Duke4life831 wrote:As a Duke homer, I’m one of the more vocal people on here questioning Boozer’s fit in the NBA. I was also pretty vocal on questioning Kon’s potential in the NBA.
Using those two as examples, I don’t think that’s a Duke thing, I think it’s strictly an archetype thing.
How many guards like Kon are All-NBA level players? 6’5 with a 6’6 wingspan and at best below average athleticism. The bet was, he was just so freakishly skilled that he could overcome the athleticism issues. Has that happened? Ya sure is looking like it. But if he ended up being just Luke Kennard 2.0, I don’t think too many people would be scratching their heads, asking “what went wrong with Kon”.
Same goes for Boozer. How many 6’8 sub 7’ wingspan, who are below the rim players with slow feet dominating the NBA right now? There are basically 2 examples. Sabonis: who for basically his entire career people have been asking if you could actually win with him (hasn’t won a playoff series in his career). And Sengun. Then the question is, what if he ends up just being say 80% of the passer Sengun is. Is that still a very valuable player?
Can Boozer end up being this year’s version of Kon but for big men. Where he’s just so skilled/crafty and productive where any physical limitation questions just kind of get forgotten? Ya. But let’s not act like the questions about Boozer and his fit in the current NBA isn’t a very valid one. Especially in a draft that has the top end talent this one has
The front offices that care about Analytics over the Eye Test will rate him higher.
I do agree with a lot of what is being said here.
He can still be a really good player in the NBA by being productive, smart and strong. However, I fail to see him being a top tier superstar with his lack of explosiveness and physical gifts.
I have come around to Kon being a good player, watching him for the Hornets all year. However, I am still not really sold on his long-term ceiling of ever being a top 30 guy, which again isn't a reason not to draft a guy. However, if you are debating guys 1 or 2 in a draft you have to consider it to some degree.
Kon is very good, but he has terrible block rate, bad steal rate and he is currently shooting 56% at the rim (which is 14th percentile). Now he shoots the cover off the ball and that is awesome early return but his lack of athleticism is probably not going to massively improve and make those earlier statistics a positive. He profiles as a wing that will never be a plus defender, to me that limits his long-term value.
Boozer gives me Kevin Love vibes. Ultra productive, will be an all-star in the NBA but the ceiling was never really there to be a first option on a good team. He profiled better as 2nd or 3rd option.