The Jeremiah Fears Thread

[JMAC3]

Over the past few years LaMelo has pretty much always guarded the 2 guard. Rozier and Josh Green were taking the primary ball handler more often than not so I think Fears fits into that mix a bit better than some of the other guys that we are discussing.

For instance, if you draft Kon or Ace as starters then LaMelo is now default the point of attack defender in the lineup guarding point guards. Whereas I think Tre or Fears are guys that can probably take that role on even if not defensive stars.

[JustBuzzin]

but can melo defend better than kon? because if fears is guarding your pg, then melo is guarding the sg or sf.
fears as poa defender is rough no matter how you slice it.

Fears and Melo combo I have Fears on point guards and Melo on 2 guards- Melo will likely struggle vs 2 guards yes, but Fears is athletic, super fast, averaged 1.6 steals per game. I think athletically he can stick with most point guards, especially if Melo and him are splitting offensive load and they aren't 100% gassed from that side of the floor.

Melo and Kon combo. Kon can't guard 1s Lol. Kon can't guard 2s either, and Melo can't guard either.. so how is that better?

Melo is the biggest pussy in the NBA.

[MasterIchiro]

Fears and Melo combo I have Fears on point guards and Melo on 2 guards- Melo will likely struggle vs 2 guards yes, but Fears is athletic, super fast, averaged 1.6 steals per game. I think athletically he can stick with most point guards, especially if Melo and him are splitting offensive load and they aren't 100% gassed from that side of the floor.

Melo and Kon combo. Kon can't guard 1s Lol. Kon can't guard 2s either, and Melo can't guard either.. so how is that better?

Melo is the biggest pussy in the NBA.

I'm being serious. Balance that with some toughness and fearlessness. I'm sick to death of LaMelo prancing into the paint like a ballerina suffering from an eating disorder.

He is much better spacing behind the arc and scoring in the midrange with his floater. He's getting better at drawing fouls but couldn't sniff a FTAR of .518 without breaking his ankles and knee caps on the way.

He's not that kind of player.

Conclusion?

The roster is missing that kind of player.

We've talked at length about the shortage of playmaking on this team, but we also need someone who can generate pressure on the rim, draw fouls like a boss when you really need points. Jeff's pick at 6 last year would be better off blindfolded shooting near the rim. He can't get anywhere with those cinder block Bambi hooves.

Together LaMelo scoring on 2 levels and Fears on mostly 1 and we have elite offense for any set in the halfcourt. Fears literally pressures the defense all game long - constantly.

I'm sick of this ****.

[JMAC3]

Melo is the biggest pussy in the NBA.

I'm being serious. Balance that with some toughness and fearlessness. I'm sick to death of LaMelo prancing into the paint like a ballerina suffering from an eating disorder.

He is much better spacing behind the arc and scoring in the midrange with his floater. He's getting better at drawing fouls but couldn't sniff a FTAR of .518 without breaking his ankles and knee caps on the way.

He's not that kind of player.

Conclusion?

The roster is missing that kind of player.

We've talked at length about the shortage of playmaking on this team, but we also need someone who can generate pressure on the rim, draw fouls like a boss when you really need points. Jeff's pick at 6 last year would be better off blindfolded shooting near the rim. He can't get anywhere with those cinder block Bambi hooves.

Together LaMelo scoring on 2 levels and Fears on mostly 1 and we have elite offense for any set in the halfcourt. Fears literally pressures the defense all game long - constantly.

I'm sick of this ****.

To be fair LaMelo was 9th in the entire NBA in drives per game.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&dir=D&sort=DRIVES

Also, 34th in fta per game, so it isn't like he is a bottom of the barrel in that category, 24 players make the all-star team.

[MasterIchiro]

I'm being serious. Balance that with some toughness and fearlessness. I'm sick to death of LaMelo prancing into the paint like a ballerina suffering from an eating disorder.

He is much better spacing behind the arc and scoring in the midrange with his floater. He's getting better at drawing fouls but couldn't sniff a FTAR of .518 without breaking his ankles and knee caps on the way.

He's not that kind of player.

Conclusion?

The roster is missing that kind of player.

We've talked at length about the shortage of playmaking on this team, but we also need someone who can generate pressure on the rim, draw fouls like a boss when you really need points. Jeff's pick at 6 last year would be better off blindfolded shooting near the rim. He can't get anywhere with those cinder block Bambi hooves.

Together LaMelo scoring on 2 levels and Fears on mostly 1 and we have elite offense for any set in the halfcourt. Fears literally pressures the defense all game long - constantly.

I'm sick of this ****.

To be fair LaMelo was 9th in the entire NBA in drives per game.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&dir=D&sort=DRIVES

Also, 34th in fta per game, so it isn't like he is a bottom of the barrel in that category, 24 players make the all-star team.

He's getting better drawing fouls, being more aggressive. But he looks like a rag doll finishing plays at the rim. He's gonna get himself hurt if we continue to steer him away from his perimeter and midrange game.

We need at least one player who can generate rim pressure with the top 10 in the NBA.

[JMAC3]

I'm being serious. Balance that with some toughness and fearlessness. I'm sick to death of LaMelo prancing into the paint like a ballerina suffering from an eating disorder.

He is much better spacing behind the arc and scoring in the midrange with his floater. He's getting better at drawing fouls but couldn't sniff a FTAR of .518 without breaking his ankles and knee caps on the way.

He's not that kind of player.

Conclusion?

The roster is missing that kind of player.

We've talked at length about the shortage of playmaking on this team, but we also need someone who can generate pressure on the rim, draw fouls like a boss when you really need points. Jeff's pick at 6 last year would be better off blindfolded shooting near the rim. He can't get anywhere with those cinder block Bambi hooves.

Together LaMelo scoring on 2 levels and Fears on mostly 1 and we have elite offense for any set in the halfcourt. Fears literally pressures the defense all game long - constantly.

I'm sick of this ****.

To be fair LaMelo was 9th in the entire NBA in drives per game.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&dir=D&sort=DRIVES

Also, 34th in fta per game, so it isn't like he is a bottom of the barrel in that category, 24 players make the all-star team.

He's getting better drawing fouls, being more aggressive. But he looks like a rag doll finishing plays at the rim. He's gonna get himself hurt if we continue to steer him away from his perimeter and midrange game.

We need at least one player who can generate rim pressure with the top 10 in the NBA.

There are 30 teams, unlikely we need two guys in the top 10 but yeah that is the appeal of Fears. I like him a lot and would be interested in trying to make it work because at the end of the day good players is what we need even if they don't fit perfectly together.

[Bassman]

So I’ll jump in this chat. Agree with the concept of a Fears or similar pick being the end of Melo here. And that is OK, if the brass have a committed plan to trade Ball for a really good return. I actually kind of want that at this point, since nothing Melo is showing me says he’s really committed to becoming a star player. IF THAT IS WHAT THIS TEAM IS DOING THEN:

1. I just don’t want to take Fears at #4. If a Melo trade doesn’t result in us getting #2 and Harper (it won’t) then trade back with the Pelicans and get 7 & 23. Or with the Nets for 8 & 19. Take Fears or Jaku with the higher pick, whomever they believe in. Grab a quality rotation big with the later pick in the first round (Fleming, Sorber, etc.).

[MasterIchiro]

To be fair LaMelo was 9th in the entire NBA in drives per game.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives?SeasonType=Regular%20Season&dir=D&sort=DRIVES

Also, 34th in fta per game, so it isn't like he is a bottom of the barrel in that category, 24 players make the all-star team.

He's getting better drawing fouls, being more aggressive. But he looks like a rag doll finishing plays at the rim. He's gonna get himself hurt if we continue to steer him away from his perimeter and midrange game.

We need at least one player who can generate rim pressure with the top 10 in the NBA.

There are 30 teams, unlikely we need two guys in the top 10 but yeah that is the appeal of Fears. I like him a lot and would be interested in trying to make it work because at the end of the day good players is what we need even if they don't fit perfectly together.

It's like the Kings drafting Haliburton as BPA when they had Fox. They tried to make it work. 2 years in they flipped Haliburton for an AS. They lost that trade so maybe it's a bad example, but the principle remains. BPA is best asset. Asset value always matters more than fit.

[luciano-davidwesley]

If you draft fears you are trading melo in the following 12 months. I don't think that's a controversial take or a hot take. The two of them are not going to be able to play together for any length of time. And you certainly aren't wasting a number 4 pick on a guy to be his backup. Makes absolutely no sense. Think fears is the guy enough to draft him at 4 then that's the signal that you're moving on from melo. There's no planet where those two function together offensively or defensively in a plus manner.

And I'm honestly fine with that path if that's the decision the team has chosen to go. But this isnt a situation where you just draft BPA and think figure it out later. Because you're clearly signaling to your superstar player who youth invested 200 million in that you've just drafted his replacement.

If you draft fears you're drafting him with the idea that within 12 months you're handing over the starting point guard position to him and you're letting him do his work as a very heliocentric type player.

draft fears = trade melo in next 12 months. I can't have a discussion if people aren't willing to equate those two things.

Disagree with this somewhat. There's nothing stopping us from trading Fears in 12 months either, though I agree it's is less likely and I agree the probably dont fit together long-term. I just couldn't care less about fit when you are a 17 win team with questionable health.

You draft for talent, trade for fit.

Imagine if Fears turns out to be Ja without the behavioural issues and you passed up on him just because you thought it might upset LaMelo. That'd be dumb.

[fatlever]

I read somewhere that Utah has had fears in for 2 workouts.

Not something that's common for them apparently. I mentioned that it could be because they wanted an extra look or in some cases team bring players back for a second workout when maybe a first workout doesn't go all that great. Either way that's a pretty good fit for him.

Something to keep your eye on at least

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[MasterIchiro]

I read somewhere that Utah has had fears in for 2 workouts.

Not something that's common for them apparently. I mentioned that it could be because they wanted an extra look or in some cases team bring players back for a second workout when maybe a first workout doesn't go all that great. Either way that's a pretty good fit for him.

Something to keep your eye on at least

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

5 is his floor IMO.

I'm super curious to see if the Wizards, Pelicans, Nets trade up to jump ahead of Ainge. They all need someone longterm to develop their prospects, leading an offense as a shot creator.

[JMAC3]

It wouldn’t shock me if draft went
Vj at 3
Fears at 4 in a trade up

And then from there depends on which of Washington, Utah or Brooklyn traded up.

[JustBuzzin]

It wouldn’t shock me if draft went
Vj at 3
Fears at 4 in a trade up

And then from there depends on which of Washington, Utah or Brooklyn traded up.

What are we doing in this scenario?

[wilson115]

I read somewhere that Utah has had fears in for 2 workouts.

Saw that too, what does that mean for their rotation of 6'3ish guards Sexton, Collier, and George? Trade targets?

[MasterIchiro]

It wouldn’t shock me if draft went
Vj at 3
Fears at 4 in a trade up

And then from there depends on which of Washington, Utah or Brooklyn traded up.

And the Pels.

We could be weighing:

6 + 18 (no interesting players)
7 + 23 (Hetb Jones, Murphy III)
8 + 19 (Claxton, Cam Johnson)

Plenty of variance.

We have to weigh if our guy is still there 6, 7, 8. The further from 4, the more I want players added for value.

[fatlever]

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/s/NmindatiZh

Sorry if this was posted already that I missed.

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[amcoolio]

Christ on a cross, if this team trades 4 for 6 and 18 and takes Kon at 6 while Fears and Tre go 4 and 5 and end up way, way better than Kon. Then the discourse on here would be like "well we never had a chance at Fears or Trey anyway, we picked 6"

Like call me cynical but this team exists doing **** like this and we shouldn't take it anymore

[MasterIchiro]

Christ on a cross, if this team trades 4 for 6 and 18 and takes Kon at 6 while Fears and Tre go 4 and 5 and end up way, way better than Kon. Then the discourse on here would be like "well we never had a chance at Fears or Trey anyway, we picked 6"

Like call me cynical but this team exists doing **** like this and we shouldn't take it anymore

If Fears and Tre go 4 and 5, only 1 of Ace/VJ can to 3, leaving the other at 6.

So if we trade to 6 and your scenario plays out, we are not taking Kon over Ace or VJ.

[amcoolio]

Christ on a cross, if this team trades 4 for 6 and 18 and takes Kon at 6 while Fears and Tre go 4 and 5 and end up way, way better than Kon. Then the discourse on here would be like "well we never had a chance at Fears or Trey anyway, we picked 6"

Like call me cynical but this team exists doing **** like this and we shouldn't take it anymore

If Fears and Tre go 4 and 5, only 1 of Ace/VJ can to 3, leaving the other at 6.

So if we trade to 6 and your scenario plays out, we are not taking Kon over Ace or VJ.

This team would absolutely pass up Ace to take Kon. They have historically had no balls, and when they feel the pressure and tried to get ballsy, they make the completely wrong decision. Across every ownership and GM group

[MasterIchiro]

Christ on a cross, if this team trades 4 for 6 and 18 and takes Kon at 6 while Fears and Tre go 4 and 5 and end up way, way better than Kon. Then the discourse on here would be like "well we never had a chance at Fears or Trey anyway, we picked 6"

Like call me cynical but this team exists doing **** like this and we shouldn't take it anymore

If Fears and Tre go 4 and 5, only 1 of Ace/VJ can to 3, leaving the other at 6.

So if we trade to 6 and your scenario plays out, we are not taking Kon over Ace or VJ.

This team would absolutely pass up Ace to take Kon. They have historically had no balls, and when they feel the pressure and tried to get ballsy, they make the completely wrong decision. Across every ownership and GM group

Okay, but I wasn't sure if you were keeping count of the prospects who'd be available at 6. It's not a bad spot for trade down. It's not a death sentence to Kon. Even at 7 or 8 we could see Kasparas Jakucionis.

I don't think we will draft Kon. And I'm scarred by the Salaün selection and the ineptitude failing to trade up for Castle. We should be trading up for 3 if we like one prospect far more than the field.

I know we won't do that.

But if we trade back, I think the speculation is we will take Jaku, as rumored by the same person who called the Salaün pick.