jezzerinho wrote:pepe1991 wrote:Bensational wrote:
He’s showing this preseason that he can keep the defense honest on the perimeter and still get back to defend the rim, so that critique is getting thin. Still could hold true.
He’s new so he still has a learning curve ahead of him, but the guy is legit. His hook shots are looking automatic. And that size - he dwarfed Vuc so much I kept thinking he’d got a switch on to a Bulls SF. Nope, dude is just a giant.
I mean... who he played to even consider that claim thin?
Dallas without Kyrie and Luka, Exum nor Thompson.
Hornets without Ball (and looked pretty bad )
He had grand total of 1 FGM vs Vuc or Bulls starters in general. But ofc dominated guys like Buzelies who is 6'10- 205 pounds.
Indiana, no McConnell, no Haliburton, no Siakam .
Maybe he can hold his own in high pick&roll. But that wasn't tested in preseason. A. Dosunmu & Z. Lavine are closest thing to good perimeter players he faced in preseason. That didn't went well. Ofc not only because of him.
Guy has post moves and is massive and very hard to box out. But is also 22 and half years old. Guy is 3 months
older than Kuminga who is playing his 4th year
.
Even other Memphis C is good in preseason, familiar name Jay Huff
You can argue that at 9# in draft that is not considered strong you can take player who can help you right away, Memphis are team to watch for playoff hunt if they are finally all healthy.
I would personally take Cody Williams over him on any draft but that's just me.
I'm a massive rugby fan. The equivalent of the center in rugby- size wise - is the second row. I've seen so many young second rows with huge height just break down from trying to add the requisite muscle to their huge frames too quickly.
7 footers are freaks. Outliers. An 18/19/20 year old set of muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascias, tissues just weren't designed to carry the weight of a 7ft skeleton. These guys have to build up and gain athleticism at the speed their body allows.
I was amazed at the improvement in Edey's movement, foot coordination and overall speed last season and in the predraft process. I wouldn't have thought he'd be quick enough for the NBA ever. But I'm not so sure now. He just needed to put the work in over the time period his body allowed. That's why he's coming out at 22 and not 18.
Theae guys are special cases and you have to look atnthem that way. Does that guarantee him NBA success? Absolutely not, unless you call Bobans career a success. But he has way more skill than Boban and has the potential to be a force at the 5. Time will tell if he gets there but I totally disagree that he isn't worth the gamble.
I didn't say he isn't worth the gamble. For team like Memphis, who need plug&play player and want to win as many games, without backup C ( and starting C who is allergic to rebounds) he is good pickup, given draft isn't considered strong one.
My main concern about him on West is how easy it is to exploit +7 foot Cs because PGs in that conference are brutal. Like, who is worst starting PG on West? Sexton? Chris Paul?
Almost every team will target him in high pick&roll 40 feet from rim.
Maybe he'll be fine, that's why i said to Ben that it might not be as big of a problem, but that thing wasn't tested in preseason.
Also there is potential Memphis specific problem, with Smart being mediocre shooter, Ja being treated as no shooter, Jackson being mediocrity as shooter, Clarke being complete no shooter how can they run offense with so clogged paint and in same time having center planeted on low post 90% of time.
Aldama is now playing some streach 4 role but he is hardly average shooter himself.
You can make legit case that Memphis roster construction is least modern basketball in nba . Or Kennard will be some pivotal key peace just because he can put ball through hoop without entering 20 feet area? It's him or Bane or bust from outside.
They will be great defensive team,they already were great defensive team ( 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23) and it always got them nowhere in playoffs due offensive offense ( 2023, had 2# seed, got dropped by Lakers, shot 30% FG in elimination game )
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon
