a 2 way contract option, He should accept it... That's how Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and most of Miami players did in their early years... They didn't give up, even says they can't make it too far, They ignore it.... And look at them now? So don't underestimate Kai's chances...

Sotto was already scouted prior to the 2022 NBA Draft. The Ignite practices, the 2021-2022 NBL season and the 2022 Pre-Draft Individual Workouts (Orlando, Utah, Portland, Indiana, LA, et al). Coaches, GMs and scouts already took a closer look at him last year. And the result was obviously he did not get a Summer League invitation.

And to add, Sotto did not make it to ESPN’s final Top 100 prospects for the 2022 NBA Draft.

[DAdmiral]

Not an accurate narrative.
1st draft selections and 2 way development contracts are based mainly on upside ( not if one already has maximized his potential)

2md Kai is super exposed to NBA personnel.

3rd, this is indeed his 3rd year of trying out for the NBA litteally in front of NBA scouts for a prolonged period to evaluate his game
1st year was in 2021 with Ignite , absolutely if he impressed then he would have entered draft (forward graduation like others to be eligible)

4th the top 100 drsdt prospects invite is littirally the assessment of all NBA team coaches

5th Kai is not a draft prospect but already a FA, so any team can sign for last 11 months to training camp to harness his upside potential, yet NO one has (like i said it's already been decided)

6th Kai has 75 league games of 15 mins each,. So 1,100 minutes of game film for evey NBA scout to review for potential, they obviously have already made up their minds and have concluded he's not worth signing. Any NBA scout worth his salt, can make an assessment based on 1,000 plus minutes of NBL/ B league game film, to not be able to do this and let a potential NBA player unsigned , even to the minimum training contract ( 1 month) is total incompetence.

[Kaireem]

We can't compare that... NBA scouts are not using international stats as their basis... They are basing on potential long term... If we based on your opinion, We can bring best players from every league then trying it out to the NBA... If NBA scouts sees potential on that player, They will try to pick him and develop as long as they can... That's why it's up to Kai right now if he can impress scouts in his summer league stint... I think this is his last chance to prove that he belongs there.. If he fails then i don't think he will get another chance.. Unless he improves later in his career or being a late bloomer type of player...

kai is an unrestricted free agent, its not about potential anymore

[Kaireem]

Kai didn't participate last year's summer league, Right? So scouts didn't see what he can do... Actually he did a wrong move to not participate last year's summer league.. And going to the NBA is not fast pace, it's a sprint... Many NBA players that also undrafted but still not give up and waiting for their time... Check at most of Miami Heat's players, almost all of them are undrafted, But they work hard to reach their dreams... Even Iran's Hamed Haddadi, he joined NBA draft in 2004 but only get his chance in 2008.. This is what i disagree with you... You didn't trust a process, Blaming his weaknesses and pointing that he's not an NBA material... Kai will not a NBA material if he will surrender, just like some players who failed and accept the reality... But Kai isn't... Kai's potential is not finished yet... We will not know when we will say Kai is already done in his dreams... Only Kai can answer that... As for now, Kai is working hard again in his dream and you should appreciate it... I think even Kai knows what he will do for his upcoming summer league stint... I hope he see an opportunity, even a 2 way contract option, He should accept it... That's how Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and most of Miami players did in their early years... They didn't give up, even says they can't make it too far, They ignore it.... And look at them now? So don't underestimate Kai's chances...

but those players you mentioned showed indications of getting to the nba - presence in reputable mock drafts, attended the draft combine, was ranked within the top 100, etc. plus it is well documented that undrafted players also declined offers to be 2nd rounders in order to sign 2 way contracts with the teams of their choice (e.g., austin reaves).

truth to be told kai has been a pro for 3 years with so little improvement in all of his weaknesses and now he is in a league that is not on the nba radar

[DAdmiral]

10 day contracts are only offered from November to March ( NBA regular season) , and are not offered to overseas players who are still in season for foreign club , given Kai is signed by Hiroshima for next season , (and 10 day contracts are not offered in US summer June to August) , Kai has zero chance of being offered a 10 day contract. ( his best chance of securing a 10 day contract is if he plays in the G- league or NBL (cause regular season end in Feb) , like Brantley signed a 10 day contract in March or April

make no mistake about it the value of Kai playing in mini camps and SL is to increase his profile for NIL and his value for signing overseas contracts , it has very very little to do with trying to make the NBA , which is a pipe dream. Again misleading narrative for the nth time ( hyping again)

[paolylo]

"Potential" gets thrown a lot, but in the context of Philippine basketball, UAAP stars aged 26 sitting on the bench for 2 years approaching their final year under contract still has potential if you're an abosolute dumbfuck like an Andy Jao or a Quinito Henson.

I'm giving Kai 3 more years, past that, it's all about the grind. Yudai Baba is 27 and might not even get a 10-day with the Mavs even if he's been balling in the G-League. Kai will have to live that basketball journeyman life a little longer for chances in the NBA.

[DAdmiral]

Well the factual reality is in terms of age and number of years aa a pro, Kai for a.dtsft pick or2 way development contract is old, look at the data

[Giannis34GOD]

but those players you mentioned showed indications of getting to the nba - presence in reputable mock drafts, attended the draft combine, was ranked within the top 100, etc. plus it is well documented that undrafted players also declined offers to be 2nd rounders in order to sign 2 way contracts with the teams of their choice (e.g., austin reaves).

truth to be told kai has been a pro for 3 years with so little improvement in all of his weaknesses and now he is in a league that is not on the nba radar

That should Kai can do for now, Impress scouts in any mini camps he was there, Impress in upcoming summer league what he can do, It's not all about stats for the NBA scouts they want, They are looking for a player who can fit with their implementing system... This is his last 2 chances (the other one is upcoming FIBA WC)... Love his desire thou... You can judge him if he's finally give up in his NBA dreams... Anyway Kai doesn't care about our opinions here... He has that mission by the way....

[Giannis34GOD]

Sotto was already scouted prior to the 2022 NBA Draft. The Ignite practices, the 2021-2022 NBL season and the 2022 Pre-Draft Individual Workouts (Orlando, Utah, Portland, Indiana, LA, et al). Coaches, GMs and scouts already took a closer look at him last year. And the result was obviously he did not get a Summer League invitation.

And to add, Sotto did not make it to ESPN’s final Top 100 prospects for the 2022 NBA Draft.

I know that, That's why he did mistake when he didn't part of any summer league teams last year... Management failed him big time... Still Don't give up for Kai... Who knows?

[Giannis34GOD]

kai is an unrestricted free agent, its not about potential anymore

Well, some players who become good in their later part of their careers (Late bloomers).. Let's see... We are all miron here by the way....

[Silent Killer]

https://www.spin.ph/basketball/fiba/dallas-mavericks-owner-mark-cuban-on-kai-sotto-mini-camp-performance-a2244-20230607?utm_source=Facebook-Spin&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20230607-fbnp-basketball-dallas-mavericks-owner-mark-cuban-on-kai-sotto-mini-camp-performance-a2244-20230607-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR2vru-Sp50vlmV8K1oOnbTzxTPR7Vmg15DWkUMIoMfXoXaTMGW2vJQIz7E_aem_th_AYTNUm6BMD94s6lneVfBNpipfQRAa-_AwmGiqtJQA7bDiHp523reB92loorwXlTqr40

[Linusports]

10 day contracts are only offered from November to March ( NBA regular season) , and are not offered to overseas players who are still in season for foreign club , given Kai is signed by Hiroshima for next season , (and 10 day contracts are not offered in US summer June to August) , Kai has zero chance of being offered a 10 day contract. ( his best chance of securing a 10 day contract is if he plays in the G- league or NBL (cause regular season end in Feb) , like Brantley signed a 10 day contract in March or April

make no mistake about it the value of Kai playing in mini camps and SL is to increase his profile for NIL and his value for signing overseas contracts , it has very very little to do with trying to make the NBA , which is a pipe dream. Again misleading narrative for the nth time ( hyping again)

"make no mistake about it the value of Kai playing in mini camps and SL is to increase his profile for NIL and his value for signing overseas contracts , it has very very little to do with trying to make the NBA , which is a pipe dream. Again misleading narrative for the nth time" DAdmiral

-You like saying Coach Jimmy Alapag doing almost everything on his coaching career (PBA, ABL, NBA G-League) but has "very very little to do with trying to make the NBA"
Then Coach doing it just to increase his profile for sponsorships and his value for signing overseas contracts???


Your thoughts could be leaning towards some personal stuff brother... This how you do relations? when Sotto Camp or other camps declines your proposal, you really go sour because they didn't accepted your proposal?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqzuzCZK1Y8

[PeeZones]

I'll just support Kai all the way.haha The NAYSAYERS are on hypermode these days.haha They might be chanting, twerking and praying their endless negativities from sunrise to sunset.haha

If that makes them sleep better and boost their damaged egos, then who are we to question them.hahaha

[DAdmiral]

what we're comparing a coach (Jimmy Alapag) making the NBA as a coach not his physical attributes but mental , with a player prospect being drafted or signed based on upside ( physical attributes) really now.

if you just objectively looked at the process of how things work, none of these things I'm mentioning are difficult to understand , they apply to every prospect, not just Kai , there is nothing personal as some are suggesting

[DAdmiral]

Well, some players who become good in their later part of their careers (Late bloomers).. Let's see... We are all miron here by the way....

and that's what we are all saying we're simply confirming Kai being signed based on his upside ( within 2 years of this draft year ) are super slim ( based on historical precedence , less than 1 % of those who are not invited to combine , are signed or drafted within 2 years ( fact) ,
Now whether Kai can be a Landale or Campazzo a late bloomer is another topic al together , but his current trajectory path of stagnation over 3 years, does not show confidence that he will be a late bloomer , ( most imporove type of player) ,, note Landale doubled his stats from freshman to junior years