nate33 wrote:TGW wrote:If I had my choice, I'd take Queen over Johnson all day everyday. I honestly feel that Queen at 6'9-6'10 has more in the toolbox and more basketball skills than Johnson. Queen's skillset is undeniable.
Sorry for the derail.
The issue with Queen is defense. It almost doesn't even matter how good he is on offense. If he is not a plus defender on D, he will get played off the floor in the playoffs. Queen reminds me of Demarcus Cousins. Demarcus Cousins averaged 22 and 11 as a full time starter including 25 and 12 over his 5 year peak, yet he never made the playoffs once until he was a stopgap center for Golden State alongside 4 Hall-of-Fame teammates.
I mean both are young and we have to see where they go.
In both cases they need other players to make them shine. Tre needs teammates that attack attention to get him open looks (IMO, although he is already shooting .375 from 3) and he needs defenders around him as well.
Queen needs a rim defender in the frontcourt to not get played off the court (IMO). Ideally a 3&D PF or C.
But... it is far easier to protect a player like Tre defensively than a player like Queen (again, opinion). VERY early days but... Queen has been one of the better defenders (statistically) on the worst (or second to worst) defense team in the league (one needs to note he is coming off the bench - so not playing against the starters.
The real answer (in perfect 20/20 hindsight) is "none of the above". Trading NO for their unprotected first in '26 is the answer to the question. Sadly, Atlanta nailed that one.