Is this the most talented young core we have ever had?

[Don_Draper]

Hello old friends,

I haven't posted here on these boards in a while cause frankly there was nothing to post about. I really disliked Pascal being the main character on this team and Barnes just wasn't(and still probably isn't) there yet.

But having watched most of the games this season, despite their record, in my view, this is the most talented young core we have ever had and RJ is blossoming into a superstar right before our eyes. I won't even talk about Jakobpreciation.

Safe to say I am super excited about the future of this young team and I actually think they will make a run for the playoffs this year, as they should. We are a dangerous young team that can compete with just about anybody.

I'd rank this young team in terms of talent right up there with the VC/TMac team.

Peace.

[Fairview4Life]

Vince and TMac are both going to the hall of fame, they're not close to that yet. But they are fun.

[OakleyDokely]

It will be once we make the 2025 pick, and the two 2026 picks.

[Mattatron]

Lol this is a joke right ?

[tecumseh18]

Let's see if IQ can (a) stay heathy, (b) facilitate, and (c) defend. If he can play at a near all-star level, then he, Gradey, Barnes, RJ, Poeltl and ... Ochai! ... along with a well-chosen top 10 pick in this upcoming draft is as solid a young core as you could want. Mogbo could be really good. Even Chris is growing on me after five seasons. We should be able to bring him back for cheap.

Championship level? Depends on the upside of who we select next June. We at least need another OG.

[Kevin Willis]

Bench mob was better.

[aroc23]

It will be once we make the 2025 pick, and the two 2026 picks.

This. If the 2025 pick is top 4 or so I think that alone might make this the most talented young core (i.e. 25 and under - although IQ turns 26 days before the draft). Barnes, Flagg/Ace/Harper/Demin, Dick, IQ, RJ, Ochai with role player projects in Mogbo, Shead, Ja'Kobe and Battle. They also have Portland's 2nd and Bruce Brown to play with, and if they really want to tank I think Poeltl gets you a couple of 1sts or a young prospect. If they play their cards right they could walk into the 2026 draft with a team ready to make a playoff run and 2 more lottery picks (Pacers looking like a perennial 8th seed right now with players that a constantly injured).

[___Rand___]

LMAO

[Kingsway_fan]

It will be once we make the 2025 pick, and the two 2026 picks.

Lol correct. Assuming top 5 pick this year.... not a guarantee, imo

Nothing comes close to Vince / Tmac... though .

[DelAbbot]

1 win in 2 weeks is all it takes for them to come out of the woodworks and proclaim this team can make playoffs this year

[Kingsway_fan]

1 win in 2 weeks is all that takes for them to come out of the woodworks and proclaim this team can make playoffs this year

They lost several very close games at the last moments so far this season, while playing without two key starters... If scottie comes back in a couple of weeks... there is lots of time to be in the play in ... its a really weak East.

[ItsDanger]

Only 3 games out of a play in spot, right?

[kalel123]

Not even close. They need to show some kind of life in W/L column before we can declare them as such.

[Indeed]

1 win in 2 weeks is all that takes for them to come out of the woodworks and proclaim this team can make playoffs this year

They lost several very close games at the last moments so far this season, while playing without two key starters... If scottie comes back in a couple of weeks... there is lots of time to be in the play in ... its a really weak East.

I don't buy consecutive close lost games.
No way you lose close games against contenders when you also lose close games against the bottom of the league.

I don't see Barnes nor Quickley makes a big difference, otherwise, we wouldn't be that bad from the start, as other teams also are dealing with their injuries.

[billy_hoyle]

Not that crazy of a statement IMO. Depends on what happens this year IMO.

Tanked and drafted the ROY in 2021 (Secondary star)
*Tanked and got a stud (2025)?
Traded for former 3rd overall pick (fringe star upside).
Picked an elite shooter in the lottery (fringe star upside).
Traded for a former 6th man candidate that was stuck behind an all-nba talent (fringe star upside).

Also have 5x promising young players (Ochai, Walter, Mogbo, Shead and Battle) + one high upside raw prospect (Chomche).

All that and two 1sts in 2026.

Now if we had kept some guys together, and not made short sighted trades we could have had:

1995 PG: Billups (via K Anderson -> Damon)
1998 SG: Vince
1997 SF: Tmac
PF: (Marion )
1996 C: Camby
2000 6th: Mo Pete

Traded and botched the 1999 draft picks (had 5 and 12). Traded 5 for AD (short sighted).

Should have taken Marion/RIP at 5, and Maggete/Artest at 12.

[OakleyDokely]

Chomche 18
Dick 20
Walter 20
Shead 22
Barnes 23
Mogbo 23
Battle 23
Ochai 24
Barrett 24
Quickley 25
2025 1st round pick (Raptors)
2025 2nd round pick (Blazers)
2026 1st round pick (Raptors)
2026 1st round pick (Pacers)
2026 2nd round pick (Raptors)
2027 and beyond - own 1st and 2nd round picks.

[Morris_Shatford]

Its an exciting young group of players.
Rosters average age around 25 and more like 19 if you back out Temple from the average.

Your core pieces are 25 and under and we are in control of our FRPs and are +1 in that regard.
There are much worse places to be.

Is this the best collection of young players?

Its early -
Its the best collection of young players which we have had roster control over for a long term (Barnes 6 seasons, Quick 5 seasons, Barrett 3 seasons and Dick at least 3 more seasons) with three FRPs over the next drafts.

If all the balls land and we do well in future drafts, asset manage our expensive pieces, and see good development it very well could be in a few seasons.

[Johnny Bball]

Here's a weird question... is Battle our best 3 and D player so far?

[Tripod]

To me the exciting part is that we are seeing improvements across the board. Not just the youth but guys like RJ and Yak who have been in the league lots of years.

Then add in that we drafted/added 4 guys who have all shown spurts of being able to be rotation level guys in Mogbo, Shead, Walter, and Battle. Of we were healthy, these guys would all be getting 905 minutes instead. And of course Chomche is just a long term roll of the dice....but nice to actually have some die to roll.

Next year could really be a fun year if lots of these guys take another step in development and we are healthy.

[deck]

The only roster I would take ahead of this one in terms of future potential is the 1998-1999 roster that had Vince and McGradey.