Patrick Williams
Precious Achiuwa
Saddiq Bey
Tyler Bey
Aleksej Pokusevekski
Isaiah Stewart
Jalen Smith
Aaron Nesmith
Agree with Duncan here - Achiuwa is not a center, but a PF, who has the capacity, agility and mobility to be able to play small-ball 5, and do it well (not the Rudy Gay kind of "small ball 5). That's one of his main enticing features tbh, not a knack on his size at all. Do agree about his perimeter game being underdeveloped/underwhelming, but to be honest, if Precious had a fleshed out perimeter game, he'd be a top 3 pick in this weak draft. Concessions have to be made... And I think Precious, more than anything, has the tools to excel in his development, even if he isn't quite there yet. He's a willing, and capable, dribbler, especially in the open court but also on half-court offenses, has shown good passes especially when he drives, and has a good-looking form from deep that just hasn't had the reps to be better (1.3 attempts per game if I'm not mistaken). I don't see him developing into a first or second option on offense, but we also don't need him to - his finishing, verticality, PnR abilities, lob threat, rebounding, and especially defense are all things this team needs and will need moving forward. I also don't think Poeltl is a keeper (or at least, not a starter moving forward) so you have to take these things into account. If you can get a floor-spacing C (think Ibaka, but not Ibaka), that's a perfect frontcourt match.
The thing we'd be truly missing is a SF, preferrably a 3.5 forward, along the lines of Tatum or Brown. That's the missing piece - and that's where we tank next season, and go get our future star in next years' lottery picking. I think that's a very solid strategy the Spurs could take in order to quickly put together a very modern NBA team that's young, plays fast and in transition, can shoot from multiple positions, and has a lot of room to grow.
Oh, the guy with the glasses, isn't it? Haven't gotten around to sitting and watching a full game of his yet, work has been heavy the past week or so. Definitely looked interesting from the few highlights I watched... Though I don't know where he's projected to go. I'd still take Achiuwa over him (my opinion might change on watching more film though), but if the Spurs trade down, he could be a very good piece.
watching what tyler herro is doing for the heat because of his ability to shoot makes me fine with taking a chance on bey.
I have actually seen quite a bit of full games of Saddiq. He's my 4th favourite target and I'm totally OK with drafting him. Your reasoning still doesn't make sense. If you plan to compete next season then by all means draft Saddiq. If you plan to tank and get a #2 draft pick, then go all-in and go for the highest upside player possible. Nobody assures you that you will get your franchise guy with that #2 pick. Tanking teams need to go all-in every year on the draft untill they get their guy.
I could definitely be wrong, but I don't see him as a four at all. I really wish Teeds hadn't introduced that 2.5/3.5 nomenclature to this site. Modern-day PFs are 3.5s -- there's really not room for traditional fours anymore. There's no place for any one at the middle positions having a bad perimeter game and not being able to shoot. Even Brandon Clarke can shoot in controlled settings. I think he's a center who can play PF if he has the right partner. That's fine if he becomes Bam 2.0 (or Bam-Bam, if you will). I just don't see him having enough of an impact to change the front court around him.
Yes, I do think he could play with LMA. But I don't really think he can play with LMA, DeRozan and possibly Murray. What's his upside to where you commit to play four out-players around him? I'm glad that he seems to have something of a floor game, but like with Poke, I don't think that really matters unless his floor game is good enough to take the ball out of the hands of other players. Defensive fours (in my wish list) need to be able to shoot at a decent rate and defend perimeter players straight up. I don't see either of those things from Precious, so I don't see him as a high-value role-player. I also don't see him as a star, but then again, I didn't really see a ton from Bam either.
I think the next poll should have a spot for trade for bostons 2 picks. That is the one I would select as I think we could still get bey and one other good player. I also think boston would do it.
He is a better 3pt shooter than Clarke was at Gonzaga, you don't need four out player to play him imo. Juste don't pair him with a poetl type of player, but the limits are more on poetl than achiuwa.
Overall like I said I understand your point, we'll see how he will develop in the league.
I can agree with this. The NBA is definitely trending smaller, though I do think there's real value in having guys that are the "appropriate size" (maybe we should call it "the old size"?) for their position, not only for versatility and matchups but also for switching schemes, rebounding, and just in general. For example, even though Lonnie and Keldon are both the "new size" to play SF, I'd much rather draft someone a bit longer, taller, and stronger than either of them (next draft with a lottery pick in order to get a ball-handling wing, á la Doncic, of course) at SF. I see wings like Tatum or Luka being the future of the league, and even though I haven't looked up their metrics I can tell both of them are "bigger" than Lonnie or Keldon, yet they wouldn't play the 4. This is debatable to be honest, I admit it, and I definitely don't think it's written in stone: the league is changing at a very rapid pace, and maybe this small-ball wave will bring out a counter-reaction in a few years. For now, I believe in what I wrote.
But I disagree with the second part of your comment. At no point do I think the Spurs should choose a draftee based on the players currently in the roster - I don't give a single whether LMA or DeMar can coexist with the player the Spurs want to draft. Said draftee is most likely going to Austin for at least half of next season, and both DD&LMA's contracts run out after next season (praying to the gods that neither get extended/resigned....), so why would that fit be something to be concerned about? If you're looking at our current roster, I agree Precious' fit is iffy and we'd lack shooting. Now, remove the vets (and DJ since I personally don't think he'll stay long term); a lineup of White-Lonnie-Keldon-?-Precious is much easier on the eyes, and I can see a good fit there, for the reasons I stated before.
Dejounte added a couple of extra consonants to his name in the poll, too.Gotta give credit for the subtle trashtalk and high annoyance aspect of Chinook's insistence on calling him "Poke" when Pokusevski himself says his nickname is "Poku" and that's what every teammate, coach, and scout calls him. Well done.
https://www.instagram.com/poku_20/?hl=en
Just a difference of opinion, then. I think the Celtics are in a perfect position to gamble on a potentially high ceiling player. I think the Spurs HAVE to get something out of this pick. And I think that getting a solid piece this year, and then hoping for that lightning bolt next year with a 1-3 pick is their best shot at pulling themselves out of mediocrity. I'm not just talking about a pick, I'm talking about a strategy. Luck is not a strategy.
11 is a good pick, but not a great pick. The chance of hitting a home run with #11 are a LOT less than with 1-3. , 1-6 for that matter. I think looking for a solid piece to add to their core is the way to go this trip. Then if they get a really high pick the next draft, plus have cap space to add a top tier veteran? We're back in business.
Like I said, if we were talking about the Celtics, with their roster and draft pick situation, I would place that bet on double zero. They've already built their core.
No, because I think Boston would be on the other line with 14 and 26.
That was a legitimate typo. Man, y'all are some sensitive s.Dejounte added a couple of extra consonants to his name in the poll, too.
Let me know when you watch a full game. His IQ is absurd and he steps up in clutch time and against high level compe ion.
The Spurs got 11 this year, if they draft and immediate contributor their chances of being worse and getting a higher pick are not very likely, tbh. Not to be a bro, but flawed logic, seriously.
LMAO I thought you were kidding, so I went looking...
https://www.basketball-reference.com...clarkbr01.html
Clarke shot a grand total of 15 3PA, of which he converted 4, his last year at Gonzaga. Previously had 6 and 3 whole 3PA in his previous two seasons. With Memphis, he's only shot 64 3PA, of which he made 23, good for .359%. Not exactly a "marksman", or a shooter, by any means.
For comparison, Achiuwa in his lone college season made 13 of his 40 3PA, good for 32.5%, and means Precious made double the 3pt shots in his lone college season, as Clarke made in his three entire college seasons. Not to mention the disparity in shot attempts, which clearly points at Achiuwa having the higher ceiling as a shooting prospect by far, because he's actively seeking these shots (and as I mentioned before, his form looks fine, another plus). His FT% is 60%, which could be higher, though... But now I definitely disagree with Chinook there, Clarke and Precious aren't close as prospects in regards to their shooting. Whether Achiuwa can develop an NBA-viable 3pt shot is a different matter entirely, and we can't know that, but if Clarke could do it after those disastrous outings in college, I have faith in Precious, lol.
Did you mean to respond to my hypothetical about Dallas rather than my post about ceilings?
I so wanted Herro he kinda reminded me of Manu in that the dude just loves to compete he loves the game and he is going to lay it on the line every game.
The game vs Michigan State on Feb 15, 2020 is the game to watch of Jalen Smith. Clutch play, sets super important picks, just overall great BBall IQ.
Sugus
I was all in on Precious at one point. Then all in on Pat. Then all in on Nesmith. Then Isaiah. Now it's Jalen lmfao. Out of these five, Jalen definitely makes the most sense.
Clarke has a high level floater game though, and they still can't play him at 4 next to a non shooting center. I think the ideal four prospect in this draft in terms of skill is someone like Saddiq Bey or theoretically Pat/Poku. I can also see Keldon playing that position somewhat in the future. Big perimeter wings or big man with guard skills.
RC quotes on the 2019 post scrum about Luka, "He's a really skilled player at a position that now is requiring great skill in our league".
Of course you're a . I've said over and over that it would also mean ditching either DDR or LMA, or both, and throwing the young guys into the fire. They would get their lottery pick next year, AND they would have young guys with solid court experience. Hopefully they would also acquire an additional pick or two as well, from the trade(s). And before you start pissing yourself about giving up one or both of their current best players, those two are gone after the upcoming season anyway. Might as well embrace the future and start building something new now.
You're going out of your way to be a . And that's giving you credit for not just being stupid.
Yeah, I didn't mean to say that getting both is realistic, especially if LMA and DeRozan are still on the team. I guess if someone wants Murray for another mid-first, then it could work, but I'm not projecting that. My point was more that getting a couple of solid role-players would stabilize the future rotation and make it easier to jump into contention if they could somehow find a star. They might also parlay that good role-player into value from a contender (think Covington to Houston) or even as a piece in getting a star (Covington to Minny; Richardson to Philly).Heh. Nesmith and regular Smith.
You want Nesmith out there as a floor spacer, and that's not a bad thing at all. He's active as off the ball - made me think of Rip Hamilton a bit. He'd probably have to stay lean to keep that up, but he would help bend a defense with that kind of activity, as well as his shooting. Smith isn't super-quick, but I think he's one of those guys who will put on another 20 lbs. of muscle and still be just as quick as he is now. I just read a report earlier that said he wouldn't get much bigger (based on his skinny legs or something), but I disagree.
I don't think the Spurs would be able to get them both unless they pick up something earlier than #41, and I'm not super-excited about Nesmith at 11. But if you're looking to build a solid core those two would be a step in the right direction.
I really want to draft Reed or at least Tillman. Hoping that happens is a big part of why I'm okay with drafting a smaller offensive wing with their first pick.
Yeah, a shooting C is a priority in the event that we draft Achiuwa (well, technically, the Spurs could be seeing Precious as more of a 5 that can play the 4, than the other way around, which makes getting a shooting 4 the priority; I wonder whether they'd think Luka will fill that role in the future, and try to get a 3 instead whilst Luka blossoms). Agree also that Keldon could play some 4 in the future... Which is precisely why Achiuwa's versatility is so interesting: he's solid enough to hold his own as a small-ball 5 even against true Cs, whilst you can cram 4 guards behind him, and not the DD no D/no 3 kind of guards, but actual, modern-day guards who can all switch, shoot, defend at an above-average level. We already have about 4 guards who can fill that role, and we'd probably get at least another wing in my ideal scenario, so that's a really solid team already with lots of room to grow.
If the Spurs play their cards right, and draft good, this rebuild could last quite little. We'll have to see how next year, and its draft, goes; that's the true pivotal moment, IMO.
Playing it right now, thanks for the rec. Always a treat to watch games I don't know the ending to - and if I get to scout a prospect, all the better. So it's a C battle between Smith and Tillman, huh? Heard that name a few times already, should be interesting to see. Will get back to you with my impressions.
Cool. It actually took a games to build my impression of him, but this one is a good start. He does his damage in the second half.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
