The Devin Booker Thread

[BigSlam]

All this talk about Booker being like Reddick and that being a bad thing seems a little overblown to me.

So what if his floor is Redddddick, is that the worst thing that could happen? We are drafting #9, not #1. I think people have to temper their expectations a little. If we drafted Booker at #9 and he had a Redidickd type career that wouldn't be the worst thing. Heck, we have taken guys top #3 who flamed out of the league in no time at all and are an after thought now or a tag line to a joke. We've taken players top #10 who are barely scratching a cheque in the NBA these days.

Personally I see his floor more like Beal and his ceiling more like Klay, but honestly, I Redickque is a 15+ppg player in the NBA on a Finals contending team 10 years into his NBA career. If we got that from a #9 pick that would be better than what we have ever got out of any of our picks in the past.



Edit: Redick averaged 16.4ppg last season. We only had 3 players on our roster that averaged more points. Kemba, Al and Mo freaking Williams. Ya, I'd be ok with a JJ Redick producing player at #9 who can't dribble but can score.

[Braggins]

I'm just not convinced someone like Redick isn't his ceiling.

[BigSlam]

I'm just not convinced someone like Redick isn't his ceiling.

Again, even if that is the case, we could do a LOT worse at #9 than a 15+ppg player with a 10 year (to date) NBA career who shoots 48%/44%/90%.

[LofJ]

The Redick comparison isn't a criticism at all. We were making the point that Redick didn't hit his stride until his mid 20s, Booker will still be 18 at the start of the season. That's a long time to wait for a player to develop into a positive contributor.

[Eoghan]

I think his floor is Doron Lamb, his realistic ceiling between Morrow and Redick, and his unrealistic Stun ceiling is Klay Thompson.

He doesn't remind me of Beal at all, Beal got rebounds.

[BigSlam]

The Redick comparison isn't a criticism at all. We were making the point that Redick didn't hit his stride until his mid 20s, Booker will still be 18 at the start of the season. That's a long time to wait for a player to develop into a positive contributor.

Of the top 10 Russell, Towns and Okafor are the only ones likely to contribute anything of real value over their first few years any way.

Redick has more limitations than Booker - and didn't come into the NBA when he was 18. If he did enter the NBA at 18 then maybe Redick would have hit his stride in his early 20's and not in his mid 20's.

[BigSlam]

I think his floor is Doron Lamb, his realistic ceiling between Morrow and Redick, and his unrealistic Stun ceiling is Klay Thompson.

He doesn't remind me of Beal at all, Beal got rebounds.

Didn't Beal play wayyyyyyy more mpg and start as a Freshman on a pretty soft Florida team? Beal certainly isn't a rebounding SG in the NBA. By comparing them that way Booker projects to be a much, much better playmaking SG than Beal?

Bulls Ben Gordon might be more like Booker's floor?

I would have thought the Stun scale would have placed him more like prime Ray Allen.

[Eoghan]

Beal still rebounded really well for a guard. Booker did nothing but stand around the three and make cuts. UK didn't even like him bringing up the ball. Booker projects nothing but to be a shooter at the next level. What this kid can and can't do in the NBA is pretty much a mystery, this is one of the crapshootiest players in a crapshoot of a draft.

[Go_Hornets]

I like Booker, but there is no way his floor is Beal or Gordon.

[BeesWax]

The Redick comparison isn't a criticism at all. We were making the point that Redick didn't hit his stride until his mid 20s, Booker will still be 18 at the start of the season. That's a long time to wait for a player to develop into a positive contributor.

Redick was small for a SG with just a 8'1.5" standing reach while Booker is at 8'6.5". I think Redick had to adjust to the bigger opponents due to his smaller size. Booker is a better athlete and a bit bigger player. I think the benefit of him coming out at 18 is he can start the learning curve earlier. if we get Redick out of this pick but a younger version who could have a longer career because of starting age we drafted very well.

[ball teacher]

I can see Reddick as a ceiling for Booker cause Booker seems to have set shooting as his only skill, but JJ can do more than that. JJ was at Duke 3 or 4 years and he wasnt used as a one dimensional shooter like Booker. So JJ is more polished, he can catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble, he knows how to move without the ball, and JJ was better at the college level and he has since learned how to do this at the NBA level. All of the players Booker seems to be compared to, Klay, Beal, JJ, and I'll even add Jodie Meeks, could all do more offensively than Booker could at the college level. So at this point all of them seem to be potential ceilings for Booker since to date he hasnt shown the overall abilities of any of these guys.

[BeesWax]

I can see Reddick as a ceiling for Booker cause Booker seems to have set shooting as his only skill, but JJ can do more than that. JJ was at Duke 3 or 4 years and he wasnt used as a one dimensional shooter like Booker. So JJ is more polished, he can catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble, he knows how to move without the ball, and JJ was better at the college level and he has since learned how to do this at the NBA level. All of the players Booker seems to be compared to, Klay, Beal, JJ, and I'll even add Jodie Meeks, could all do more offensively than Booker could at the college level. So at this point all of them seem to be potential ceilings for Booker since to date he hasnt shown the overall abilities of any of these guys.

JJ was afraid to dribble coming out of Duke. He spent years there and could not play defense or dribble when he left. I remember him trying to drive the lane his rookie year and air balling a layup. Let's not overhype these guys to much based on what they are now to what they were then. These "overall" abilities everyone is speaking of were not shown in college by most of these guys. Klay was slow footed and people questioned if he would ever take anyone off the dribble in the NBA. People feared Redick would be the next Langdan because he could not handle the ball well. Beal was a "shooter " who did not shoot all that well. They all had flaws coming out very similar to the ones Oubre, Booker, Hezonja and Johnson have now but they improved them and that is what we are going to have to hope for with whoever we pick at 9.

[SWedd523]

Beal still rebounded really well for a guard. Booker did nothing but stand around the three and make cuts. UK didn't even like him bringing up the ball. Booker projects nothing but to be a shooter at the next level.

This is something I've always thought was more worthy of discussion yet most gloss over it.

If Calipari is good at anything it's playing to his players' strengths and giving the biggest roles to his best guys.

If Booker was a more capable ball handler, bums like the Harrison twins wouldn't have received more minutes than he did. If he was capable of doing more than camping around the three point line, he wouldn't have gotten less burn than a guy like Tyler freaking Ulls. If he was a more impactful player, he would've been showcased in the offense instead of being an ancillary piece.

And I'd say the argument that he does "nothing more than shoot" is much more dire than people are willing to admit. This guy literally adds nothing to the box score other than efficient shooting. I mean we're talking a COMBINED rebounds, assists, steals, blocks of only 3.6. Isn't that typically a huge red flag for wing prospects?

Compare that number to Stanley Johnson's 10.1, Sam Dekker's 7.8, Kelly Oubre's 7.3, Justise Winslow's 10.8, Hell even Mario Hezonja's 4.1 while getting less minutes and being an afterthought on his team.

I mean yeah, don't get me wrong, Booker has a sweet looking jumper and all that. But this is a top 10 pick. I'd like to get somebody capable of topping out a little higher than the Morrow to Reddddickte range

[fatlever]

I like that jdm keeps beating home the message that "they all have flaws". I think its something that gets lost from time to time. Find a player that works hard, is coachable and has talent and hope it all comes together.

Anyway, it seems like Booker's floor should be Anthony Morrow or Martell Webster.

[DY_nasty]

I like that jdm keeps beating home the message that "they all have flaws". I think its something that gets lost from time to time. Find a player that works hard, is coachable and has talent and hope it all comes together.

Anyway, it seems like Booker's floor should be Anthony Morrow or Martell Webster.

Everyone has flaws, yeah, but how many only have two strengths?

Three if you count looking like someone else who happens to play the same position.

edit: I don't even get the "high basketball IQ" stuff because all he did was taken the shots he was given. Its not like he was destroying entire teams with his off-ball play like JJ or something. Dude got open when he could and hit shots. That just means you're not a douche who derails your team's offense

[GoBobs]

Booker had similar stats his freshman year at KY to John Jenkins his freshman year at Vandy except Jenkins was a much better 3pt shooter. He might end up being a good NBA player, but he hasn't proven he has the talent to be a early first round pick in the draft.

The guy averaged 10 pts per game as a role player and the only NBA skill he shows is shooting. Last year Stauskas and McDermott where better college shooters and they are both shooting 32% in the league.

[amcoolio]

I don't think there's a chance we select Booker. He is just years away and thats not something we need right now.

[GoBobs]

Beal still rebounded really well for a guard. Booker did nothing but stand around the three and make cuts. UK didn't even like him bringing up the ball. Booker projects nothing but to be a shooter at the next level.

This is something I've always thought was more worthy of discussion yet most gloss over it.

If Calipari is good at anything it's playing to his players' strengths and giving the biggest roles to his best guys.

If Booker was a more capable ball handler, bums like the Harrison twins wouldn't have received more minutes than he did. If he was capable of doing more than camping around the three point line, he wouldn't have gotten less burn than a guy like Tyler freaking Ulls. If he was a more impactful player, he would've been showcased in the offense instead of being an ancillary piece.

And I'd say the argument that he does "nothing more than shoot" is much more dire than people are willing to admit. This guy literally adds nothing to the box score other than efficient shooting. I mean we're talking a COMBINED rebounds, assists, steals, blocks of only 3.6. Isn't that typically a huge red flag for wing prospects?

Compare that number to Stanley Johnson's 10.1, Sam Dekker's 7.8, Kelly Oubre's 7.3, Justise Winslow's 10.8, Hell even Mario Hezonja's 4.1 while getting less minutes and being an afterthought on his team.

I mean yeah, don't get me wrong, Booker has a sweet looking jumper and all that. But this is a top 10 pick. I'd like to get somebody capable of topping out a little higher than the Morrow to Reddddickte range

Even Josh Richardson has a 10.7 and he is a marginal nba talent

[ball teacher]

I can see Reddick as a ceiling for Booker cause Booker seems to have set shooting as his only skill, but JJ can do more than that. JJ was at Duke 3 or 4 years and he wasnt used as a one dimensional shooter like Booker. So JJ is more polished, he can catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble, he knows how to move without the ball, and JJ was better at the college level and he has since learned how to do this at the NBA level. All of the players Booker seems to be compared to, Klay, Beal, JJ, and I'll even add Jodie Meeks, could all do more offensively than Booker could at the college level. So at this point all of them seem to be potential ceilings for Booker since to date he hasnt shown the overall abilities of any of these guys.

JJ was afraid to dribble coming out of Duke. He spent years there and could not play defense or dribble when he left. I remember him trying to drive the lane his rookie year and air balling a layup. Let's not overhype these guys to much based on what they are now to what they were then. These "overall" abilities everyone is speaking of were not shown in college by most of these guys. Klay was slow footed and people questioned if he would ever take anyone off the dribble in the NBA. People feared Redick would be the next Langdan because he could not handle the ball well. Beal was a "shooter " who did not shoot all that well. They all had flaws coming out very similar to the ones Oubre, Booker, Hezonja and Johnson have now but they improved them and that is what we are going to have to hope for with whoever we pick at 9.

I agree with everything you stated, and that's exactly why I have apprehension with Booker. Everything you say about JJ struggling when he first got to the league is true, but the thing is, JJ was more prepared to leave college than Booker cause JJ had a bigger role offensively and more experience. We are wondering if Booker can develop to the point where JJ, Beal or Klay is now, and only Klay is really all star caliber as JJ is just now finding his niche and Beal wont really be much better than he is now, and again, these guys were more complete players than Booker has shown in college.

[BeesWax]

I can see Reddick as a ceiling for Booker cause Booker seems to have set shooting as his only skill, but JJ can do more than that. JJ was at Duke 3 or 4 years and he wasnt used as a one dimensional shooter like Booker. So JJ is more polished, he can catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble, he knows how to move without the ball, and JJ was better at the college level and he has since learned how to do this at the NBA level. All of the players Booker seems to be compared to, Klay, Beal, JJ, and I'll even add Jodie Meeks, could all do more offensively than Booker could at the college level. So at this point all of them seem to be potential ceilings for Booker since to date he hasnt shown the overall abilities of any of these guys.

JJ was afraid to dribble coming out of Duke. He spent years there and could not play defense or dribble when he left. I remember him trying to drive the lane his rookie year and air balling a layup. Let's not overhype these guys to much based on what they are now to what they were then. These "overall" abilities everyone is speaking of were not shown in college by most of these guys. Klay was slow footed and people questioned if he would ever take anyone off the dribble in the NBA. People feared Redick would be the next Langdan because he could not handle the ball well. Beal was a "shooter " who did not shoot all that well. They all had flaws coming out very similar to the ones Oubre, Booker, Hezonja and Johnson have now but they improved them and that is what we are going to have to hope for with whoever we pick at 9.

I agree with everything you stated, and that's exactly why I have apprehension with Booker. Everything you say about JJ struggling when he first got to the league is true, but the thing is, JJ was more prepared to leave college than Booker cause JJ had a bigger role offensively and more experience. We are wondering if Booker can develop to the point where JJ, Beal or Klay is now, and only Klay is really all star caliber as JJ is just now finding his niche and Beal wont really be much better than he is now, and again, these guys were more complete players than Booker has shown in college.

I see what you are saying but I would argue than none other than maybe Klay were more complete. JJ had a bigger role in terms of numbers of shots but still did nothing that Booker did not do in his role. He was just a lot more experienced and only doing what Booker can do. Beal on a much weaker team shot worse from three and the FT line. He was really a huge gamble because his form looked good but had been very ineffective. Klay was more complete due to his time spent and growing role at WSU but he was not better going in. He also adjusted to the NBA fast than the other two due to his more expanded college role. No matter how long these guys stay in school they still have to improve in the league to be effective and I don't think that is any different for any of the guys we will pick. With his form we know Booker will be able to shoot and with his intelligence he is more likely to get time early on because he won't do stupid stuff that cost our team games.