Free Noa.

[Chi town]

DNP in a game where Okoro, Terry, and Smith combined to go 0/10.

While I certainly agree Terry has no business being in any game, ever, over Noa, last night's game was not for Noa either. There's nothing wrong with the Bulls taking their time with him this early in the season, even with DNPs.

I don't mind them taking their time, but every second Jalen Smith was on the floor, I thought "Noa couldn't be any worse than this"

Fully agree. Smith won’t be playing if he he keeping clanking 3s and doing nothing else on the court.

Billy would play Pat at the 5 but Noa could get time at the 4 next to him and his length would play.

[dougthonus]

Fully agree. Smith won’t be playing if he he keeping clanking 3s and doing nothing else on the court.

Billy would play Pat at the 5 but Noa could get time at the 4 next to him and his length would play.

As long as we didn't have a big bruiser center that we were defending, I'd put Noa at center over Pat (if they were on the floor at the same time). Noa strikes me as a better rebounder / shot blocker / guy at the rim.

[Chi town]

Noa is all projection with a pretty large delta.

He does not have Matas’ bend or handle coming in. But he is just as fluid, has similar body control, and greater length.

He has enough handle, passing instinct, and form on shot to view improvement as very possible.

I still don’t love the pick for fit purposes - I think the (defensive) 3 and 4 are occupied by Giddey and Matas for the foreseeable future, with a need to play 2 perimeter defenders next to those two, so they drafted a raw, swing for the fences but likely backup 3-4.

At the same time, I do see higher upside than most - not Giannis level, but Giannis-play-style / some similar advantages (versatility on D, on O using speed/explosion/quickness+length advantage to get past smaller defenders of cuts and dribble at elite conversion rate) if everything goes just right. So I can’t be too mad. But I am more conservative re draft - and if was going to take boom bust risk, would have gone Beringer for fit / need for defensive backstop… or even more the NOLA trade.

+1

Beringer will be racking up plenty of DNPs for MIN too. Rookies rarely contribute anymore and when they do it’s normally second half of their rookie season. It’s such a big jump in terms of number of games and physicality. Seems like rookies don’t get rotation mins and role and contribute until year two.

The league has leveled up its physicality which doesn’t help a gangly 18 year old in Noa.

[Chi town]

Fully agree. Smith won’t be playing if he he keeping clanking 3s and doing nothing else on the court.

Billy would play Pat at the 5 but Noa could get time at the 4 next to him and his length would play.

As long as we didn't have a big bruiser center that we were defending, I'd put Noa at center over Pat. Noa strikes me as a better rebounder / shot blocker / guy at the rim.

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

[cruwinas]

He seems to have high basketball IQ, but isn't particularly highly skilled.

Good IQ and good body - that's a good start. Most players lack one of them (to start). The rest is up to sweat and blood

[dougthonus]

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

Yeah, big question about whether Noa/Matas long term can defend 3/4 with another 5 and we go ultra big, or whether they're both really PFs (which is what I think is true). Also depends what other teams are doing, like they'd be awesome in a small ball lineup if the other team is going small, and we can play them at 4/5, but as you note, you can't play them (most likely anyway, certainly today) against a 5s that are 240+ in weight.

[Chi town]

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

Yeah, big question about whether Noa/Matas long term can defend 3/4 with another 5 and we go ultra big, or whether they're both really PFs (which is what I think is true). Also depends what other teams are doing, like they'd be awesome in a small ball lineup if the other team is going small, and we can play them at 4/5, but as you note, you can't play them (most likely anyway, certainly today) against a 5s that are 240+ in weight.

We will see if Noa fills in like Jerami Grant (No Filling) or Giannis (jacked). Strong Noa would be able to play C against anybody due to his IQ and length. Lean Noa would be able to play the 5 against small ball lineups as early as next season.

I think we will see him develop more muscle than Buz did this year. Giannis was very similar build as a young rookie.

Long term I think they are both. Starting 3 4 and small ball 4 5.

Ideally we have them with a strong defensive C with beef who can pass and plays a hub. This is why I love Ngongba from Duke. He can playmake and score with elite passing. Noa and Buz are great cutting off ball.

[DuckIII]

Fully agree. Smith won’t be playing if he he keeping clanking 3s and doing nothing else on the court.

Billy would play Pat at the 5 but Noa could get time at the 4 next to him and his length would play.

As long as we didn't have a big bruiser center that we were defending, I'd put Noa at center over Pat (if they were on the floor at the same time). Noa strikes me as a better rebounder / shot blocker / guy at the rim.

This year? Man, I'm worried about Noa's willowy frame getting broken in the paint before he can put on some real weight. As you said, definitely not with one of the monsters. But I could see it this early depending on the matchup. Like a Miles Turner type who tends to float and play more with finesse.

Though I consider Matas and Noa to be our future 3/4, I could see Noa as a 5 someday. Certainly far better suited for it than Pat.

[League Circles]

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

Yeah, big question about whether Noa/Matas long term can defend 3/4 with another 5 and we go ultra big, or whether they're both really PFs (which is what I think is true). Also depends what other teams are doing, like they'd be awesome in a small ball lineup if the other team is going small, and we can play them at 4/5, but as you note, you can't play them (most likely anyway, certainly today) against a 5s that are 240+ in weight.

Unless one of these guys can guard the 5, the question is really which one of them can guard the 2 spot, because Giddey can't usually do that IMO, at least not in a playoff series when it matters. I don't think it's automatically insane to speculate that one of Matas, Patrick, or Noa can guard the 2 spot when needed. If so, that would potentially solve a lot of issues. If none of those guys can defend the 5 or 2 spots, then they're doomed to be bench guys as long as Matas and Giddey are here.

[MrSparkle]

Broken record here, but I'd favor playing Noa through the lows.

Anyway, looks like the injury rush has begun, so his chance will come soon enough.

Given his lack of handles, PF/C seems like a no-brainer. The league is pretty big right now, so that might mean he'll get beat up inside.

[dpucane]

Noa’s only job this year should be growing two inches and doing squats and lat raises

[dougthonus]

This year? Man, I'm worried about Noa's willowy frame getting broken in the paint before he can put on some real weight. As you said, definitely not with one of the monsters. But I could see it this early depending on the matchup. Like a Miles Turner type who tends to float and play more with finesse.

Though I consider Matas and Noa to be our future 3/4, I could see Noa as a 5 someday. Certainly far better suited for it than Pat.

That's why I noted it only in small ball lineups. Like if the opposing center is 220 or less.

I'm not all that confident in Noa/Matas being able to play together at the 3/4 vs 4/5, but we'll see how it goes with time. They both seem like PFs to me. That said, there is a lot of nuance in that depending what team they are going against as well as their own development as well as who our guards are in this situation.

We'd be crazy big if we had Giddey, <anyone at the 2>, Matas, Noa, and some legit sized 5 which might also be interesting in a lot of ways.

[sco]

Yeah, I get that folks are looking at our roster and see that we don't have a C and looking at Noa at 6'10 and just looking to fill the hole. It makes sense until you look at Noa's game. He's not a back to the basket guy. He's a PF 100%. If folks start saying, but that won't work because Matas is our PF. Ok, well that's what we got. It also underscores the fact that without an adequate 3 ball, Noa will likely never see a starting gig.

We'll have $$$ and draft picks to address the C position.

[Chi town]

Fully agree. Smith won’t be playing if he he keeping clanking 3s and doing nothing else on the court.

Billy would play Pat at the 5 but Noa could get time at the 4 next to him and his length would play.

As long as we didn't have a big bruiser center that we were defending, I'd put Noa at center over Pat (if they were on the floor at the same time). Noa strikes me as a better rebounder / shot blocker / guy at the rim.

This year? Man, I'm worried about Noa's willowy frame getting broken in the paint before he can put on some real weight. As you said, definitely not with one of the monsters. But I could see it this early depending on the matchup. Like a Miles Turner type who tends to float and play more with finesse.

Though I consider Matas and Noa to be our future 3/4, I could see Noa as a 5 someday. Certainly far better suited for it than Pat.

Starting 4 and backup 5.

Someday.

[Chi town]

Yeah, I get that folks are looking at our roster and see that we don't have a C and looking at Noa at 6'10 and just looking to fill the hole. It makes sense until you look at Noa's game. He's not a back to the basket guy. He's a PF 100%. If folks start saying, but that won't work because Matas is our PF. Ok, well that's what we got. It also underscores the fact that without an adequate 3 ball, Noa will likely never see a starting gig.

We'll have $$$ and draft picks to address the C position.

Noa just turned 18 and is 6’11. Prob 7 ft when done growing. Crazy length too.

I def want a defensive C that can pass and still be a threat on offense to score. Has to be strong to face those bruiser types.

I do see Noa as a backup 5 and a future cheat code at the 5 in closing lineups with his 3 ball and ability to run.

[PaKii94]

Yeah, I get that folks are looking at our roster and see that we don't have a C and looking at Noa at 6'10 and just looking to fill the hole. It makes sense until you look at Noa's game. He's not a back to the basket guy. He's a PF 100%. If folks start saying, but that won't work because Matas is our PF. Ok, well that's what we got. It also underscores the fact that without an adequate 3 ball, Noa will likely never see a starting gig.

We'll have $$$ and draft picks to address the C position.

Who needs a back to basket center nowadays? We can get a 20 min bruiser vet C for that

[Chi town]

[/quote]

We'd be crazy big if we had Giddey, <anyone at the 2>, Matas, Noa, and some legit sized 5 which might also be interesting in a lot of ways.[/quote]

Exactly. Lots of mismatches and advantages.

Giddey 6’8
Coby 6’5
Buz 6’10
Noa 6’11
C of future 7’

[Chi town]

Broken record here, but I'd favor playing Noa through the lows.

Anyway, looks like the injury rush has begun, so his chance will come soon enough.

Given his lack of handles, PF/C seems like a no-brainer. The league is pretty big right now, so that might mean he'll get beat up inside.

He won’t get beat up more than Julian or Terry.

Noa can play D right now much better than JP and DT. He can surely shoot better than DT too.

Billy is getting him synced up just like Buz last year. He will get his moments to earn mins.

[Chi town]

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

Yeah, big question about whether Noa/Matas long term can defend 3/4 with another 5 and we go ultra big, or whether they're both really PFs (which is what I think is true). Also depends what other teams are doing, like they'd be awesome in a small ball lineup if the other team is going small, and we can play them at 4/5, but as you note, you can't play them (most likely anyway, certainly today) against a 5s that are 240+ in weight.

Unless one of these guys can guard the 5, the question is really which one of them can guard the 2 spot, because Giddey can't usually do that IMO, at least not in a playoff series when it matters. I don't think it's automatically insane to speculate that one of Matas, Patrick, or Noa can guard the 2 spot when needed. If so, that would potentially solve a lot of issues. If none of those guys can defend the 5 or 2 spots, then they're doomed to be bench guys as long as Matas and Giddey are here.

Not worried about that at all.

Buz and Noa length and IQ will cover lots of mistakes and space on D. A good defensive C multiplies that too.

[rosenthall]

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

Yeah, big question about whether Noa/Matas long term can defend 3/4 with another 5 and we go ultra big, or whether they're both really PFs (which is what I think is true). Also depends what other teams are doing, like they'd be awesome in a small ball lineup if the other team is going small, and we can play them at 4/5, but as you note, you can't play them (most likely anyway, certainly today) against a 5s that are 240+ in weight.

I'm also suspicious that Noa's a long term 5. I think he's a 4 that can cover 2-5.

His weight is obviously deficient right now for playing big minutes in the front court, but he also has a slight frame. And despite claims to the contrary, he's not actually overly long for his height so he creates a length disadvantage if you play him at the 5.

The upshot is that during preseason he actually spent most of his time guarding the perimeter against non-trivial players, so I actually think his comparative advantage now is guarding smaller players and bothering them with his size. I actually suspect it'll be best to keep him thin and fast and make him more of a perimeter oriented big man -- kind of like Derrick McKey back in the day.

It might even be possible to play Giddey-Matas-Noa and the 2-4 on defense and have Noa and Matas take the two toughest covers out of those positions and let slow footed Giddey pick up the scraps.