bluebellmaniac
06-17-2014, 09:04 PM
Thought I'd set up a thread for the small forward position (feel free to open one for the other positions as well).
Obviously we have our starting SF for the next 10 years in Kawhi, but there is interest in setting up a solid back up for him. The prominent thinking in the Think Tank (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37) is that we select Inglis with our pick at #30. He has a solid body and a good all around game with the exception of shooting, which luckily for us we have the best shooting coach out there. But what does this say about Bertans and Daye? Lots of questions.
Damien Inglis: 6' 8" (7' 3" wingspan) and weighs 240 lbs (per DraftExpress). Only 19 years old. I suspect we'd want him to develop one or two more years in Europe before coming over, but he has the physical attributes to come over right away. In fact I suspect he would come over right away so that he could play along / backup Kawhi all the sooner.
Daye: 6' 11" (7' 2" wingspan) but only weighs 200 lbs. Needs to hit the creatine and weight room hard. He looks fit, but adding 15-20 lbs of muscle on this guy would be helpful. He shot lights out for the short time he was on the team last season. He's got a partially guaranteed contract this coming season. Given that Bonner was booed for his horrible defense, would it be a step backwards to use Daye as a situational player as a stretch 4? Could work.
Defensively, he's not heavy / muscular enough to guard many PFs and too slow (??) to guard many SF. His weakness on defense would be offset by his strength offensively. Offensively, his height is problematic for most SFs and he'd be open to shoot 3's all day long (like the pun?). I say we put him down as the 14th / 15th guy until he bulks up by 20 lbs. He needs to think conditioning, working out and diet 24/7 to become a player who is useful at the 3 & 4 position. He could have a nice career with us if he molds his body into what it needs to be. With his partially guaranteed contract, he is a virtually disposable player, so he needs to do EVERYTHING he can to make the team.
Bertans: 6' 10" or 6'11" (6' 10" wingspan) and weighs 210 lbs. He's rebounding from ACL surgery and has played since. He has spent 3 years developing in Europe since being drafted in 2011. Do we leave him in Europe for another year to ensure he is recovered or is this the year he comes over? Kawhi, Bertans and Inglis would be impressive. From ProjectSpurs.com (http://projectspurs.com/2013-articles/davis-bertans-discusses-his-season-in-europe-upcoming-trip-to-san-anotnio.html): "Observation: Some upper body strength and conditioning is definitely needed since he's pretty slight for his 6'11" frame (according to Eurobasket). Bertans is playing small forward for Partizan right now, but it's unclear if he has the foot speed and athleticism to guard small forward in the NBA. But if he can put on some weight he can guard power forwards and become really tough for other power forwards to guard." Seems to me that Bertans could pass Daye in utility by virtue of body weight. He is closer to the target weight for defending power forwards than Daye.
Both Bertans and Daye would add great height to the small forward position (and power forward position if they can play both). If we draft Inglis, then I see us packaging Bertans or releasing / packaging Daye. No need to both if we get Inglis.
Obviously we have our starting SF for the next 10 years in Kawhi, but there is interest in setting up a solid back up for him. The prominent thinking in the Think Tank (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37) is that we select Inglis with our pick at #30. He has a solid body and a good all around game with the exception of shooting, which luckily for us we have the best shooting coach out there. But what does this say about Bertans and Daye? Lots of questions.
Damien Inglis: 6' 8" (7' 3" wingspan) and weighs 240 lbs (per DraftExpress). Only 19 years old. I suspect we'd want him to develop one or two more years in Europe before coming over, but he has the physical attributes to come over right away. In fact I suspect he would come over right away so that he could play along / backup Kawhi all the sooner.
Daye: 6' 11" (7' 2" wingspan) but only weighs 200 lbs. Needs to hit the creatine and weight room hard. He looks fit, but adding 15-20 lbs of muscle on this guy would be helpful. He shot lights out for the short time he was on the team last season. He's got a partially guaranteed contract this coming season. Given that Bonner was booed for his horrible defense, would it be a step backwards to use Daye as a situational player as a stretch 4? Could work.
Defensively, he's not heavy / muscular enough to guard many PFs and too slow (??) to guard many SF. His weakness on defense would be offset by his strength offensively. Offensively, his height is problematic for most SFs and he'd be open to shoot 3's all day long (like the pun?). I say we put him down as the 14th / 15th guy until he bulks up by 20 lbs. He needs to think conditioning, working out and diet 24/7 to become a player who is useful at the 3 & 4 position. He could have a nice career with us if he molds his body into what it needs to be. With his partially guaranteed contract, he is a virtually disposable player, so he needs to do EVERYTHING he can to make the team.
Bertans: 6' 10" or 6'11" (6' 10" wingspan) and weighs 210 lbs. He's rebounding from ACL surgery and has played since. He has spent 3 years developing in Europe since being drafted in 2011. Do we leave him in Europe for another year to ensure he is recovered or is this the year he comes over? Kawhi, Bertans and Inglis would be impressive. From ProjectSpurs.com (http://projectspurs.com/2013-articles/davis-bertans-discusses-his-season-in-europe-upcoming-trip-to-san-anotnio.html): "Observation: Some upper body strength and conditioning is definitely needed since he's pretty slight for his 6'11" frame (according to Eurobasket). Bertans is playing small forward for Partizan right now, but it's unclear if he has the foot speed and athleticism to guard small forward in the NBA. But if he can put on some weight he can guard power forwards and become really tough for other power forwards to guard." Seems to me that Bertans could pass Daye in utility by virtue of body weight. He is closer to the target weight for defending power forwards than Daye.
Both Bertans and Daye would add great height to the small forward position (and power forward position if they can play both). If we draft Inglis, then I see us packaging Bertans or releasing / packaging Daye. No need to both if we get Inglis.