Official Speculation Thread Part 1 (Summer League 2014)

[OrlDave]

Exum has shown he is leap and bounds ahead of Gordon at this stage of their career. Exum's skillset is far more superior for his position as opposed to Gordon's skillset at his position. Right now, Gordon is still a tweener and just an athlete, but no way is he the player Exum is right now.

Yeah see this is what I don't understand. He's shown the grand total of a 3 minute highlight reel. The fact people can come to conclusions (good or bad) from that blows my mind.

[KillMonger]

It's funny how people try to make opinion sound like fact, especially using phrases like "This guy WILL never do this" "Can never be that" yeah ok......we don't know what's going to happen to us an hour from now much less try to predict a players career path. Why make arbitrary statements when there is no need to? what's the justification? what's wrong with just waiting and see before making a statement you might possibly have to eat later?

This situation rings the same as the Dwight trade situation, everybody said we got robbed people here said the same as well. Guess what all it took was time didn't it? just waiting and see was the potion and after that time waiting and seeing we won that trade by a landslide. Did no one learn anything from that? That was a valuable lesson in not having knee jerk reactions. I wonder if we were to bump that Dwight trade thread back up who around here had to eat a crow sandwich? People just too enamored with instant gratification, well either way we're going to have wait regardless.

[Hogified05]

Man I know it's just one game, but damn. McDermott looks legit. I think a lot of teams are going regret passing on him. Dude can shoot and can get to the line. He has the size for the 3 and he gets a bad reputation (probably because he is white) but he is pretty athletic. That's a recipe for an elite scorer. 12-12 from the line. 31 points on 12 shots. wowsers.

If he is legit as he showed in this game (I know it's one game) a lineup of Rose/Butler/Dougie/Gasol/Noah to me is the favorites in the East. Provided Rose is healthy. McDermott will unclog the lane for Rose. You have shooting, size, athletism, defense, playmaking, low post scoring just about everything out of one lineup.

Maybe it's just me being bias. Since the Magic have been so bad recently the Bulls have been the team I root for in the playoffs. I love Rose, dude just plays, and Noah of course (Gators) but if Dougie turns out to be a stud they will firmly by my 2nd squad.

[Hogified05]

Also may I add. The Pelicans should just sign Patric Young to a contract now and pair him with AD. Pat is the perfect compliment to AD. He will do all the dirty work and be the enforcer while AD provides all the skill. I really hope Pat latches on with the Pelicans and they give him a shot.

[WillyJakkz]

Also may I add. The Pelicans should just sign Patric Young to a contract now and pair him with AD. Pat is the perfect compliment to AD. He will do all the dirty work and be the enforcer while AD provides all the skill. I really hope Pat latches on with the Pelicans and they give him a shot.

Not sure we have room for him but to me you make room for a guy like Patric Young, a FL native and Gator who can be the enforcer/ dirtywork guy on the team cause there will definitely be a day when a guy like Oladipo gets tested by another player on another team by way of a hard foul and sometimes you need a guy on your team to have your stars back and let the other team know that we're not having that and Pat is the perfect physical specimen for that.

I'd say now Kyle O'Quinn is now our enforcer since Maxiell has been released.

[Hogified05]

Also may I add. The Pelicans should just sign Patric Young to a contract now and pair him with AD. Pat is the perfect compliment to AD. He will do all the dirty work and be the enforcer while AD provides all the skill. I really hope Pat latches on with the Pelicans and they give him a shot.

Not sure we have room for him but to me you make room for a guy like Patric Young, a FL native and Gator who can be the enforcer/ dirtywork guy on the team cause there will definitely be a day when a guy like Oladipo gets tested by another player on another team by way of a hard foul and sometimes you need a guy on your team to have your stars back and let the other team know that we're not having that and Pat is the perfect physical specimen for that.

I'd say now Kyle O'Quinn is now our enforcer since Maxiell has been released.

Man I would love Pat on our team but that looks really slim now. I just hope he catches on somewhere, guy has a lot to offer a NBA team. He just improves a team by being on it, such a winner.

[WillyJakkz]

Also may I add. The Pelicans should just sign Patric Young to a contract now and pair him with AD. Pat is the perfect compliment to AD. He will do all the dirty work and be the enforcer while AD provides all the skill. I really hope Pat latches on with the Pelicans and they give him a shot.

Not sure we have room for him but to me you make room for a guy like Patric Young, a FL native and Gator who can be the enforcer/ dirtywork guy on the team cause there will definitely be a day when a guy like Oladipo gets tested by another player on another team by way of a hard foul and sometimes you need a guy on your team to have your stars back and let the other team know that we're not having that and Pat is the perfect physical specimen for that.

I'd say now Kyle O'Quinn is now our enforcer since Maxiell has been released.

Man I would love Pat on our team but that looks really slim now. I just hope he catches on somewhere, guy has a lot to offer a NBA team. He just improves a team by being on it, such a winner.

Was honestly shocked he didn't get selected in the 2nd rd and definitely thought he'd get an invite here but I also can't lie not sure we have the space for him with our bigs:

Vucevic/ Kyle OQ/ Dedmon/ Frye/ Nicholson... not seeing a spot for him, especially with Harris and Gordon maybe logging PF mins.

[rcklsscognition]

Sort of surprised what happened with Parsons. Houston said they would have matched if Bosh had come, but decided not too when Bosh went back to Miami.

Edit: After some reading, I guess it was salary cap related.

[OrlandO]

i bet dwight compares the parsons loss in houston to losing hedo in orlando

[Hogified05]

Side note on Parsons: He just got invited to the USA mini camp at the end of the month. Its where they pick who will be on the World Cup team in Spain. Hope he makes it!

[Bensational]

I'm curious, knowing what we know now and assuming that Gordon was gone at 5 as rumored, who would have been our 2nd pick if we took Exum? You can choose anyone picked 10 or later in this scenario. I'm just wondering what our team would look like in the alternative reality.

Stuck with Payton. Exum is great, and will be ball dominant, but Payton's passing is on another level that'll work with more than just big men. i see no reason why they couldn't co-exist the way Rondo did with Pierce and Allen - apart from the fact that Exum isn't a shooter like them.

or, considered Saric or trading up for Vonleh, if it could be done.

Thanks for the answer. Yeah I think trading up for Vonleh would be the best scenario, but obviously we don't know how much Charlotte coveted Vonleh, might have been too cost prohibitive. We might have been able to get the pick before the draft, but we couldn't have known if Vonleh would be there, esp since he was trending in the 5-7 range near draft time.

Payton Exum Dipo seems like a problem to me. I mean, does that put Exum at SF? Then we are undersized at every position except PG with Payton. If Saric came over right away he would be the obvious choice though.

Nah, i think it'd be a case of playing small ball when the matchups allow, or being prepared to have the deepest backcourt in the NBA, likely making one of them a 6th man. would all depend on how each of them develop.

[fendilim]

Exum has shown he is leap and bounds ahead of Gordon at this stage of their career. Exum's skillset is far more superior for his position as opposed to Gordon's skillset at his position. Right now, Gordon is still a tweener and just an athlete, but no way is he the player Exum is right now.

Yeah see this is what I don't understand. He's shown the grand total of a 3 minute highlight reel. The fact people can come to conclusions (good or bad) from that blows my mind.

Didn't watch the whole game? So you think he got lucky blowing past his defender, like what he's been doing in Australia?

Aaron Gordon as a defensive specialist is intriguing. But for a 4th pick? Would have rather traded down then drafted Gordon at the 4th. I want someone who can breakdown the defense and make his teammates better. And at this point in their career, Exum has shown he can do so, in Fiba and Summer league.

Got to admit, I like Gordon as an athlete, but Exum has shown more ability than running and jumping that whole game, his basketball IQ for his age is impressive compared to Aaron Gordon the whole Orlando Summer League.

What bothers me is drafting defensive specialists this high in a deep draft. I believe defense can be learned and is all about heart but breaking down the offense or making your teammates better in a far more superior skill. And right now, Exum has exhibited those skills not just in one game but other competitions he has taken part of.

Like I said drafting Gordon will be a huge question mark until he reaches his peak he is simply too raw right now, compared to guys picked right after him. Not just Exum, but guys like Smart or Stauskas, McDermott, etc. I just dont think Gordon will be able to be a key contributor this year.

I would love it for him to prove me wrong this coming season though.

[cedric76]

I hope exum is as courageous as Thorpe,Collins and amaechi

[IGotDaMagicInMe]

I wasn't exactly rooting for us to draft gordon, but I was rooting for us to grab one of smart, exum, or payton with our second pick

What I don't get is how people think the value of gordon isn't there when most people had him pegged going to utah or boston, how can something be considered a reach if you pick him one draft spot higher than most had him going? A reach would have been drafting gary harris or lavine at 4

Regardless, the idea of getting the last of the 3 pgs was great as I thought they were all very much neck and neck in terms of who I wanted. I think I wanted smart and exum a hair more, but not enough to say, draft payne with our other pick. There's nobody that would've been there at 12 id say is on gordons level and payton is definitely on smart and exums level, heck he might even be the best of the 3 pgs

[AddiFB]

Aaron is gonna bring us all joy and laughter this season. We gon' be fun!

Sent from my mancave

[tiderulz]

I like Aaron Gordon as a player but I think this decision to draft him will remain a big question, whether it was the right decision or not, until he finishes his rookie contract. Especially when guys like Exum, Smart, Randle are already showing they can play at this level, .


Anyway, my biggest concern here is we did not draft by BPA. Did we really have to draft the next Shawn Marion when we could have a chance to have landed the next Manu Ginobili? Exum has shown he is leap and bounds ahead of Gordon at this stage of their career. Exum's skillset is far more superior for his position as opposed to Gordon's skillset at his position. Right now, Gordon is still a tweener and just an athlete, but no way is he the player Exum is right now.

Regardless, I am a supporter of this team, but it doesn't mean I have to support every damn move this team has made.

Also, telling posters who wanted Exum over Gordon to go follow the Jazz instead or another team is bull. All of you anti-tankers should be following another team than whine on how we tank. Whats the point of discussing? lol

PS
All the questions about Exum playing against a non-competitive level of competition isnt great or whatever has proven most of YOU marcus smart supporters wrong.

how exactly has Exum shown this? a 1 or 2 fast moves? a pretty avg stat line? and everyone in Utah was second guessing him 3 days ago when in an open-fan practice, he couldnt hit the ocean if he was standing next to it. Because of 1 or 2 moves to the basket, all of a sudden he is a Kobe/Magic Johnson hybrid. He still doesnt defend well at all, cant go left. He has his own problems. Not saying Gordon is better than him, Exum seems ahead, but just still amazed at the overrating of player after one game. Look at Atlanta's Schreoder? 30+ pts last night, and tore it up last year at SL, and could barely see the court last year he was making so many mistakes.

[tiderulz]

Man I know it's just one game, but damn. McDermott looks legit. I think a lot of teams are going regret passing on him. Dude can shoot and can get to the line. He has the size for the 3 and he gets a bad reputation (probably because he is white) but he is pretty athletic. That's a recipe for an elite scorer. 12-12 from the line. 31 points on 12 shots. wowsers.

If he is legit as he showed in this game (I know it's one game) a lineup of Rose/Butler/Dougie/Gasol/Noah to me is the favorites in the East. Provided Rose is healthy. McDermott will unclog the lane for Rose. You have shooting, size, athletism, defense, playmaking, low post scoring just about everything out of one lineup.

Maybe it's just me being bias. Since the Magic have been so bad recently the Bulls have been the team I root for in the playoffs. I love Rose, dude just plays, and Noah of course (Gators) but if Dougie turns out to be a stud they will firmly by my 2nd squad.

and Gary Harris went off his 1st game, and sucked it his 2nd. how about people wait until players are doing this against solid NBA talent before anointing anyone

[tiderulz]

Exum has shown he is leap and bounds ahead of Gordon at this stage of their career. Exum's skillset is far more superior for his position as opposed to Gordon's skillset at his position. Right now, Gordon is still a tweener and just an athlete, but no way is he the player Exum is right now.

Yeah see this is what I don't understand. He's shown the grand total of a 3 minute highlight reel. The fact people can come to conclusions (good or bad) from that blows my mind.

Didn't watch the whole game? So you think he got lucky blowing past his defender, like what he's been doing in Australia?

Aaron Gordon as a defensive specialist is intriguing. But for a 4th pick? Would have rather traded down then drafted Gordon at the 4th. I want someone who can breakdown the defense and make his teammates better. And at this point in their career, Exum has shown he can do so, in Fiba and Summer league.

Got to admit, I like Gordon as an athlete, but Exum has shown more ability than running and jumping that whole game, his basketball IQ for his age is impressive compared to Aaron Gordon the whole Orlando Summer League.

What bothers me is drafting defensive specialists this high in a deep draft. I believe defense can be learned and is all about heart but breaking down the offense or making your teammates better in a far more superior skill. And right now, Exum has exhibited those skills not just in one game but other competitions he has taken part of.

Like I said drafting Gordon will be a huge question mark until he reaches his peak he is simply too raw right now, compared to guys picked right after him. Not just Exum, but guys like Smart or Stauskas, McDermott, etc. I just dont think Gordon will be able to be a key contributor this year.

I would love it for him to prove me wrong this coming season though.

what he's been doing down in Australia? He hasnt played a game in a year. and why does Gordon have to be a key contributor THIS year? Dwight and Ibaka are similar in that they looked very pedestrian their 1st years. but 3 years later you wouldnt trade them at all.

[Gatordd]

Also may I add. The Pelicans should just sign Patric Young to a contract now and pair him with AD. Pat is the perfect compliment to AD. He will do all the dirty work and be the enforcer while AD provides all the skill. I really hope Pat latches on with the Pelicans and they give him a shot.

The funny thing about this is Pat is actually at his best defending the pick and roll. This would allow AD to sit back and block shots which is his specialty. Agree with you 100%.

[WillyJakkz]

I personally wouldn't have minded Adrien Payne, Mitch McGary, or Dario Saric (if he was still otb) @ #12.

Payne is a big body and ready to contribute right now as is McGary who was slated as a Top 5 pick last season, Saric was iffy though thanks to Fran Vazquez not coming over I think that played a role in his stock dropping (speaking of which) I just flashbacked to how that mofo (he and Otis) set us back, it's like we didn't even have a draft pick that yr... I digress though.

Anyway I think Payne is gona be a really solid NBA player and woulda been a nice compliment to Vucevic.

I am looking forward to how our guys come back in training camp, if AG puts on some weight and Payton as well, by Payton's muscle tone you can tell he hates hitting the weights or doing strength training, he strictly goes to the gym and hoops.