Which "Masai's Big Three" has a higher ceiling?

[DelAbbot]

Which of these two groups of "big three" can go deeper into the playoffs at their prime (same calendar year), assuming rest of the roster is the same. You can add any reasonable role players to surround them e.g. Poeltl, or Bruce Brown, and not Steph Curry.

[phanman]

We still haven't seen the best of IQ, RJ and Scottie individually so you'd have to go with them as having the higher ceiling.

Prime FVV + OG + Pascal w/ a rookie Scottie got us 48 wins and the season after just 41, so their ceiling wasn't all that high and why they are now elsewhere. Scottie at least has the potential to be really special and likewise with RJ. Just more complete players imo.

[ForeverTFC]

Given we are in the prime of the first 3, the question is whether the others will be able to surpass them.

Chances RJ sniffs OG's impact in his career are low. IQ has a good shot of surpassing FVV. So it comes down to Scottie vs Pascal. I'm way too down on Scottie these days which may be clouding my judgement, but I don't see Scottie reaching Pascal as a first option or 2nd option at this point in time.

So I went with the former.

[Merit]

It’s easier for me to feel confident in my predictions based upon what has already happened. For that reason, I chose FVV/OG/Pascal. The two players I’d add to that roster are Zach Lavine at the 2 and Jak at the 5.

As far as depth goes, I’d be interested in Deandre Hunter and Davion Mitchell, as well as any youth with upside that had been rumoured our way.

If we opted to move Scottie I’d have taken my chances with KD at 3/4 with Jak at 5.

[Raps in 4]

Neither. At least he's realizing that with the latter and trying to add a top pick.

[YogurtProducer]

Pascal was an all-nba guy
FVV was an all-star
OG was all-defence

Barnes feels like a guy who will make an all-nba team, and between IQ/RJ I could definitely see an all-star game in their future if the cards break right.

We know what Pascal/FVV/OGs ceiling was, and in theory Barnes/IQ/RJ could surpass it. So in terms of "ceiling" they are higher, however I think it is incredibly unlikely they surpass it. However, add a top 5-7ish pick to those 3 and I think you could if you hit on another all-nba caliber guy

[YogurtProducer]

Neither. At least he's realizing that with the latter and trying to add a top pick.

Way to answer the question!

[TheGeneral99]

I mean we saw the ceiling of FVV, OG and Siakam is about a 40-45 win team and a 1st round exit and all 3 of them were in their primes.

Scottie, RJ and IQ are all under 25 years old so difficult to tell at this juncture. We also have barely seen the 3 of them play together. Yesterday was the first game they played together all season, lol.

Our best big 3 was Lowry, Kawhi, Siakam.

Our second best big 3 was Lowry, Derozan, JV

[Raps in 4]

Neither. At least he's realizing that with the latter and trying to add a top pick.

Way to answer the question!

I think IQ and Scottie will have a similar ceiling to FVV and Pascal. I still think Scottie has the potential to eclipse Pascal, but he's certainly sucked this year. I don't think RJ will ever match OG's impact.

So in conclusion, both cores are inadequate.

[YogurtProducer]

Neither. At least he's realizing that with the latter and trying to add a top pick.

Way to answer the question!

I think IQ and Scottie will have a similar ceiling to FVV and Pascal. I still think Scottie has the potential to eclipse Pascal, but he's certainly sucked this year. I don't think RJ will ever match OG's impact.

So in conclusion, both cores are inadequate.

IDK if I would say inadequate. Barnes/FVV/OG in 2021 had a higher ceiling and more potential than Lowry/Demar/JV in 2013, yet one ended up being blown up and one got morphed into a championship roster.

I would compare this team closer to the 2012/13 Raptors than the 2021/22 Raptors in terms of how to progress going forward.

[earthtone]

I think it's pretty close and all comes down to the rest of the roster construction around them, along with what leaps the younger trio continue to make.

If I had to start my roster building with BBQ making ~$99 million or FVV/OG/Siakam making ~$130 million, I know what I'm choosing.

[billy_hoyle]

Scottie, RJ and IQ will beget at least a top 8 pick this year (acknowledging there have been injuries).

They are a big three that produces a top 5 Pick and hopefully a better player than one of the said big 3.

[Scase]

Scottie > Siakam
OG >>> RJ
IQ = FVV

BUT, the Siakam/FVV/OG core fit better. Man I think I'd vote for the Siakam core, what a sad state of affairs lol

[Morris_Shatford]

Its an interesting thought exercise.

I am going to go with the BBQ because ultimately Masai Big Three V1.0 ultimately evolved into a strong group of secondary players not a 1A amongst them.

While none of the guys in the BBQ core are dawgs yet, there is still time.

[MEDIC]

It's impossible to answer this question. We saw Fred/ Pascal/ OG play multiple years together. These 3 we have barely seen. Just a handful of games together. Also, this season is a writeoff, whereas we saw the old guard play meaningful basketball. .......so it makes things even muddier.

It would be interesting to hear Poeltl's thoughts on it.

If it ends up being a tie & we add a top 3 pick this year, I think we should be in pretty good shape.

[adubmac]

Both ceilings would force you to duck your head when you walked in the room.

[ash_k]

get back to me once IQ goes back into the playoffs.
It is not even close at this point.

I saw RJ perform under the bright lights of New York against Miami in the 2nd round but then game6 happened.

Even tough Scottie got injured, but prior to Embiid's dirty player, he was about to do something that had not been done since Magic in the playoffs ! Thus I kind trust him.

Meanwhile FVV, Siakam and OG have gotten game winners in the playoffs and all the rest we know.
It is not even close at this point.

Again, get back to me once IQ goes back into the playoffs. Last time he made the playoffs, he was pathetic

[Jerry Lucas]

Scottie/IQ/RJ isn't even how Masai currently views his "Core 3." All of the 2024 offseason organizational messaging/marketing around current roster players was "Scottie and IQ". The missing name in this new Core 3 is our 2025 top FRP who is yet to be drafted.

[MEDIC]

I think Scottie has the highest "potential" out of all of those guys, but I am not overly confident that this point that he will realize his potential.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Scottie/IQ/RJ isn't even how Masai currently views his "Core 3." All of the 2024 offseason organizational messaging/marketing around current roster players was "Scottie and IQ". The missing name in this new Core 3 is our 2025 top FRP who is yet to be drafted.

Probably, also OG was never in the 'core 3' with Fred and Siakam, it was Scottie. So the question should really be is IQ/RJ a better duo than Pascal/Fred?