Ericb5 wrote:TTP wrote:Ericb5 wrote:
We have other needs other than shooters though, and he fills several of those. I don't see any reason why he can't be as good of a shooter as Iguodala. Of course he isn't perfect, but saying he doesn't fit isn't fair. Fitting isn't the same thing as solving our roster problems.
I just think that you can find role player shooters on the FA or trade market in time.
Jackson has an ultimate ceiling of someone like kawhi Leonard or Scottie Pippen, and a more realistic projection of someone like Latrell Sprewell. That kind of player fits with any roster.
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I don't think his ceiling is anywhere near Kawhi and it seems ridiculous to suggest that comparison.
Kawhi might be the longest wing in the league with a 7'3 wingspan and it's a large factor in his defensive excellence. Jackson's basically a T-Rex with a wingspan that measured just shy of 6'10.
Kawhi is also an excellent 3 point shooter and shot almost 20% better from the line in college than Jackson did. I don't think Jackson is ever going to be an above average 3 point shooter - it would be fortunate if he ever gets to slightly below average.
I believe Pippen had a 7'3 wingspan as well.
Jimmy Butler might be a better ceiling as a two-way wing that has success despite being a below average shooter and having a short wingspan. He shot way better than Jackson in college though.
I'm also unclear what needs we have that Jackson fills. We aren't lacking in good defenders or rebounders. In a X/Y/Covington/Simmons/Embiid lineup, we need both of those two holes to be good shooters on top of whatever else they bring.
He fills needs of wing defense, athleticism, and ball handling.
How about just running with Simmons?
Kawhi is maybe a bridge too far, but he can be that type of player, and depending on how much better he can get as a shooter, he can be an allstar.
My point is that he fits on our team fine. We only have one good wing on the team in Covington.
Simmons doesn't really count.
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Are those needs? I would define a skillset as a need if it is a requirement for us to win a championship.
We were already the #1 defense in the league at one point with Covington and Embiid on the floor. I'm always on board with targeting players that can defend, but I would consider it a luxury if all 5 players on the floor were good defenders.
I think athleticism is typically overrated and don't agree that it's a need. Athleticism should be something that contributes to some other basketball ability. If you're saying we need more guys that thrive in transition, maybe, though I think that might be a luxury given our current personnel and also am not sure it's a necessary basketball skill to win a championship.
A secondary ball handler might be a need. I'm not sure Jackson's handling is good enough to fill that role though.
Shooting is an actual need. I don't think you can put together a championship basketball team in this era with 2 of your non-centers being poor or non-shooters. We have 3 of our starting 5 locked in, one of which is a center, and another is a non-shooter. This means that if you believe my premise, it is a necessity that the other two players that we add to round out our starting 5 need to be able to shoot/space the floor.
We already have an athletic wing defender in TLC. I'm very fine with targeting others, but I think it's critically important that they have some shooting upside as well, and I'm not sure Jackson does. This is why I believe he's a weak fit.