From a reliable connection…Graves supposedly has a standing and sizable offer from LSU…probably not something we can match if chooses to return.
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Yes, but this is also what the existing game film already highlights. My read is that someone has told him that he’s getting selected somewhere in the teens if he’s available, which is close to his ceiling in this draft anyways. If he’s got a guarantee to be picked anywhere from 12-20, say, then I think that scrimmaging is only liable to hurt him.
A few years ago, Jalen got a lot of credit for scrimmaging more than he may have needed to. But at that point there were major doubts about how NBA-ready anyone out of SCU could be. Graves is a major beneficiary of Jalen and Brandin and even Adama before him and has much less to overcome as “the next NBA prospect out of Santa Clara.”
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This mock has Graves at #16 to the Grizzlies.
NBA Mock Draft 2026 - Yahoo Sports
A different Yahoo article yesterday had him at #20.
We’ll see how he grades out on the other speed and agility test.
If anyone’s interested saw this Reddit post with the results of today’s Combine activities. Looks like Graves might’ve had a not so great day
He’d be smart to come back to Santa Clara, IMO. Finish what he started. He needs to be somewhere that he will get maximum development opportunities. That’s more important for his career than more money next year.
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@PattyMac - What does “guarantee” mean in this context?
While I want nothing more than him to come back, I think it’s pretty tough to make this argument.
He’d get paid 3-4X elsewhere I think. That’s pretty significant money to pass up on. Nice insurance policy even if it doesn’t work out.
I’m ready to pony up, but I don’t think my $500 is going to move the needle 
.
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Honestly, I don’t know a ton about the machinations behind the scenes between teams and scouts and agents. But I saw reported from a couple of corners that a few prospects were seeking “first-round guarantees” to stay in the draft, and Graves was listed as one of that number. With the decision to forgo scrimmaging, I assumed that he received such a guarantee.
How the guarantee is structured (and how much of a “guarantee” it all really is) is beyond my knowledge. I assume that players’ agents have a pretty tight relationship with their counterparts on the various NBA teams and make handshake agreements that if their client is available at 17, then Memphis or OKC or Philly or whomever will take them. I also assume that none of this ever gets reduced to a contract. But I would guess that the relationships between agents and scouts and front office folks needs to be symbiotic where such handshakes are pretty reliable.
Anyways, I’m just reporting speculations from various corners of the internet. Folks saying that Graves was looking for a “first round guarantee” + other folks assuming that not scrimmaging indicated that such guarantees were obtained, potentially from multiple teams to make falling to the second round seem very remote.
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A related story. This reminds me of Trayce Jackson Davis being a 2nd round pick for the warriors. When it was happening live they made it sound like he was dropping and the warriors got a steal. Depending on who you believe, what actually happened was TJD’s agent was told that the warriors were willing to give him a guaranteed contact as opposed to sending him to the g-league on a 2 way contract, so the agent asked other teams not to draft him. Not to exactly sure what people think of when people see a player “dropping” in the draft.
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I’m not thinking about a few million next year. I’m looking at that 287 million dollar contract Jalen got and saying “how can I set myself up for that?”
And I don’t think Will Wade is the answer to that question. And I don’t think Rick Stansbury, Johnny Jones or Damon Stoudamire are the answer to that question either.
I think Herb Sendek and especially Jason Ludwig and Ryan Madry are, like they have been for him so far, like they were for Jalen, like they have been for others that maybe didn’t have the same ceiling but were developed to their potential. Coaches that are in the game to coach and to develop, not to recruit and to build their personal brand.
He’s going to get paid more next year at age 20 than most of us ever have in a year whether he’s at SCU or LSU. To me the choice is really about where are you going to get the most out of a second year in college to set you up for not only the draft but to be ready to perform and earn that big second contract. That’s what it’s all about when you’re at his level.
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In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Allen Graves said he has only talked to Duke & LSU. Kentucky contacted his agent. No mention of Santa Clara. If he’s a 1st rounder he’ll stay in the draft otherwise it’s Duke or LSU
If he isn’t drafted, and not coming back, I think he benefits from a Duke run. Wade is a proven douche, and will want turnaround and results fast. Duke is obviously even more result focused than LSU, but I watch them a lot, and the freshman improve as the season progresses. He’d be a better player by season’s end. I’m not sure that’s the case at LSU. Given most of the mock drafts have him in the first round (and with it three seasons of guaranteed money,),and considering the discussion above about potential pre-draft agreements, if I were going to Vegas, I’d bet on seeing him in the NBA next season.
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Duke is just a recruiting machine. They don’t develop talent. Who have they ever had as a FR/SO (not a mid major transfer they just took custody of for a year like Sion James) that made the NBA radar from outside the recruiting elite? The last one is probably Steph Curry’s little brother.
I don’t think anyone anywhere has done it now 3 and presumably 4 times in a handful of years. I honestly can’t believe Ludwig and/or Madry didn’t get hired away to a head coaching gig. Maybe they’re waiting it out for a better quality gig than whatever they might have been able to land this spring? Whatever, thrilled to have them and will put their records up against anyone in the country.
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From a developmental standpoint, I completely agree Graves would be best served staying here. He’s only mentioned Duke and LSU. Duke does recruit elite talent, but they improve as the one and done progresses through a season. I think he benefits from Duke more than LSU ( I’ll admit a bias against all things SEC).
The Athletic has a section on Graves
"If there’s a mystery man among the American college players at this year’s combine, it’s Santa Clara redshirt freshman forward Allen Graves.
…
Graves didn’t even start for Santa Clara, but he blew up analytical models with his odd combination of steals, offensive rebounds and 3-pointers. Despite a 6-8 frame, he led the conference in steal rate by a wide margin, not to mention his PER and BPM. As a result, he’s showing up on draft boards as a potential first-rounder and came to the combine weighing a decision to stay in the draft versus a lucrative name, image and likeness offer from LSU.
This was all quite a shock; Graves wasn’t a high recruit and sat out a redshirt year before he erupted this season. The Louisiana native told me that overcoming his native cuisine was half the battle in that redshirt year.
“Definitely just developing my body,” Graves said. "Diet habits, coming from Louisiana, a lot of good food down there, so staying away from certain foods, fried foods, stuff like that — bread, a lot a bread — and then just making sure my diet’s right.
“And then also the experience part of it, that redshirt year, I was 17 going into college. So just being able to have the experience of practicing with those guys, seeing them play on the court and just developing.”
For those who haven’t seen him, I’ll let Graves give you the self-scout:
*“*I’d say I’m a very high-IQ player. I’d like to say I have a good feel for the game. My knowledge of basketball has been pretty good. Just being able to grow up around it, grow up in the environment like my brother played in. My sister played at Auburn. Just being able to be around the environment my whole life has been great.”
As for next steps in his game, Graves is trying to become a more reliable floor-spacer and perimeter defender; a monstrously high foul rate was his most notable negative during the season.
**“**Just getting my shot quicker, making sure that it’s an NBA-level shot … and then also showcasing I can guard. A lot of our coverages this year were plugs, not switching, but being able to show that I can play the four position.”
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Looks like his stock is slipping in the draft. If he still is a round one pick he should stay in the draft. If not he should check with fellow Bronco who left SCU for LSU and then came back to SCU. While the NIL $$$ may be greener the grass isn’t always greener when you leave. I believe he would develop more at SCU. Maybe we can find some NIL $$$ for him.
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At a minimum he should have participated in the scrimmages IMO. That was a chance to have his stock rise based on something other than his leaping ability and wingspan. Regarding LSU, I believe one of the articles circulating said the head coach and assistant coach were Allen’s older brother’s college coach. Being a family man, and the proximity to his parents is likely the strongest draw.
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I’ve more than said my peace. If Graves pulls out bc of not getting a guarantee, it’ll be bc of his run and jump testing. It would really make very clear that he needs to be very refined and polished at that bc no one is going to draft him for his athletic potential. And to keep working on his body and his conditioning to improve that athletic level as much as physical makeup will allow. And Santa Clara is the best place for that. If in a year it doesn’t work out, the window is probably closed and he should take the money. But his best move is to give Santa Clara another year. I really strongly believe that and I hope someone with some sway is reading. I’m really afraid if he leaves, it’ll be for the worse for him.
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https://x.com/onballcreator/status/2055496629268910102?s=20
Tweet comparing his measurables to current/former NBA players. I really liked the Boris Diaw comp I saw an analyst make. Certainly you wish Graves was more quick twitch but I don’t see anything disqualifying from him being an NBA player in the combine numbers. His anticipation and elite hand eye will allow him to defend better than his testing numbers would suggest like many guys on this list. As long as he is taken anywhere in the first round, he should go pro. His advanced analytics will never look better than this year, and if he goes to LSU he is probably getting double teamed every game.
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ESPN’s most recent mock has Graves at 22 and some explanation as to why.
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