HumbleRen wrote:Nebuchadnezzar wrote:HumbleRen wrote:Paolo > Scottie or = at best.
Franz >>>> RJ.
Suggs = IQ with Suggs having a higher upside on winning basketball over IQ.
Offensively, there’s no real gap. It’s the defensive end where it’s pretty wide.
Suggs is a top 5 point of attack defender in the league for guards. Franz is a legit 2 way player and Paolo is a 6’10 wing himself with length and mobility.
While Barnes is probably the best defender overall here when used right as a help defender, the issue is he isn't used in that way because RJ is objectively a poor defender on wings. IQ is a good team defender in off ball actions but he’s neutral as an on ball defender.
Our 3 guys don’t have enough offensive fire power to make up for their collective mediocre defence. It’s why Gradey’s development is so crucial for us. He needs to be a potent offensive weapon. He showed great signs in the 2nd half but he needs to be much better than just a catch and shoot player and I believe he will be.
Why is Franz better than RJ? Suggs is a specialist (defender), IQ will be a borderline star. Paulo is maybe better than Barnes - but if that is the case it just proves we shouldnt build around Barnes.
Because Franz does what RJ does but is more efficient at it while actually being able to play defence lol. RJ’s eventual role is going to be a 6th man on a competitive team unless he suddenly gets the lateral foot speed to defend his position.
Suggs is a defensive specialist but he’s already made big improvements in his shooting. Him being a better version of Marcus Smart is more impactful than a IQ caliber player.
As for the Scottie debate ? I mean yeah, the jury is out on whether he’s the first option that we build around but at the moment, he’s our best option. You build a competent team and if he doesn’t make the leap, you get a guy via a trade who can be. Similar to the Derozan era.
Agree on RJ, disagree on IQ.
Re: Barnes vs Banchero; it’s obviously easier to envision what Banchero is as a number 1 option than Barnes, and his probability of becoming one is higher but I’m not sold on that his ceiling as a number 1 is high enough to lead to a contender. And if he’s not a number 1, he really doesn’t do enough other things to be exceptional in other roles.
The benefit with Barnes is that while the probability he becomes a number 1 option is lower, he projects as the better player in pretty much every other role.