He can dunk

Prototype big under csd. Don't need him to score any just dunk play defense and set screens. It also allows rataj to play his natural position as a stretch 4. I can't imagine a better fit!

Crawfoso1973 said:

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Prototype big under csd. Don't need him to score any just dunk play defense and set screens. It also allows rataj to play his natural position as a stretch 4. I can't imagine a better fit!

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^^^^
This. Just need him to occupy space, use that big body for screens, grab a few boards here and there and hopefully block a few shots. Powell isn't a 30 minute a game player and Rataj is not a center. This just gave us a tremendous amount of flexibility.

I'm looking for signs the new AD is delivering on his fund raising abilities as touted by Baylor a couple of weeks ago. We are going to have to go by signs because I doubt Baylor announces salaries when they get a commitment like many programs do such as Tech. This may well be the first sign. Looking forward to football recruiting developments.

ImABearToo said:

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How quickly does he work into a starting role? Who sits?

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Tough to say. Probably not a lot of changes initially. This dude has never even practiced with the team so you have to believe he'll be seen in bits-and-pieces role situations initially.

If there are any changes to the lineup as the season progresses, I wouldn't be surprised to see Skillings moved to a 6th man role like he played throughout his career at UC and one of the bigs moved into the starting lineup (particularly against bigger teams like Arizona and BYU). That way you have the substitution system set up like Drew likes where he brings 3 off the bench at approximately the 15 minute mark. In this case it's now a good mix because the 3 you bring off would be a guard (Williams), a wing/4 (Skillings) and a big (either Powell or Nnaji, whichever doesn't start).

Big12Fan2024 said:

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ImABearToo said:

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How quickly does he work into a starting role? Who sits?

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Tough to say. Probably not a lot of changes initially. This dude has never even practiced with the team so you have to believe he'll be seen in bits-and-pieces role situations initially.

If there are any changes to the lineup as the season progresses, I wouldn't be surprised to see Skillings moved to a 6th man role like he played throughout his career at UC and one of the bigs moved into the starting lineup (particularly against bigger teams like Arizona and BYU). That way you have the substitution system set up like Drew likes where he brings 3 off the bench at approximately the 15 minute mark. In this case it's now a good mix because the 3 you bring off would be a guard (Williams), a wing/4 (Skillings) and a big (either Powell or Nnaji, whichever doesn't start).

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Completely agree with this. I think James and Powell split the minutes at the 5 pretty evenly but both are true centers so won't play together. This is how Drew prefers it, like back in the day with EJ and Thamba. Skillings and Williams off the bench rotating in with Carr, obi, and Rataj.

Some 7-footers look awkward. But not Nnaji.

It looks like we just added some legit rim protection with this move. Dude is super long and athletic.

With Bodo Bodo out, this is exactly what we needed to raise our ceiling beyond a fun, tough, gritty bubble team.

Weve been passed by Houston and Arizona in this league the last couple years.

This guy more than gives us a punchers chance.

Take that BYU.

boognish_bear said:

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Probably an unlikely scenario...but I guess it's a chance you take with these weird new possibilities

James Nnaji has an 18-point, 18-rebound, 6-block game against Colorado in early February. The Knicks leverage his big game and include him as a trade chip for a win-now deadline piece. That rebuilding team wants to use Nnaji.

Baylor is out of a big man headed into March. https://t.co/ub4lE7o8SA

— Matthew Winick (@matthewwinick) December 24, 2025

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First of all, I'll take the 18 and 18 in a conference game and any chances that come after it. The Knicks have draft rights on him, and I believe his playing at Baylor allows the Knicks to retain his draft rights for another year. Thats about it. He is not a G league 2 way player whom the Knicks could call up if needed. They would need to sign him, and make room for him in the cap. There would be a lot of hoops they would have to go through to make it happen, in the face of an enormous shockwave of an NBA team stealing a college player before March madness. I just don't see this as even a remote possibility.

I am excited about James NNaji but it seems some of us are getting way way ahead of things. He is an added big (scouting report I saw has him closer to 6-10 that 7"0), but there is a reason he has been playing international ball. Nnaji has athleticism but remains raw, and needs development. In the Summer league he was a foul machine, average a foul every 3 minutes. In his last game he fouled out in 11 minutes. I see him as someone who can give us 8-10 minutes a game.

James Nnaji's official measurements were sent to teams by the NBA today.

7'0 in shoes
7'7 wingspan
251 pounds
9'4 standing reach

😳

*Measurements were conducted/supervised according to NBA Combine protocols. pic.twitter.com/rUvctOSOV0

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 17, 2023

Agree with a lot of what you say about skill level, but here are his official measurements in 2023 as measured independently by the NBA combine.

ImABearToo said:

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How quickly does he work into a starting role? Who sits?

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I think the same rotation plus him. He'll pull minutes from Powell and Rataj and will allow them to be more aggressive not having to worry about fouling out.

pic.twitter.com/hVQQe3Tc6Z

— Sammy__ (@sammy___g5) December 29, 2025

I do wonder if Nnaji will sometimes face an unfair quick whistle that others may not have faced due to some ref"s personal feelings about a situation like this. I sure hope not. But refs are human and many are influenceable.