The next "Josh Giddey"

[drosestruts]

There was a bit of a perfect storm of events that resulted in us acquiring Josh Giddey.

1. The Thunder turned into contender
2. Giddey didn't fit what the team needed
3. A player did his ideal role better
4. Giddey himself had a down year

Probably a number of other factors as well.


What I'm curious is to hear your opinion on who the next undervalued, poor fitting, young player who is simply in need of a change of scenery to blossom?


Some players that catch my eye:


Reed Sheppard

Sheppard might not crack 600 minutes on the season, which is pretty wild for a #3 overall pick (Matas who we all think doesn't get enough minutes may finish close to 1000 minutes ahead of Reed). Reed's shot hasn't been there, he nearly has as many turnovers as assist - it's been a tough rookie season and he's behind Green, FVV, and Holiday on the team's depth chart.

Rockets are looking to finish the season as the 2-seed in the west and likely have goals of making a deep playoff run.

Could they entertain trading Sheppard this offseason for more win-now help?


Nic Claxton

Claxton is a player that's been discussed in other threads. Many look at his averages of 10 points and 7 rebounds and $25mm contract and are perfectly content sticking with the center we have. This is two seasons in a row one could argue that Claxton has regressed.

Others may see a tanking team sabotoging the development and ceiling of a capable young player who received DPOY votes just two years ago, who could be unlocked by our fast-paced offense and great passing from players like Giddey and Ball.


Patrick Williams

Wild card! At this point Patrick Williams feels like a player who will have to go elsewhere to blossom. For whatever reason it's not happening here. In his time wit the Bulls he's had two seasons cut short due to injury. He's also had a year where he graded out as the top iso-defender in the entire NBA and has routinely shot over 40% from 3.

At bare minimum - is that very good defensive, +40% 3-point shooter still in there? That alone could be an asset to many teams. If anyone is ever able to get more out of him, they could have a steal on their hands with a player locked in for 4-years at $18m per year.



Which 25 and under players out there do you think could:

1. Benefit from a change of scenery
2. Potentially be available this offseason due to their teams circumstances

[Guy Rodgers fan]

I would add Dalton Knecht to your list. He was averaging over 20 minutes a game for the Lakers for most of the season but in the last couple weeks he is playing less than half that. For whatever reason, Redick doesn't like him. I think a trade of Vooch for Knecht and Kleber would be good for both teams.

[Dan Z]

I like Reed Sheppard, but the problem is...what would Houston want for him? They. have a deep team and potentially have the 11th pick in the upcoming draft.

Sure, they could use a win-now player, but do the Bulls have that? And would it be worth it to them if it means giving up on Reed so soon?

Claxton is also interesting. I'd have to look at the Bulls overall salary before considering him. Keep in mind that Giddey will get paid this off season and in a year Coby will too. If the payroll is too high then going after Claxton doesn't make sense.

Ousmane Dieng has been mentioned in the trade thread, but that's another situation where...what would OKC want for him? The Bulls don't have much to offer them that makes sense.

[MGB8]

Mark Williams - if he gets past the injury issues (a huge, huge if).

[MGB8]

Also, maybe GG Jackson from the Grizz, as a “flashed more then regressed” reclamation project.

[kodo]

Probably Deni Avdija. Although instead of SGA being the blocker it was Kyle Kuzma.

And in terms of what under 25 year old has the biggest gap between per minute production and actual minutes played by his coach, that has to go to Jalen Smith. 20 ppg 13 rpg 1.7 bpg per 36 minutes, yet he's a DNP in many games. Thankfully he's locked up for multiple years and not going to another team because he can't see the floor here.

[ChettheJet]

It would be great to be able to pluck another Giddey from some team where a guy didn't fit. Doing it is half skilled scouting and half pure luck.

Giddey wasn't really riding the bench, flashing his skills a once a week when somebody was injured and he filled in. In OKC he played 31, 31 and his final year 25 minutes per game when the Thunder saw how much SGA needed the ball in his hands and felt somebody else could fill a different role.

So when you start rattling off the names of backup role players who have been getting under 20 minutes a game or never playing 65 games wherever they've been you're not making an apples to apples comparison. You think Sheppard, Knecht even Dieng or Claxton can blossom with the a new team. You are just assuming that a guy who has played 16 minutes for most of his career shows up on the Bulls and doubles his stats by playing 32 minutes for CHI. Hate to break the news to you, actual GM's and VP's who think like that end up out of the NBA selling insurance. It just doesn't happen very often.

Even Claxton 29.8 and 29.9 are his two big minutes years and in neither did he average 10 RPG.

There are two paths to take, one to seek out guys who have been held back because a team has a high priced veteran at his position or a team who just drafted somebody at his spot or does so this June making the guy still on his rookie contract who they don't want to extend. Then you have to ask, why does his team not see a future with him and are willing to move him? Are you overrating a guy because he's NOT your guy?

That question as already been answered by the Bulls when it come to Patrick.

[2weekswithpay]

In the trade thread, I mentioned Okoro, Ousmane Dieng, and Taylor Hendricks.

If the Cavs want to cut some of their payroll or get under the second apron, Okoro is the one they should trade.

OKC has 15 players on the roster already for next season and at least one FRP. If they can't extend him for cheap, then trading him makes the most sense. They'd also have the full MLE if they dump him without taking back salary.

The Jazz have Lauri, Kessler, Collins, and add Flagg or Ace to that frontcourt, and there's not a lot of minutes without a trade. Ainge may sell high on Hendricks if someone's willing to buy.

Knecht- The Luka trade makes him expendable. He can't defend, and they need a big.

Keldon Johnson/Jeremy Sochan - The Spurs have two FRPs in this draft. Sochan and Fox are eligible for extensions. I doubt the Spurs will decide to keep both long term.

Kispert - The Wizards have 2 FRPs and a bunch of young players that need playing time. Kispert's shooting can be replaced.

Tari Eason/Jabari Smith- Amen Thompson has the starting 4 spot locked up. Green and Sengun already got their extensions, which kick in next season
Both players are extension-eligible next season, and this would be a sell-high moment for Houston. They could extend both and trade them in the future as well.

Jake Laravia - His team option was declined by the Grizzlies already. The CBA limits how much you can offer someone when their rookie option is declined, and this restriction applies to the Kings because they have his bird rights. The most the Kings can offer him is 5.1M.

TJD- Quentin Post is a better option now and in the future. TJD can't shoot and can't finish as an undersized big.

[Jcool0]

Reed's problem is he is a rookie on a contending team. Not playing him over Green, Brooks, Thompson, VanFleet. Going to cost to get him.

Read on Twitter

[cocktailswith_2short]

Yeah I still believe in reed . They basically red shirted him this season which is ok he will get his chance .

[Chi town]

Who is the next Dyson Daniels?

He’d be incredible next to Giddey Coby Buz.

Who’s to say Tre Jones isn’t one of those guys?

Our Too Needs outside a True #1…
- Defensive Rim Protector Lob Threat
- Lock down wing defender
- Shooter Scorer than can get their own shot

[cocktailswith_2short]

A Tyson Chandler like center would make this team a contender . Just a beast shot blocker good rebounder good defense toughness size .

[Muzbar]

A Tyson Chandler like center would make this team a contender . Just a beast shot blocker good rebounder good defense toughness size .

A contender? What exactly do you mean by contender? Surely you don't mean a championship contender?

[t-time]

I really like Anthony Black but I don’t think he would come cheaply

[coldfish]

A Tyson Chandler like center would make this team a contender . Just a beast shot blocker good rebounder good defense toughness size .

A contender? What exactly do you mean by contender? Surely you don't mean a championship contender?

A contender for making it in the playoffs above the play in?

[Chi town]

A Tyson Chandler like center would make this team a contender . Just a beast shot blocker good rebounder good defense toughness size .

A contender? What exactly do you mean by contender? Surely you don't mean a championship contender?

A contender for making it in the playoffs above the play in?

Or a real contender if Buz becomes Tatum

[pipfan]

I have liked Dieng for a year-seems like a great target, since OKC has SO MUCH depth and picks coming.
Dieng/#19 pick for JCarter/#10?

[HomoSapien]

There is a notable difference between Giddey and a lot of the people on this list. Giddey actually showed a lot of promise and put up stats, especially early in his career. We can take a gamble on someone who doesn't play, but that's not the Giddey method.

[kodo]

There is a notable difference between Giddey and a lot of the people on this list. Giddey actually showed a lot of promise and put up stats, especially early in his career. We can take a gamble on someone who doesn't play, but that's not the Giddey method.

Yes Giddey really has just performed to projections once he got an actual PG role.
per 36,
Giddey age 20: 19 ppg 9 rpg 7 apg
Giddey now: 17 ppg 9 rpg 9 apg

The guy was the youngest player in NBA history to triple double, who could have predicted he'd be good. And he didn't stat pad to get a 10th rebound or something, it was 17/13/14 with 4 steals.

He also generally looked like Chicago Giddey back in OKC if SGA was out. Games like 20/13/13.

[WindyCityBorn]

A contender? What exactly do you mean by contender? Surely you don't mean a championship contender?

A contender for making it in the playoffs above the play in?

Or a real contender if Buz becomes Tatum

If Buzelis becomes AK47 2.0 we are a real contender.