Rank The Core 4
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:27 pm
We need a filler for discussion until the draft and LeBron Watch gets rolling, and I heard this topic talked about on the Kamenetzky Brothers podcast with Andy and Brian.
Ever since then, I've gone back and fourth. And honestly, when ranking these guys I could make a case for either one to get the top spot. Also, watching the playoffs has given me a new perspective and my rankings now are different then what they would have been 6 weeks ago.
1: Kyle Kuzma
With shooting at a premium, I think Kuzma goes to the top of this list in my opinion. Which, wouldn't have been the case in mid February. I probably would have had Ingram near the top due to his two way potential. Kuzma also showed flashes defensively late in the year and also surprised me when he was the focal scorer playing the 3, and when he was coming off ball screens and different actions like that. When you combine that potential with his fundamental skills and how polished he is, he could be an elite scorer in this league for years to come.
2: Julius Randle
It's such a switching league now. And watching these playoffs just put the exclamation point on how important Randle is to this team going forward in my opinion. With every small-on-big switch I saw in the playoffs, I just imagined Randle abusing them down low or off the dribble and his playmaking out of double teams really took a step as well. Surround Randle with shooters and two-way wings, and you got a very scary offense. Not to mention, and I think most importantly, his switching on the defensive side of the ball. By numbers, he was one of the best players in the league when it came to switching onto smaller guards and holding them to a low field goal percentage. There's not many players in the league like him. If he can just get sooooome resemblance of an outside jump shot, we're in business.
3: Lonzo Ball
I love Lonzo, and he's one of the more exciting players in the league when he's healthy in my opinion. His basketball smarts is really fun to watch. But I'm worried. His health is number 1 with a bullet. His finishing around the rim is bad, his jump shot is way too inconsistent, and his free throw shooting is a huge concern. When he returned from his knee injury, it looked like he didn't even want to go to the basket at all because he was concerned about getting fouled. With that said, I do believe those skills will improve with a couple summers of skill work and player development. But, if things were to line-up and we get LeBron James and Paul George, his weaknesses will stick out like a sore thumb. I also hate to say this, but there's a concern off the court for me as well as far as his management and his Dad. It's been "just noise" so far, but I think it could get potentially worse as his leverage increases and he rounds into the player he probably will become. I hope he reaches a Kobe moment and eventually distances himself, but as of right now, that's not where he's at.
4: Brandon Ingram
I feel like this is almost unfair after the season he had. He played around 60 games and he was making such tremendous strides until his injury against Miami. I just wish I could have seen like 5-7 more games, because he was putting it all together. And in those games leading up to the injury, he was a defensive nightmare for opponents. Offensively, he was knocking down a shot or two from three a game. He has an elite skill of driving to the basket and finishing. In the stretch where he started for Lonzo during Lonzo's first knee injury, it was beautiful to watch. He started to make the proper reads when it came to driving and kicking. He has so much room for growth but a big part of me wonders how effective he can be on a Championship team if he's not the primary guy. He needs the ball in his hands offensively to be effective, because I don't believe he'll ever be a sniper from distance. He'll be able to make one or two from deep a game to keep the D honest on his drives, but I don't think he'll ever be a guy who can space the floor and be a second option offensively. Also, if George & LeBron do come, what role does he play and how much is his growth stunted from that? I think it's a valid concern. With all that said, I still love Ingram's potential and you don't just use him to get off Deng's money or something of that nature.
I love the 4 young guys and I think long-term they all fit together due to the style of players that they are. If major free agents come, that changes everything as far as how I feel about players. If you were to give me a crystal ball right now and tell me all we're getting is Paul George or nothing, I'd rank them probably 1) Ingram 2) Kuzma 3) Randle 4) Ball.
Curious what everyone thinks.
Ever since then, I've gone back and fourth. And honestly, when ranking these guys I could make a case for either one to get the top spot. Also, watching the playoffs has given me a new perspective and my rankings now are different then what they would have been 6 weeks ago.
1: Kyle Kuzma
With shooting at a premium, I think Kuzma goes to the top of this list in my opinion. Which, wouldn't have been the case in mid February. I probably would have had Ingram near the top due to his two way potential. Kuzma also showed flashes defensively late in the year and also surprised me when he was the focal scorer playing the 3, and when he was coming off ball screens and different actions like that. When you combine that potential with his fundamental skills and how polished he is, he could be an elite scorer in this league for years to come.
2: Julius Randle
It's such a switching league now. And watching these playoffs just put the exclamation point on how important Randle is to this team going forward in my opinion. With every small-on-big switch I saw in the playoffs, I just imagined Randle abusing them down low or off the dribble and his playmaking out of double teams really took a step as well. Surround Randle with shooters and two-way wings, and you got a very scary offense. Not to mention, and I think most importantly, his switching on the defensive side of the ball. By numbers, he was one of the best players in the league when it came to switching onto smaller guards and holding them to a low field goal percentage. There's not many players in the league like him. If he can just get sooooome resemblance of an outside jump shot, we're in business.
3: Lonzo Ball
I love Lonzo, and he's one of the more exciting players in the league when he's healthy in my opinion. His basketball smarts is really fun to watch. But I'm worried. His health is number 1 with a bullet. His finishing around the rim is bad, his jump shot is way too inconsistent, and his free throw shooting is a huge concern. When he returned from his knee injury, it looked like he didn't even want to go to the basket at all because he was concerned about getting fouled. With that said, I do believe those skills will improve with a couple summers of skill work and player development. But, if things were to line-up and we get LeBron James and Paul George, his weaknesses will stick out like a sore thumb. I also hate to say this, but there's a concern off the court for me as well as far as his management and his Dad. It's been "just noise" so far, but I think it could get potentially worse as his leverage increases and he rounds into the player he probably will become. I hope he reaches a Kobe moment and eventually distances himself, but as of right now, that's not where he's at.
4: Brandon Ingram
I feel like this is almost unfair after the season he had. He played around 60 games and he was making such tremendous strides until his injury against Miami. I just wish I could have seen like 5-7 more games, because he was putting it all together. And in those games leading up to the injury, he was a defensive nightmare for opponents. Offensively, he was knocking down a shot or two from three a game. He has an elite skill of driving to the basket and finishing. In the stretch where he started for Lonzo during Lonzo's first knee injury, it was beautiful to watch. He started to make the proper reads when it came to driving and kicking. He has so much room for growth but a big part of me wonders how effective he can be on a Championship team if he's not the primary guy. He needs the ball in his hands offensively to be effective, because I don't believe he'll ever be a sniper from distance. He'll be able to make one or two from deep a game to keep the D honest on his drives, but I don't think he'll ever be a guy who can space the floor and be a second option offensively. Also, if George & LeBron do come, what role does he play and how much is his growth stunted from that? I think it's a valid concern. With all that said, I still love Ingram's potential and you don't just use him to get off Deng's money or something of that nature.
I love the 4 young guys and I think long-term they all fit together due to the style of players that they are. If major free agents come, that changes everything as far as how I feel about players. If you were to give me a crystal ball right now and tell me all we're getting is Paul George or nothing, I'd rank them probably 1) Ingram 2) Kuzma 3) Randle 4) Ball.
Curious what everyone thinks.
