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What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp?

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What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#1 » by Ghost of Kleine » Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:56 am

There are obviously currently two open spots for our two way contracts. And even though our front office seems to be punting on low cost future talent to develop and add to our future core, It's still smart to bring in any potential high level talent that may be available out there from the waived/ undrafted / overseas talent pool. So out of those possible categories, As well as with interest in passing time until training camp and preseason begins, I thought we could discuss potential names of players that people find intriguing with possible upside and potential to have a positive impact for our team whether in practice or even through necessity as potential injury insurance. Now for my part, I see us still needing that X-factor plus athlete that brings that constant energy /edge (energizer) similiar to what Oubre provided in those games in which we fell to passivity and sporadic loss of energy and tenacity.

Yes! We have a strong and deep, competent team currently. And we have the ability to add a key veteran piece around the trade deadline or through buyout. Regardless, Seeing as how our two-way spots don't at all affect our cap number or flexibility, It's only smart business to explore the talent pool for potential low cost impact pieces on those two way contracts, That can be potentially added to our rotation in some capacity, Should they show surprising potential /situational impact. Lastly, It's important to maintain a balance of low cost contractually controlled assets to offset a teams' top heavy max/near max contracts. AND IF we do at some point explore trading Smith (which I think would be a mistake) Then we'll need to replenish that low cost depth/ talent for our roster.Having said all this, What players would you most prefer we bring into training camp and why? What impact or contribution do you hope or expect them to provide?

I'll start it out....................... ( Two way prospects to bring in)?

1- Troy Baxter Jr:
6'9 215 lbs with a 7'2 wingspan and a 45 inch vertical.
Role: Explosive wing 3/4 energizer and multipositional two way defensive wing in the mold of Oubre/Bazley. Only he's bigger/ longer than Oubre, And a longer, more athletic and better version of Darius Bazely?

https://morganstatebears.com/news/2021/8/1/mens-basketball-bulls-sign-undrafted-free-agent-troy-baxter-jr.aspx
Baxter, a Tallahassee, Fla. native, made his mark as one of the top players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The senior, who was named to the All-MEAC First Team and All-Defensive Team, finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in scoring (17.1), No. 3 in blocks (1.7) and entered the MEAC Tournament shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 73.4 percent from the free throw line.

Baxter recorded his sixth 20-point performance of the year against Norfolk State, scoring a game-high 21 points on Feb. 14 at Hill Field House. He also scored double-figures 14 times, including a season-high 28-point performance in a 95-82 victory at Coppin State on January 30, 2021. With a 6-foot-9, 215-pound frame, 7-foot-2 wingspan and tremendous bounce, Baxter has the build to guard point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, and could find a home in the NBA.

Throughout the draft process, Baxter participated in the Tampa Bay Pro Combine, where he earned a spot of the TBPC All-Tournament team averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and a steal per game on 52.8% from the field in scrimmage play. He also worked out for a number of NBA teams including the Bulls.
Read on Twitter
?s=20

As you can see, He has very similiar explosive athleticism, high motor and aggressive style/ tenacity to Oubre. He's got great length at 6'9 with a 7'2 wingspan, He also has really good isolation scoring potential. Houston found a similiar hidden gem / impact player in Kenyon Martin Jr. which is another good potential outcome for him. We should absolutely bring him into camp on a two way!


2- Sam Merrill( Via trade w/ Memphis- a 2nd)??
6'5 214 lbs wingspan??
Role: Floor spacer/playmaker/microwave scorer in the mold of a Luke Kennard/ Joe Harris/ JJ Reddick.
https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/2020-nba-draft-profile-sam-merrill-sixers
Merrill is one of the best shooters in the draft, shooting 42.0 percent from the three-point line and 89.1 percent from the free throw line over his four seasons at Utah State. He has deep range on this three-point shot and can make them in a variety of ways. He has a nice crossover and step-back combo that’s reminiscent of Luka Doncic. He’ll also run around screens and execute dribble-handoffs like JJ Redick. He doesn’t need much room to get his shot off and can make shots with a defender in his face, which makes that 42.0 three-point percentage even more impressive.

He’s not just a shooter, though, which makes him such a tantalizing prospect. Merrill is also an impressive passer and has tremendous potential as a pick-and-roll ball handler because teams will have to honor his three-point shot. When he drives, he generally makes good decisions and gets teammates the ball in optimal scoring positions. He had a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in each of the last two seasons, which is excellent for a player who was the fulcrum of the offense. He’s skilled, he’s heady and he plays in control. He also has good height for an NBA ball handler at 6-foot-5.

Check out his Kennard and Shamet comparisons:
https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=merrisa01&player_id2=kennalu01&player_id3=shamela01

and Merrill/Shamet.
https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=merrisa01&player_id2=shamela01
Read on Twitter
?s=20

* In this video, He played in all different quarters against actual NBA players ( not just garbage time. And was knocking down numerous tough shots under pressure. He's definitely a player that we should trade for at the cost of maybe no more than a 2nd at the very most! He'd give us absurdly lethal shooting/ firepower for our 3rd rotation, Very similiar to what Shamet would bring to our 2nd unit. We could potentially have the most potent/lethal shooting in the entire league, Throughout our roster. :nod:

**The beauty of adding Merrill is also in that he gives us legitimate insurance against possibly losing Shamet to a potential big offer. OR
(If we keep Shamet at an affordable price) We let Merrill build up his value in games we've secured a win in, Or in garbage time, etc. Then we could package him in a trade next season (perhaps back to Detroit)? along with Saric/ Crowder and a first for Jerami Grant???

Or perhaps we go for a smaller trade, Wherein we package something like Merrill/ Smith/ Saric to Houston for Christian Wood?
The key is to replenish our tradable assets to give us roster flexibility. :dontknow:
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#2 » by RedIndian » Fri Sep 3, 2021 7:51 am

I'd have some interest in adding Caleb Martin on a 2-way deal. I think we're a bit thin at the smaller wing spot, someone who can play the 2 and 3, and defend the quicker guards.

Effectively, our only backup for Mikal is Nader. Nader is strictly ok - if Mikal or Booker were to miss PT through injuries, I think our swingman depth would look a bit weak. Cam would slide down to 3 if needed, but I look at Cam and Crowder as bigger wings, who basically defend 4s and bigger 3s. I don't think they're very good defending guards or quicker wings.

Caleb Martin would be a decent get on a 2-way. He's 6'6 with a 6'10 wingspan. Quick, hustles a lot, can shoot a bit and also tries to get to the line. Has enough experience (4 years in college, plus a couple of years on an NBA roster) that Monty would actually trust him to play some minutes in case of injury. You know that if we end up getting a rookie or a really raw young guy on that 2-way contract, Monty's never going to play him, so it's a waste of a spot.

The one interesting thing about Caleb is that in his final year of college, he averaged almost 6 trips to the line. That's one of our team's biggest weaknesses. I'd quite like if someone like him could come in, and actually beat out Nader for that reserve wing spot.
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#3 » by Ghost of Kleine » Sat Sep 4, 2021 1:18 am

RedIndian wrote:I'd have some interest in adding Caleb Martin on a 2-way deal. I think we're a bit thin at the smaller wing spot, someone who can play the 2 and 3, and defend the quicker guards.

Effectively, our only backup for Mikal is Nader. Nader is strictly ok - if Mikal or Booker were to miss PT through injuries, I think our swingman depth would look a bit weak. Cam would slide down to 3 if needed, but I look at Cam and Crowder as bigger wings, who basically defend 4s and bigger 3s. I don't think they're very good defending guards or quicker wings.

Caleb Martin would be a decent get on a 2-way. He's 6'6 with a 6'10 wingspan. Quick, hustles a lot, can shoot a bit and also tries to get to the line. Has enough experience (4 years in college, plus a couple of years on an NBA roster) that Monty would actually trust him to play some minutes in case of injury. You know that if we end up getting a rookie or a really raw young guy on that 2-way contract, Monty's never going to play him, so it's a waste of a spot.

The one interesting thing about Caleb is that in his final year of college, he averaged almost 6 trips to the line. That's one of our team's biggest weaknesses. I'd quite like if someone like him could come in, and actually beat out Nader for that reserve wing spot.


Great suggestion man! :thumbsup: I completely agree! I mentioned him a few weeks ago as a viable consideration after we signed Mcgee. I see him as a better, more athletic version of what we hoped Tyler Johnson would've been for us. And on cheap too. I thought he'd be great at the 2/3 as a strong defensive compliment to Shamet, Payne ( offensively) or even Booker at times.
https://www.atthehive.com/2020/5/21/21265728/charlotte-hornets-caleb-martin-is-having-a-historically-great-three-point-shooting-year
In 18 career games Caleb Martin has gone 20-of-37 from the three-point line, draining 54.1 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Yes, 37 shot attempts is a very, very small sample size, but his shooting tear is almost unprecedented in NBA history.

Caleb is one of just two players in NBA history to make at least 54 percent of his three pointers with at least 35 attempts in a season, per Basketball Reference. The only player who has outpaced him is Steve Novak who shot 56.6 percent (26-of-46) back in 2010-11.


And his defense and athleticism is incredibly impressive!
:D
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#4 » by TASTIC » Sun Sep 5, 2021 8:32 pm

Jarred Vanderbilt
Harry Giles
Caleb Martin
James Ennis
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#5 » by bwgood77 » Sun Sep 5, 2021 9:25 pm

Vanderbilt would be decent, but he'd have to be more of a small ball backup C. He's a really good rebounder. Can't shoot though.
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#6 » by Ghost of Kleine » Mon Sep 6, 2021 3:10 am

bwgood77 wrote:Vanderbilt would be decent, but he'd have to be more of a small ball backup C. He's a really good rebounder. Can't shoot though.


I'd love Vanderbilt for his utterly disruptive defensive capabilities in the post/ passing lanes. But his dismal shooting is absolutely a concern. It get that no player comes without flaws or weaknesses. And I do love his elite rebounding ability too. I really don't get why we couldn't ( no other team seemingly has either) have Vanderbilt work relentlessly with the premier shooting coaches in the league??

I mean couldn't we add him, And in the offseason have him basically locked in the gym with any of Chip England, Dave Hopla, Chris Mathews, Nick Nurse, Bob Thate even??? It seems such a reasonable investment to advance his progression. Then you'd have a potentially elite two way 3/4 ( small ball 5) that is on a cost controlled contract to boot!

IF he could develop his shooting, I'd actually have him play at the 3/4 as a super disruptive defensive multipositional wing with elite rebounding and a modicum of floor spacing.
But this kind of disruptive defense is really intriguing to me:


Ideally, I'd envision him off the bench behind Bridges in a defensive role with Shamet at the 2 and Cam Johnson at the 4. Just imagine if he can develop his shooting ( Post Paul) in a lineup like this?

Payne- Offense.
Shamet- Offense.
Vanderbilt- defense.
Johnson- Offense.
Smith- Defense/ floor spacing.
That's a pretty solid bench with balance. :nod:
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#7 » by bwgood77 » Mon Sep 6, 2021 3:13 am

I don't think we could bring in Nick Nurse to help out with his shooting.
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Re: What players would you most like to see us bring into training camp? 

Post#8 » by Ghost of Kleine » Thu Sep 9, 2021 3:31 am

bwgood77 wrote:I don't think we could bring in Nick Nurse to help out with his shooting.

Sorry! My bad :oops: :clown: ........ I meant David Nurse.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/siouxcityjournal.com/sports/basketball/former-nba-assistant-coach-david-nurse-holds-basketball-camp-in-sioux-city/article_8dcb1f99-3917-5a8f-a28c-5d66fd9fae77.amp.html

Nurse was the shooting coach for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2015-2016 season and took them from the third-worst three-point shooting team in the league to the top in one season. The former Western Illinois University men's basketball player also owns the world record for most 3-pointers in a minute.Jul 21, 2020

But always get the two mixed up in discussions it seems. Regardless, I do believe there's merit in those kind of investments. Just not sure to what degree certain franchises are willing to make such considerations?
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