The Jett Howard Thread

[Residual-Heat]

there isnt enough playing time, and drafting Black at 6 and Howard at 11 just to play them 3 or 5 mpg is stupid. That is why a trade must be made. I dont think this team is done with offseason moves.

[Skybox]

I get that rookies nowadays are mostly raw...but these two are very high picks, played at major programs (and one grew up with an NBA coach). These are not projects like Bol or Billaly, for example), I think we should expect more...this "they'll be ready to contribute in 3 years" is just not workable...I don't expect either to start, but one or the other COULD at some point in the season. They've got to play, IMO...DNP is for the journeymen of the NBA (like Moritz for example), ready to contribute - but understanding they're not in the core rotation.

Who are you benching to get Howard (or Black) minutes?

That's the rub.

I'd grudgingly start Suggs at the moment, but if he can't put up 8 threes and make around 3...I'd give Howard significant minutes right behind him and give him the green light. The only other 'maybe' is Gary Harris, whose time here is coming to an end. I'd have Howard ahead of Harris from day 1 and give him every chance to share the role with Suggs. I don't see all of the other obstacles at SG...certainly not 4th or 5th option...who are you adding to the line - Kevon? Houstan? Black at SG? Cole doesn't belong at SG and Harris knows he's in the way - he gets it.

Black's tougher. I really like the Anthony/Suggs pairing off the bench. If you're asking, I'm moving Fultz and Harris' expiring deals, starting Anthony for now, with the same intention as above. Unless they're busts, I'd be trying hard for a JettBlack starting backcourt by Trade Deadline. Some of these guys turn out to be born ready and I don't think the win/loss stakes are SO critical (just yet) that they make rolling with mediocre, capped-upside guards just because they might be better today and sneak us into the play-in. The best investment we can make in Paolo and Franz is to find AT LEAST one better backcourt starter ASAP.

I've said many times that my biggest hope is moving Harris and Fultz and Den pick and ORL 24 frp (top 5 vs injury season) for Herro...to give MIA what it needs to get Dame. That would be a gigantic step forward and Herro's scoring, shooting and playmaking would allow him to play alongside any of Black, Suggs, Anthony, and even Howard, for stretches while we figure out who is our 4th option. Herro would immediately be what we hope and pray Howard might maybe could be. Paolo and Franz would be so grateful to not have to battle crowds on every drive to the rim because Herro (and/or Howard) would be waiting to rain 3pt death on any guards who double down low. If you think the 24 pick is too much to give...look at what you're proposing we do with our two high picks in a stacked draft.

[fendilim]

I get that rookies nowadays are mostly raw...but these two are very high picks, played at major programs (and one grew up with an NBA coach). These are not projects like Bol or Billaly, for example), I think we should expect more...this "they'll be ready to contribute in 3 years" is just not workable...I don't expect either to start, but one or the other COULD at some point in the season. They've got to play, IMO...DNP is for the journeymen of the NBA (like Moritz for example), ready to contribute - but understanding they're not in the core rotation.

Who are you benching to get Howard (or Black) minutes?

That's the rub.

its gonna be tight but schofield gary kevon bol okeke and houstan

I think with paolo’s showing he can play the 5 in fiba, we may even see mo wagner’s minutes be trimmed.

Honestly i expect a trade sooner than later.

[VFX]

there isnt enough playing time, and drafting Black at 6 and Howard at 11 just to play them 3 or 5 mpg is stupid. That is why a trade must be made. I dont think this team is done with offseason moves.

Correct

[RookieStar]

there isnt enough playing time, and drafting Black at 6 and Howard at 11 just to play them 3 or 5 mpg is stupid. That is why a trade must be made. I dont think this team is done with offseason moves.

Correct

You guys are forgetting the inevitable " INJURY " that will hit the league in general and us in particular.

You know darn well that it won't be 1-2 games on the injured list but 3-5. So yeah, they aren't getting rid of decent players.

[Residual-Heat]

there isnt enough playing time, and drafting Black at 6 and Howard at 11 just to play them 3 or 5 mpg is stupid. That is why a trade must be made. I dont think this team is done with offseason moves.

Correct

You guys are forgetting the inevitable " INJURY " that will hit the league in general and us in particular.

You know darn well that it won't be 1-2 games on the injured list but 3-5. So yeah, they aren't getting rid of decent players.

They should. Its time to consolidate some of our assets into a player that is more than just "decent"

[VFX]

there isnt enough playing time, and drafting Black at 6 and Howard at 11 just to play them 3 or 5 mpg is stupid. That is why a trade must be made. I dont think this team is done with offseason moves.

Correct

You guys are forgetting the inevitable " INJURY " that will hit the league in general and us in particular.

You know darn well that it won't be 1-2 games on the injured list but 3-5. So yeah, they aren't getting rid of decent players.

In contract years you can absolutely guarantee both of them will play as many games as possible looking for a bag next season.

Black and Howard will still be playing limited minutes, even with injuries, as top lotto picks.

[Skin]

Read on Twitter

Suggs who?

[zaymon]

Read on Twitter

Suggs who?

I wanted to write Suggs/Howard is the most balanced duo, but then there is Black.... what a mess our guard rotation is lol.

[Residual-Heat]

Read on Twitter

Suggs who?

I think he can make Cole expendable.

[eyriq]

He's going to get a lot of Keyonte George should have would have could have comps from me for a while.

[Skin]

He's going to get a lot of Keyonte George should have would have could have comps from me for a while.

Black is the one that will be the head scratcher.

[p0peye]

Jett can shoot, but he's no guard.

[eyriq]

He's going to get a lot of Keyonte George should have would have could have comps from me for a while.

Black is the one that will be the head scratcher.

Not for me. Need and BPA aligned beautifully IMO

[drsd]

He's going to get a lot of Keyonte George should have would have could have comps from me for a while.

Black is the one that will be the head scratcher.

Not for me. Need and BPA aligned beautifully IMO

Indeed Orlando had that opening for 3rd string PG and Black will be really solid in that 12th man role for this team.


..

[drsd]

Jett can shoot, but he's no guard.

Howard is clearly a combo-wing. But as he is too slow to guard SGs and too weak to guard SFs, expect him to log a LOT of DNCDs this year (and indeed most nights he won't be in uniform anyhow).

Howard's job this season is to improve his defensive foot work, do "something" to be competent in rebounding, and develop his body. Not to log NBA minutes.

Jonathan Clay was neither a PG nor a SG his rookie year, and as such, Redick was unplayable until him improved his team defensive abilities. In the same way, Howard will have that same trajectory over the first ~3 years in the NBA. But if healthy, Howard is a lock to be a rotational player in the NBA from the 2025/26 season and on. He is just too good a shooter to not be "useful".

[Skybox]

He's going to get a lot of Keyonte George should have would have could have comps from me for a while.

Black is the one that will be the head scratcher.

Not for me. Need and BPA aligned beautifully IMO

Yep…burying him would be absurd…you dont pick a guy that high and then treat him like a bust/2rp right out of the gate

[eyriq]

Black is the one that will be the head scratcher.

Not for me. Need and BPA aligned beautifully IMO

Indeed Orlando had that opening for 3rd string PG and Black will be really solid in that 12th man role for this team.


..

I was thinking about the need for a point guard of the future. Cole and Fultz are expiring contracts and we drafted Black. I doubt they spent the 6th pick to fill a 3rd string vacancy.

[Knightro]

I was thinking about the need for a point guard of the future. Cole and Fultz are expiring contracts and we drafted Black. I doubt they spent the 6th pick to fill a 3rd string vacancy.

We'll just have to see what happens

[VFX]

Black is the one that will be the head scratcher.

Not for me. Need and BPA aligned beautifully IMO

Yep…burying him would be absurd…you dont pick a guy that high and then treat him like a bust/2rp right out of the gate

This is how Orlando operates. It’s a joke.

No sane organization would look at this back court and say:

“We should really obviously upgrade the back court. Let’s select BPA in terms of need and fit with TWO lotto picks, but they will play behind the players we selected them to replace in contract years”

You can’t win. Even if they do well against bench units you’ll have people saying they aren’t better than 6-7 year players and Orlando needs to make the playoffs to retain lesser talent by doing so.

Yeah, obviously it’s called an investment and takes a level of risk at the expense of letting value rot on a bench while simultaneously handing mediocre players loads of cash.

It’s kinda like drafting Oladipo and you end up trading him because you’d rather watch flawed overpaid players instead of investing in your #2 pick. Y’know? Maybe you have to make some serious decisions instead of thinking you need to make the playoffs every season while lacking foresight 2-3 seasons down the road with salary implications.

Gary Harris and Fultz should be moved.

Start Cole and give AB back up minutes in the meantime. That’s not a “gift” for a top lottery prospect going to a bad team. Jett should be getting minutes behind year 3 Suggs.
Kevon Harris and Caleb Houstan round out the rotation.