MasterIchiro wrote:Chapelchilla wrote:MasterIchiro wrote:The take-home for me this SL is the emergence of Liam & Kon as legitimate prospects.
Honestly felt like Tidjane PTSD biased my confidence in this draft. I was dreading a poor selection. Just terrified.
I think I said if Jeff were to draft Kon I'd long for the return of Dick Cho and the pu pu platter draft plate he served through the years, all his picks busting except for Kemba Walker.
Kon and Liam may not reach their ceilings as above average starters, but I feel like I saw enough in their games to trust they won't crash to their floors. And their floors (especially Kon's) look much higher than I forecast originally.
Kon may have been a small reach at 4 but consider swinging for Patrick Williams at 4, the athletic archetype with size, yet no feel, no IQ, no ability to raise the level of play in teammates.
And obviously Liam shoots better than his NCAA numbers, and there is some data backing it from HS and from pre-injury.
Jeff drafted 2 snipers who know what to do with the ball in their hands, can carve space, manage the floor, make reads, and execute the right play at the right place and time for teammates to exploit the defense.
The draft was an A even if Ace and Fears or Tre hit. We raised the floor of a roster featuring legit high end talents in Melo and Miller.
Time to play with house money (8 firsts, 12 seconds) for upgrades that move the needle while this draft class matures and adapts to NBA level competition.
Love their fighting, competitive spirit as well. They have seemed locked on every possession.
I agree completely. I think that barring injuries both Liam and Kon will be at worst useful NBA players almost immediately and both could be good starters with some seasoning.
Definitely.
And I believe the entire NBA community now better appreciates the limitations of prospects in the one-and-done era.
It's not realistic to expect teens to step in and compete with NBA starters. Jeff is ahead of the game if Kon and Liam can contribute from the bench and make positive impact in the 9th-10th spots during their first 4 years playing on a rookie contract.
Today's restricted free agents are virtually fresh off college senior year. That is how the front office should view them. Otherwise you're gambling (Tidjane).
And when a team starts adding young vets like Sexton (26), and starts winning, you have to bring along prospects as support pieces.
It's too bad Bouknight and Kai were head cases after returning for their sophomore seasons, making some improvements that made them look like safer home run hacks.
On that end, Kon and Liam play mentally tough, stay within their games.
idk if this is satire but this is what i was talking about in the other thread yesterday
