The expectations some have of Fleming are almost grotesque.
Yes, everyone is looking for a big man who's athletic and can also shoot, and this draft has little to offer in that regard.
But Fleming as a lottery pick? Really?
He's a third-year player who's still only the #3 option for his team, a mediocre team that plays in a mediocre conference and never saw the tour.
Decent stats, but open 3s and dunks over third-rate college kids are perhaps not the highest bar after all.
Guys, this guy, Yaxel., is worth a second look....he is versatile at 6'9
Yuuuuuup.
thats fair, i should have been more careful with the response
the "well yeah" was relative to you pointing out that he doesnt defend the perimeter all that much. which would be something notable in today's NBA. the thing is, he'd be a dominant center in today's NBA, something between Embiid/AD as far as interior dominance.
you could overlook all kinds of warts if you are getting an all-time talent obviously
Yaxel is fine if he even stays in the draft, but we need to remind that Fleming has a 7' 5" wingspan. Just because he played in a JV league doesn't change that. You can't coach length and players with length and shooting are on too short of supply on current SAS roster.
I think this is spot on thinking. Both Rodman and Scotty Pippin weren’t even D1 players. scouting wasn’t as good back then,and analytics were non existent. Even so, both players were selected at positions that would be first rounders today, #5 and #27.
Fleming also played for a terrible team. Very talented squad, but overall bad from what I heard
Giraffes have long wingspans. Squid have long wingspans. C'mon. He could be good, but let's stop drafting people's bodies. It's completely senseless.
It’s something nearly every team looks for, and sees as a positive. It’s seen as a multiplier on defense, increasing steals, deflections, and blocks. Rasheed is 6’9” with a 7’5” wingspan. For the mathematically challenged, that’s a +8. That’s bigger than Kawhi’s +7.
You don’t draft him because he’s a +8. You draft him because he’s A +8 and can shoot,rebound, steal, and block shots.
I’d take Fleming with ATL pick and either Queen/Sorber with Spurs own pick. Right now I just want Wemby to have as much help in the paint, rebounding, blocking shots, putting body on big people.
Unless we jump up, I'm not expecting much of an immediate contribution next season of whoever we draft. Both a sign of the quality of this class and the quality of the team. Late lotto picks shouldn't be able to immediately crack the rotation of a good team, and we're inching our way ever closer to being one of those. It's a good sign.
You got it. We cannot discount Fleming's shooting because of his age. How many guys can be good shooters after 4 years in NBA? Look at Sochan, Blake, Zach Collins, Tre Jones. The waitting has been so frustrating.
Fleming has made nearly five 3s per game. This kind of volume has a high chance of translating in to NBA.
We cannot afford to draft and develop non-shooting guys anymore unless somebody has all other skills except shooting, such as Castle or Kawhi.
This off season we need to draft good shooters sign or trade at least one.
That's exactly why bad teams fail draft after draft.
No one gives a about a couple extra inches wingspan once they start playing. This is amateur stuff.
This is another example I love to read your posts!
Fleming has a Spur written all over him. Problem is that he may be gone by the time we pick at 13 or 14. Hopefully teams before us all pick for highest possible ceiling. For us, we really need a role player like him.
Wemby, Fox and castle next year will generate tons of open 3s next season. Think about that and then the front office will draft accordingly.
Kon can contribute immediately. Fleming can likely crack the rotation by the 2nd half of the season. Then they will get playoff experience next year and step up for championship run next next season.
Who's the odd man out if we get Kon?
I think this season has shown us Barnes should be kept as a starter because of his elite shooting, but that we need a bigger PF and he should be moved to SF.
Assuming him and Castle start, there are still Devin and Keldon on the roster. And even Champagnie if we're talking SG/SF shooters.
I want to get rid of at least one of Devin/Keldon, but I don't think it's likely.
If we keep everyone in the current rotation, we need a 6'9-6'11 PF, backup PG and backup C.
Yup. This team is severely lacking in physicality.
Devin will need to be traded. Keldon can be traded if someone like Naz Reid or John Collins really wants to play with Wemby.
Two picks. I'd like a young guard with skills, especially shooting, and upside. Kon and Jase look appealing here. A big man for the ATL pick makes sense to me. Lots of options here including Fleming. If Queen was still around he would be intriguing, Sorber as well.
In defense of Fleming, to me it's the archetype and specific skills plus physical attributes: great athlete, great measurements, defensive numbers. and 3P shooting numbers. Reducing his appeal to wingspan is also stupid.
Rambling further, Fleming is likely a much worse overall talent compared to say Queen. But since we are trying to find a power forward to play next to the most talented 7 footer of all time, we need specific skills that balance out Wemby so he continue to develop his game without being overwhelmed with compensating for others deficiencies. Queen would have lots of promise on offense but could be a disaster in space on defense.
Lots of ways to look at this. including fit. Fleming could suck but that's true for lots of players, especially in a potentially weak draft.
Not to oversimplify in a different way, but if we had Barnes camped out in a corner, Fleming camped out in another corner, and were perfectly fine with that, then that's a lot of room for Fox, Castle, and Wemby to work in on offense.
A power forward who can shoot and defend, whoever that is, could really unlock Wemby's game even further. Working around Wemby should be the goal.
I'm late to the discussion, but is there a case against Carter Bryant? I've only seen a couple of highlight videos but he looks like an ideal project SF. Listed at 6-8 and looks legit, I'd be surprised if wasn't at least 6-7.
Great athlete, makes his 3s at 37% albeit low volume, gets blocks and steals, already very strong. Old for a freshman, sure.
Looks like a good gamble for a complementary role player who can finish plays for the heavy usage ball handlers in Wemby, Fox and Castle
That’s making our rebounding woes even worse. Did folks here forget that rebounding is part of basketball? Brehhhhh
Nah, Barnes can’t play SF as much anymore. He’s clearly phasing into the next chapter of his career into a PF. He’s lost a step and is now more suited to play the PF role. This happens to a lot of players.
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