The case against Trae Young

[fateis007]

I know a lot of people are pulling for Trae, since that is easily our weakest position right now. But I really think the league is headed in another direction. We have seen the game evolve into a game of spacing the floor, but there is a new change coming. It's massive point guards. I know Magic johnson really changed the game with his size and handles, and then Lebron has taken the point forward to new levels with his teams being a lock for the finals year after year, and Giannis is just on another level right now.

But now we have players like Ben Simmons to contend with, a legit bigman that plays pointguard. Can you imagine DJ Augustine at 5" 11 playing this guy? It's literally a matchup nightmare, when you have a 240LB , 7 foot point guard that can see over the defense, and post you up on the otherside.

I say at the very least we go for a 6"7-6"8 player, like Doncic and groom him for the next point guard role.

Does anyone else see the game shifting or is Ben Simmons an anamoly?

[fendilim]

I’d love to get a unicorn, but i dont think they’ll still be available where we pick. Considering we are not tanking.

[tiderulz]

would love to get Doncic. problem isnt us not wanting him, its him possibly being gone by the time we pick

[Audi]

There will always be a place in the league for elite shooters with elite court vision/passing abilities (what we would hope to get out of Trae), regardless of size.

I can see the shift you are talking about, but Lebron, Giannis, and Simmons are definitely anomalies. You can’t just throw any guy into a PG role because he’s big. That player needs to have a specific and well developed skill set.
If anything, Trae is entering the league at just the right time when his skills will be the most valued and his chances of being abused by bigger defenses is dampered by the fact that so few PGs are currently good defenders.

[MagicFan101]

Young’s game is just so error prone and his offense struggles against anything resembling a half decent opponent. That worries me. Compound that with his inability to play any defense whatsoever and I can see him having a lot of tough nights at the next level.

His shot and his vision can be special so I wouldn’t be surprised if he works out but he scares me a lot more than the other top names.

[VFX]

There is more going against Trae Young than for him. He’s got a razor thin margin for error in drafting him. The definition of boom or bust.

He’s a massive liability on defense and isn’t that good of a playmaker to completely compensate on the opposite end of the floor. Not only that, but he’s got to work on his body and isn’t athletic in the slightest. He reminds me of Mo Williams at best.

[pepe1991]

I really can't name one lottery pick who had that bad defensive rating as he had this season. When he played against his conference he had offensive rating of 107 and defensive of almost 112.
I expect him to be good on offense in rookie year, might even sneak into ROY but long term i just don't see how you can build winning team with Lou Williams type defender. Literally whenever that guy steps on the floor opponents go at him.

[cedric76]

If he is available at #11 and you can trade up of course (evan to Sixers for bayless +#11)

Young/dj
Simms/iwunu
AG/Ross
Isaac/biz
Bamba/vuc/birch

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[Skin]

That's not a case. That's weak sauce. If you got a case against Trae Young, BRING IT.

[Audi]

There is more going against Trae Young than for him. He’s got a razor thin margin for error in drafting him. The definition of boom or bust.

He’s a massive liability on defense and isn’t that good of a playmaker to completely compensate on the opposite end of the floor. Not only that, but he’s got to work on his body and isn’t athletic in the slightest. He reminds me of Mo Williams at best.

I dont think it’s so razor thin. The things he has going for him are fortunately things that won’t suddenly disappear in the NBA. And while his body definitely needs work, he’ll be getting top notch training in the association.

I really can't name one lottery pick who had that bad defensive rating as he had this season. When he played against his conference he had offensive rating of 107 and defensive of almost 112.
I expect him to be good on offense in rookie year, might even sneak into ROY but long term i just don't see how you can build winning team with Lou Williams type defender. Literally whenever that guy steps on the floor opponents go at him.

Are you accounting for the fact that in your sample size he was so heavily relied upon on one end of the floor and had insane usage? Distribute his expended energy on the court more evenly (which would happen on an NBA team), and he could put a bit more into defense. Doesn’t mean he’ll be a good-great defender, but neither are some of the better PGs in the league right now. Even if he just becomes serviceable, that’s good enough if he lives up to his potential in other parts of his game.

[tiderulz]

There is more going against Trae Young than for him. He’s got a razor thin margin for error in drafting him. The definition of boom or bust.

He’s a massive liability on defense and isn’t that good of a playmaker to completely compensate on the opposite end of the floor. Not only that, but he’s got to work on his body and isn’t athletic in the slightest. He reminds me of Mo Williams at best.

to be fair, most 19 yr olds have to work on their body. And he is a very good passer.

[JBSouthpaw]

There is more going against Trae Young than for him. He’s got a razor thin margin for error in drafting him. The definition of boom or bust.

He’s a massive liability on defense and isn’t that good of a playmaker to completely compensate on the opposite end of the floor. Not only that, but he’s got to work on his body and isn’t athletic in the slightest. He reminds me of Mo Williams at best.

So, he led all of Div 1 in PPG AND APG and he's not that good of a play maker??
Seems like that is all he does, makes plays for himself or teammates.

If we end up with the 7th pick and He and Sexton are both there, I would take Sexton, but let's not under sell what Young has shown as a true freshman.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

There is more going against Trae Young than for him. He’s got a razor thin margin for error in drafting him. The definition of boom or bust.

He’s a massive liability on defense and isn’t that good of a playmaker to completely compensate on the opposite end of the floor. Not only that, but he’s got to work on his body and isn’t athletic in the slightest. He reminds me of Mo Williams at best.

So, he led all of Div 1 in PPG AND APG and he's not that good of a play maker??
Seems like that is all he does, makes plays for himself or teammates.

If we end up with the 7th pick and He and Sexton are both there, I would take Sexton, but let's not under sell what Young has shown as a true freshman.

he did all of that on an Oklahoma team that was BAD like real real BAD. Imagine if he had 1 other NBA or at least G league level player to play with. I really feel like his game will translate better to NBA due to the other players around him. He has some insane vision and can set people up for easy buckets with his passing. Not to mention he won't be guarded/double teamed from the logo every single night. Yeah it will take time for him as it does for every single rookie but he has some really nice skills that seem to gel with today's NBA PG's.

[j-ragg]

I'd definitely take him over Sexton without thinking twice. He's worst case scenario a great passer who can shoot on-ball or off.

I haven't been that big on him but he'd at least put asses in the stands.

[OrlandoNed]

Primary ball handlers like Lebron, Giannis and Simmons are exceptions not the rule. The fact that they are great passers and primary ball handlers and primary playmakers for their respective teams does not make them "point guards" at least in the physical sense. They have small/power forward bodies and are typically defended as such. Players are normally defended by others of the same physical profile, regardless of other similar duties for their team.

[Skybox]

I'd definitely take him over Sexton without thinking twice. He's worst case scenario a great passer who can shoot on-ball or off.

Me too, Sexton doesn’t thrill me. Just solid.

I think his FLOOR is DJ or Shabazz at their best (which is pretty good). He sounds like a smart, self-aware kid... the kind that makes the most of the opportunity/situation...at Oklahoma that meant shoot everything from anywhere to score and, when they converge, punish them with assists to your less-gifted teammates. Rest on D per coach, instead of on the bench while we look Div. II...and there is a need to rest when you’re facilitating EVERY play and the other team is game-planning 100% for you every game.

He’s WAY more exciting to me than Fox, Elf, etc who “just need to learn to shoot”...he’s not un-athletic either (he’s just not freakish like DSJ types). He’s obviously a worker and nowadays you can do a lot to develop quickness, vertical, agility, strength with NBA trainers and when it’s your full-time job. Honestly, depending on workouts, only Doncic and (maybe) Porter are more intriguing to me.

[Nemesis21]

The case against Trae Young...... Is we want and need Luka Doncic more.

[VFX]

There is more going against Trae Young than for him. He’s got a razor thin margin for error in drafting him. The definition of boom or bust.

He’s a massive liability on defense and isn’t that good of a playmaker to completely compensate on the opposite end of the floor. Not only that, but he’s got to work on his body and isn’t athletic in the slightest. He reminds me of Mo Williams at best.

to be fair, most 19 yr olds have to work on their body. And he is a very good passer.

Sure. These players will mature and they all need to work on their bodies. He has no length, no height, isn’t really the quickest point guard, his frame is small, and he is already starting at square one in the gym.

He’s a good passer and makes the occasional highlight pass, but he always had a terrible a/to ratio so how much does that really matter? As far as his teammates go.. yeah they were garbage, but I wouldn’t risk a top 7 draft pick on a guy ,giving him the benefit of the doubt, just because he had less than great teammates.

[Shady Franchise]

Lebron likes Trae Young, and that's enough endorsement for me. Sill intrigued by him, though he's not my favorite pick in the draft.

[VFX]

Lebron likes Trae Young, and that's enough endorsement for me. Sill intrigued by him, though he's not my favorite pick in the draft.

LeBron was also a huge fan of Shabazz Napier.