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I never start threads, but this seems worthwhile. Especially considering Tatums ceiling likely correlates to our title chances long-term. Also, the Tatum sample size thread needs to die, so i locked it lol.

So what's everyones opinions? Top 15? Top 10? Top 5? Is he good enough to be the best player on a title team? I was mostly in the top 10-15 camp, but I now think that very well could be selling him short, considering many people would say he's in that area already. I'll do some homework in a bit and post some numbers, but what he's doing at his age is pretty damn impressive. His side step off the dribble three is becoming a deadly weapon, his version of Luka and Hardens step back three. And now he's starting to set guys up quite a bit, his assist rate is up over 40% from last year, while having a career low in turnover rate. He's also starting to get to the line more and more, which was a necessity.

Lastly, who do you do you compare him to? Most people will say Paul George, but last night Cave said he was doing Durant stuff out there....and Cave isn't really one for hyperbole lol. He definitely has moments out there where he does look like a mini KD offensively.

Jayson Tatum is destined to be a Top 5 player.
He reminds me of Paul Pierce, only a bit bigger, and a little more up-to-date.

https://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/paul_pierce_vs_jayson_tatum.htm

He"s destined to win titles. Has the talent, work ethic, and drive to do it, too. I'll say he could be first team all-NBA, which puts him top 5.

No way should Butler be top 5 on that MVP list, either.

Carries a little bit of weight, since Perk actual played with Pierce.

The Comedian wrote:I never start threads, but this seems worthwhile. Especially considering Tatums ceiling likely correlates to our title chances long-term. Also, the Tatum sample size thread needs to die, so i locked it lol.

So what's everyones opinions? Top 15? Top 10? Top 5? Is he good enough to be the best player on a title team? I was mostly in the top 10-15 camp, but I now think that very well could be selling him short, considering many people would say he's in that area already. I'll do some homework in a bit and post some numbers, but what he's doing at his age is pretty damn impressive. His side step off the dribble three is becoming a deadly weapon, his version of Luka and Hardens step back three. And now he's starting to set guys up quite a bit, his assist rate is up over 40% from last year, while having a career low in turnover rate. He's also starting to get to the line more and more, which was a necessity.

Lastly, who do you do you compare him to? Most people will say Paul George, but last night Cave said he was doing Durant stuff out there....and Cave isn't really one for hyperbole lol. He definitely has moments out there where he does look like a mini KD offensively.

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The bolded is what's fascinating to me. Not only has he developed this, but he's also waving off the screener, the defender knows it's coming, and they can't stop it!

Something between Danny Granger and Rudy Gay, that's what they told me !

Parliament10 wrote:Jayson Tatum is destined to be a Top 5 player.
He reminds me of Paul Pierce, only a bit bigger, and a little more up-to-date.

https://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/paul_pierce_vs_jayson_tatum.htm

Pierce was never close to being a top-5 player

He night end up being better than Pierce imo, and Pierce was a top 15 player during his era. Sky is the limit.

And don't sleep on Jaylen. He's hearing the talk. Kid wants it just as bad. He's going to make noise.

If Luka is LeBron with a lot less athleticism I agree that Tatum’s looking like KD minus two inches.

Easiest comparison to me is Paul George if he never got injured and kept improving. Not sure if he will be as good on D but he can be a little better at scoring. He's starting to get more assists now but that might take a while to get consistent since he naturally always wants to score. Then it's just raising FT rate and that would be a 25+ point scorer with very good D.

I think he can be better than George but not quite on par with KD. Somewhere in the middle. Durant is a tool but one of the greatest pure scorers of all time. Maybe even the best to ever do it.

The big question is, can you win a chip with Tatum as your best player. Earlier I would’ve said no, as of now I’d still say no, but if this trajectory keeps up we may be onto something here. Needs to add strength to finish through contact at the rim and get to the line more. The superstar whistle will follow. Passing is coming along with more experience and the shot has always been there. The key to unlocking maximum Tatum will be what he does with his physique. If he commits in the gym, we have a chance at a top 5 player. If he slacks off, he may plateau somewhere around the level he’s at now

crimsonandblue wrote:

Parliament10 wrote:Jayson Tatum is destined to be a Top 5 player.
He reminds me of Paul Pierce, only a bit bigger, and a little more up-to-date.

https://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/paul_pierce_vs_jayson_tatum.htm

Pierce was never close to being a top-5 player

He sure as **** was.
He was vastly underrated.
He was most definitely a 5-15 player in his prime.
Is that close enough to 5?

It's kind of scary because I still think his defense is ahead of his offense. He's got DPOY level defensive talent, and on the offensive side he's improved so much this year at basically everything. Of course the more they put on him offensively the less his defense will be (unless he's a robot with infinite stamina—TBD). Oh, also he never gets injured. Why can't he be the best player on a championship team? I see no reason. I can't believe he's not yet 22. His obvious comp is PG, but Tatum is already 2-3 years ahead of Paul George. If Paul George never gets injured, he's a top-3 player in the league for half a decade or more.

But he's not Durant. Durant is the best scorer in NBA history, who as his peak was capable of being the best defensive player in the league when the situation needed it.

Homerclease wrote:I think he can be better than George but not quite on par with KD. Somewhere in the middle. Durant is a tool but one of the greatest pure scorers of all time. Maybe even the best to ever do it.

The big question is, can you win a chip with Tatum as your best player. Earlier I would’ve said no, as of now I’d still say no, but if this trajectory keeps up we may be onto something here. Needs to add strength to finish through contact at the rim and get to the line more. The superstar whistle will follow. Passing is coming along with more experience and the shot has always been there. The key to unlocking maximum Tatum will be what he does with his physique. If he commits in the gym, we have a chance at a top 5 player. If he slacks off, he may plateau somewhere around the level he’s at now

Well if he's PG Jaylen is Butler and we have another top 20 player why not? I don't see KD though. KD is top 5 gifted scorer all time if he never plays again. Realistically top 3 because of his height.

Homerclease wrote:I think he can be better than George but not quite on par with KD. Somewhere in the middle. Durant is a tool but one of the greatest pure scorers of all time. Maybe even the best to ever do it.

The big question is, can you win a chip with Tatum as your best player. Earlier I would’ve said no, as of now I’d still say no, but if this trajectory keeps up we may be onto something here. Needs to add strength to finish through contact at the rim and get to the line more. The superstar whistle will follow. Passing is coming along with more experience and the shot has always been there. The key to unlocking maximum Tatum will be what he does with his physique. If he commits in the gym, we have a chance at a top 5 player. If he slacks off, he may plateau somewhere around the level he’s at now

Areas to enhance:
Strength to finish through contact.
Consistently getting to the line.
Consistently assisting.

I see a blend a Truth, PG13 & a little KD.
I see Top 10 for sure.
I see Top 5 possibly.
And it appears to be happening very very fast.

Yeah I don't think he is KD's equal or anything, those few inches KD has on Tatum is the difference between being an elite scorer and an all time great scorer.

I still like the never badly injured Paul George comparison. Just sometimes he looks like a smaller Durant with how effortless it seems.

Bleeding Green wrote:It's kind of scary because I still think his defense is ahead of his offense. He's got DPOY level defensive talent, and on the offensive side he's improved so much this year at basically everything. Of course the more they put on him offensively the less his defense will be (unless he's a robot with infinite stamina—TBD). Oh, also he never gets injured. Why can't he be the best player on a championship team? I see no reason. I can't believe he's not yet 22. His obvious comp is PG, but Tatum is already 2-3 years ahead of Paul George. If Paul George never gets injured, he's a top-3 player in the league for half a decade or more.

But he's not Durant. Durant is the best scorer in NBA history, who as his peak was capable of being the best defensive player in the league when the situation needed it.

Whelp, the reason why he can’t be is that there are other really damn good players out there too. Siakam, Giannis, Luka amongst others that Tatum is going to have to battle during his prime. Is Tatum on the level of a Giannis yet? Clearly not but the question is whether or not he can get there.

The Comedian wrote:Yeah I don't think he is KD's equal or anything, those few inches KD has on Tatum is the difference between being an elite scorer and an all time great scorer.

I still like the never badly injured Paul George comparison. Just sometimes he looks like a smaller Durant with how effortless it looks.

Freak of nature. 6'10 athletic 49/38/88 career shooting splits

Physically, stylistically, and skillwise I think he most resembles KD. Paul Pierce was much powerful in his lower body. Paul George is significantly more athletic. Tatum has a very high dribble and un-blockable release point just like Durantula.

To me it’s last years Paul George. Who was unbelievable. I think he projects to PG as is but his ceiling will years of what Paul George gave u last season. I think he’s gonna be better than pierce