Around The League: 2021-2022 Season 2.0

[76ciology]

Kessler is a good player. He's a very safe, functional C. There's just no way I'd take a typical C with no exceptional ancillary traits over a special C. Would you take Marcin Gortat over Pau Gasol?

How about Rudy Gobert or Donatas Sabonis?

Would that be a more fair comparison?

[Kobblehead]

I would tend to disagree because I think Sabonis is an example of a guy who relies on his ancillary playmaking trait to mitigate the lack of shotblocking trait. There's a tradeoff there.

With Chet, he has both of those core C traits down. He can rebound and he's an ELITE shotblocker. While also being able to pass and shoot.

The way I see it:
Sabonis: rebound, pass
Kessler: rebound, block
Mobley: rebound, block, pass
Holmgren: rebound, block, pass, shoot

Always take the full package.

[76ciology]

I would tend to disagree because I think Sabonis is an example of a guy who relies on his ancillary playmaking trait to mitigate the lack of shotblocking trait. There's a tradeoff there.

With Chet, he has both of those core C traits down. He can rebound and he's an ELITE shotblocker. While also being able to pass and shoot.

The way I see it:
Sabonis: rebound, pass
Kessler: rebound, block
Mobley: rebound, block, pass
Holmgren: rebound, block, pass, shoot

Always take the full package.

Oh.. i thought ur referring to two types of players in general.

If you mean comparison, then i dont see Kessler comparative to Gortat. While my point is Kessler is more like Gobert, someone who’s an elite rim protector. While a more versatile big would be someone like Sabonis, who can do a lot of other things but is average at best at protecting the rim.

In general, my point is value of a player does not depends on how versatile his abilities. Sometimes a player is a specialist but if that trait is highly valued for his position then he may be valuable than a more versatile player.

Another example maybe is JJ Reddick vs MCW. I’d take reddick who is more of a specialist over MCW’s all around game.

Now to the Kessler-Chet comparison. I think Chet can still be better than Kessler. I had Chet #1 on my mock. But it depends on how close Chet’s defense is compared to Kessler and how good Chet’s offense is to make up the difference and even surpass the difference.

[76ciology]

I just dont think you can just blindly “take the complete package” because there are some different traits have different values that makes up to the total value of the player. And the total value of the player even differs based on the team he will be playing.

[Jailblazers7]

Jalen Brunson has become one of my favorite players. He’s the perfect Knicks PG. Smart, tough, not afraid of any moment.

[GoSixersBro]

NBATV had Sixers vs Rockets from January 15, 2002 on just an hour ago. First full season I religiously became a Sixers fan, and I must admit, I truly did not remember how much of a ballhog Allen could be lol. He finished with 58 points, but before he got going some of the shots he was taking were jaw-dropping.

[76ciology]

Jalen Brunson has become one of my favorite players. He’s the perfect Knicks PG. Smart, tough, not afraid of any moment.

And not an empty scorer

I dont know why knicks love empty scorers.

Ewing
Melo
Randle
Barrett

[76ciology]

How much better do you think Chet will be compared to Bol bol? I see Bol bol and Chet ending up to be just as good as Porzingis only.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Jalen Brunson has become one of my favorite players. He’s the perfect Knicks PG. Smart, tough, not afraid of any moment.

And not an empty scorer

I dont know why knicks love empty scorers.

Ewing
Melo
Randle
Barrett

You can easily leave Ewing off of that list. I'm not sure we're remembering the same player. That man defended, was a great rebounder, and clearly was the anchor of a very good 90s basketball team. In fact, Embiid is heavily comparable to Ewing in a lot of ways.

[76ciology]

Watch on YouTube

[Jailblazers7]

How much better do you think Chet will be compared to Bol bol? I see Bol bol and Chet ending up to be just as good as Porzingis only.

KP is a good player so that’s not a bad outcome. But I think Chet will be better because his passing & IQ is better than KP. Chet is a competitor who isn’t afraid to take physical punishment defensively which helps negate some downside. I haven’t watched enough Bol Bol to have an opinion.

I think Chet profiles as a DPOY who can be a high level connector on defense. Like a very different version of Marc Gasol. He’s probably the only guy with the tools to be both a rim protector & individually guard the next generation stars like Wemby & Banchero.

[Kobblehead]

I would tend to disagree because I think Sabonis is an example of a guy who relies on his ancillary playmaking trait to mitigate the lack of shotblocking trait. There's a tradeoff there.

With Chet, he has both of those core C traits down. He can rebound and he's an ELITE shotblocker. While also being able to pass and shoot.

The way I see it:
Sabonis: rebound, pass
Kessler: rebound, block
Mobley: rebound, block, pass
Holmgren: rebound, block, pass, shoot

Always take the full package.

Oh.. i thought ur referring to two types of players in general.

If you mean comparison, then i dont see Kessler comparative to Gortat. While my point is Kessler is more like Gobert, someone who’s an elite rim protector. While a more versatile big would be someone like Sabonis, who can do a lot of other things but is average at best at protecting the rim.

In general, my point is value of a player does not depends on how versatile his abilities. Sometimes a player is a specialist but if that trait is highly valued for his position then he may be valuable than a more versatile player.

Another example maybe is JJ Reddick vs MCW. I’d take reddick who is more of a specialist over MCW’s all around game.

Now to the Kessler-Chet comparison. I think Chet can still be better than Kessler. I had Chet #1 on my mock. But it depends on how close Chet’s defense is compared to Kessler and how good Chet’s offense is to make up the difference and even surpass the difference.

Chet projects as an elite rebounder and shotblocker in his own regard, though.

Kessler: 17.3% rebounding, 17.2% shotblocking
Holmgren: 19.6% rebounding, 12.6% shotblcoking

So he'll be great at the same positional things that Kessler is great at while being on another planet as an offensive talent. That's why I don't think it's even an interesting debate.

[76ciology]

I would tend to disagree because I think Sabonis is an example of a guy who relies on his ancillary playmaking trait to mitigate the lack of shotblocking trait. There's a tradeoff there.

With Chet, he has both of those core C traits down. He can rebound and he's an ELITE shotblocker. While also being able to pass and shoot.

The way I see it:
Sabonis: rebound, pass
Kessler: rebound, block
Mobley: rebound, block, pass
Holmgren: rebound, block, pass, shoot

Always take the full package.

Oh.. i thought ur referring to two types of players in general.

If you mean comparison, then i dont see Kessler comparative to Gortat. While my point is Kessler is more like Gobert, someone who’s an elite rim protector. While a more versatile big would be someone like Sabonis, who can do a lot of other things but is average at best at protecting the rim.

In general, my point is value of a player does not depends on how versatile his abilities. Sometimes a player is a specialist but if that trait is highly valued for his position then he may be valuable than a more versatile player.

Another example maybe is JJ Reddick vs MCW. I’d take reddick who is more of a specialist over MCW’s all around game.

Now to the Kessler-Chet comparison. I think Chet can still be better than Kessler. I had Chet #1 on my mock. But it depends on how close Chet’s defense is compared to Kessler and how good Chet’s offense is to make up the difference and even surpass the difference.

Chet projects as an elite rebounder and shotblocker in his own regard, though.

Kessler: 17.3% rebounding, 17.2% shotblocking
Holmgren: 19.6% rebounding, 12.6% shotblcoking

So he'll be great at the same positional things that Kessler is great at while being on another planet as an offensive talent. That's why I don't think it's even an interesting debate.

No doubt. Thats why I have Holmgren on top of my mock. Its just I think Kessler may close the gap

[76ciology]

Watch on YouTube

[blargh]

Too many well reasoned arguments over the last couple posts to reply to individually, so i’ll just throw out a couple of medium-warm takes:

- Chet won’t ever be as a good of a rebounder as Kessler at the more physical NBA level, but will be an equally impactful defender. The offense takes Chet over the top, but availability will be the main thing determining his career.
- Porzingis (after the injuries) is a lot closer to Rashard Lewis than he is to Chet/Bol. He’s not a defensive anchor for a championship team. Also, a little ball handling goes a long way to making Chet/Bol different players.
- Knicks have had a long history of empty scorers, but they’ve also had a long history of tough PGs: Mark Jackson, Derek Harper, Greg Anthony, etc

[Mik317]

Chet's whole appeal is similar to JJJ in that he is able to guard in space as well as contest the rim. His length (pause) allows him to get beat on a dribble drive but never be out of the play for example. Its why Biid is able to occasionally guard a PG for a possesion because even if he can't keep up, he can still contest the shot. Gobert sucks at this because he can't swivel his hips...same for Towns...Chet can and Biid could (getting worse at it as he ages and got bigger tho)

Still I am sorry but i don't know if he can handle a full NBA season with his frame tho.... JJJ, KP, Biid are all langly guys who can move in space and constantly get hit with the injury bug...and Chet is skinnier somehow. BUT the archetype of tall long man who can guard all 5 positions and also space the floor on offense and also be a offensive hub via passing is the new hotness in the NBA. Its a player that every team can use because its a cheat code to stopping a lot of things the modern NBA...hence the Wemby hype. So I get it

IMO the true white whale remains the 6'6 to 6'9 wing scorer...but a real scorer lol not a Tobias Harris. I still think Kawhii is as close to the perfect basketball player in terms of skillset; his only flaw is being made of glass.

[the_process]

CJ McCollum apparently mentioned on a podcast he's heard rumblings of discontent on the Raptors?

Link: https://hoopshype.com/2023/01/15/cj-mccollum-theres-rumblings-of-certain-raptors-being-unhappy-theyre-gonna-move-someone/

[Negrodamus]

I don't really understand the Raptors team. What's the point in keeping Siakam since they are not going to compete. I feel like a natural trade would be a Towns-Siakam swap.

Siakam would give the T'Wolves an actual PF slasher who would open the floor for shooters. KAT gives a guy like Barnes a stretch 5. And Nurse probably gets Towns back to being an elite big after regressing these past few years.

Both need a fresh start elsewhere.

With the rumor that the T'Wolves are shopping DLO and discontent within the Raps, I'm sticking with the prediction that these two teams will make a big trade.

Siakam, FVV, Birch for DLO and KAT.

Usher in the Anthony Edwards era in Minnesota with an actual complementary piece in Siakam. Toronto keeps the amigos together and surrounds them with defensive forwards to mask DLO's deficiencies.

[Murray_17]

CJ McCollum apparently mentioned on a podcast he's heard rumblings of discontent on the Raptors?

Link: https://hoopshype.com/2023/01/15/cj-mccollum-theres-rumblings-of-certain-raptors-being-unhappy-theyre-gonna-move-someone/

I mean, they should be unhappy, their offense is putrid.

The mold of guys they have in terms of athleticism is great but only on the defensive end. They have the same issue we had on the process years and that Fultz was supposed to fix, they don't have a creator that can do anything on the halfcourt.

This also has basically stunt Barnes's growth, he has been asked to solve all of those problems when he has some tools to do it but not constantly.

I actually hope we could get Thad. Guy gives you a real cappable guy that you can plug at the center position if necessary instead of Harrell (thinking Doc never is gonna give Reed real time) while also working as a cheap option to cap for Tucker. But unless he want a buyout i doubt we can make it work

[Jailblazers7]

I don’t remember where I heard it, but there was a rumor about guys not liking Scottie calling him “the golden child” or something like that. I think they’re due for a shakeup and would love to see a KAT/Siakim trade. That’s a rare win-win trade that makes both teams better.