Thinking about the Beal vs Poole comparison. Not to downgrade one player or the other, but in evaluating the core of the deal we made (absent other players or young prospects, and regardless of cap value). Yes, we traded older for young. We traded a good citizen for one with question marks. But regarding talent level and on-court effect, did we get a fair deal?
I was looking at various stats in the first 4 years of their career. Comparing them as lead scoring guards on their teams. In that stretch of time Beal had 17 games of 30 or more points, Poole had 24. Beal started the majority of his games (in his first 2 years he started more games than Poole has over his 4 year career). Beal shared the court with John Wall, a pass first point guard noted for setting up outside shooters. Poole played as a back-up to 2 HOF guards, battling to earn his minutes, though given his relative durability, he played about the same amount of minutes in his career as the oft injured Beal did in the same time span. Beal of course was marked by the first team defenses, while likely Poole faced back-ups or players who were gassed from chasing Curry. Though Poole's production as a starter is equivalent to his efficiency off the bench.
Early on Beal was known for his pull-up 2 pt shot, and mid-range game, averaging less than 2 made 3's per game. His first few years were under the Randy Wittman offense (developed under Flip Saunders, which prized working for long two point shots, since that is what defenses were willing to give up).
WIth few ball-handling duties, Beal's game was primarily running off ball through screens. I recall stats from the early video tracking systems that said Beal ran like 2 miles a game, almost a full mile more than other players. Something like that. He did not have advanced ball-handling skills, but if he found himself defended he could get himself free within 2 dribbles on a variety of step-back, pull-up, and side hop moves. It wasn't until Wall went down and Beal was required to run point at times that he began to develop somewhat more advanced ball-handling skills. Eventually he learned to attack defenders and split double teams to get himself free, given that the Point Guard play behind John Wall was notoriously terrible. By his 6th year Beal was trusted to carry the offense as a lead guard with the ball in his hands. Generally in his first 4 years If he racked assists it was in a workmanlike low-mistake way. Functional if not creative. Solid. Swing the ball to the open man if your attack is cut off. That sort of thing.
Poole by contrast came into the league with a will to attack off the dribble. By year 3 he showed an ability to set up assists with the threat of his drive. This past year his aggressive play style at times proved reckless. While all attackers in the W's system have to be able to attack off of motion, by his 3rd year Poole showcased a dribble drive arsenal of creative strikes. Due to this aggression, defenses mark him tightly with the expectation that he is looking to blow past them on an attack to the cup. It means he does expose the ball to turnovers. He will draw multiple defenders, attack into traffic then back out of it. It also means he will find teammates wide open when he can bait opponents into overcommitting to defend the dribble. He does work well off of picks and screens. But the creativity of his ball-handling attack can also be seen in his set-up game.
Anyway. The point being, while of course you lose production in swapping out a reliable veteran for a young prospect. Still, on a talent for talent basis comparing these two players you can see the potential for similar production. I say the cockeyed optimist fan can make the case for even higher upside in Poole, with a jumpstart in his dribble-drive game, and a knack for setting up teammates off off the bounce.
When we first made the trade, the biggest sigh of relief was based on the cap space, believing that overall talent wise we likely lost a bit in the deal. I knew Poole as the helter skelter wildcard who probably was playing higher than his talent level, elevated by proximity to the best shooters in the game. I knew he played out of his mind in the Finals run, startling even his teammates with his production, and figured there was a chance this was a flash in his career.
It was later that you heard about his work ethic. Grinding in the gym. Honestly more and more he reminds me of the last hyperactive gym rat we pulled away from Golden State. Watching clips and highlights he truly reminds me of Hibachi era Gilbert. More than any other player I have seen in the years since. Not saying he's ever going to hang 60 on a team, just saying this kid clearly plays for the love of the spotlight and the adrenaline of the moment.
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