Guys with "star" potential who are not viewed as budding stars? Post some!

[R-DAWG]

Greg Monroe has the potential to be Al Jefferson. Not hard to imagine him being a 20 point, 11 rebound, 4 assist on 50% shooting player in the right system. Just turned 25 years old. I read today that he is looking for a shorter deal to take advantage of the cap raise, which makes the risk even safer. If your going to stretch to sign a free agent this is the type of guy you do it for.

[skones]

Greg Monroe has the potential to be Al Jefferson. Not hard to imagine him being a 20 point, 11 rebound, 4 assist on 50% shooting player in the right system. Just turned 25 years old. I read today that he is looking for a shorter deal to take advantage of the cap raise, which makes the risk even safer. If your going to stretch to sign a free agent this is the type of guy you do it for.

I might take current Monroe over Jefferson in any year at this point. His passing is significantly better and he's a better defender. I'll sacrifice those extra touches for more of an all-around game.

[skones]

Jerami Grant.

Since this is a thread to dream on guys, I think his upside ceiling is Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard: 6' 7" 227 w/ a 7' 3" wingspan and 8' 10" standing reach

Grant: 6' 7.75" 214 w/ a 7' 2.75" wingspan and 8' 11" standing reach

Both guys were considered athletic projects coming out of college, though of course Leonard was more highly regarded. Still, Jerami Grant showed some things as a young rookie, and he's an outstanding athlete with a decent stroke that's active on the defensive end (had 8 blocks against NYK).

He needs to significantly improve his ball-handling to take the next step, but has the body, bounce and length to be a star.

Call it a "homer" post if you want, but I think this is a fair upside comp for Grant. Obviously very unlikely Grant ever reaches Leonard's level, but like I said, something to dream on.

It's not a "homer" post. It's a homer post. Grant would need to significantly improve EVERYTHING, a highly unlikely proposition when it comes to a developmental curve. Fair upside it is not, because there's nearly a zero chance it happens. Likelihood is important when it comes to upside. "Perfect world" does not equate to "fair upside."

[Dan Z]

Rod Hood will be a top 25 scorer in the NBA in the future.

I haven't seen him play enough so correct me if I'm wrong on this, but for some reason he reminds me of Khris Middleton.

[jazzfan1971]

Ricky Rubio. He'll have to stay healthy tho.

[stitches]

Rod Hood will be a top 25 scorer in the NBA in the future.

I haven't seen him play enough so correct me if I'm wrong on this, but for some reason he reminds me of Khris Middleton.

Middleton is more off-the-ball wing. Hood was one of the best scorers out of the pnr as ballhandler in the league. He can create offense off the bounce. I think Hood can be a more versatile offensive player than Middleton(I'd say he already is), but I'm not sure he can be as good as him in D. We will have to wait and see how he develops.

[DreDay]

Not counting rookies, but guys I think are much better than they've shown

Shabazz
Vonleh
Exum
McCollum
MKG
Stauskas

[Illmatic12]

I'm not so sure that's true. Beal will always be the better offensive player, but MKG is much bigger, is already a top 5 wing defender trending way up and is a great rebounder. I think there would be GM's would take him over Beal.

And Tony Allen is a really really good basketball player. Considering MKG is already superior to him in a number of ways I think you are under-selling how good this kid can be.

Tony Allen is a really really good basketball player... who isn't even in the top 50 most valuable players in the league.

MKG is a great defender, but offense is still slightly more valuable than defense in this league, and his offensive game is.. I don't even want to say one dimensional, it's *zero* dimensional. He can be really good, but there's always going to be something separating him from entering that elite class. Even if he tops out at a prime Gerald Wallace-level (which he's not even close to right now) that still wouldn't make MKG one of the top tier elites in the league.

Beal has multiple dimensions to his game. He can play good defense, spaces the floor with 40%+ 3pt shooting, excellent at moving off the ball, rebounds well, sees the floor and can pass, and is showcasing more variety in creating with the ball and scoring in different ways. Those are the types of wings who have a chance to become elite.


Both MKG and Beal have struggled with injuries in their short careers. But after last year's playoffs, I don't think there's a single GM out there who would take MKG over Beal, because Beal looked like the type of player who is more rare to find in this league.

last season

MKG 13.6 points per 36 @ 51.9% TS
Beal 16.4 points per 36 @ 52.1 TS

Beal was on a minutes limitation for part of the season, he never really got going till the end of the regular season. His soph season he scored 18 points/36. He's averaged 20/5/5 throughout his playoff career, as a 20 and 21 year old #1 option. MKG hasn't really displayed any type of competent offense for an extended stretch which has been his major weakness. Beal's weakness like many young guards has been in his shooting efficiency. But at least we've seen that the foundation is there, for the type of versatile player he can become.

Both Beal and MKG are talented young prospects who have had up-and-down starts due to injury. But projecting forward it's Beal who has displayed more rare high level talent, and is more likely to be a better player down the line.

I'm not saying MKG isn't going to be a good player, but we're talking about two different caliber prospects here. Beal just averaged 25/6/5 in a playoff series against the East's #1 seed (including having to carry the team when the best player went down). He also locked Kyle Korver down defensively for the entire series. He's the same age as MKG.

one is a "zero dimensions" offensive player and the other is a dynamic future elite offensive stud?

you're being extremely homerish there.

Homerish? Actually, I bet if you polled most unbiased NBA GMs, coaches, fans, analysts etc those are the pretty much the descriptions they would give to Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal respectively. MKG basically ranges from 'non-existent' to 'not a liability' offensively (hence why he doesn't even log 30mpg). Beal is one of the most talented all-around young guards in the league, has put up impressive numbers in the postseason against elite defenses and looks poised to carry that on into next season. He won't be MVP-caliber 'elite' in terms of him ever being like Kobe or Wade type scorer, but most non-Hornets homers would probably take his future outlook and overall upside over Kidd-Gilchrist.

[TrillTowers]

TJ Warren was the best rookie in summer league, he had an injury to start the season and was worked into the lineup slowly.

If he develops a consistent 3pt shot I fully believe he can be as good as anyone in that draft including even Wiggins. His game is a little bit old-school for a SF though.

[Winglish]

Rod Hood will be a top 25 scorer in the NBA in the future.

I haven't seen him play enough so correct me if I'm wrong on this, but for some reason he reminds me of Khris Middleton.

They have similar lanky builds for sure. Hood's release is a picture perfect goose neck, just a pure shooter's stroke. That will serve him well in the NBA. Rod operates well out of the pick 'n' roll. He has a nice knack for that two-man game, doesn't force it but takes the smart shot or makes the appropriate pass. I think Hood is a little better than Middleton off the bounce in traffic as well. Both guys can catch and shoot with the best of them.

Middleton is a better defender than Rodney Hood, but Rod's not bad. Both guys cause opponents problems with their length.

[Dcebucks11]

Rod Hood will be a top 25 scorer in the NBA in the future.

I haven't seen him play enough so correct me if I'm wrong on this, but for some reason he reminds me of Khris Middleton.

Middleton is more off-the-ball wing. Hood was one of the best scorers out of the pnr as ballhandler in the league. He can create offense off the bounce. I think Hood can be a more versatile offensive player than Middleton(I'd say he already is), but I'm not sure he can be as good as him in D. We will have to wait and see how he develops.

Yeah, he's more off ball.. But Middleton has a great post game and great turn around jumper, also I think his shot is even quicker than Rodneys .. He's a great fit on the Bucks since he doesn't have to have the ball in his hands which is more valuable to the Bucks

But rodney is a nice player

[stitches]

I haven't seen him play enough so correct me if I'm wrong on this, but for some reason he reminds me of Khris Middleton.

Middleton is more off-the-ball wing. Hood was one of the best scorers out of the pnr as ballhandler in the league. He can create offense off the bounce. I think Hood can be a more versatile offensive player than Middleton(I'd say he already is), but I'm not sure he can be as good as him in D. We will have to wait and see how he develops.

Yeah, he's more off ball.. But Middleton has a great post game and great turn around jumper, also I think his shot is even quicker than Rodneys .. He's a great fit on the Bucks since he doesn't have to have the ball in his hands which is more valuable imo

Yah, Middleton has some post game indeed. BTW what a coincidence that you would mention that... We didn't see any post game from Rodney last season, but according to Quin Snyder he's got game even there. Here's what he said about him the other day:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765676426/Deseret-News-Sports-podcast-Looking-at-the-future-of-the-Utah-Jazz.html
"I don't know if you've seen him in the post, but he's a decent post player". I think we will probably see some of it in summer league. I honestly expect Rodney to absolutely kill it in Summer league.

[Dcebucks11]

Middleton is more off-the-ball wing. Hood was one of the best scorers out of the pnr as ballhandler in the league. He can create offense off the bounce. I think Hood can be a more versatile offensive player than Middleton(I'd say he already is), but I'm not sure he can be as good as him in D. We will have to wait and see how he develops.

Yeah, he's more off ball.. But Middleton has a great post game and great turn around jumper, also I think his shot is even quicker than Rodneys .. He's a great fit on the Bucks since he doesn't have to have the ball in his hands which is more valuable imo

Yah, Middleton has some post game indeed. BTW what a coincidence that you would mention that... We didn't see any post game from Rodney last season, but according to Quin Snyder he's got game even there. Here's what he said about him the other day:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765676426/Deseret-News-Sports-podcast-Looking-at-the-future-of-the-Utah-Jazz.html
"I don't know if you've seen him in the post, but he's a decent post player". I think we will probably see some of it in summer league. I honestly expect Rodney to absolutely kill it in Summer league.

Yeah i like him as a Duke.. He'll be a good player

[He Filled it Up]

Noah Vonleh is probably the next Draymond Green, except he's 6'11 instead of 6'7 and lacks any of the intangibles that make Draymond the players he his.

FTFY

[Patsfan1081]

Rod Hood will be a top 25 scorer in the NBA in the future.

I haven't seen him play enough so correct me if I'm wrong on this, but for some reason he reminds me of Khris Middleton.

They have similar lanky builds for sure. Hood's release is a picture perfect goose neck, just a pure shooter's stroke. That will serve him well in the NBA. Rod operates well out of the pick 'n' roll. He has a nice knack for that two-man game, doesn't force it but takes the smart shot or makes the appropriate pass. I think Hood is a little better than Middleton off the bounce in traffic as well. Both guys can catch and shoot with the best of them.

Middleton is a better defender than Rodney Hood, but Rod's not bad. Both guys cause opponents problems with their length.

I really wish Boston had drafted him, he does have a really nice shot. I don't think half a season is enough to compare him to a player like Middleton yet or say he was one of the best in the league. at something, but he is someone to watch this season. Should of went higher in the draft.

[HornetJail]

Noah Vonleh is probably the next Draymond Green, except he's 6'11 instead of 6'7 and lacks any of the intangibles that make Draymond the players he his.

FTFY

Definitely the end of the world for a 19-year-old that has played 259 NBA minutes.

[He Filled it Up]

Noah Vonleh is probably the next Draymond Green, except he's 6'11 instead of 6'7 and lacks any of the intangibles that make Draymond the players he his.

FTFY

Definitely the end of the world for a 19-year-old that has played 259 NBA minutes.

I'm not saying he won't pan out, but even in very early in his career he is a vastly different player than Draymond. It's a pretty bad comp IMO.

[510TWSS]

Noah Vonleh is probably the next Draymond Green, except he's 6'11 instead of 6'7. He's got every tool that you need to become a modern NBA power forward. He's going to explode in Portland.

Can he shoot the 3 ball?

Draymond isn't Draymond until he became at least a threat with the 3pt shot. He's not stellar at it, but good enough to get hot and keep shooting the wide open shots due to Curry's gravitational pull.

[HornetJail]

Noah Vonleh is probably the next Draymond Green, except he's 6'11 instead of 6'7. He's got every tool that you need to become a modern NBA power forward. He's going to explode in Portland.

Can he shoot the 3 ball?

Draymond isn't Draymond until he became at least a threat with the 3pt shot. He's not stellar at it, but good enough to get hot and keep shooting the wide open shots due to Curry's gravitational pull.

Yes he can, which makes our trade that much more confusing.