RainCity wrote:
Bondom, it's been a while since I last posted anything but I remember having a lot of respect for most of the posts I've read from you in the past. Do you see the same type of longterm potential I see in Lamb and PJIII or am I overhyping PJIII? Because I feel strongly about both Lamb and Perry, as well as Jackson and Adams, I'm more inclined to let those guys continue to develop based off what we've seen from them so far, rather than trading one of them and hoping we can strike gold on future draft picks. Presti has done a great job in prior drafts, but every draft choice comes with the risk of not panning out. With that being said, I think Presti nailed the Adams pick (still to early to say he nailed it, but getting a center like the Kiwi at #12, the kid looks promising), got a young lengthy SG who is looking pretty good so far and will improve with more experience, and then to top it off, selecting a player in Perry Jones (arguably a top 5, top 10 talent) in the late first round. Those are three very young, but very developable players who are already showing some progress. Instead of using next years draft picks on drafting more young players in need of development, we should use those draft asserts to acquire a MDJ or Mike James like you said. But with Adams, Lamb, Jones and Roberson, I don't think we need to add mor more youth.
Raincity, thanks for the kind words. I see a ton of potential with this group (granted, not the potential to be KD/Westbrook good, but above average players). My thoughts:
Lamb was a guy I was honestly really low on until this season. I had no expectation for him to come out and be a good player consistently off the bench, and was all for Jackson being sixth man. Now, I'm convinced he can be what Afflalo is now in a few years, the kid has blown me away. He's got length, shooting, and potential to be a good defender.
Jackson proves himself every game now, and did so last year in the playoffs, I think he's a keeper, but have a feeling he's gonna be traded in a Harden sort of deal (not as big a return, but when his rookie deal is running out, I think he's unfortunately gone). He wants to start in the future, and he won't in OKC. Its understandable.
PJ I loved as a pick, he was a possible lotto talent who dropped due to injury concerns and fell to Presti, it was insane value for the pick, and I think he's got a future as well, but in OKC he's most likely a really good bench player considering KD is starting
Adams has also been a pleasant surprise. I was torn between him and Olynk in the draft, and wasn't sure, as he wasn't great at PItt last year and I thought that he'd take too long to develop. Oops. I think next year or the year after at the latest he's starting when Perk's deal is up, and Perk may resign for a backup type of deal (way less money). I think some combo of Lamb/Roberson is capable of taking over Thabo's spot, but don't know. If I had to bet, I'd say none get dealt this year, and in the future my odds of being traded would be:
Jackson>PJ>Roberson>Lamb>Adams
Again, just my thoughts, but I think RJ is most likely as some team will want him as a starting PG, PJ and Roberson are both about the same, but I think PJ's ceiling is higher. Lamb and Adams I both see staying as both were key in the Harden deal and will fit in perfectly when Thabo/Perk are up for new deals if they leave or end up as backups.
