Holmgren and Wembanyama

[Clav]

It's a pretty good storyline here going into the next season. Holmgren was injured in 22-23, but has been working on his game with OKC, he should be primed to be a starter and contribute with more experience and training under his belt. Provided he stays healthy, which will always be a storyline.

Wembanyama also had extensive work on his game throughout the season with Metropolitan in France, he's been playing really well and looks to have a significant impact as a rookie. He obviously has more hype as a prospect, and a higher apparent ceiling, but both players are not too different from each other.

Both should see major minutes and will play a similar role as rookies (rim protector, offensive spacing, wing defense, lob threats, + some offensive initiation) with ample room to grow and be on the floor in the 4Q.

If these guys stay healthy, what comps do you see in their games, and how will their first seasons go ?

Bonus Q: ROY ? or will another player (Henderson, Whitmore, Walker, etc) earn the award ?

[Heej]

Honestly man it feels pretty casual to say this but Holmgren has some shades of KD with his movement to me. He's a legit guard at that size. Some may know I consider these the top 5 physical traits for basketball and Athletics in general

1) Size
2) Fluidity
3) Motor
4) Strength
5) Speed (agility is the lovechild of fluidity and speed imo)

In terms of people in that class of size these are how I rank some guys in fluidity

KD - moves like a combo guard
Holmgren - moves like a 2/3. More clunky than KD
Giannis and AD - move like 3s. ADs more agile but kinda lumbering compared to Giannis imo but has better deceleration
Porzingis - moves like a smallball 4 at his size

If Ben Simmons counts he has the most outstanding fluidity for a big guy. He really moves like a PG. So that's kinda how I see Holmgren developing. A wingier clunkier version of KD with better passing.

I see his handles developing more efficiently and with less wiggle kinda like how Kawhi's handle is less smooth but more functional than KDs. I think Holmgrens handle develops into a worse version of that archetype. But his vision impresses me at times. Think he'll be a killer in the short roll.

Wemby is a freak who's bigger than all of them and moves like a 2 guard. He's either gonna be a better inside finishing worse outside shooting KD. Or he adds some Giannis passing to his game. His finishing likely ends up better than either, his body control is just too much. Think it all comes down to his vision cuz I suspect the ballhandling will be solid throughout his career.

RoTY I think Wemby got this. He's more seasoned than any prospect coming in. He's a legit PROFESSIONAL. These kids were all amateurs before getting drafted. His routine is already at a pro level. When he gets to work with Timmy he'll instantly elevate that to all time great level. His work ethic (which loosely ties to motor) is definitely already incredible. When he sees the standards assigned to him by Hall of Fame players I already know he'll be all the way locked in.

[rk2023]

They’re both very unique big-men in the sense of length, skill-sets as prospects, and frame(s) that could use some work building out. Really hoping they can put healthy careers and rookie campaigns together, because it’s very rare to see two similar and Uber-talented archetype players (amidst a unique archetype) in the same rookie class.

I think Wembanyama should win the ROTY.