Who are the young stretch bigs out there?

[zeebneeb]

The person you are describing is Isaiah Stewart.

40% from three. 2.5 BPG, near the top at rim defense. Can defend almost anyone. Absolute beast defensively.

This is why I laugh at trades here, who always seem to throw him in. Not gonna happen.

[JMAC3]

Aren't there any young guys of the same ilk? Myles Turner is in the ballpark, but he's not really THAT great a defender other than protecting the rim and he's simply a subpar rebounder for a big. Sabonis, I guess, is a pretty terrible defender and helpless on the perimeter but a great offensive engine. His teammate Raynaud looks interesting but perhaps landed in the wrong place. JJJ is a phenomenal defender and player overall, but also doesn't collect rebounds like a big should (in an age where PF's aren't really 'bigs' anymore). Wendell Carter is a way underrated defender because he doesn't block a lot of shots, but he seems to have forgotten how to shoot 3's confidently at a time when ORL could really utilize the spacing that would bring. He also hasn't collected 10+ rebs per game in quite a few seasons...he sticks around in ORL because he defends physically and moves laterally on switches...but his upside is tied to regaining a respectable 3pt volume and % (stop with all the pump-fakes and shoot ) as well as rebounding like a beast again.

When you are nitpicking guys like Turner, Sabonis, Jaren for their flaws because they don't fit this criteria then maybe you have an unrealistic expectations.

[Skybox]

Aren't there any young guys of the same ilk? Myles Turner is in the ballpark, but he's not really THAT great a defender other than protecting the rim and he's simply a subpar rebounder for a big. Sabonis, I guess, is a pretty terrible defender and helpless on the perimeter but a great offensive engine. His teammate Raynaud looks interesting but perhaps landed in the wrong place. JJJ is a phenomenal defender and player overall, but also doesn't collect rebounds like a big should (in an age where PF's aren't really 'bigs' anymore). Wendell Carter is a way underrated defender because he doesn't block a lot of shots, but he seems to have forgotten how to shoot 3's confidently at a time when ORL could really utilize the spacing that would bring. He also hasn't collected 10+ rebs per game in quite a few seasons...he sticks around in ORL because he defends physically and moves laterally on switches...but his upside is tied to regaining a respectable 3pt volume and % (stop with all the pump-fakes and shoot ) as well as rebounding like a beast again.

When you are nitpicking guys like Turner, Sabonis, Jaren for their flaws because they don't fit this criteria then maybe you have an unrealistic expectations.

I'm not nitpicking them...they are great. My point is that a really viable C in 2025 doesn't have to be a "complete" player like I specifically mentioned in the OP. It can even be a LOT less than those guys.

[JMAC3]

Aren't there any young guys of the same ilk? Myles Turner is in the ballpark, but he's not really THAT great a defender other than protecting the rim and he's simply a subpar rebounder for a big. Sabonis, I guess, is a pretty terrible defender and helpless on the perimeter but a great offensive engine. His teammate Raynaud looks interesting but perhaps landed in the wrong place. JJJ is a phenomenal defender and player overall, but also doesn't collect rebounds like a big should (in an age where PF's aren't really 'bigs' anymore). Wendell Carter is a way underrated defender because he doesn't block a lot of shots, but he seems to have forgotten how to shoot 3's confidently at a time when ORL could really utilize the spacing that would bring. He also hasn't collected 10+ rebs per game in quite a few seasons...he sticks around in ORL because he defends physically and moves laterally on switches...but his upside is tied to regaining a respectable 3pt volume and % (stop with all the pump-fakes and shoot ) as well as rebounding like a beast again.

When you are nitpicking guys like Turner, Sabonis, Jaren for their flaws because they don't fit this criteria then maybe you have an unrealistic expectations.

I'm not nitpicking them...they are great. My point is that a really viable C in 2025 doesn't have to be a "complete" player like I specifically mentioned in the OP. It can even be a LOT less than those guys.

There is no complete player in todays NBA. Shaq couldn't space the floor or defend in space and he is a top 10 player of all time. Now imagine the average starting center in the early 2000's we would convince ourselves 20 of them suck because we are even more nitpicky today.

You can talk yourself out of anybody if you look at them too hard, hence the Mavs trading a 25 yr old Superstar.

[Skybox]

When you are nitpicking guys like Turner, Sabonis, Jaren for their flaws because they don't fit this criteria then maybe you have an unrealistic expectations.

I'm not nitpicking them...they are great. My point is that a really viable C in 2025 doesn't have to be a "complete" player like I specifically mentioned in the OP. It can even be a LOT less than those guys.

There is no complete player in todays NBA. Shaq couldn't space the floor or defend in space and he is a top 10 player of all time. Now imagine the average starting center in the early 2000's we would convince ourselves 20 of them suck because we are even more nitpicky today.

You can talk yourself out of anybody if you look at them too hard, hence the Mavs trading a 25 yr old Superstar.

Ok. swell...but this thread is drifting for sure. I'll stop.

[bkohler]

I actually think Walker Kessler was trending towards the type of player you were asking for. He's going to end this season with an absurd 3pt%.

[Skybox]

I actually think Walker Kessler was trending towards the type of player you were asking for. He's going to end this season with an absurd 3pt%.

I like him for ORL, for a lot of reasons...offensive boards along with his D...if he can shoot 3's

Probably why they like him for UTA too

[toooskies]

I already have Wendell Carter Jr as the guy in the NBA closest to the description here. Low-end to solid starter, has a decent mix of useful skills, isn't exceptional enough to separate himself as a star.

[jayu70]

Onyeka Okongwu is developing into that - 40.7% from 3, 8.4 rpg, 1 bpg.

[Kalamazoo317]

The person you are describing is Isaiah Stewart.

40% from three. 2.5 BPG, near the top at rim defense. Can defend almost anyone. Absolute beast defensively.

This is why I laugh at trades here, who always seem to throw him in. Not gonna happen.

Came to post the same thing. The guy described in the OP is Beefstew.

But no, y'all can't have him.

[nate33]

Why does it seem so hard for taller guys, who were theoretically strong enough earlier to shoot with proper form (not hoisting with their whole little bodies) to shoot well? especially free throws...I don't get it. I understand that there are many more humans in the 6' -6.5' range, so many more 'candidates' to fight for the jobs, but c'mon...we only need about 35 in the world to come to the NBA and do it.

The biggest reason is the one that you mentioned: quantity of tall guys available. In the U.S., there are about 3000 6-5 guys for every 6-11 guy. So for every 50 percentile average 6-11 athlete who makes the NBA, his 6-5 counterpart is a top 99.97 percentile athlete. The basketball system weeds out 6-5 guys until all that are left are the best of the best of the best. Meanwhile, they'll take any old 6-11 guy they can find who can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Another reason is that it's harder to shoot with big hands.

Another reason is that the physics of staying balanced are harder when you are taller.

And a final reason is that taller people have intrinsically less hand-eye coordination because the neural pathways from hand to brain and back to hand are longer. Reaction time is slower.

[Devilanche]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

The problem is that every team wants a young center who can defend, space the floor, and rebound, with high BBIQ, who plays within the flow of the offense. Who wouldn't want a guy like that.

Is there even 3 of such players that’s on such a skill set and not on track to earning more than 20m/ year?

[ReggiesKnicks]

Why does it seem so hard for taller guys, who were theoretically strong enough earlier to shoot with proper form (not hoisting with their whole little bodies) to shoot well? especially free throws...I don't get it. I understand that there are many more humans in the 6' -6.5' range, so many more 'candidates' to fight for the jobs, but c'mon...we only need about 35 in the world to come to the NBA and do it.

The biggest reason is the one that you mentioned: quantity of tall guys available. In the U.S., there are about 3000 6-5 guys for every 6-11 guy. So for every 50 percentile average 6-11 athlete who makes the NBA, his 6-5 counterpart is a top 99.97 percentile athlete. The basketball system weeds out 6-5 guys until all that are left are the best of the best of the best. Meanwhile, they'll take any old 6-11 guy they can find who can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Another reason is that it's harder to shoot with big hands.

Another reason is that the physics of staying balanced are harder when you are taller.

And a final reason is that taller people have intrinsically less hand-eye coordination because the neural pathways from hand to brain and back to hand are longer. Reaction time is slower.

The simplicity of a normal distribution is unimagined in the minds of many.