The Nik Stauskas Thread

[MasterIchiro]

From Grantland

Off the Court: How does a lanky kid from Canada turn into the likely Big Ten Player of the Year? This introduction from Adam Doster and ESPN The Magazine helps explain:

When Nik Stauskas was in fifth grade, his parents gave him and his older brother Peter a choice: on a small patch of land in the backyard of their Mississauga, Ontario, home they could install a swimming pool, a putting green or a basketball court. “I loved basketball, but not as much as Nik did,” says Peter. “He really wanted a court.”

Satisfied with the decision, their parents, Paul and Ruta, contacted a new company that specialized in modular sports flooring, a tile-based surface that reduces stress on the legs and, crucially, doesn’t crack or get slick after it rains and snows. It took a while to set everything up; the tiles didn’t lock properly right away, Peter remembers, and the backboard would occasionally tip to one side. But once the parts were in place, the Stauskas boys had access to something rare in their cold, hockey-obsessed country — a personal court where they could shoot hoops. Nik Stauskas spent his entire childhood doing just that.

“I played a ridiculous amount,” he says. “When I came home from school — it wouldn’t matter if it was winter or summer — I would be out there three or four hours a day.” The brothers would play 21 and H-O-R-S-E with their dad, or take each other one-on-one. Tempers occasionally flared. After dropping an intense game to his smaller opponent, Peter once chased his brother around the house with a shovel. Inevitably, Peter would head inside and Nik would plunk a space heater next to the three-point line to warm up his hands when the temperature dropped. Shoot, rebound, heat. Repeat.

[InFlames]

This is who I like for you guys. Clifford comes from the Van Gundy mold and runs the same sort of team defense scheme that SVG did with my Magic. He turned that team of horrible defenders into a top 5 defense, but having Dwight was obviously a big reason for that. Stauskas has a high BBIQ and looks to have good conditioning as well, similar to how Redick was for us. Redick wasn't the best one on one defender but he was a smart team defensive player in SVG's system, I imagine Stauskas would be fine in Clifford's if he is willing to put effort in on that side of the ball.

Stauskas has a higher ceiling than Redick imo because of his ability to handle the ball, shoot off the dribble and make plays for others.

[Walt Cronkite]

I'd rather take Stauskas than McDermott, but think there will be better talents available at 9.

[mrknowitall215]

I might as well flood this thread with 'lack of defense' when we all know that Clifford make the perimeter defenders defend without help, but I won't. Stauskas will make a good pro, but I'm uncertain of his ceiling, and that's my concern. I don't want Charlotte just to draft a player that can contribute, but I'm hoping they could land a star, and I see star potential in Young & LaVine

[Eoghan]

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

[MasterIchiro]

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

[JDR720]

Nik Stauskas ceiling is a better passing version of Klay Thompson i think, Nik may have less potential but i also think he has fewer flaws/things he needs to work on in his game than Young which makes me think he is more likely to reach his potential

[catch20two]

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

Yea, so they can take Lavine and turn him into a star while we ponder for years why Stauskas and Hairston aren't what we expected.

[MasterIchiro]

Pfft, he's no Nik Caner-Medley.

Nah, I'd be cool with Stauskas IF we traded down and got him around 15 or so. But we won't, b/c our FO is tsherkin.

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

Yea, so they can take Lavine and turn him into a star while we ponder for years why Stauskas and Hairston aren't what we expected.

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

[catch20two]

Think the Suns would be interested in trading 14 and 18 for 9?

Yea, so they can take Lavine and turn him into a star while we ponder for years why Stauskas and Hairston aren't what we expected.

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

[JDR720]

Yea, so they can take Lavine and turn him into a star while we ponder for years why Stauskas and Hairston aren't what we expected.

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

let him shoot as many threes as Klay Thompson he'll score 20ppg just fine

[JDR720]

Nik might actually be a BETTER shooter than Klay, Nik shot 44% in each of his college seasons (would've been 6th in the NBA this season) Klay's best season shooting 3 in college was his freshmen year (41%) Nik is also a slightly better FT shooter (not counting Klays freshmen year 90% but less than 1 attempt per game)

[catch20two]

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

let him shoot as many threes as Klay Thompson he'll score 20ppg just fine

He's gonna shoot as many 3's as Klay because he already shoot almost as many 3's as Klay.

[JDR720]

So Nik might be a better shooting/passing and more efficient Klay Thompson

[BeesWax]

Yea, so they can take Lavine and turn him into a star while we ponder for years why Stauskas and Hairston aren't what we expected.

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

He scored less but his % was still very good. He could have scored more if he had been more the focus on offense. Burke and Hardaway Jr were the main focuses so Nik took less shots.

[JDR720]

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

let him shoot as many threes as Klay Thompson he'll score 20ppg just fine

He's gonna shoot as many 3's as Klay because he already shoot almost as many 3's as Klay.

2 less threes, since Klay is a 44% shooter that is 2.64 less points from shooting fewer threes add that to his average and you get 20.14ppg and that is from 13 shots per game (10.9 + 2 more threes = 12.9)

[catch20two]

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

He scored less but his % was still very good. He could have scored more if he had been more the focus on offense. Burke and Hardaway Jr were the main focuses so Nik took less shots.

He's not going to be the main focus on our team neither. He'll be the 3rd option unless something miraculous happen like he drop a couple 40 point games and then Jefferson and Kemba will have to pass the baton.

[ARHornet]

Yea, so they can take Lavine and turn him into a star while we ponder for years why Stauskas and Hairston aren't what we expected.

Dude hits 90% from 3 in practice, 44% in games. I expect him to remain the best shooter in this draft. And he can dribble. And he can pass.

LaVine might never learn how to make his teammates better, something Stauskas can step in and do right now. LaVine also may never become a knock down 3 pt shooter. He can dribble better than Stauskas, I'll give him that. But if he doesn't know what to do with the ball, he won't see the light of day on the floor.

Y'all keep tryna compare freshman versions of Lavine and Young to a sophomore version of Stauskas. Stauskas only averaged like 11 a game as a freshman before breaking out this year. Both Young and Lavine would've did the same thing had they stayed another year. Granted, Stauskas is going to be a 40% 3 point shooter but I just don't see him being a 20 ppg player in the league, maybe about 15 in his best years.

I don't think that anyone is arguing with you that Lavine and Young have more potential than Stauskas. But just because they could be better doesn't mean that they will. There is certainly more risk in taking either of them than Stauskas. You are talking like it is a certainty that Lavine and Young will be great while Stauskas will be average.

[catch20two]

let him shoot as many threes as Klay Thompson he'll score 20ppg just fine

He's gonna shoot as many 3's as Klay because he already shoot almost as many 3's as Klay.

2 less threes, since Klay is a 44% shooter that is 2.64 less points from shooting fewer threes add that to his average and you get 20.14ppg and that is from 13 shots per game (10.9 + 2 more threes = 12.9)

Good luck on believing that. I dread the day I see Stauskas dropping 20 a game in the NBA.

[JDR720]

He's gonna shoot as many 3's as Klay because he already shoot almost as many 3's as Klay.

2 less threes, since Klay is a 44% shooter that is 2.64 less points from shooting fewer threes add that to his average and you get 20.14ppg and that is from 13 shots per game (10.9 + 2 more threes = 12.9)

Good luck on believing that. I dread the day I see Stauskas dropping 20 a game in the NBA.

It wont happen on this team because he'll be the 3rd option most likely but he is more than capable