i'm not really feeling the TT pick thus far

[fart]

I don't know why. Sure, he had a couple of nice little games in the beginning of the season, but I don't really see him panning out into anything special. can't really score unless it's a dunk or right under the basket. His defense is also not amazing. I just feel like Jonas would have been the better pick. especially if they are only playing TT 15 minutes a night. I kinda have a feeling he will be a waste of a pick

right now, he is a slightly smarter tyrus thomas to me.

[mup]

His free throw percentage is what has me most concerned. Even Shaq made close to half of them.

It's funny. I liked the pick before the season when everybody else hated it. Now I hate it when people are starting to be ok with it. The guy is going to be "ok" but I think you need to come away with something better than just "ok" at the #4.

I don't know who else we could have taken. Who knows about this Jonas guy either. Best case scenario would have been to trade the pick for somebody's pick this year but that would have been dicey to trade a #4 pick for an unknown pick. Besides, I don't think anyone was interested in the pick, which says a lot.

[mcfly1204]

You can feel free to like or dislike the pick, but I think it is far too early to make projections at this point. What we do know is that TT is very athletic, can face up and put the ball on the floor, and that he has a high motor. With virtually no offseason, it is hard to make defining statements about a player that was labeled raw and has only played in 18 games as a pro. Next season should be a much better indicator as to what we have in Thompson.

[KuruptedCav]

I agree mcfly, and it's also important to keep the expectations tempered to the player. He's not Bosh, Boozer, Gasol, Nance, or Garnett, he's Tristen Thompson; he was drafted as a high motor defensively oriented player. He wasn't billed as anything else.

The more apt comparisons are players like Theo Ratliff, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman, Emeka Okafor, Brendan Haywood etc. We're talking about specialist players who contributed to winning teams by playing a limited role very very well. Tristen is 19 years old, there was no offseason, and this is his first year as a pro. Lets watch the kid develope.

[gflem]

I didnt know what to expect from him when he was drafted and I still really dont. He seems to have a great attitude and work ethic, he doesnt seem to be pouting about not playing big minutes which is surprising out of someone who was the 4th overall pick. Usually I would expect someone drafted that high to almost expect the PT.
His poor FT pct is unsettling, even though we knew he was terrible in college, but if he cant get that fixed he will not be a guy you want on the floor late in a close game of playoff game. If that is the case, he will certainly not be worthy of being drafted that early.

[tidho]

I don't think anyone viewed him as anything but a project. Most experts felt we reached. Shouldn't be suprised that he isn't lighting the world on fire.

It would be nice for him to be getting more minutes for growing pains purposes if nothing else but that isn't how Scott coaches. I also have to think that the extra minutes will help Jamison find his next home and once he's moved we'll see a lot more TT.

[Niko23]

This conversation starts and ends with MPG. It is disgusting the amount of minutes he is getting compared to Jamison. Let's also not underestimate the Kyrie factor. He is very happy to have TT with him so they can go on the journey together. They were friends before the draft. If he can become a Varejao type player I will be ok with that. Maybe we could then turn AV into a much needed scoring 2 or 3.

[Triumph36]

Didn't like the pick at the time. Still dislike it, but not because of how he's played thus far...

[Roger Murdock]

I still wish we would have taken Jonas. We would be **** if it wasn't for the Mo Will trade.

[mirrornick]

Raptor fan here. Bosh in his rookie year was 215 lbs, skinny twig. Was limited offensively in his first 40 games.

TT grew up watching Bosh play and he learned a couple of moves.

Just learn to have patience with rookies. It will pay up in the long run.

[jpsteven]

I guess fart wants to trade him for Dwight Howard lol

[mg]

Not to mention TT has been injured which has factored in him getting less minutes.

I wasn't sold on him either but think he will be fine in the long run. Honestly don't see anyone that I really wanted at #4 in the last draft. I know the Rap fans are high on Jonas but I think he's going to be similar to TT (athletic, defensive big but raw). Actually I liked Marshon but he would have been a huge reach at 4. I also liked Klay Thompson but he also would've been a huge reach and players like him can be found in every draft.

Thank goodness Donald Sterling was willing to give up his draft pick to get rid of Baron.

[orangeparka]

The Tyrus Thomas comparisons are spot-on IMO.

I watched lots of Cavs games so far, and he seems like he's gonna be a good rebounder/shotblocker and a decent scorer/defender.

I think he could be like a 15/9/2 on good efficiency.

[mg]

TT has a much better work ethic and basketball IQ than Tyrus Thomas but otherwise yes I do see the comparision. This is going to be essentially a throw away year for many of the rookies (except Kyrie) due to the lack of training camp and offseason workouts and conditioning. Tristan is currently out with an ankle.

It just takes some guys longer to make an impact especially with vets like Varejao and Jamison that play the same position on the roster. It has taken guys like Ibaka and D. Jordan several years to progress. Even Varejao wasn't given any minutes until midway thru his rookie year and he was older than Tristan. Big men sometimes take longer to develop but I have no doubt Tristan will be a good player in this League just based on his athletic ability, IQ, and work ethic. Despite his young age he isn't hesitant about mixing it up under the basket. Once Jamison and possibly Andy are gone he will get more minutes.

[mup]

I agree mcfly, and it's also important to keep the expectations tempered to the player. He's not Bosh, Boozer, Gasol, Nance, or Garnett, he's Tristen Thompson; he was drafted as a high motor defensively oriented player. He wasn't billed as anything else.

The more apt comparisons are players like Theo Ratliff, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman, Emeka Okafor, Brendan Haywood etc. We're talking about specialist players who contributed to winning teams by playing a limited role very very well. Tristen is 19 years old, there was no offseason, and this is his first year as a pro. Lets watch the kid develope.

Well, he was billed as being worthy of the #4 pick in the draft. But I hear what you're saying. Nonetheless, I expect him to be equivalent to all other #4 picks in the draft and hopefully better than most. If he's not that, then he was a miss we could not afford.

Guys like Ratliff, Wallace, Rodman, and Haywood did not go at #4 (that said, Okafor went higher, but he is considered a bust for his draft position). So, if that's all we got for the #4 pick, I'm going to be very disappointed. I feel like we could have gotten Ratliff at #18 (which is where Ratliff was picked).

Based on his draft position, he should be right in the same conversation with Gasol, Bosh, and Garnett (and should be better than Boozer). He should be the 4th best player coming out of this draft--- no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If he is the 6th best, then we missed. If he is the 25th best and viewed as an average player, then we really missed. I think that's what people are saying: we can't afford to use the #4 pick in the draft on a guy whose ceiling is the equivalent of the #25 pick in the draft. That's all.

Don't get me wrong. I like the guy. I just would have liked him a lot better had we traded down and picked him at #18, which is where guys like Theo Ratliff get picked.

[mcfly1204]

#4 picks seem to be very hit or miss.

2010 - Wesley Johnson
2009 - Tyreke Evans
2008 - Russel Westbrook
2007 - Mike Conley Jr.
2006 - Tyrus Thomas
2005 - Chris Paul
2004 - Shaun Livingston
2003 - Chris Bosh
2002 - Drew Gooden
2001 - Eddy Curry
2000 - Marcus Fizer
1999 - Lamar Odom
1998 - Antawn Jamison
1997 - Antonio Daniels
1996 - Stephon Marbury

[Benedict_Boozer]

I didn't love the pick at the time, but it's too early to really call the question on him. It takes most big guys a couple years and at minimum he is a good rebounder. Give it some time.

[Nirvana]

Ha, never knew Antonio Daniels was a #4 pick.

If you look at this draft class, tell me who else you'd want? The only other guy I see is Jonas Valanciunas, and the jury is still very much out on him as well.

I think Thompson, who can use both hands effectively and jump out of the gym, has excellent potential and a higher ceiling than anyone else drafted later on. He certainly deserves patience from us fans and at least a full training camp before we start doubting on his abilities.

Lamarcus Aldridge only averaged 9 and 5 as a rookie. Thompson's at 7.5 and 4.7. I hate these types of comparisons, but in this case I think it's justifiable (not to say that Thompson will be as terrific as Aldridge, but that there's a lot of room for growth). There's a pretty steep learning curve for rookie big men. We clearly feel that Thompson has the ability to grow into a dynamic big man who can change the game on both ends of the floor. I'll give the team the benefit of the doubt for now, as I have seen glimpses from Thompson so far and see the potential. I think him and Kyrie can one day be a stellar pair together on offense in the pick and roll. Let Thompson develop his game and find his niche and I think he'll impress down the road.

[mcfly1204]

LMA also played two seasons at Texas before declaring for the draft.

[mup]

I didn't love the pick at the time, but it's too early to really call the question on him. It takes most big guys a couple years and at minimum he is a good rebounder. Give it some time.

Agreed. I'm taking a wait and see right now.