PICK A PF

[penbeast0]

Which of the 4 players would you rather have on your team (career value):

Bobby Jones
Kevin McHale
Larry Nance
Pau Gasol

[tsherkin]

Add the poll, maybe?

I think I might go for Pau here. Some very interesting choices, though.

[Texas Chuck]

some scenarios where I would pick Jones for sure. Other than that I'm choosing between McHale and Pau, probably leaning McHale.

[penbeast0]

Don't particularly want a poll because I want to know why and polls don't help with that. If people feel we need one, sure.

TC, for a scenario, how about starting a franchise with an expectation of having them for their first 8 years in the league?

[Colbinii]

Probably Larry Nance for the modern game.

[Cavsfansince84]

In terms of having each player for the duration of their career in the league when they were active, I think I'd go:

Pau(at about 50)
McHale(at about 55)
Jones(at about 75-80)
Nance(at about 90)

[Fadeaway_J]

I'm inclined towards Pau, but my only issue is I'd want to play him primarily at the 5.

[penbeast0]

In terms of having each player for the duration of their career in the league when they were active, I think I'd go:

Pau(at about 50)
McHale(at about 55)
Jones(at about 75-80)
Nance(at about 90)

What do your numbers mean?

[Cavsfansince84]

In terms of having each player for the duration of their career in the league when they were active, I think I'd go:

Pau(at about 50)
McHale(at about 55)
Jones(at about 75-80)
Nance(at about 90)

What do your numbers mean?

All time ranking.

[Jaivl]

TC, for a scenario, how about starting a franchise with an expectation of having them for their first 8 years in the league?

Was leaning McHale, but if it's like this right now I just go Pau and don't bulk him up like Memphis did.

[Djoker]

Definitely McHale as he's clearly the best player here peak for peak. In fact I'd argue he's grossly underappreciated historically.

[AEnigma]

McHale had the best career (only one in my top fifty), but I am inclined to agree that Nance (and in a somewhat similar vein, Rasheed) better suits the modern game.

McHale’s shooting range is undersold though; I do not think he would struggle to adapt, and as a centre, he would be among the best in the league. I am sympathetic to seeing Nance as relatively close, but McHale was the one who clearly showcased a higher star ceiling even if Nance on paper seems like he could have been a clearer equal.

[uberhikari]

It's definitely between Pau and McHale if you're going by career value. I'd probably go McHale because of defense, though.

Nobody really has a longevity advantage. Pau was more versatile and slightly better on offense due to his passing and the ability to play both the 4 and 5. But McHale's defense was much better than Pau's, I think.

[Owly]

It's definitely between Pau and McHale if you're going by career value. I'd probably go McHale because of defense, though.

Nobody really has a longevity advantage. Pau was more versatile and slightly better on offense due to his passing and the ability to play both the 4 and 5. But McHale's defense was much better than Pau's, I think.

Not sure why it would "definitely" be so.

Say for Nance versus McHale similar career minutes Nance probably more RS productive after curving for biases (PER similar otoh, tilts to scorers, McHale is higher usage; WS/48 tilts to scoring efficiency and being on a good team McHale excels in that area and landed on great team - those two are close to ties WS/48 tilting slightly McHale - BPM more strongly goes for Nance).

Impact side stuff is super noisy, but fwiw, Nance listed 68th in Prime WOWYR, 30th in career; McHale 151 and 221 on Ben's listing of that.

McHale's numbers held up a bit better in the playoffs, though the absolute terms stuff is dependent on the measure.

There is also some reporting that McHale got some legacy defensive accolades (as Payton, Bryant would later) whilst Nance was more consistently regarding in the sources I have read (primarily the Barry guides).


Jones is a less direct comparison with a slightly different case with the careers less aligned and fewer minutes but 76ers impact data would seem to be a significant boon. Skillset wise and as a teammate he enhances any team and I'd suggest scales well to good teams.