The Trey Burke - Chris Paul Comparison

[Marvin Martian]

A "safe" pick IMO. I think he will have a similar impact like Damian Lillard, but I'm not sold that he is a number one option material, especially with his size.

[BaunceyChillups]

My hesitation is that he good but not great numbers, I have no argument that he is one of the best pg prospect in college, but with the caveat that it hinges somewhat on a weak crop of PG. To me is almost a Jameer Nelson type impact guy, one that maybe sneaks into an all star game, but not one to hang with the Rose/Paul/WB/Rondo crowd.

nice try slipping Rondo in there

[DirtyDez]

"Trey Burke reminds me of DJ Augustin" - Steve Kerr during the Michigan-Kansas game.

He does as a prospect.

[ManualRam]

A "safe" pick IMO. I think he will have a similar impact like Damian Lillard, but I'm not sold that he is a number one option material, especially with his size.

is anybody arguing that he's a #1 option?

furthermore, is anyone a #1 option in this draft?

[Joel Embust]

Burks doesn't even have to be the #1 on his future team. That's not his strength. His strength is to make his #1 option look like an all-time great while being a very good #2. And that's invaluable.

[Upperclass]

Burke will easily be the most impactful player from this draft. He isn't all that athletic.. but neither was Chris Paul coming out.. He just had a toughness about him, even at his small size. Burke is also a better shooter coming out.

Other guys whos athleticism improved upon reaching the league: Steph Curry(MUCH better ballhandler, and improved quickness), Rafer Alston(wasnt super quick, just a great ballhandler), Randy Foye, Brandon Knight, Earl Watson, Eric Snow, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake. And Burke is more talented than all of those guys. Many of whom were productive starting PG's. Kyrie isnt that athletic either. .He just has an insane handle, and J.

And I dont see the Augustin comparison. Burke is taller, longer, is tougher, and more athletic.. though probably not as quick

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Burke looks REAL good right now.

[machu46]

Burke will easily be the most impactful player from this draft. He isn't all that athletic.. but neither was Chris Paul coming out.. He just had a toughness about him, even at his small size. Burke is also a better shooter coming out.

Other guys whos athleticism improved upon reaching the league: Steph Curry(MUCH better ballhandler, and improved quickness), Rafer Alston(wasnt super quick, just a great ballhandler), Randy Foye, Brandon Knight, Earl Watson, Eric Snow, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake. And Burke is more talented than all of those guys. Many of whom were productive starting PG's. Kyrie isnt that athletic either. .He just has an insane handle, and J.

And I dont see the Augustin comparison. Burke is taller, longer, is tougher, and more athletic.. though probably not as quick

This flat out isnt true. I distinctly remember him during the draft process. People were saying he was the best PG prospect to come out since Jason Kidd and I'm pretty sure he was regarded as one of the quickest/fastest players in the country and had an explosive vert.

And he was much better at creating his own scoring opportunities in college than Burke. Burke is too dependent on the pick and roll IMO.

[Upperclass]

^^ Thinking back, you are correct.. CP3 at Wake was a much quicker player both laterally and statically. I just don't immediately recall CP dominating college hoops with his athleticism or statistically. It's one of the reasons Portland passed on him in favor of staying with a more athletic guard in Telfair.

[LV-Suns]

Burke will easily be the most impactful player from this draft. He isn't all that athletic.. but neither was Chris Paul coming out.. He just had a toughness about him, even at his small size. Burke is also a better shooter coming out.

Other guys whos athleticism improved upon reaching the league: Steph Curry(MUCH better ballhandler, and improved quickness), Rafer Alston(wasnt super quick, just a great ballhandler), Randy Foye, Brandon Knight, Earl Watson, Eric Snow, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake. And Burke is more talented than all of those guys. Many of whom were productive starting PG's. Kyrie isnt that athletic either. .He just has an insane handle, and J.

And I dont see the Augustin comparison. Burke is taller, longer, is tougher, and more athletic.. though probably not as quick

This flat out isnt true. I distinctly remember him during the draft process. People were saying he was the best PG prospect to come out since Jason Kidd and I'm pretty sure he was regarded as one of the quickest/fastest players in the country and had an explosive vert.

And he was much better at creating his own scoring opportunities in college than Burke. Burke is too dependent on the pick and roll IMO.

Yet he wasn't even the first point guard picked up in that draft.

[machu46]

Burke will easily be the most impactful player from this draft. He isn't all that athletic.. but neither was Chris Paul coming out.. He just had a toughness about him, even at his small size. Burke is also a better shooter coming out.

Other guys whos athleticism improved upon reaching the league: Steph Curry(MUCH better ballhandler, and improved quickness), Rafer Alston(wasnt super quick, just a great ballhandler), Randy Foye, Brandon Knight, Earl Watson, Eric Snow, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake. And Burke is more talented than all of those guys. Many of whom were productive starting PG's. Kyrie isnt that athletic either. .He just has an insane handle, and J.

And I dont see the Augustin comparison. Burke is taller, longer, is tougher, and more athletic.. though probably not as quick

This flat out isnt true. I distinctly remember him during the draft process. People were saying he was the best PG prospect to come out since Jason Kidd and I'm pretty sure he was regarded as one of the quickest/fastest players in the country and had an explosive vert.

And he was much better at creating his own scoring opportunities in college than Burke. Burke is too dependent on the pick and roll IMO.

Yet he wasn't even the first point guard picked up in that draft.

If there was a player of Deron Williams ability in this draft, Burke wouldn't be either. Hell, Smart isnt even near Deron and CP3 were, and he's basically a lock to go ahead of Burke.

[Grits n Gravy]

Burke will easily be the most impactful player from this draft. He isn't all that athletic.. but neither was Chris Paul coming out.. He just had a toughness about him, even at his small size. Burke is also a better shooter coming out.

Other guys whos athleticism improved upon reaching the league: Steph Curry(MUCH better ballhandler, and improved quickness), Rafer Alston(wasnt super quick, just a great ballhandler), Randy Foye, Brandon Knight, Earl Watson, Eric Snow, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake. And Burke is more talented than all of those guys. Many of whom were productive starting PG's. Kyrie isnt that athletic either. .He just has an insane handle, and J.

And I dont see the Augustin comparison. Burke is taller, longer, is tougher, and more athletic.. though probably not as quick

This flat out isnt true. I distinctly remember him during the draft process. People were saying he was the best PG prospect to come out since Jason Kidd and I'm pretty sure he was regarded as one of the quickest/fastest players in the country and had an explosive vert.

And he was much better at creating his own scoring opportunities in college than Burke. Burke is too dependent on the pick and roll IMO.

man if that is true it makes the hawks decision on college bench player marvin williams look even worse.

[BigSlam]

I like Burke, a lot - but I think he is more Jameer Nelson than he is Chris Paul.

[ISB]

I think height at the pg spot is an accessory rather than a requirement. Being able to D up on bigger guards for short stretches is definitely a useful attribute, and I'd even say its one of the biggest strengths for a guy like Kidd. Having an athletic 6'6 guy that can handle PG duties allows you to get a lot of utility out of dime-a-dozen undersized combo guard types like Terry or Barea. It's something like the way the 3-4 defense was able to turn undersized DEs into stars.

That said, if a guy can handle the rock and create plays for others, I'm not really worried about him lacking size. Particularly if he has good athleticism and lower body strength. It simply isn't that important for someone who is playing PG and guarding other PGs.

[Doctor MJ]

This flat out isnt true. I distinctly remember him during the draft process. People were saying he was the best PG prospect to come out since Jason Kidd and I'm pretty sure he was regarded as one of the quickest/fastest players in the country and had an explosive vert.

And he was much better at creating his own scoring opportunities in college than Burke. Burke is too dependent on the pick and roll IMO.

Yet he wasn't even the first point guard picked up in that draft.

Responding to both here:

It's very interesting. I would agree that Paul was seen as a very special point guard prospect, and at the same time never seriously considered "#1 pick material" by your typical superstar #1 pick standards. A trend that started with Kidd, and grew with Nash, became cemented in stone with Paul, basically "Oh, I truly outstanding point guard prospect is #1 worthy." With that new understanding, Paul would have been picked first in the draft over Bogut.

Of course even at the time, people thought Atlanta was a bunch of idiots for not picking Paul second.

Interestingly enough, people never though Utah was stupid for picking Deron first. Part of it had to do with the fact they weren't a team with nothing but tweener forwards picking another tweener forward. Part of it had to do with the fact that if any coach knew what he wanted in a point guard it was Sloan. Hard to say he was wrong either - though you have to question why Sloan looked at Paul and saw a problem of any kind.

[Winglish]

I like that Terrell Brandon comparison! Nobody ever called that guy a slouch. He was solid. Not gonna take a team to the title without better players around him, but a good player. That is how I see Trey Burke. He's no Chris Paul.

Interestingly enough, people never though Utah was stupid for picking Deron first. Part of it had to do with the fact they weren't a team with nothing but tweener forwards picking another tweener forward. Part of it had to do with the fact that if any coach knew what he wanted in a point guard it was Sloan. Hard to say he was wrong either - though you have to question why Sloan looked at Paul and saw a problem of any kind.

Jerry Sloan holds Chris Paul in the highest regard and has never been anything but overly complimentary toward Paul. Part of the Jazz's decision played out in how the players answered the question about playing in Utah. Paul hemmed and hawed and gave politically correct answers. Deron Williams came right out in front of the media and said Utah was exactly where he wanted to be. D-Will said he couldn't imagine a better situation for a point guard than Utah. I think the Utah brass felt more comfortable about retaining Deron long term (and he did indeed sign that second contract with Utah, regardless of how things went in the end).

[ISB]

Deron was also the best player on a fantastic Illinois team. Paul's Wake team, while good, underachieved a bit and bowed out early in the tournament.

[Dr Positivity]

And I dont see the Augustin comparison. Burke is taller, longer, is tougher, and more athletic.. though probably not as quick

I don't know, I think the Augustin comp is pretty on point physically, from the size to athleticism just seems very similar. Not a perfect match, but no player is to each other.

With that said, it's certainly conceivable a player who's Augustin like physically, could be really good. Augustin has a good shot and IQ, but if that's stepped up to great/elite in Burke's case, that could make all the difference. Good point about the toughness as well. Not a fan of DJ's demeanour and it's arguable he's underperformed compared to talent most of the time. Difference between DJ and Jameer's careers if the latter has a better one, might just be mental or situation

Augustin over Brook seems so bad now, but nobody would blink if Burke goes over Alex Len in a similar situation... shows how it's hard to blame the Bobcats for that one

[BaunceyChillups]

Augustin was ruined by Larry Brown after a promising rookie season

[rockmanslim]

watching these highlights,

Spoiler:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICqnSGwvSNg[/youtube]

he reminds me of prime kyle lowry, in playing style and in speed/athleticism