Post#1090 » by dmutombo321 » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:26 pm
A couple of points in response to the posts above.
First, people speak of "giving up" on our top three pick as if we're waiving him. We're not. The suggested Kanter inquiry would involve us trading our top 3 pick for another top 3 pick who is roughly the same age, has shown greater sign of fulfilling his potential at this albeit early stage and plays a position of need that is much harder to fill. And I would of course start discussions with Biz and the Port 1st before putting MKG on the negotiating table.
I suspect a number of Kanter's naysayers have hardly watched him play for Utah. As noted, his numbers are pedestrian because he only sees 15 mpg as he is buried behind two allstar post men and another top pick in Favors. When he plays, he produces. Had some monster games in the preseason and an 18/9 outing in a rare start earlier this year with Jefferson and millsap injured. The rest of the time, he is usually playing sporadic minutes riding the pine.
Kanter is 3x the player Biyombo is and apart from raw shot blocking, is vastly superior to him in every facet of the game. Utah wouldnt have interest in Biyombo alone. Once Kanter is getting starters minutes in Utah or elsewhere, just like the James Harden doubters from a couple years ago, people are going to eat their words.
To the frequent point brought up about how MKG and Biyombo are still young and need more time - I dont disagree at all. Its waayy too early to tell for certain how each player will ultimately turn out.
However, if the FO makes an educated guess early on and suspects theres a higher than avg liklihood a player will NOT reach their potential, the team can still parlay that player, in whom they have a valuable pick invested, into another valuable young player. Conversely, if the FO gives instead gives a player every benefit of the doubt to develop, by that player's 3rd or 4th year, once everyone is finally willing to concede that said player probably wont fullfill his potential, the rest of the league sees the same thing and said player's trade value has gone down the toilet. Its all about taking calculated risks
A good example of this is Derrick Williams. By many accounts, the Wolves' FO privately had internal concerns about his development and effectiveness as a pro player early on. As late as mid way through last season, when Williams was still shiney and new, there was serious talk about Minny possibly bailing on him for another top 3 protected pick. Minny should have struck while the iron was hot because his value has plummeted, everyone knows he's only a so-so PF and nobody's going to be offering that now.
Now, I happen to think the MKG will definitely be a better pro than Derrick Williams. He belongs in the league and I'm not insinuating that he was a poor selection in last year's weak draft. But the principal remains the same. As Bass points out, MKG is a flawed player who we dont see ever becoming anything more than a medicore shooter. Yes- it would be foolish to deal him just for the sake of dealing him. But its even more foolish to overvalue him and not examine possibilities to improve the team in the long run.
Nobody on this roster, even Kemba, should be completely untouchable if the right return can be had.
