Wise1 wrote:LUKE23 wrote:It depends where you play Parker in the pros. If you play him at 4, he's going to be a face-up/dribble drive nightmare. If you play him at 3, he's sitting at around 6-9/240 with a good reach and even in the NBA not many SF are that size. Granted, the downfall here is that he's probably a defensive liability at both spots as well. That's why he's not going #1. But I honestly think he's going to be a major offensive mismatch. Either way, he will need to continue to develop his 3 point shot, as that is a needed weapon for any "elite" offensive player.
The reason you can argue Wiggins over him, is that Wiggins steps on the court being able to guard 2/3, and is not without offensive production on his side (the guy did average 20 ppg per 40 as a frosh). You are going to have to wait on his handle and shot consistency if you are expecting a NBA 20+ ppg guy, but the argument for taking him is maybe that it's easier to develop those skills than it is to gain the traits needed for Parker to improve defensively. And for me, NET impact is what it's about.
May be off here, but that's my take.
Very fair and balanced assessment. Given everything that you said here, I'd still go with Parker. I personally don't think handle is something that you improve on appreciably after playing HS and college ball. I think you're more likely to get better at things your innately good at or in an area that is tied to your physical or mental maturity. Jabari Parker could shoot 2000 three pointers a day in practice. I'd be willing to bet that he'd never come close to Ray Allen or Stephen Curry in that area. It's a special gift. In the same vein, not everyone can dribble that basketball like the top tier guys do. You can practice all you like, but its a gift imo.
So I think Parker will pan out as an average defender with Wiggins being an average ball handler.
There's one kind of important person that disagrees with you. I heard Ray Allen interviewed about a year ago, and he said his shooting isn't because he's gifted. It's from working harder than everyone else.
My preference is definitely Wiggins over Parker. I think you win with defense moreso than offense, and Wiggins' defensive ability easily exceeds Parker's. But there is a good thing with picking Parker. He and Giannis should compelment each other to offset each other's weaknesses. They both have good size. And with Giannis' athletic ability, he can defend pretty much any type of forward, so he can defend whoever's the better opposition forward, and Parker can defend the other forward. And Parker's ability to be a highly productive shooter and scorer offsets Giannis' so far questionable scoring abilities.
