Officially Waived: The Kai Jones Thread

Post #301 » by **yosemiteben** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:00 am

Feels like Kai in a nutshell:

Highlight plays while his team is down 27. You see the highlights and dream big dreams about his development, and have to choose to discount team performance even though it's a bit worrisome. Makes it even scarier given that Thor and Bouknight are both playing in this game with him.

Post #302 » by **BigSlam** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:32 am

yosemiteben wrote:Feels like Kai in a nutshell:

Read on Twitter

Highlight plays while his team is down 27. You see the highlights and dream big dreams about his development, and have to choose to discount team performance even though it's a bit worrisome. Makes it even scarier given that Thor and Bouknight are both playing in this game with him.

Kai currently has:
23 points
12 rebounds
1 assist
2 steals
3 blocks

I’m not sure he’s the problem with the team being down 27…

Post #303 » by **fatlever** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 3:40 am

jesus... down 29 with 5 minute left in 2nd quarter?

Post #304 » by **Diop** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 4:26 am

another good shooting game from Kulboka but damn that team is bad.

Post #305 » by **luciano-davidwesley** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:41 am

yosemiteben wrote:Feels like Kai in a nutshell:

Read on Twitter

Highlight plays while his team is down 27. You see the highlights and dream big dreams about his development, and have to choose to discount team performance even though it's a bit worrisome. Makes it even scarier given that Thor and Bouknight are both playing in this game with him.

Bouknight's efforts in that defensive set are downright laughable. Watch it again and keep your eyes on him. The kid really needs to grow up quicksmart or we have Monk 2.0 on our hands.

MasterIchiro · Post #306 » by **MasterIchiro** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:31 am

Right before Kai swatted that ball, the offense had the ball in the paint and backed out because of him. He's deterring shots. He's owning the paint. He looks like a rim protector on that sequence. And his dunk started from beyond the 3 point line. He faced up, faked a pass, put it on the floor, drove past his man and flushed. He can get to the rim from the arc, quickly. Hornets have done such a stellar job developing him and he's put in the work. I'd love to have Harrell here next year working with him on his inside scoring and with pick and roll. On some possessions the defense will just have to let him splash an open three, because LaMelo and Miles command so much attention. Bouknight has the talent to draw double teams as well. This squad will terrorize if Kai Jones pans out. Teal hair though???

Liver_Pooty · Post #307 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:45 am

I'm in the minority but I love the teal hair.

Snidely FC · Post #308 » by **Snidely FC** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 1:17 pm

that last blowout loss in a nutshell is why you can't judge a G League prospect on team performance. I know everyone wants a guy who impacts winning. But if you pay attention to the G League for any amount of time it becomes evident that teams win with high scoring guards, that defense is loose at best, and that winning isn't the main function of the league. I don't think you can think of the G League as a normal competitive situation. I don't think the emphasis in the G league is even on winning. It's a showcase. Guys already affiliated with nba teams are developed and featured. Almost every day you get a guy already affiliated with an NBA team, unheralded guys like Raptor rookie Justin Champagnie going off for 45 pts. Guys not yet affiliated with an NBA team are also there for showcasing. Its not about winning its about putting up numbers that get you noticed or validated. It's a lot more like your typical All-Star game not your typical NBA game. No one in the g league plays the kind of team defense that wins games. G league teams win with guards, most of the time little lead guards who dominate the ball. Look at that game last night. Maine was led by 5'9 Chris Cleamons who scored 41 pts. Remember, the last Swarm game prior to signing Isaiah Thomas, IT put up 46 pts in a blowout over the Swarm. It's the ultimate me-first league. Bouknight is the one who really needs to be going off for the Swarm to win. Also, it can be hard to project big-man performance because in terms of big men there aren't many. Last night Kai matched up against John Bohannon, 30 yr-old G League lifer. So you get guys like DayRon Sharpe having 21 pt 19 rebound games with very little resistance. Guys like Moses Brown (last yr) looked like future stars just cause they're tall but they get to the nba and can't compete strength-wise. Many G League teams regularly start 6'8 guys at center. Don't get me wrong, Kai Jones looking like he is making progress is a good thing. The eye test shows him playing a more efficient style, but I think Fats is asking the right questions about his game. There are reasons the more physical and defensively aware Thor is ahead of Kai in PT with the big club at this point. Instead of winning impact, though, I think it is more pertinent to look at whether you think he is refining his game in a way that projects to more success against the bigger and faster bodies he's going to face in the nba, and less about why the Swarm are such a losing team.

Post #309 » by **BigSlam** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 3:02 pm

For me it's about how Kai is getting his points and impacting the game.

He's scoring in a variety of ways - off the P&R, dunkers spot, creating his own of the dribble, hustle points and 3PM. That's what I want to see. He's not just racking up stats from getting junk points or bunnies.

Not really seeing any P&P yet - would like to see that added.

Same with blocking shots - how is he blocking them? He's not cheating off his man and hanging the rest of the team out to dry. He's not just hanging out in the paint and leaving the outside open. He's making quick decisions. He's showing 2nd and 3rd efforts. All good signs.

As I said earlier, I do think he needs to improve on his positional rebounding and not just rely on his length and athletic ability - but I hope that will come with improved strength and more experience.

Post #310 » by **fatlever** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 4:03 pm

You can at least understand why I am concerned about everything surrounding this collection of players. From the summer league through this G League season they have been awful.

I get that it's a glorified All-Star game, but I just can't ignore the fact that whenever this core group of young players has played together they have been terrible. It doesn't make me feel great about any of them.

That's not all on Kai, but I can't ignore it until I see evidence to prove me otherwise.

I am higher on Kai than bouk however... which probably says a lot more about bouk.

My first impression of bouk as a wasted pick has not changed since the first time I saw him play in the summer. Really hope to see some maturity, drive, humility, plus on court... 3pt shooter, handles, defense, plus, physically adding muscle.

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Post #311 » by **BigSlam** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:10 pm

fatlever wrote:That's not all on Kai, but I can't ignore it until I see evidence to prove me otherwise.

You can be proved otherwise on Kai though.

You can watch some Swarm games and not base your evidence only on +/-, team scores and highlights alone.

LofJ · Post #312 » by **LofJ** » Mon May 2, 2022 11:58 am

Kai has not been skipping leg day, looking good:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdCi606Ah60/

MPM · Post #313 » by **MPM** » Mon May 2, 2022 6:39 pm

Dear Santa/God/Easter Bunny - please, please let Kai see significant burn this season and play well.

(Funny - a tiny part of me would love to see Kai never suit up, but remain contracted for years as this glimmer of hope we hang our hats on every season - "Just wait 'til Kai's ready - just wait!")

amcoolio · Post #314 » by **amcoolio** » Mon May 2, 2022 6:55 pm

Not worried about his offense, its how he moves on defense and not have huge lapses like Wiseman that will determine playing time

Although I guess anything is better than what we had this season

Post #315 » by **fatlever** » Mon May 2, 2022 7:02 pm

MPM wrote:Dear Santa/God/Easter Bunny - please, please let Kai see significant burn this season and play well.

(Funny - a tiny part of me would love to see Kai never suit up, but remain contracted for years as this glimmer of hope we hang our hats on every season - "Just wait 'til Kai's ready - just wait!")

The modern day version of "just wait until MKG starts making 3s"
[Cue spliced clip of MKG in an empty gym making a few shots]

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Post #316 » by **fatlever** » Mon May 2, 2022 7:05 pm

Thoughts on whether or not Kai is a future 4 or 5?
Slam has previously said he views him more as a forward in the future... in the baby Giannis mold.

Maybe we let Jalen walk, fill his mins next yr with either Thor or Kai... let those two battle for mins.

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MPM · Post #317 » by **MPM** » Mon May 2, 2022 7:12 pm

fatlever wrote:Thoughts on whether or not Kai is a future 4 or 5?
Slam has previously said he views him more as a forward in the future... in the baby Giannis mold.

Maybe we let Jalen walk, fill his mins next yr with either Thor or Kai... let those two battle for mins.

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I see him as a flex 4/5 depending on matchup - sorta what we were trying to do with PJ (who I see as a 4/3), but, ya know, realistic. He isn't gonna help us against many starting centers (Embiid, Nurkic, etc.) but would be perfectly capable of mixing it up with slighter guys (Claxton comes to mind) and a lot of backups and definitely an ideal 5 if our opponent is running small ball. This said, hopefully we add some size at 5 and Kai can spend the bulk of his time at 4.

I would also definitely let Jalen walk - Thor/Kai need those minutes.

MasterIchiro · Post #318 » by **MasterIchiro** » Mon May 2, 2022 8:06 pm

I would not be surprised if the Hornets let Martin walk in favor of the MLE. It would be tough to fit both under the tax with a raise to Miles. So I suspect Martin will be a cap casualty this season, replaced by pick 13 and/or 15. Then McDaniels will be replaced by Kai/Thor. Kai is a 5 long term when his body fills out. He would be a matchup nightmare at the 5 closing games, paired with PJ or Thor. In the interim while he is still underweight for a 5, he has the ball handling ability and athleticism to develop at the 4. He's better as a skilled center who's slightly small than a large 4 who's slightly underskilled as a shooter, handler and playmaker. We are waiting on strength and conditioning here. He's already skilled as a 5. He may bring unique skills outside traditional centers. I'm going with modern 5.

Post #319 » by **BigSlam** » Mon May 2, 2022 8:09 pm

MPM wrote:Dear Santa/God/Easter Bunny - please, please let Kai see significant burn this season and play well.

(Funny - a tiny part of me would love to see Kai never suit up, but remain contracted for years as this glimmer of hope we hang our hats on every season - "Just wait 'til Kai's ready - just wait!")

He could be our very own Anthony Randolph!!!

Post #320 » by **BigSlam** » Mon May 2, 2022 8:11 pm

fatlever wrote:Thoughts on whether or not Kai is a future 4 or 5?
Slam has previously said he views him more as a forward in the future... in the baby Giannis mold.

Maybe we let Jalen walk, fill his mins next yr with either Thor or Kai... let those two battle for mins.

I 100% see him more as a full time PF and part time C.

I don't see him competing with McD for mins, I see him competing with (and taking) PJ's spot.

All of McD's mins as a hybrid SF/PF should be soaked up by Thor IMO.

In my utopian world we'd see:
PG: LaMelo
SG: Legit, well sized, 2 way playing, efficient scoring (on all 3 levels), high BBIQ, high effort, consistent person
SF: Miles
PF: Kai
C: Legit, well sized, switchable, rim protecting, high BBIQ, high effort, consistent person