Derrick White

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I don't see White as a true classic point guard, tbh. True classic point guard to me is in the John Stockton or pre-Rockets Chris Paul mold. White is never going to be a huge assist guy. I see White more as a combo guard who dribbles well enough to play point guard, has great court vision and is unselfish. I'd be surprising if he turns into an assist-generating point guard who spends all game setting up his teammates.

And, really, that's a good thing. If he can play 1, 2 or 3 offensively and 1, 2 or 3 defensively, that is more valuable than a true classic point guard you have to build around.

Parker was 19 so it's difficult to compare but TP was an obvious born point guard with that typical alpha point guard mentality. He was more of a score-first point guard, obviously, but there was no question he was a point guard.

White is different. He looks really good, don't get me wrong, but nothing about him screams that he needs to be a long-term point guard. If Murray comes back next year healthy and improved and White needs to shift to shooting guard, he can do so and play a similar role to what he's playing right now.

Lots of options with both White and Murray. I thought about what an Aldridge, Gay, DeRozan, Murrray, White lineup would look like. Not enough outside shooting from deep. Maybe Murray or White, and Gay end up spending a lot more time leading the second unit.

[ceperez]

Lots of options with both White and Murray. I thought about what an Aldridge, Gay, DeRozan, Murrray, White lineup would look like. Not enough outside shooting from deep. Maybe Murray or White, and Gay end up spending a lot more time leading the second unit.

Walker IV is a better shooter than Murray. So, what about White, Murray, DeRozan, Gay, Aldridge?

[timvp]

How do you think White would fare in a Murray/White/DeRozan/Gay/Aldridge unit? I see that as a lineup with both a high ceiling and disappointingly low floor. Feel like he suffers a lot in such an offense unless Gay and Murray move mostly off the ball.

It could be really good in theory but I agree with your assessment that the lineup's floor is low. So low, in fact, that it might not work at all and could be scrapped.

-Murray would have to be willing to play off the ball quite a bit. To do so, he'd have to have an outside jumper. The spacing of the lineup dies if Murray can't at least hit open corner three-pointers because none of the other players in that lineup are tried-and-true, high volume three-point shooters. Even if Murray can hit open three-pointers, the spacing will be less than ideal because there's no way he could space the court like Forbes with his low and slow release that allows teams to play far off of him.

-DeRozan will have to adjust to not being a quasi point guard. He'd be playing more of a legit swingman role. He hasn't done that much this season so it's difficult to project how that'd play out.

-The coaching staff will have to figure out a way to keep White involved offensively. His main flaw right now is his on-and-off assertiveness and in that lineup he could easily be lost in the shuffle. He'd be the best passer of the bunch so the more the ball is in his hands, the better.

-Aldridge and Gay are probably near athleticism cliffs. If either loses a step, the defensive and rebounding decline would be steep.

Derrick isn't Stockton, but most PGs aren't. I don't think it's useful to compare him to extremely ball-dominant players to say what he isn't.

I mean, it's useful to compare him to extremely ball-dominant players to make the point that he's not and doesn't project to be an extremely ball-dominant player.

He's more of a PG than most who play the position today. Guys who focus on assists like Westbrook and Rondo may not even be playing the position properly anymore.

Don't disagree.

And, again, I view White not projecting to be a ball-dominant classic point guard as a positive. The last ball-dominant point guard to win a championship was ... Magic Johnson? And his height alone made him not truly a classic point guard.

White's ability to balance scoring and play-making and using one to set up the other makes him exactly a modern-day PG in my eyes. I see combo-guards closer to Mills or Forbes in their skill-sets.

Agree with the first sentence.

I view White as a combo guard with legit point guard ball-handling, court vision and passing whose versatility and lack of requiring a high usage allows him to fit a variety of roles. Hair splitting, though; looks like we mostly agree.

[Degoat]

I believe They announce the rising stars roster tonight on TNT, I’m gonna bummed if Derrick White doesn’t make it

[exstatic]

I believe They announce the rising stars roster tonight on TNT, I’m gonna bummed if Derrick White doesn’t make it

He likely won't. Not real well known outside of SA.

[Degoat]

He likely won't. Not real well known outside of SA.

Yeah you’re probably right, I hope not though. I was thinking and I’m sure for guards Fox, Mitc , and Lonzo are probably locks for the guard position

[Slippy]

How do you think White would fare in a Murray/White/DeRozan/Gay/Aldridge unit? I see that as a lineup with both a high ceiling and disappointingly low floor. Feel like he suffers a lot in such an offense unless Gay and Murray move mostly off the ball. Derrick isn't Stockton, but most PGs aren't. I don't think it's useful to compare him to extremely ball-dominant players to say what he isn't. He's more of a PG than most who play the position today. Guys who focus on assists like Westbrook and Rondo may not even be playing the position properly anymore. White's ability to balance scoring and play-making and using one to set up the other makes him exactly a modern-day PG in my eyes. I see combo-guards closer to Mills or Forbes in their skill-sets.

Same way i see it. He has PG instincts that combo guards dont possess. Someone said earlier he deferring. Thats his instincts guiding him, if he sees an easier shot he will pass it. I dont see him ever going that scorer first mentality. Its also a mindset that DJ or combo guards struggle to show or grow into. All you can hope for is DJ improving his shot and dribble.

[Degoat]

Damn white didn’t make the team....

[DAF86]

Damn white didn’t make the team....

What team?

[Degoat]

What team?

the rising stars game during all star weekend, the rookie/sop re game.

[DAF86]

the rising stars game during all star weekend, the rookie/sop re game.

Not even as a reserve?

[RD2191]

Man, I hope the Spurs use these snubs for fuel in the playoffs.

[KDKSpurs24]

Not even as a reserve?

It’s more difficult now since they are doing the US vs the World format. So only a certain number of spots for American born players.

[DAF86]

Man, I hope the Spurs use these snubs for fuel in the playoffs.

Yeah, it's getting to the point where I even want LA and DD to not make the All-star game so that the entire roster can get behind this narrative and play with a chip on their shoulder for the rest of the season.

[DAF86]

It’s more difficult now since they are doing the US vs the World format. So only a certain number of spots for American born players.

Does anyone have the list of selected US players?

[HarlemHeat37]

Don't really see who he would have made it over, tbh..maybe Marvin Bagley, but that's it .

White's been a monster, but you have to consider that this nice stretch has only been for the past month or so..

[Degoat]

Does anyone have the list of selected US players?

USA Team- donovan Mitc , Kyle Kuzma, Fox, Ben Simmons, Tatum, lonzo, John Collins, Marvin bagley, trae young, jaren Jackson, and jarret Allen

[Degoat]

Ben Simmons is from Australia so idk why he’s on the Usa team lol but seriously White should be on over lonzo and bagley

[Degoat]

My mistake, Simmons is on the world team

[picnroll]

White deserves it more than Ball or Young but don’t have the cache for Silver.

[DAF86]

USA Team- donovan Mitc , Kyle Kuzma, Fox, Ben Simmons, Tatum, lonzo, John Collins, Marvin bagley, trae young, jaren Jackson, and jarret Allen

Ben Simmons is considered a Stater now?

Also Lonzo

[Leetonidas]

Not surprised they snubbed white for Lngo ball but still bull

[KDKSpurs24]

Ben Simmons is considered a Stater now?

Also Lonzo

Simmons is on World.

[picnroll]

Ben Simmons is considered a Stater now?

Also Lonzo

Hart is more deserving than Ball.

[jermaine]

I feel bad but keep waiting for White to fall off or hit the rookie wall.