Team Canada Basketball Thread

[Mirotic12]

As far as Pangos goes, yes, it is good for a player his age, and for a rookie to be in Eurocup 2nd team. It's also good for someone not from Europe, although in his case that is a bit overstated as a factor, since he played a lot of FIBA rules basketball already.

But yeah, it's good. But as it relates to Euroleague, It's pretty meaningless. Here are the Eurocup MVPs,

Eurocup MVP

2008–09 Chuck Eidson - he was good in a small Euroleague club that was awful, he was a role player that was average against the tough competition in a club like Maccabi (big club in name/power but not by budget), and almost a scrub in a big team with a full roster (Barca)

2009–10 Marko Banić - Nothing but a role player, even in bad Euroleague clubs.

2010–11 Dontaye Draper - (Melo's best friend) In Eurocup he was great. In Euroleague, he's a career defensive specialist that only gets in the game for certain match ups and situations. He might be the most offensively challenged guard in Euroleague. Although he is a very good defender. Euroleague version of Dellavedova basically. But he was a force and clear MVP in Eurocup.

2011–12 Patrick Beverley - In Eurocup, he had big all around numbers, and contributions, and was a leader in his team. In Euroleague, with a big club like Olympiacos, he was third string point guard, that was able to do nothing but play some defense for 8-10 minutes. No offensive game, at all. And he even failed miserably in the job he was signed to do (guard Vassilis Spanoulis in the Greek League finals, why Olympiacos' coach said he was specifically signed), playing against another big Euroleague team in Greek finals (Panathinaikos), Spanoulis annihilated him.

He got a job in NBA after Eurocup play, not Euroleague. And he still can't do a thing other than foul and hit people.

2012–13 Nick Calathes - He started in a big Euroleague club in Panathinaikos, and he was at best case scenario, a solid role player. Most of the time, he was a scrub. He went to Eurocup, became almost a dominant player. He went then for 2 years in NBA, getting it off Eurocup play, not Euroleague.

He came back to Panathinaikos this year, getting a big contract (in NBA way of counting salary, he gets $4.5 million a year), and he's unequivocally the biggest bust in Europe, and the worst signing ever of Panathinaikos. Can't shoot, can't score, can't run an offense, can't run a pick and roll, can't run a screen and roll, can't finish...


2013–14 Andrew Goudelock - He was MVP in Eurocup as a young player, and in his first year in Europe (similar as Pangos, but he came from NBA/D-League instead of NCAA). He was a great scorer and shooter, but he played zero defense, never passed the ball, and could not dribble. He also had an extremely low basketball IQ, and choked in every single important game his team played in Eurocup and VTB league. So they dropped his contract option, because he was absurdly overpaid.

A big Euroleague team in Fener, took a chance on him. Same exact thing happened. Great scorer, great shooter, zero defense, zero ball handling, zero play making, zero creation, zero passing ability, zero court vision, zero team play, enormous ball chucking and ball hogging, and enormous and epic level choking at every single important game and moment in Euroleague. He even had an epic all time level choke in Turkish playoffs. Fener also dropped the option on his contract, because he was ridiculously overpaid. He tried hard to get another Euroleague contract and no one in Euroleague would sign him. He ended up in China, and finished the year as inactive in NBA. Fener did much better this year after they got rid of him.


2014–15 Tyrese Rice - He's actually the ONLY Eurocup MVP player that could be considered a good Euroleague player. He's one of the better point guards in Euroleague. But he's not a star or anything. He's probably around 10-15 best point guard in Euroleague. But he is indeed a good Euroleague player. None of the others were or are.

So yeah, it's a good accomplishment for Pangos and yes, it will get bigger clubs interested in him, and maybe even an offer or two. He should not go for it though. Unless a mid range team like Valencia or UNICS, or Lokomotiv (big Eurocup teams, unlike Gran Canaria) offers him a deal, he should stay at Gran Canaria. But a move to a team like Valencia could be smart. They play Eurocup, play in ACB (league he already knows), and it's a much higher level club than Gran Canaria, and he would make way more money probably.

Even if he went to clubs like that though, he would get a lot less playing time. I think playing time and experience is more important for a player his age. Then there is the example where if he got lucky and a big Euroleague team offered him a good deal and good playing time (they have a big hole at his position let's say)....

I would still not recommend it. I will use Panathinaikos as an example. Nikos Pappas went from being the single best and most dominant player in Eurocup (when he was 22) to Panathinaikos the next year. He then proceeded to ride the bench basically the whole season, and even barely played the last 2 years to be honest.

Then you have Elliot Williams. He's a lot more experienced than Pangos (4 years in NBA and D-League) and he is older and more mature (age 26). He went to Panathinaikos and lucked into a lot of playing time because the team had a bunch of injuries. He was coming off 2 years in a row as without a doubt the best player in the D-League.

He went into Panathinaikos, and as soon as other teams got a scouting report, some video footage on him, and coaches told players how to play him - he turned into a mindless moron of a player that can't pass, can't create, can't shoot, etc. Even it happened to him in Greek League.

It's a really hard jump from NCAA, D-League, Eurocup, ACB, even from being a fringe end of bench NBA player for several years (guys that are in NBA a long time, but don't do anything) to a big Euroleague team, where now you are expected to perform immediately. In Gran Canaria, no one cares what Pangos does against high competition, because the team has no expectations. If he went to say, just for argument, Real Madrid or Barca or something, then he would have to be able to instantly produce and play well at the best competition. And if he did not, he will either ride the bench all the season, or even get cut. Jacob Pullen was in Barca, even after some seasons in Italy, where he put up huge numbers. He then proceeded to ride the bench the whole season in Barca.

So it just would not be wise at all for Pangos to take such a move now, even if it was possible.

[Mirotic12]

Mirotic12 - Always appreciate your insight into the European leagues.

I guess my question about Pangos was questioning how impressive it was for a first year player to achieve a 2nd Team Eurocup honers. You make it clear that a Eurocup 1st or 2nd team is not too impressive. But is it impressive enough for a first year player with limited experience in FIBA bball to get the better teams interested? Kevin is a little physically limited, but he is an extremely intelligent player - if that is an area he is currently lacking, I believe he can get significantly better.

Regardless, you are probably right, he is better off on a main role on a lesser team for a couple years rather than get buried on the bench of a top Euroleague team. But I have no idea the money difference in those types of roles. It sounds like he really likes it with Gran Canaria anyways.

Is the gap between the Eurocup and Euroleague really that much? Gran Canaria beat a few Euroleague teams this year - even semi finalist Laboral Kuxta. And overall looked like they could compete - maybe not consistently against the top Euroleague teams but the middle and bottom Euroleague teams don't look too different from the better EuroCup teams.

Gap between Euroleague and Eurocup is quite big. Like I said, next year there will be 16 teams in Euroleague, and only ones like maybe Zalgiris, Cedevita, Red Star that are not loaded with good players. And even those teams would all easily win Eurocup. Zalgiris is definitely the weakest of those teams in Euroleague, and I think they would easily win Eurocup.

You have as I said this year Euroleague teams like Milano and Maccabi that got knocked out of the first round of Euroleague and went into Eurocup and even failed there. But every single person you talk to says it is the worst team Maccabi ever had in its history, and Milano has the worst team it is had in probably over 10 years.

If you want to talk about beating a Euroleague team in ACB (Spanish league), that is a different world. You can't compare it that way. Euroleague teams (at least the good ones) always use thier non important domestic league games as an easy day off and an easy win. They even often tank those games on purpose. The only time you see CSKA, Real, Barca, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Maccabi, and so forth playing a serious game in their domestic league is when it is against each other if that applies, or if it is a road rivalry game (Real or Barca at Baskonia or Valencia or Malaga), CSKA at Khimky, Olympiacos or Panathinaikos at AEK, Aris, or PAOK, Maccabi at Hapoel Jerusalem, or when the playoffs get to the semifinals (ACB, Greek League, VTB League) or finals round (Israeli League).

When Gran Canaria plays against a team like Barca or Real in ACB, they are getting about 50% of the capacity of that team. Even against teams like Malaga or Baskonia they are only getting about 80% of that teams' capacity. But Gran Canaria has to absolutely give everything they have in those games in order to try to get a home court advantage in the ACB playoffs. Because they can't win without it. Even a mediocre Euroleague team like Malaga can win in ACB playoffs without having home court advantage.

[TheFutureMM]

Shout out to Mirotic for the write-ups. These are honestly really interesting reads.

Also, in prospect news, Simi Shittu got offered a scholarship by UConn today. Good news for him and for the program.

[mojo13]

Absolutely.
My understanding of the different structures and nuances of the Euro leagues is limited. This is really helpful to get a better understanding.

Mirotic should have a blog. "Euro Leagues for NBA Dummies" or something.

[UcanUwill]

As far as Pangos goes, yes, it is good for a player his age, and for a rookie to be in Eurocup 2nd team. It's also good for someone not from Europe, although in his case that is a bit overstated as a factor, since he played a lot of FIBA rules basketball already.

But yeah, it's good. But as it relates to Euroleague, It's pretty meaningless. Here are the Eurocup MVPs,

Eurocup MVP

2008–09 Chuck Eidson - he was good in a small Euroleague club that was awful, he was a role player that was average against the tough competition in a club like Maccabi (big club in name/power but not by budget), and almost a scrub in a big team with a full roster (Barca)

Underplaying Eidson big time. One of my all time favorite players. His peak was short lived, but at his best this guy was a monster. You also forgetting that he played his way to elite Maccabi team, and lead that team to final 4, and he was a beast in both Final 4 games.

[mojo13]

Wiggins with a less than comforting answer when asked if he is playing in the Qualifier this summer.
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/andrew-wiggins-yet-to-commit-to-canada-in-manila-olympic-qualifier

You can skip to the 2 minute mark.


Please dont toy with us Wiggy - we are so weak at SF without you. I think this is a pretty normal response and still think he will be playing...I'd rather have seen a "Hell ya!" though.


I am also hoping the Celtics get knocked out quick and KO has plenty of time to rest...he is still dealing with a lingering shoulder injury.
http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2016/04/18/kelly-olynyk-dealing-with-pain-discomfort-heading-into-game-2-jae-crowder-not-100-percent/

[Mirotic12]

As far as Pangos goes, yes, it is good for a player his age, and for a rookie to be in Eurocup 2nd team. It's also good for someone not from Europe, although in his case that is a bit overstated as a factor, since he played a lot of FIBA rules basketball already.

But yeah, it's good. But as it relates to Euroleague, It's pretty meaningless. Here are the Eurocup MVPs,

Eurocup MVP

2008–09 Chuck Eidson - he was good in a small Euroleague club that was awful, he was a role player that was average against the tough competition in a club like Maccabi (big club in name/power but not by budget), and almost a scrub in a big team with a full roster (Barca)

Underplaying Eidson big time. One of my all time favorite players. His peak was short lived, but at his best this guy was a monster. You also forgetting that he played his way to elite Maccabi team, and lead that team to final 4, and he was a beast in both Final 4 games.

I'm not forgetting anything about Eidson. He just wasn't that good of a Euroleague player. He was a great Eurocup player, and in Euroleague he had the capacity to be a great role player in the right situation and team.

But he never moved beyond being that role player kind of a guy. I would compare him to something like a more athletic, and less skilled, worse shooting version of Joe Ingles, or maybe something like a more athletic and faster and quicker version of Kostas Papanikolaou, only not as skilled in ball handling, passing, and shot creation.

He was really athletic, and he was a solid ball handler for a SF, and he was a good passer for a wing. He was also a pretty good defender in team defense, and he could make some defensive plays with his athletic ability (blocks and steals).

But in terms of his offensive game, he was way too limited. He had to be running on a fast break, or getting back door cuts to really do anything on offense. And he was a huge liability on offense in half court, in terms of his not being able to shoot.

When he played in Rytas, he just put up numbers on a bad team. When he played in Maccabi, he played on the exact kind of a team where he could really be effective. Small ball, run and gun, full court, and lots of open layups and dunks. Even then, he did not lead them to Final Four either. That team was led first by Big Sofo, and secondly by Pargo.

I think you have to remember that Eidson was a walking highlight reel, and a really exciting player, but in substance, he was definitely a role player type of a guy, in terms of Euroleague.

[TheFutureMM]

Wiggins with a less than comforting answer when asked if he is playing in the Qualifier this summer.
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/andrew-wiggins-yet-to-commit-to-canada-in-manila-olympic-qualifier

You can skip to the 2 minute mark.


Please dont toy with us Wiggy - we are so weak at SF without you. I think this is a pretty normal response and still think he will be playing...I'd rather have seen a "Hell ya!" though.


I am also hoping the Celtics get knocked out quick and KO has plenty of time to rest...he is still dealing with a lingering shoulder injury.
http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2016/04/18/kelly-olynyk-dealing-with-pain-discomfort-heading-into-game-2-jae-crowder-not-100-percent/

Don't read too much into the Wiggins thing - I saw that interview two days ago and to me it seems really standard. Pretty sure he just doesn't want to commit today in case something super important comes up.

Unrelated, but I have been reading up on some of our high-school guys recently and there seems to be a lot to be excited about.

https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiting/news/the-future-of-canadian-basketball-was-on-display-in-new-york-city/173196108

Great article regarding some of our more known guys coming up (Simi Shi ttu, R.J. Barrett). Didn't know much about Andrew Nembhard but apparently he's pretty solid. DraftExpress did a write-up on him as well - good words from there too.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Andrew-Nembhard-91148/

[UcanUwill]

As far as Pangos goes, yes, it is good for a player his age, and for a rookie to be in Eurocup 2nd team. It's also good for someone not from Europe, although in his case that is a bit overstated as a factor, since he played a lot of FIBA rules basketball already.

But yeah, it's good. But as it relates to Euroleague, It's pretty meaningless. Here are the Eurocup MVPs,

Eurocup MVP

2008–09 Chuck Eidson - he was good in a small Euroleague club that was awful, he was a role player that was average against the tough competition in a club like Maccabi (big club in name/power but not by budget), and almost a scrub in a big team with a full roster (Barca)

Underplaying Eidson big time. One of my all time favorite players. His peak was short lived, but at his best this guy was a monster. You also forgetting that he played his way to elite Maccabi team, and lead that team to final 4, and he was a beast in both Final 4 games.

I'm not forgetting anything about Eidson. He just wasn't that good of a Euroleague player. He was a great Eurocup player, and in Euroleague he had the capacity to be a great role player in the right situation and team.

But he never moved beyond being that role player kind of a guy. I would compare him to something like a more athletic, and less skilled, worse shooting version of Joe Ingles, or maybe something like a more athletic and faster and quicker version of Kostas Papanikolaou, only not as skilled in ball handling, passing, and shot creation.

He was really athletic, and he was a solid ball handler for a SF, and he was a good passer for a wing. He was also a pretty good defender in team defense, and he could make some defensive plays with his athletic ability (blocks and steals).

But in terms of his offensive game, he was way too limited. He had to be running on a fast break, or getting back door cuts to really do anything on offense. And he was a huge liability on offense in half court, in terms of his not being able to shoot.

When he played in Rytas, he just up numbers on a bad team. When he played in Maccabi, he played on the exact kind of a team where he could really be effective. Small ball, run and gun, full court, and lots of open layups and dunks. Even then, he did not lead them to Final Four either. That team was led first by Big Sofo, and secondly by Pargo.

I think you have to remember that Eidson was a walking highlight reel, and a really exciting player, but in substance, he was definitely a role player type of a guy, in terms of Euroleague.

I too wanted to compare Eidosn to Joe Ingles, but I think Eidson was easily better than Joe Ingles. Even tho he wasn't scoring as much in Maccabi, he was clearly their best player IMO.

Anyway, we going OT here, so end this discussion here.

[frumble]

Wiggins with a less than comforting answer when asked if he is playing in the Qualifier this summer.
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/andrew-wiggins-yet-to-commit-to-canada-in-manila-olympic-qualifier

You can skip to the 2 minute mark.


Please dont toy with us Wiggy - we are so weak at SF without you. I think this is a pretty normal response and still think he will be playing...I'd rather have seen a "Hell ya!" though.

I would not be shocked if he didn't play. His track record of participation is not as good as, e.g., Olynyk's or Joseph's.

If he doesn't play, who are our options to back up Doornekamp? Pierre? Brooks? Shepherd?

[mojo13]

I'd consider Brooks.
Pierre is more an undersized PF if you ask me. Ejim is sort of the same player (but much superior).

You may see the SMNT needing to just play more guys out of position - Ejim at the three? Stauskas at the three? Bringing CoJo in at the two with Ennis at the one (with Pangos backing up)?
Trey Lyles could be a viable three - he wasn't bad at UK and it seems much of this year at Utah was working improving his perimeter shooting.It sure wouldn't be a good situation but like Wiggins said - Let's cross that bridge when we get there. I still think he plays.

I also think we get caught up in defined positions a little too rigidly sometimes. A couple NBA coaches claim the game has moved away from traditional positions (PG/SG/SF/PF/C). And nowadays it is more defined by having a one primary ballhandler on the floor, two or three wing players (one is likely a "swing player" that is a more of a forward with strong ball handling, passing and/or outside shooting) and usually one interior/post player aka "Bigs" (this could also be replaced by a swing player).

For Canada that can come in a variety of combinations.

Ballhandlers: Cojo, Ennis, Pangos, Scrubb, Murray (maybe)
Wings: Wiggins, Stauskas, Cojo, Heslip, , Hanlan, Scrubb, Murray, Doornekamp, Dillon Brooks
Swings: Olynyk, Nicholson, Lyles, Dwight Powell, Ejim, Bennett(?)
Bigs: Tristan Thompson, Olynyk, Robert Sacre, Khem Birch, Bennett, Bachynski, Bhullar


I am sure you can argue what categories guys fall into - I am sure some are misclassifieds or can play multiple roles...but that is sort of what I am getting at. You want multi-positioned guys. Perhaps we get too concerned about the missing SF position...when we should be looking at it a different way.

Brad Stevens talks about it a bit here:
http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/brad_stevens_boston_celtics_lu.html

He sees the Swing position as being able to guard 4s and 3s - so I could be off base classifying guys like Olynyk, Powell, Nicholson as Swings...but the idea is fluid.

[Mirotic12]

I too wanted to compare Eidosn to Joe Ingles, but I think Eidson was easily better than Joe Ingles. Even tho he wasn't scoring as much in Maccabi, he was clearly their best player IMO.

Anyway, we going OT here, so end this discussion here.

Sorry for the OT, but I will agree with you that Eidson was a better Euroleague player than Ingles. He definitely was. I did not mean to imply that Ingles was better. Just that they were similar kind of players. Ingles was quite a huge bust the whole time he was at Barca, and he was even a borderline scrub a lot of the time he was in Maccabi.

Ingles' NBA career has been much better than his Euroleague career was.

[frumble]

I'd consider Brooks.
Pierre is more an undersized PF if you ask me. Ejim is sort of the same player (but much superior).

You may see the SMNT needing to just play more guys out of position - Ejim at the three? Stauskas at the three? Bringing CoJo in at the two with Ennis at the one (with Pangos backing up)?
Trey Lyles could be a viable three - he wasn't bad at UK and it seems much of this year at Utah was working improving his perimeter shooting.It sure wouldn't be a good situation but like Wiggins said - Let's cross that bridge when we get there. I still think he plays.

I also think we get caught up in defined positions a little too rigidly sometimes. A couple NBA coaches claim the game has moved away from traditional positions (PG/SG/SF/PF/C). And nowadays it is more defined by having a one primary ballhandler on the floor, two or three wing players (one is likely a "swing player" that is a more of a forward with strong ball handling, passing and/or outside shooting) and usually one interior/post player aka "Bigs" (this could also be replaced by a swing player).

For Canada that can come in a variety of combinations.

Ballhandlers: Cojo, Ennis, Pangos, Scrubb, Murray (maybe)
Wings: Wiggins, Stauskas, Cojo, Heslip, , Hanlan, Scrubb, Murray, Doornekamp, Dillon Brooks
Swings: Olynyk, Nicholson, Lyles, Dwight Powell, Ejim, Bennett(?)
Bigs: Tristan Thompson, Olynyk, Robert Sacre, Khem Birch, Bennett, Bachynski, Bhullar


I am sure you can argue what categories guys fall into - I am sure some are misclassifieds or can play multiple roles...but that is sort of what I am getting at. You want multi-positioned guys. Perhaps we get too concerned about the missing SF position...when we should be looking at it a different way.

Brad Stevens talks about it a bit here:
http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/brad_stevens_boston_celtics_lu.html

He sees the Swing position as being able to guard 4s and 3s - so I could be off base classifying guys like Olynyk, Powell, Nicholson as Swings...but the idea is fluid.

I agree that many basketball minds think this way.

However, from past experience, its seems Triano is unwilling to use Ejim or Bennett at the 3. I can't see him using Olynyk, Powell, or Lyles there either.

I think the most likely transition I see is using Stauskas at the 3. And if we don't have Wiggins I think we could see that a fair amount. And I am ok with this. It essentially would mean Heslip or Ennis (or another guard) in the game instead of Doornekamp or Shepherd.

[mojo13]

Hopefully Tirano's thinking evolves if the player evolves. I get Bennett not being a three - I am not sure what he is. Triano used him more as a 5.

With Ejim however - he was clearly a 4 in college and his ability to play 3 was certainly questionable last summer. But Ejim has known he needs to get to a 3 type player (or at least a passable hybrid 4/3) to improve his professional career. He has been working on his outside game for two years now...maybe he gets there.

We don't really know Trey Lyles that well yet and who knows - he could be the "swing" that can competently play the three. I am not saying it is probable - just possible. Olynyk and Powell are less likely I agree - they are 4/5 hybrids.

But I think it is more the combination of players on the floor. At least on offense with a guy like KO on the floor who operates from the outside in, you can have another big/"swing" type on the floor like Lyles/Nicholson without clogging up the paint. The question becomes, can a Lyles/Nicholson type defend a smaller/quicker three-type player?

by the way - I think Trey Lyles is really growing on me - he is going to be a big piece of this team going forward. 2-3 years out our best 5 might be KO/Trey Lyles/Wiggins/Murray/CoJo.

[bananaman]

What's the chances Lyles plays for us this summer? He seems more American than Canadian but he'd be a great addition to our team.

[TheFutureMM]

What's the chances Lyles plays for us this summer? He seems more American than Canadian but he'd be a great addition to our team.

Chances are good. He's repped Canada at the under 19's and I believe he has been on record saying that he was looking forward to playing this summer.

We will need him more than ever as it is likely Powell, Nicholson, and Bennett are going to be dealing with contract issues this summer.

[TheFutureMM]

Wiggins with a less than comforting answer when asked if he is playing in the Qualifier this summer.
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/andrew-wiggins-yet-to-commit-to-canada-in-manila-olympic-qualifier

You can skip to the 2 minute mark.


Please dont toy with us Wiggy - we are so weak at SF without you. I think this is a pretty normal response and still think he will be playing...I'd rather have seen a "Hell ya!" though.

I would not be shocked if he didn't play. His track record of participation is not as good as, e.g., Olynyk's or Joseph's.

If he doesn't play, who are our options to back up Doornekamp? Pierre? Brooks? Shepherd?

Hold the phone. To be fair his track record isn't good compared to Olynyk (who has been playing for us since 2010 - bless his soul) but that isn't to say it's bad in the relative scheme of things.

2010 and 2012 he repped Canada at the U17 & U18 events.

In 2013 he didn't play the Fiba Americas but as the number one overall prospect in the country going into college I don't expect him to unnecessarily jeopardize his future in a tourney that isn't even leading to the Olympics (World Cup qualifier).

In 2014 there was no tourney that he could participate in however there was an exhibition tour. Again, fair excuse, he was a rookie in the NBA and it's incredibly rare that they participate in anything other than summer league and NBA-prep. You will see the same thing with Murray this summer.

In 2015 he skipped the Pan Ams because the TWolves (much like Boston with Olynyk) didn't want him playing two tournaments in one summer and who can blame them? Nicholson looked completely gassed by the end of the Fiba Americas and I think it was because he was the primary option in Pan Ams.

I would be shocked if he doesn't play this summer unless he's got an injury we all don't know about.

[TheFutureMM]

I'd consider Brooks.
Pierre is more an undersized PF if you ask me. Ejim is sort of the same player (but much superior).

You may see the SMNT needing to just play more guys out of position - Ejim at the three? Stauskas at the three? Bringing CoJo in at the two with Ennis at the one (with Pangos backing up)?
Trey Lyles could be a viable three - he wasn't bad at UK and it seems much of this year at Utah was working improving his perimeter shooting.It sure wouldn't be a good situation but like Wiggins said - Let's cross that bridge when we get there. I still think he plays.

I also think we get caught up in defined positions a little too rigidly sometimes. A couple NBA coaches claim the game has moved away from traditional positions (PG/SG/SF/PF/C). And nowadays it is more defined by having a one primary ballhandler on the floor, two or three wing players (one is likely a "swing player" that is a more of a forward with strong ball handling, passing and/or outside shooting) and usually one interior/post player aka "Bigs" (this could also be replaced by a swing player).

For Canada that can come in a variety of combinations.

Ballhandlers: Cojo, Ennis, Pangos, Scrubb, Murray (maybe)
Wings: Wiggins, Stauskas, Cojo, Heslip, , Hanlan, Scrubb, Murray, Doornekamp, Dillon Brooks
Swings: Olynyk, Nicholson, Lyles, Dwight Powell, Ejim, Bennett(?)
Bigs: Tristan Thompson, Olynyk, Robert Sacre, Khem Birch, Bennett, Bachynski, Bhullar


I am sure you can argue what categories guys fall into - I am sure some are misclassifieds or can play multiple roles...but that is sort of what I am getting at. You want multi-positioned guys. Perhaps we get too concerned about the missing SF position...when we should be looking at it a different way.

Brad Stevens talks about it a bit here:
http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/brad_stevens_boston_celtics_lu.html

He sees the Swing position as being able to guard 4s and 3s - so I could be off base classifying guys like Olynyk, Powell, Nicholson as Swings...but the idea is fluid.

This is a really great post.

I think you're going to see more and more of guys making the team despite not being the best fit (playing out of position). In the next couple years we are going to have a ton of NBA guys and I have a feeling the coaching staff is going to try their best to prevent cutting as many of them as they can. We kind of did it this year when we only took two PGs instead of bringing three.

Stauskas at the 3 seems pretty likely to me while Lyles at the 3 a little less (but not impossible).

[mojo13]

DraftExpress scouting reports on Jamal Murray:
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Jamal-Murray-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-5458/

And Kyle Wiltjer:
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Kyle-Wiltjer-Updated-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-5453/


Tough to argue with either.

[super_balls]

What do you guys think of Justin Edwards? Poor mans Norman Powell? LOL

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuDjyluvqZs&app=desktop[/youtube]