Wizards Training Camp 2020-21

[closg00]

I don't get the love for Bonga.

I don't either, he is a floor-bound wing who can't shoot, is a poor finisher around the rim, but does play decent D.

[payitforward]

I don't get the love for Bonga.

... he is a floor-bound wing who can't shoot, is a poor finisher around the rim, but does play decent D.

Really? Huh!

& here I thought he was a 20-year-old R2 pick who came in & shot 57% on 2point shots, 35% on 3's, 81% on FTs to post an almost 61% TS% while playing good defense -- & all that in, essentially, his first NBA minutes.

But, I guess you're right -- & one thing is sure: given that he turned 21 3+ weeks ago, there's almost no chance he'll develop those skills further & certainly none that he'll learn any new ones.

[prime1time]

I don't get the love for Bonga.

... he is a floor-bound wing who can't shoot, is a poor finisher around the rim, but does play decent D.

Really? Huh!

& here I thought he was a 20-year-old R2 pick who came in & shot 57% on 2point shots, 35% on 3's, 81% on FTs to post an almost 61% TS% while playing good defense -- & all that in, essentially, his first NBA minutes.

But, I guess you're right -- & one thing is sure: given that he turned 21 3+ weeks ago, there's almost no chance he'll develop those skills further & certainly none that he'll learn any new ones.

I stand by my statement. You talk about stats then you refer to skills. The NBA doesn't work like that. Bonga's numbers are efficient because he doesn't try things he's not good at. It's like hyping up Ben Simmons efficiency and then arguing that his good efficiency is proof that he'll be able to shoot 3's. His efficiency is good because he doesn't shoot 3's. It's the same thing with Bonga. Bonga's offensive skills in the halfcourt are so undeveloped that he doesn't even try, ergo he has good efficiency.

This is all well and good, but it limits his growth as a player. Bonga in the halfcourt is effectively irrelevant if he's not making 3's. In transition, he can finish but that is the extent of his offensive game. What happens if Bonga suddenly develops his skills further? Well, because they are so bad his efficiency would drop. This is why most dominant players' efficiency goes up over time. Because as they improve their skills, their efficiency increases. The only players who start out as efficient are physically dominant players who get by on physical ability or players who don't even try to create. I'd be more optimistic on Bonga if his efficiency was lower but he actually tried to create more.

[pcbothwel]

I don't get the love for Bonga.

... he is a floor-bound wing who can't shoot, is a poor finisher around the rim, but does play decent D.

Really? Huh!

& here I thought he was a 20-year-old R2 pick who came in & shot 57% on 2point shots, 35% on 3's, 81% on FTs to post an almost 61% TS% while playing good defense -- & all that in, essentially, his first NBA minutes.

But, I guess you're right -- & one thing is sure: given that he turned 21 3+ weeks ago, there's almost no chance he'll develop those skills further & certainly none that he'll learn any new ones.

LOL... Agreed PIF, big Bonga fan.
That said, Closg isnt all wrong. Bonga appears to be like Otto in that his team Defense is really good, but his man defense is just above average. Also, its a bit concerning that his Assist and Usage plummeted from his 1st year, but his turnovers stayed the same. Combined with his subpar rebounding and his ceiling appears to be in the Robert Covington range, which is a great player to have on the team.

Still, he's very young and appears to have taken strides off the court that could allow him to be better on it. Excited to see how it shakes out. Great glue guy.

[nate33]

... he is a floor-bound wing who can't shoot, is a poor finisher around the rim, but does play decent D.

Really? Huh!

& here I thought he was a 20-year-old R2 pick who came in & shot 57% on 2point shots, 35% on 3's, 81% on FTs to post an almost 61% TS% while playing good defense -- & all that in, essentially, his first NBA minutes.

But, I guess you're right -- & one thing is sure: given that he turned 21 3+ weeks ago, there's almost no chance he'll develop those skills further & certainly none that he'll learn any new ones.

I stand by my statement. You talk about stats then you refer to skills. The NBA doesn't work like that. Bonga's numbers are efficient because he doesn't try things he's not good at. It's like hyping up Ben Simmons efficiency and then arguing that his good efficiency is proof that he'll be able to shoot 3's. His efficiency is good because he doesn't shoot 3's. It's the same thing with Bonga. Bonga's offensive skills in the halfcourt are so undeveloped that he doesn't even try, ergo he has good efficiency.

This is all well and good, but it limits his growth as a player. Bonga in the halfcourt is effectively irrelevant if he's not making 3's. In transition, he can finish but that is the extent of his offensive game. What happens if Bonga suddenly develops his skills further? Well, because they are so bad his efficiency would drop. This is why most dominant players' efficiency goes up over time. Because as they improve their skills, their efficiency increases. The only players who start out as efficient are physically dominant players who get by on physical ability or players who don't even try to create. I'd be more optimistic on Bonga if his efficiency was lower but he actually tried to create more.

Your point seems to be that Bonga isn't a star-caliber player because he isn't a decision-maker with the ball and his offensive game is limited. That's not exactly a revelation.

But one can be a useful player without being a multi-faceted star. Bonga is a very good defender with the potential to be an exceptional defender; and he is developing a respectable 3-point shot. Yes, so far, he only shoots them wide open when he has time to wind up, so he's not exactly a lethal floor stretcher yet. But it's not hard to believe that he could improve his accuracy and the speed of his release. If he just does that, he has a role in this league, perhaps even as a reliable 5th starter on a good team. Guys like Trevor Ariza and Mikal Bridges are the blueprint. Just D-up and be a good enough shooter that teams can't cheat off of you.

Bonga has already posted exceptional on/off differentials as a 20-year-old red shirt rookie. I think it's perfectly reasonable to be excited about his as a prospect.

[prime1time]

Really? Huh!

& here I thought he was a 20-year-old R2 pick who came in & shot 57% on 2point shots, 35% on 3's, 81% on FTs to post an almost 61% TS% while playing good defense -- & all that in, essentially, his first NBA minutes.

But, I guess you're right -- & one thing is sure: given that he turned 21 3+ weeks ago, there's almost no chance he'll develop those skills further & certainly none that he'll learn any new ones.

I stand by my statement. You talk about stats then you refer to skills. The NBA doesn't work like that. Bonga's numbers are efficient because he doesn't try things he's not good at. It's like hyping up Ben Simmons efficiency and then arguing that his good efficiency is proof that he'll be able to shoot 3's. His efficiency is good because he doesn't shoot 3's. It's the same thing with Bonga. Bonga's offensive skills in the halfcourt are so undeveloped that he doesn't even try, ergo he has good efficiency.

This is all well and good, but it limits his growth as a player. Bonga in the halfcourt is effectively irrelevant if he's not making 3's. In transition, he can finish but that is the extent of his offensive game. What happens if Bonga suddenly develops his skills further? Well, because they are so bad his efficiency would drop. This is why most dominant players' efficiency goes up over time. Because as they improve their skills, their efficiency increases. The only players who start out as efficient are physically dominant players who get by on physical ability or players who don't even try to create. I'd be more optimistic on Bonga if his efficiency was lower but he actually tried to create more.

Your point seems to be that Bonga isn't a star-caliber player because he isn't a decision-maker with the ball and his offensive game is limited. That's not exactly a revelation.

But one can be a useful player without being a multi-faceted star. Bonga is a very good defender with the potential to be an exceptional defender; and he is developing a respectable 3-point shot. Yes, so far, he only shoots them wide open when he has time to wind up, so he's not exactly a lethal floor stretcher yet. But it's not hard to believe that he could improve his accuracy and the speed of his release. If he just does that, he has a role in this league, perhaps even as a reliable 5th starter on a good team. Guys like Trevor Ariza and Mikal Bridges are the blueprint. Just D-up and be a good enough shooter that teams can't cheat off of you.

Bonga has already posted exceptional on/off differentials as a 20-year-old red shirt rookie. I think it's perfectly reasonable to be excited about his as a prospect.

Am I excited by a potential 3 and D prospect? No. Because I see 3 and D guys as a weakness. In the playoffs when teams run players off the 3-point line what is Bonga going to do? This is why we drafted Advija. Because, the NBA is moving away from 3 and D guys and to skilled offensive players who can make plays with the ball in their hands. You say I expect him to be a multi faceted star. This is not true. I expect him to be a capable offensive player. Make open 3's, put the ball on the floor if you're run off the 3-point line and allow us to have a functional offense. This is what Advija is capable of, and why we are smart to draft him. Sooner or later Bonga's role will be relegated to the bench. There he will provide an essential but circumscribed role. But in high leverage moments, he shouldn't be on the floor. Now is there a chance he develops into a player that's not an absolute weakness in the halfcourt? Of course. But I haven't seen it at all. Not even in scrimmages. Here's a question for you, if the time was high on Bonga in the long-term why would they draft Advija?

[nate33]

Am I excited by a potential 3 and D prospect? No. Because I see 3 and D guys as a weakness. In the playoffs when teams run players off the 3-point line what is Bonga going to do? This is why we drafted Advija. Because, the NBA is moving away from 3 and D guys and to skilled offensive players who can make plays with the ball in their hands. You say I expect him to be a multi faceted star. This is not true. I expect him to be a capable offensive player. Make open 3's, put the ball on the floor if you're run off the 3-point line and allow us to have a functional offense. This is what Advija is capable of, and why we are smart to draft him. Sooner or later Bonga's role will be relegated to the bench. There he will provide an essential but circumscribed role. But in high leverage moments, he shouldn't be on the floor. Now is there a chance he develops into a player that's not an absolute weakness in the halfcourt? Of course. But I haven't seen it at all. Not even in scrimmages. Here's a question for you, if the time was high on Bonga in the long-term why would they draft Advija?

Because Avdija might be better. He certainly has a more dynamic offensive skill set. But we don't know about the defense yet. I think the issue will take care of itself. I'm totally fine with Bonga starting at the moment, but Avdija will get his opportunities. If Avdija proves to be better, then he can take over as starter. That would be great.

Ultimately, I think we have three developing combo forwards in Avdija, Bonga and Hachimura. All 3 guys have the size to play some 4, and the lateral quickness to play some 3. Each brings different skills to the table. Bonga is the best defender. Hachimura is the best post player and the strongest - able to bang against PF's full time, and Avidja is (probably) the best play maker. I think they can mesh together nicely, though all of them need to shoot better. Fortunately, we also have Bertans who might be the best shooter of all time.

I don't know how things will pan out. We will have to see. Ultimately, there's room for all 3 young guys in the lineup while still playing Bertans 25-30 minutes a night. We will only have to make a choice if all of them pan out to be really good and we can't afford to keep them all. But even that isn't really a problem because Avdija's next contract won't be signed until Bertans' is up.

[prime1time]

A good example of what I'm talking about is Iggy and Green on offense for the Warriors. Look at how valuable those two are offensively even though they aren't good shooters. Having players that can be secondary creators makes an offense so much more dynamic. This is how you beat the good defenses. As teams get longer and bigger and becomes focused on taking away open 3's and layups, secondary creating will become the new 3-point shooting. And the two will be reinforcing in terms of good offense. A good example of what I'm talking about is Fred Van Leet, Joe Ingles and Goran Dragic. These are all players who can shoot the 3, but also do damage if they are run off the 3-point line. Look at Bam Adebayo, he doesn't even shoot but the 5.1 assists tells you all you need to know. Guys like Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon etc. This is where the NBA is going. Not 3 and D. None of those guys are offensive stars, but they are all capable offensive players who can initiate offense if they need to.

[nate33]

A good example of what I'm talking about is Iggy and Green on offense for the Warriors. Look at how valuable those two are offensively even though they aren't good shooters. Having players that can be secondary creators makes an offense so much more dynamic. This is how you beat the good defenses. As teams get longer and bigger and becomes focused on taking away open 3's and layups, secondary creating will become the new 3-point shooting. And the two will be reinforcing in terms of good offense. A good example of what I'm talking about is Fred Van Leet, Joe Ingles and Goran Dragic. These are all players who can shoot the 3, but also do damage if they are run off the 3-point line. Look at Bam Adebayo, he doesn't even shoot but the 5.1 assists tells you all you need to know. Guys like Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon etc. This is where the NBA is going. Not 3 and D. None of those guys are offensive stars, but they are all capable offensive players who can initiate offense if they need to.

All of your examples except Ingles are guards. Of course guards must be more dynamic on offense because they are more limited on defense - unable to match up with the 4's and 5's in the league. But a big 3&D forward has the luxury of being less capable on offense because it is likely that he will have 2 or 3 other teammates on the floor who are dynamic decision-makers on offense.

You bring up Iggy, who is a very good player. But Bonga could still be our Harrison Barnes - the starting forward on a championship team.

[prime1time]

Am I excited by a potential 3 and D prospect? No. Because I see 3 and D guys as a weakness. In the playoffs when teams run players off the 3-point line what is Bonga going to do? This is why we drafted Advija. Because, the NBA is moving away from 3 and D guys and to skilled offensive players who can make plays with the ball in their hands. You say I expect him to be a multi faceted star. This is not true. I expect him to be a capable offensive player. Make open 3's, put the ball on the floor if you're run off the 3-point line and allow us to have a functional offense. This is what Advija is capable of, and why we are smart to draft him. Sooner or later Bonga's role will be relegated to the bench. There he will provide an essential but circumscribed role. But in high leverage moments, he shouldn't be on the floor. Now is there a chance he develops into a player that's not an absolute weakness in the halfcourt? Of course. But I haven't seen it at all. Not even in scrimmages. Here's a question for you, if the time was high on Bonga in the long-term why would they draft Advija?

Because Avdija might be better. He certainly has a more dynamic offensive skill set. But we don't know about the defense yet. I think the issue will take care of itself. I'm totally fine with Bonga starting at the moment, but Avdija will get his opportunities. If Avdija proves to be better, then he can take over as starter. That would be great.

Ultimately, I think we have three developing combo forwards in Avdija, Bonga and Hachimura. All 3 guys have the size to play some 4, and the lateral quickness to play some 3. Each brings different skills to the table. Bonga is the best defender. Hachimura is the best post player and the strongest - able to bang against PF's full time, and Avidja is (probably) the best play maker. I think they can mesh together nicely, though all of them need to shoot better. Fortunately, we also have Bertans who might be the best shooter of all time.

I don't know how things will pan out. We will have to see. Ultimately, there's room for all 3 young guys in the lineup while still playing Bertans 25-30 minutes a night. We will only have to make a choice if all of them pan out to be really good and we can't afford to keep them all. But even that isn't really a problem because Avdija's next contract won't be signed until Bertans' is up.

They didn't draft Advija because they believe he might be better. They drafted him because they believe he will be better. I hope Bonga proves me wrong, but I have to say I have never seen Bonga demonstrate anywhere near the offensive skill needed to make me feel like he should be our SF of the future. But he is young and players can grow so we'll see. I'm placing my money on Advija though, and because we just drafted him he will be given every opportunity to succeed which would make Bonga the odd man out.

[prime1time]

A good example of what I'm talking about is Iggy and Green on offense for the Warriors. Look at how valuable those two are offensively even though they aren't good shooters. Having players that can be secondary creators makes an offense so much more dynamic. This is how you beat the good defenses. As teams get longer and bigger and becomes focused on taking away open 3's and layups, secondary creating will become the new 3-point shooting. And the two will be reinforcing in terms of good offense. A good example of what I'm talking about is Fred Van Leet, Joe Ingles and Goran Dragic. These are all players who can shoot the 3, but also do damage if they are run off the 3-point line. Look at Bam Adebayo, he doesn't even shoot but the 5.1 assists tells you all you need to know. Guys like Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon etc. This is where the NBA is going. Not 3 and D. None of those guys are offensive stars, but they are all capable offensive players who can initiate offense if they need to.

All of your examples except Ingles are guards. Of course guards must be more dynamic on offense because they are more limited on defense - unable to match up with the 4's and 5's in the league. But a big 3&D forward has the luxury of being less capable on offense because it is likely that he will have 2 or 3 other teammates on the floor who are dynamic decision-makers on offense.

You bring up Iggy, who is a very good player. But Bonga could still be our Harrison Barnes - the starting forward on a championship team.

This is true. Like I said, he's young and can develop but I will say what gives me pause, is I just don't see Bonga creating. If you're hope is for Bonga to develop into a secondary creator and floor spacer I'm right there with you. My issue is with the fans who say that a 3 and D Bonga is enough. As far as the Barnes comparison goes, Barnes was creating at UNC. Not well, but he was creating. For whatever reason I just haven't seen it from Bonga. The better comparison for Bonga is probably Oubre tbh. At the same time Oubre shows us just how long of a process it is. What are the chances Bonga is still here if he ever reaches that level?

[NatP4]

Oubre has never been a good defender. There is no comparison there for me. Bonga is like andre roberson

[prime1time]

Oubre has never been a good defender. There is no comparison there for me. Bonga is like andre roberson

Is Bonga's defense good enough to be all-NBA defense? Is he as good as a defender as Thybulle? Can I expect to lock down the opposing team's top wing scorer? In other why should I care how good of a defender Bonga is? Is there something that he brings that other players can't? Also, let's see how good of a defender Oubre is in Golden State. I've seen players leave DC and magically become better defenders...Defense is about effort, physical attributes and basketball iq. If a player can understand offensive basketball, he can understand defensive basketball. Then it comes down to effort and physical attributes. I've said since day 1, the problem with the Wizards defense is that we have a culture that doesn't value playing defense.

As good as a defender Bonga is, the Wiz were still one of the worst defensive teams I've ever seen. Never once did I say to myself, boy Bonga's playing great defense. Because I judge defense as a whole. So unless Bonga's going to be an exceptional defender, his defensive prowess is less important to me, because we can create a culture of defense with or without him. And as we saw last year, we can be terrible defensively with him.

[DCZards]

Bonga is 21 years old and appears to be a hard worker. Let's give the kid a chance to develop before deciding what he is and what he ain't.

And there's nothing wrong with him being a 3&D guy if that's what he turns out to be. Someone compared Bonga to Robert Covington. We could only hope.

[dckingsfan]

Bonga is 21 years old and appears to be a hard worker. Let's give the kid a chance to develop before deciding what he is and what he ain't.

And there's nothing wrong with him being a 3&D guy if that's what he turns out to be. Someone compared Bonga to Robert Covington. We could only hope.

Right, where is all the hate coming from?

Is he improving? Is he working on his game? Is he working on his body? I think the answer to all of those questions is yes.

Code: Select all

Age   MP     3P%     TS%    AST%   TOV%   DRB%   STL%   BLK%
19    120   0.000   0.240   14.9   13.2   13.5   3.5    2.7
20   1250   0.352   0.608    7.9   17.6   13.8   1.7    1.5

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I stand by my statement. You talk about stats then you refer to skills. The NBA doesn't work like that. Bonga's numbers are efficient because he doesn't try things he's not good at. It's like hyping up Ben Simmons efficiency and then arguing that his good efficiency is proof that he'll be able to shoot 3's. His efficiency is good because he doesn't shoot 3's. It's the same thing with Bonga. Bonga's offensive skills in the halfcourt are so undeveloped that he doesn't even try, ergo he has good efficiency.

This is all well and good, but it limits his growth as a player. Bonga in the halfcourt is effectively irrelevant if he's not making 3's. In transition, he can finish but that is the extent of his offensive game. What happens if Bonga suddenly develops his skills further? Well, because they are so bad his efficiency would drop. This is why most dominant players' efficiency goes up over time. Because as they improve their skills, their efficiency increases. The only players who start out as efficient are physically dominant players who get by on physical ability or players who don't even try to create. I'd be more optimistic on Bonga if his efficiency was lower but he actually tried to create more.

Your point seems to be that Bonga isn't a star-caliber player because he isn't a decision-maker with the ball and his offensive game is limited. That's not exactly a revelation.

But one can be a useful player without being a multi-faceted star. Bonga is a very good defender with the potential to be an exceptional defender; and he is developing a respectable 3-point shot. Yes, so far, he only shoots them wide open when he has time to wind up, so he's not exactly a lethal floor stretcher yet. But it's not hard to believe that he could improve his accuracy and the speed of his release. If he just does that, he has a role in this league, perhaps even as a reliable 5th starter on a good team. Guys like Trevor Ariza and Mikal Bridges are the blueprint. Just D-up and be a good enough shooter that teams can't cheat off of you.

Bonga has already posted exceptional on/off differentials as a 20-year-old red shirt rookie. I think it's perfectly reasonable to be excited about his as a prospect.

Am I excited by a potential 3 and D prospect? No. Because I see 3 and D guys as a weakness. In the playoffs when teams run players off the 3-point line what is Bonga going to do? This is why we drafted Advija. Because, the NBA is moving away from 3 and D guys and to skilled offensive players who can make plays with the ball in their hands. You say I expect him to be a multi faceted star. This is not true. I expect him to be a capable offensive player. Make open 3's, put the ball on the floor if you're run off the 3-point line and allow us to have a functional offense. This is what Advija is capable of, and why we are smart to draft him. Sooner or later Bonga's role will be relegated to the bench. There he will provide an essential but circumscribed role. But in high leverage moments, he shouldn't be on the floor. Now is there a chance he develops into a player that's not an absolute weakness in the halfcourt? Of course. But I haven't seen it at all. Not even in scrimmages. Here's a question for you, if the time was high on Bonga in the long-term why would they draft Advija?

I'm not really getting all the talk about Bonga is nothing but a 3&D guy who can't move or make plays. I think you are confusing what he's capable of doing with what he was told to do. Last year he was a 20 year old player new to the league trying to fill a role (3 & D) that the coaches wanted and a role that would get him on the court.

I mean he came into the league as a point guard.

Watch on YouTube

[prime1time]

Your point seems to be that Bonga isn't a star-caliber player because he isn't a decision-maker with the ball and his offensive game is limited. That's not exactly a revelation.

But one can be a useful player without being a multi-faceted star. Bonga is a very good defender with the potential to be an exceptional defender; and he is developing a respectable 3-point shot. Yes, so far, he only shoots them wide open when he has time to wind up, so he's not exactly a lethal floor stretcher yet. But it's not hard to believe that he could improve his accuracy and the speed of his release. If he just does that, he has a role in this league, perhaps even as a reliable 5th starter on a good team. Guys like Trevor Ariza and Mikal Bridges are the blueprint. Just D-up and be a good enough shooter that teams can't cheat off of you.

Bonga has already posted exceptional on/off differentials as a 20-year-old red shirt rookie. I think it's perfectly reasonable to be excited about his as a prospect.

Am I excited by a potential 3 and D prospect? No. Because I see 3 and D guys as a weakness. In the playoffs when teams run players off the 3-point line what is Bonga going to do? This is why we drafted Advija. Because, the NBA is moving away from 3 and D guys and to skilled offensive players who can make plays with the ball in their hands. You say I expect him to be a multi faceted star. This is not true. I expect him to be a capable offensive player. Make open 3's, put the ball on the floor if you're run off the 3-point line and allow us to have a functional offense. This is what Advija is capable of, and why we are smart to draft him. Sooner or later Bonga's role will be relegated to the bench. There he will provide an essential but circumscribed role. But in high leverage moments, he shouldn't be on the floor. Now is there a chance he develops into a player that's not an absolute weakness in the halfcourt? Of course. But I haven't seen it at all. Not even in scrimmages. Here's a question for you, if the time was high on Bonga in the long-term why would they draft Advija?

I'm not really getting all the talk about Bonga is nothing but a 3&D guy who can't move or make plays. I think you are confusing what he's capable of doing with what he was told to do. Last year he was a 20 year old player new to the league trying to fill a role (3 & D) that the coaches wanted and a role that would get him on the court.

I mean he came into the league as a point guard.

Watch on YouTube

If he does develop I’m all for it. All I can say is on the NBA level I haven’t seen anything even come close to it. And in the scrimmages I haven’t seen it. I don’t think what you posted in that video translates, much like how Nassir Little is not going to create in the NBA. In several years could he be able to? Maybe. But we drafted Advija for a reason. The likelihood is that Bonga will be gone before he develops the skills necessary to be a successful creator in the nba.

[DCZards]

en’t seen anything even come close to it. And in the scrimmages I haven’t seen it. I don’t think what you posted in that video translates, much like how Nassir Little is not going to create in the NBA. In several years could he be able to? Maybe. But we drafted Advija for a reason. The likelihood is that Bonga will be gone before he develops the skills necessary to be a successful creator in the nba.

Yes...they drafted Advija for a reason. Because he was the BPA at 9. Some NBA folks had Deni listed among the 5 best players in the draft. So it was damn near a no-brainer to take him at 9.

The drafting of Deni has much more to do with his potential than it has to do with any lack of faith in Bonga or in Bonga's potential.

[Ruzious]

en’t seen anything even come close to it. And in the scrimmages I haven’t seen it. I don’t think what you posted in that video translates, much like how Nassir Little is not going to create in the NBA. In several years could he be able to? Maybe. But we drafted Advija for a reason. The likelihood is that Bonga will be gone before he develops the skills necessary to be a successful creator in the nba.

Yes...they drafted Advija for a reason. Because he was the BPA at 9. Some NBA folks had Deni listed among the 5 best players in the draft. So it was damn near a no-brainer to take him at 9.

The drafting of Deni has much more to do with his potential than it has to do with any lack of faith in Bonga or in Bonga's potential.

I think about half the mocks that I saw had Avdija going 4th, so it's reasonable to say he was the consensus BPA - and had nothing to do with need - since need was for a top-flight defender up front.

[payitforward]

... he is a floor-bound wing who can't shoot, is a poor finisher around the rim, but does play decent D.

Really? Huh!

& here I thought he was a 20-year-old R2 pick who came in & shot 57% on 2point shots, 35% on 3's, 81% on FTs to post an almost 61% TS% while playing good defense -- & all that in, essentially, his first NBA minutes.

But, I guess you're right -- & one thing is sure: given that he turned 21 3+ weeks ago, there's almost no chance he'll develop those skills further & certainly none that he'll learn any new ones.

I stand by my statement. You talk about stats then you refer to skills. The NBA doesn't work like that. Bonga's numbers are efficient because he doesn't try things he's not good at. It's like hyping up Ben Simmons efficiency and then arguing that his good efficiency is proof that he'll be able to shoot 3's. His efficiency is good because he doesn't shoot 3's. It's the same thing with Bonga. Bonga's offensive skills in the halfcourt are so undeveloped that he doesn't even try, ergo he has good efficiency.

This is all well and good, but it limits his growth as a player. Bonga in the halfcourt is effectively irrelevant if he's not making 3's. In transition, he can finish but that is the extent of his offensive game. What happens if Bonga suddenly develops his skills further? Well, because they are so bad his efficiency would drop. This is why most dominant players' efficiency goes up over time. Because as they improve their skills, their efficiency increases. The only players who start out as efficient are physically dominant players who get by on physical ability or players who don't even try to create. I'd be more optimistic on Bonga if his efficiency was lower but he actually tried to create more.

Well, that's well-argued, but... honestly, I don't think it holds water. Still... how would we ever resolve the issue?