Thorpe: Young could be the 3rd best player from draft!!

[eyeatoma]

David Thorpe of ESPN, just came out with his final rookie 50 rankings, and has Young ranked at 4 this year, which I believe is pretty fair, considering the effect he's had on the team.

What makes me even happier is what he's said about Young's potential:

"When all is said and done, Young might turn out to be the second or third best player from this draft class. His upside is sky high, and he's already really good. He has outstanding speed and knows how to use it, and he has a great feel around the rim.

Ultimately, he will reach his peak only if and when he adds a long-range shot to his offensive game. But even if he never develops one, he will be a strong NBA player who can defend multiple positions and provide matchup issues for any opponent guarding him."

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=Rookies-080416&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dthorpe_david%26page%3dRookies-080416

Do you guys think Young has what it takes to develop a solid long range game? His average this year is pretty low, granted he hasn't taken many shots, and is playing within his limitations, but how's his shooting form?

This brings up another interesting question. What aspects of Young's game do you want him to work on the most this offseason? IMO, it would be ball handling, adding more weight to his frame, developing his jump shot to a point that he can hit around 35%+ from beyong the arc, learn how to use his right hand even more, etc...

[IggyTheBEaST]

I just read that but decided not to post it. I think he could be right. Definitly top 5

[barkley34]

Do you guys think Young has what it takes to develop a solid long range game?

Yes. He has already shown flashes recently and has nice rotation/form on his jumper. Also he seems like the type of kid with a great work ethic that will take like 1000 shots per day in the summer to improve.

[STChaser]

Ball handling MUST improve because when we bring in our PF this offseason, Thad is going to have to return to SF. Other things that I think he needs to concentrate on are; finishing stronger around the rim - the layups are nice but he needs to dunk more and draw more fouls; extending his range, and overall, being more aggressive on offense. I know he gets his points most night and they seem to come almost effortlessly. But I want him to try to dominate a little more - I'm sure this has a lot to do with Mo not drawing up plays for him, and I'd like to see Thad involved more in the offense next season.

STChaser

[tsherkin]

He's 19.

I've improved my jumper since I was 19 by playing for 3 or 4 hours a day two or three times a week and coming in early for an hour or two of extra practice every so often.

Thaddeus Young, who will have a considerably more significant amount of time and coaching assistance, has every opportunity in the world to improve his jumper. I don't see any good reason why he can't add a reasonable mid-range jumper to his game.

3pt shot? Not so much, at least, it's not as clear that he can do so. But from 20 feet and in, I look at the improvements Amare made between 21 and now and how he shoots about as well as a prime-time Karl Malone these days after hitting the league OLDER than Thad with no J to speak of. These days, he's an 80% FT guy who routinely sticks jumpers from the wings and the top of the foul line.

He's really young and has a lot of promise, it's definitely possible. Him with a mid-range J and some better handles is a fairly scary proposition.

[tk76]

Ball handling MUST improve because when we bring in our PF this offseason, Thad is going to have to return to SF. Other things that I think he needs to concentrate on are; finishing stronger around the rim - the layups are nice but he needs to dunk more and draw more fouls; extending his range, and overall, being more aggressive on offense. I know he gets his points most night and they seem to come almost effortlessly. But I want him to try to dominate a little more - I'm sure this has a lot to do with Mo not drawing up plays for him, and I'd like to see Thad involved more in the offense next season.

STChaser

I agree with all of your points, and feel very confident/excited that Young will make these strides by age 21.

The skills that Young shows in terms of his crafty touch around the hoop and his nose for the ball are things that are hard to teach. Tightening up his handle and refining his jumper are skills that he can learn- and all indication are he has the right make-up to put in the time needed to reach his potential.

[Tha King]

imo his jumper is solid right now. Will it get better? Definitely. I believe the reason he doesn't take many jumpers is due to Mo wanting him taking more high percentage shots. At Tech almost all of his points came from the outside, and his overall shooting percentage was good. During draft day, Jay Bilas(espn college analyst) said that if anything he would categorize Young as a shooter. The jumper is there.

If he wants to take that next step he needs tighten up his dribble, and be more aggressive inside (drawing more fouls, instead of throwing up floaters). From everything he's said in interviews he's really focusing on his ball handling.

[phiphan]

He shot 42% from 3 in college, which isn't bad. I think he can develop a decent outside shot.

[SendEm]

He has a good stroke. I believe that he will achieve consistency behind the 3 point line faster than other 19 year olds who came into the NBA with or without 3 point range. Thad doesn't have to work on his shot, he just needs to extend his range, and he already has a legitimate shooting stroke. I wouldn't feel so good about his chances if he had an ugly shooting stroke or already had 3 point range but shot inconsistently.Thad is going to be a very skilled efficient offensive player. He is going to be a master at having a bag of practiced moves at his disposal like NBA players of the past. He won't be the type of player that seemingly does moves on the fly like Lebron, Kobe, etc.. Thad's going to be more like David Robinson and Kevin Mchale in how he approaches basketball in that same less improvisational more disciplined style.

[tk76]

He is going to be a master at having a bag of practiced moves at his disposal like NBA players of the past. He won't be the type of player that seemingly does moves on the fly like Lebron, Kobe, etc.. Thad's going to be more like David Robinson and Kevin Mchale in how he approaches basketball in that same less improvisational more disciplined style.

Agreed. he's going to be successful as more of a smooth than explosive player- which will make him a throwback type player in a good way. A long player who can set-up and shoot a hook shot with either hand can score a tone without having to beat their defender. Sort of like Duncan and his 15ft back shot or Sheed's hook. They don't have to fake people out to score.

Thad does have a bit of a low, forward release, so he will need to be open to get of his jumper. Fortunately in close he has the hook.

BTW- I wonder if we will ever see much of the forgotten herb Hill and his good hook shot?

[SendEm]

Herb has NBA talent and certainly looked to be destined to be amongst the top 3rd of big men when it came to playing with his back to the basket and making a simple post shot consistently. But one thing I noticed about him was that he has absolutely no nose for the ball at all. He is a bad rebounder and not an aggressive defender.

[is1531]

Herb has NBA talent and certainly looked to be destined to be amongst the top 3rd of big men when it came to playing with his back to the basket and making a simple post shot consistently. But one thing I noticed about him was that he has absolutely no nose for the ball at all. He is a bad rebounder and not an aggressive defender.

I saw Herb play a lot his senoior year in college. I do not understand how you can make those remarks about Herbert, when they are not even true. He was a dominant player in his big east games on a lousy team.

College Basketball refs officiate a very tight game. Their is no point in getting to physical in college basketball, when refs will kill you for physical play, even if your a lottery pick.

Herbert Hill is a player, the more he believes you doubt his ability, the more he will prove people wrong.My only concern with Herbert Hill is, can he stay healthy?

Thaddeus knows how far he can go with refs until they call a foul. Hill will go through the same learning process.The key to Hills success will be our top players allowing Hill to be part of the offense. Hill will not miss those layups that Evans misses and Hill is not the type of player that will go running around with the ball like Evans and mess up a fast break. Hill will not constantly get called for walking or get called for 3 seconds. Remember his coach called him one of the bset players he ever coached. Iggy stated " I did not know he was this good".

It's easy to pearl harbor a guy when he is injured, but Herbert has something to prove to guys like you. I believe in this man as a basketball player

[bigdogdad]

Ahem, wasn't there a guy named Greg Oden that was in the draft?

[Grenerd686]

Thad needs improve his long range shooting as well as his handle. If he improves these parts of his game he has a chance to become a great player in the future. something like 16/5/3

[tk76]

16/5/3 would be good numbers if he played a Prince type role on a deep team. I think he will put up even better number by 22 becuase he will be a focal point of the offense. I think he can develop to be a big time scorer in the right system because he can potential score effeciently in so many ways, and seems to get it.

[tk76]

I will go far out on a limb and project Young to score 20,000 points in his career (or at least come close barring major injury.)

BTW: 15yrs X 18ppg X70 gms= 19K

Last year AI became only the 30th player in NBA history to score 20K. All 30 are or will be in the HOF.

http://www.nba.com/news/iverson_20000_points.html

[eyeatoma]

Thad needs improve his long range shooting as well as his handle. If he improves these parts of his game he has a chance to become a great player in the future. something like 16/5/3

Wow, you're really underestimating Thad. He has the potential to be a 23+ ppg player...And 5 rebounds??? Are you kidding me, he's already averaging 4.2 in 20 minutes. In about 5 years I would hope he averages something like 24 ppg/8rpg/4 assists/2 steals on around 48% shooting and 35% from 3's...

Granted if he gets those numbers, he would have pretty much realized his full potential, those are bona fide superstar numbers...But, Thad seems like the type of player willing to put in the hard work, to become the best he can possibly be.

[eyeatoma]

Ahem, wasn't there a guy named Greg Oden that was in the draft?

I think Thorpe excluded Oden from the list. And even if he was on the list, who's to say that Thad can't be better than Al Horford?

[Grenerd686]

I gave Thad 5 rebs bc i was thinking that those numbers will come down when he moves to Sf and plays more on the outside.

[eyeatoma]

I gave Thad 5 rebs bc i was thinking that those numbers will come down when he moves to Sf and plays more on the outside.

Hmmm, that makes sense, but there are enough SF's in the league who average 7+ rpg. Thad is currently more of an inside player, who will eventually drift outside, I don't see it affecting his rebounding that much. He has a nose for the ball, that shouldn't be compromised just because he expands his offensive repertoire.