I don’t want the Pistons to draft him because 1. on offense, he’s similar to Cade in alot of ways. Crafty passer and can get where he wants despite some athletic limitations. He’s best with the ball in his hands. Which would make our last three top 10 picks being best with the ball in their hands (though I don’t think Killian should factor much into who we pick as I think he will be best suited coming off the bench). Only one basketball on the court, however. 2. His ceiling is a bit limited compared to alot of others in the top 10. 3. Defense worries me. Just didn’t see much effort there late in the season (could be reasons for that however). 4. The others just compliment Cade much better IMO
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Agreed. I absolutely do not want the Pistons to draft him. I guess I’m saying I could see it as the safer pick than ivy and if I knew that Weaver was doing it with a view to trading him as soon as possible, I’d be okay with that. Of course Weaver isn’t going to make that public, so it sure would be disappointment on draft day.
This isn’t endorsement or criticism, but Shaedon Sharpe is Troy Weaver’s “type” 100% perfectly, and it would not at all shock me to see him become a Piston. 6’6", 7 foot wingspan, jumps through the roof. Troy probably has Sharpe posters on his wall.
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This is a good point. I was thinking of trying to optimize the current roster, but you’re right that nobody outside of Cade is a must-keep player. Detroit needs the #2 to Cade so if they think it’s Paolo they should get him and then figure out a center who fits better with those two.
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Until you’re in the playoffs, there really is no such thing as guys who don’t fit well next to each other. The season is way too long and there are too many minutes in each game. And the nearer you are toward the top of the draft, the more likely there’s a true difference between the N guys you’re choosing between. Once you’re choosing among a tier of basically indistinguishable dudes, sure, give fit some consideration to break ties. But even then the odds of that guy being any good are low enough that it still doesn’t matter much.
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Yeah, even for a good team, fit shouldn’t matter until you get out of the lottery. Just pick the best player, whether you base that on upside or downside or some median, and let the fit figure itself out later. (Darko was a ‘fit’ pick, so I’m probably wounded in this discussion.)
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I watched very little of him, but I would bet he goes higher if he goes to a better program than Memphis that would highlight him better.
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Cade fits with everybody, but significantly better with jabari and chet, who are also the two best players.
Just spitballing here, and I don’t know if I do this for chet, but if I could trade up for jabari if Grant was the cost then I think I would do that.
Can I answer this question after I see how the warriors handle going small against Ayton?
Maybe that isn’t a huge focus at Gonzaga? I’m thinking about Austin Daye, who was a rail the whole time he was in Spokane.
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It’s too bad that Hamido Diallo doesn’t have a reliable J, because he’s as springy as anyone in the NBA.
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OK, someone sell me on Jabari Smith. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but why is he a top 2 pick?
Chet isn’t my guy, but I definitely see the case.
I don’t think I agree? There’s a reason why, for instance, Westbrook was able to be somewhat efficient in Houston and Washington and absolutely utterly failed to do it in LA. There’s a reason why Paul George’s best scoring years came on teams where he wasn’t the top the ball handler, etc…
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He can play the 4 and make 40% from 3
Pistons need shooting
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That doesn’t jazz me up as the #1 pick
It’s not a great year, frankly. Last year I would have been happy with Cade, Mobley or Green (and in reetrospect with Barnes); none of this year’s prospects are as good, but the draft is still gonna happen and the Pistons have to get the maximum value out of it that they can. To answer your question Smith is my top pick because he:
-has a crucial skill he does an elite level
-is a plus defender
-has an excellent physical package for the position he needs to play
-is not a mismatch of skills and size creating the possibility of a tweener in a way you don’t want, unlike the other three top prospects (Chet too skinny for the paint, Paulo to slow to guard 4s, Ivey lacks the ball skills to be a lead guard)
-very young, indicating plenty of upside
This year, that’s all it takes. I don’t think anyone else ticks the boxes or is just so good you don’t care what boxes they don’t tick. Overall, Smith is not a future franchise player. He’s not that good. But when you have Cade, you’re looking for the second banana and Smith is just a perfect fit as that kind of player. I’d rather moderate my expectations to hope to come away with the perfect second banana rather than gamble that any of the other three, who could certainly have higher ceilings, can overcome serious limitations.
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Good sell. Player comp: maybe Heatles-era Chris Bosh? But Smith seems like a more natural perimeter shotmaker / taker.
Good comp! I forget if Bosh was that good from 3, but the point still stands.
Do I believe this? I don’t know that I do. Might. I think if you are just absolutely hardcore BPA you do find yourself needing to move a guy in trade a year or two later and you very well may not get full value back. I think there are cases in which it’s OK to give up some ceiling in order to get a player with a better fit AND a higher floor/lower ceiling. I think Smith is that guy for the Pistons specifically this year. Chet and Ivey are the gamble on greatness. I’ll waver until it’s done, but my comfort level is highest with Smith.
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Bosh basically didn’t shoot a three until he was 30…really THE guy who revolutionized the “stretch big”. He shot 37% - but probably would have been better if it was a skill he had used for most of his career.