jbk1234 wrote:Whole Truth wrote:jbk1234 wrote:
If Sarr has the highest ceiling, and is the consensus No. 1 pick, I don't see his value depreciating before he steps on the court.
Also, people get carried away with switchabilty out of the 5 spot. If a guy is undersized and can't protect the rim, the benefit is outweighed by the fact you have a smaller guy on a 7 footer cutting to the rim. Maybe Okongwu works with Chet or Wemby, but that's a short list.
That's the caveat of this draft. You're as likely to hit with the 5 pick as the first.
I don't view Sarr as a franchise target though potential is not an exact science. I view him as an ideal fit for Green wanting to switch defend & his future potential ability to draw his man out the paint to fit with Zion offensively & defensively with how Green wants to coach. The non clear consensus opinion made Sarr #1, if he were at 5, that's where I would be trading in.
Green played Nance over Jonas in some circumstances to a detriment because he wanted to switch defend & not play drop coverage. ZIon is a hard fit to compliment, which is why I'm on board trading proven value to find what ZIon needs.
NO's option to build around ZIon by trading out BI. Is one Zion injury, as history says is almost certainty, from collapse of any direction chosen.
By targeting Sarr over say Allen for example, not saying he's available. If this happens, Allen has 2yrs before free agency, Sarr would be on rookie scale control. Zion would be 24, Murphy 24, Hawkins 23, Daniels 21 & Sarr 20 with a lotto pick in 25 to pivot.
I think Sarr's floor is a rim running switch defender. I'm trading proven in the attempt to raise the ceiling but with the risk of having an easy pivot to Zion not doing what he hasn't done to date, stay healthy.
I mean you're assuming Sarr is developed enough in two years to make that tradeoff work. You're also assuming that Green leaves Sarr out there with the starters in his first two years while he's developing. Finally, you're assuming that Zion will be more open to waiting a couple years on Sarr than Trae will.
BI is more talented than Murphy but with Zion, Murphy's fit is productive. Those 2 have some proven court chemistry that Zion & BI don't. Paint gravity & deep spacing gravity. Herb is the defensive backbone at SG so where do you extend a large contract like BI to when CJ's 35m is at point ? NO's opted to build around ZIon at PF. This is the crux of why NO's are considering trading BI. Murphy can cheaply & effectively replace him because of fit. If fit lowers a players value, what exactly is going on with Murray & Young ?.
NO's are targeting a rim running defender to replace Jonas at any rate. The trade rumors for Allen is probably the best player of the bunch but he doesn't even attempt 3's more less make them where teams have 3-4 players in the paint walling off Zion opting to play off players shooting 40% on low volume because they're not threats. Reason Nance & CJ with the starters where -6.5 in 140 minutes. Though Nance is a defensive upgrade to Jonas & shooting 45% from 3, they weren't defending him. I assume, with Sarr's elite skillset being, his switch ability that defense like shooting translates & at worse NO's would get a cheap defensive rim runner with control to the risk of Zion not playing out the year. It's how Green wants to defend & he leans defense over offense even for rookies. See Herb starting in his rookie year despite not having adequate range & Hawkins being pinned to the bench because he can't defend though NO's needed offense. NO's fan will attest Green often sacrificed offense to not play drop coverage to a detriment. I'm not saying it will work but I'm catering to what Green wants to do. I fully expect Sarr to struggle with the zone defenses teams throw at Zion. Outside of NO's good shooting coach coaxing that 3pt shot out of him sooner than expected, I don't assume but expect the growing pains. Which is why, with this move, I also suggest, if they want to appease Zion, to get a veteran to bridge the gap from contention & development, Was suggesting resigning Jonas to a yr or 2, with a team option. As I think his post game would compliment .. Doubt with his new toy, Green would play Jonas though lol
Notice, I'm also against trading Daniels. At 20, Daniels is a proven elite wing defender with 1-4 switch ability, he finished 2nd in d-Lebron & is showing offensive potential. He's NO's best man defender & arguably more versatile on a team featuring Herb Jones. Problem with Daniels is spacing with ZIon. I would never trade that for Murray as I think Daniels will surpass Murray the moment he finds consistency in his shot which I believe will be sooner than later. My intent was for Murray's 2 way capability to bridge Daniels development. As he's already the better defender at 20 with more switch ability. What Green wants. At the deadline I was trying to turn CJ's offensive into Murray's defense so he could bridge Daniels development, not BI.
If Zion gets upset, I wouldn't care. While he's young this is what, year 5 or 6 that he couldn't remain healthy, I'm doing what's ultimately best. As NO's is going nowhere if their franchise player can't be on the court anyway. I'll build around Zion, I won't cater. The moment he says he wants out, I would tell him he was never in.
Zion would take NO's drafting Sarr better than Young would.