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Knowing what you know today, what contract would you take between the two?
So, extra 2.5 years in the rookie contract + RFA.
This is NOT who is better today.

As good as Trae has been, JJJ might develop into the perfect big man for modern NBA. Super switchable, rim protecting, 40+% 3 point shooting and rim running 5.
I think he even has an outside chance to be the best player in his draft class (only if Luka doesn't develop as expected, otherwise his ceiling is much higher).

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JJJ has been great and Memphis is over-achieving.

But Grizzlies have been so effective because of Ja Morant's emergence. JJJ is an elite secondary player; Trae has the ball in his hands every single play.

That's the real debate. Not Trae vs JJJ. But Offensive engine vs defensive centerpiece.

JJJ is by FAR the best Big in that draft and is not even close.

This really has to hurt for suns and kings fans another draft where they miss badly on the 3 best players.

Give me JJJ all day and let Lebron go to work with the AD/JJJ frontcourt.

Morant is the man in memphis. JJJ is secondary option but he can become elite on both sides.
Trae is a #1 option.
His big disadvantage is the D. It's quite a problem though because it can't be fixed with his body frame.
I think that his peak won't be much different than today stat wise.
What will change is that the team will grow and will become better in time and this will translate in wins.
Trae will never become a decent defender.
I would pick JJJ.

JJJ
-0.7 DBPM
-1.88 DRPM (87th out of 94 PF’s)
56% DFG less than 6 feet
54.5% DFG less than 10 feet
Averages less than 5 rebounds per game
Memphis has a +6.3 DRTG with JJJ OFF the floor

How is he a defensive centerpiece & elite defender?

yet another poll where Trae will get destroyed by an inferior player.

Keep adding to that fire!

Come on.
Trae Young has already proven he is franchise player material. JJJ, while showing a lot of promise, doesn't project as a elite 1st option.

I can't speak to JJJ but at the moment there's nothing elite about Trae Young. He's in a situation where he makes the worst decisions offensively, takes the worst shots, hogs the ball until he can find an assist too often, play no defense, and nobody says anything. Other players on other teams are held to a higher standard by their coaches and expected to win.

Saying "he's an elite first option" just because he gets to jack up stats in what's typically 48 minutes of garbage time really cheapens the term "elite".

As for the defensive Atlanta fans, I'd say people react to Trae Young more harshly (than they would to other young players) because he was declared a star overnight. Not based on ability or basketball IQ but based on stats and highlight reels. And Trae himself comes off too cocky in interviews despite all the deficiencies in his game. That naturally annoys people.

If Trae wasn't *this* good offensively I'd take JJJ because I think your odds of winning a title would be higher with JJJ as your 2nd option than a peak Isaiah Thomas-type first option. But geez, Trae is already putting up a 7.5 OBPM at 21 and is very efficient (both scoring and passing wise) despite having a sky-high usage with a terrible supporting cast. It's gotta be Trae

Woody Allen wrote:I can't speak to JJJ but at the moment there's nothing elite about Trae Young. He's in a situation where he makes the worst decisions offensively, takes the worst shots, hogs the ball until he can find an assist too often, play no defense, and nobody says anything. Other players on other teams are held to a higher standard by their coaches and expected to win.

Saying "he's an elite first option" just because he gets to jack up stats in what's typically 48 minutes of garbage time really cheapens the term "elite".

As for the defensive Atlanta fans, I'd say people react to Trae Young more harshly (than they would to other young players) because he was declared a star overnight. Not based on ability or basketball IQ but based on empty stats, highlights and circus shots. And Trae himself comes off too cocky despite all the deficiencies in his game. It naturally annoys people.

29 pgg on above league average efficiency is pretty elite scoring...regardless of garbage time. Not a lot of people are capable of what Young is doing right now, even if you look at a per minute basis.

Hahaha. I wanted the Hawks to draft JJJ, and even I know this is ridiculous.

Trae is having one of the best offensive seasons ever for a second-year lead guard.

Ball4life32 wrote:JJJ
-0.7 DBPM
-1.88 DRPM (87th out of 94 PF’s)
56% DFG less than 6 feet
54.5% DFG less than 10 feet
Averages less than 5 rebounds per game
Memphis has a +6.3 DRTG with JJJ OFF the floor

How is he a defensive centerpiece & elite defender?

JJJ isnt good at D, people are just sticking with what they read pre-draft and assuming it still holds true today.

He’s a great switch defender but is foul prone and struggles mightily with physicality. He’s really more of a 7 foot SG than he is a big man.

This is Trae and its not even close.

The amount of hate that Trae gets is really weird to me as a neutral fan. Yup, he sucks on defense. Among the worst in the league. But his offense is amazing and I’m quite confident that you can build a defense to mitigate his flaws.

This is a tough one. For one, I personally like JJJ more but Trae Young might be just too good offensively to pass on.

Basing yourself on whether JJJ is an offensive first option or not is a bit moot. Is Kyrie a better player than Gobert? I'd say no when you calibrate impact. It's not the end-all be-all in a team sport.

Deivork wrote:This is a tough one. For one, I personally like JJJ more but Trae Young might be just too good offensively to pass on.

Basing yourself on whether JJJ is an offensive first option or not is a bit moot. Is Kyrie a better player than Gobert? I'd say no when you calibrate impact. It's not the end-all be-all in a team sport.

JJJ is not in the same stratosphere as Gobert as a defender.

Can’t sleep on JJJ- guy is a stud. Memphis is really turning the corner and heading into the right direction.

Trae is on another level. Cant believe JJJ is winning this poll lol.

Get trae some players to play with in ATL and you'll see a winning product. He has trash to work with aside from Collins.

Ferulci wrote:Come on.
Trae Young has already proven he is franchise player material. JJJ, while showing a lot of promise, doesn't project as a elite 1st option.

And when did that happened? I feel like I am living in another dimension

This board never disappoints. Trae Vs Morant, Trae Vs Luka, Trae vs JJJ, and Trae Vs Steph. Why can't Trae just be Trae and leave it at that. If he wasn't so good you wouldn't want to compare him to all these players. Yet, some on this board at every moment try to minimalize what he's doing.

Oh he's just a stat padder, well if must be the best stat padder ever because there are plenty of players in the history of the NBA to have the opportunity to do what Trae is doing and only about 3 have when including assists and points.

We hawks fans know what we have and no amount of his defense, stat padding, will matter when our young core matures. Then all of you will be like oh wow, he's MVP material even though he's doing the exact same thing he's doing now, but the team is winning.