JMAC3 wrote:fatlever wrote:bottom line... i dont think melo-miller-ace or melo-tre-miller works long-term. probably requires a future trade to balance roster, which is fine. we should be open to whatever at this point.
I don't know if I would write off Tre as a defender.
He is 1 inch taller than VJ
3 lbs lighter than VJ
3 inches longer Wingspan than VJ
1 inch lower on Max Vert than VJ
Tre has tools to be a good defender if he commits.
And yet the fact that he is so awful as a defender despite those tools is perplexing. You can’t just look at physical tools and think it makes a good defender. Dalton Knecht has prototypical wing size and can’t stay on the floor. LaMelo has amazing length and hands for a PG but is a poor defender.
Importantly Tre’s body type is the exact same skinny ectomorph that Melo and Miller are. We will get bullied by players who are strong and go through defenders in the post. Imagine defending a Julius Randle or Luka Doncic with one of them, it’s hopeless. You need variety in defender type for a good defense , and VJ provides that much more than Tre.
All of this is secondary to the fact that Tre is a poor defender, who doesn’t rebound or stay in front well. His defensive stance and general event creation on that end is quite poor, meanwhile VJ is a steal machine.