bwgood77 wrote:NavLDO wrote:I'd still like to see what these guys could do in a traditional development scenario. Someone, anyone (because I'm not going to do the research to find the answer), tell me when the last time...or heck, if ever, a GM spent two top 10 picks on two under 20, highly-developmental players who played the same position, then tell me who they were, and how they both turned out to be great players...because surely McD must have had some type of blueprint to go off of when he decided to go that direction.
Seriously, all three of those guys are doomed...Chriss, Bender, and JJ. They're all going to fail. NOT because they aren't good enough, but because they are in an impossible situation. You've finally broken me down, Frank (well, not you...McD has done it with his dumb approach to team building), but I'm on the dump McD bandwagon the day after the Trade Deadline is over, if he has not traded one of the 2 PFs, and one of Warren or JJ.
Stupid waste of a 4th overall pick...TWO YEARS IN A ROW!!! Amazing, actually. I'm ok with 'sucking' the rest of the season, but then play JJ, and play Chriss or Bender...again (beating that dead horse)...Pick one! Really is a waste of draft picks if they don't start developing these kids, and letting Warren believe he's our starter of the future? That's a Dragic scenario waiting to happen again once he's 'sat' in favor of JJ.
I know you ignore the "positionless" basketball thing and the fact that you need 8 or so rotation players playing major minutes and who starts isn't always the most important....but...
The Celtics drafted SF Jaylen Brown #3. The following year they drafted SF Jayson Tatum #3, signed SF Gordon Hayward to a max and traded for SF Marcus Morris who often starts.
They all seem to be progressing fairly well. Hayward's injured, but given you wanted an example of two high lottery picks being drafted who play the same position there is one.
Funny thing is, in 2014 they took PG Marcus Smart #6 and then the next year they took PG Terry Rozier #16 and even traded for IT the same year. They all played quite a bit. They also had combo guard Avery Bradley in there. They still had those two young rookie contract PGs when trading for all star Kyrie Irving.
That team worked out ok and all their players seem to develop fairly well.
Also, you mentioned something about Brooklyn being in a dilemma. They want to start Dinwiddie and Russell together....I posted articles and links yesterday...they say Dinwiddie being 6'6 can guard any 2s...and Russell is great and sometimes better off ball.
So, I haven't even read any response yet, to my my response this morning to this post, because I also wanted to point out a couple of items as to why I have a problem with 2 x PFs and 2 x SFs, and it has to do with, well, we are not Boston. We tried 3 combo Guards...or ...'positionless' Guards before, and it blew up in our face, and I've stated as much a couple of times. Warren has earned a starting spot. And while you and few other knowledgable Suns fans might be ok with JJ not starting, he likely won't, and it will have to do with his next contract. And the media won't and they'll consistently call him a bust for being a #4 overall pick and not a starter. He cannot 'fill the role' of a PG, and he's too small to be inside...I'm sorry, but there's 'positionless', and then there is insanity (no, I'm not calling you insane...I'm saying it waoul be insane to play him as a 'big'
I have NO aversion to 'positionless' basketball, and have mentioned on a few occasions that I've been open to Doncic coming in and fulfilling PG duties, or Booker playing the point, or whatever, so I do not thinks it's a fair comment to suggest that I 'ignore' positionless basketball, because I don't.
And when I was alluding to the Nets, I was ALSO including Lin in that conversation...that's 3 PGs that can start, and are better than any PG on our roster...or 'positionless' Combo Guard, or whatever you want to call a Guard that runs the point. I'm perfectly fine with Booker playing Combo Guard and us getting another one in here to play along side him. I've been an advocate of Warren playing the '4', and JJ playing the '2' when he can shoot. I am extremely open to 'positionless' basketball.
My point has ZERO to do with that, because we aren't DOING that. It's Bender in for Chriss, or JJ in Warren. When that changes...and I mean on a significant basis...not 2 minutes here and 2 minutes there...when that happens consistently, like 10-12 minutes a game, then tell me I'm being close minded. But right now, my comments are based off of how they are rotating them in and out and how they are playing them...nothing else.
Am I wrong? Are Chriss and Bender getting significant playing time together at the 4 and 5 or 3 and 4? Are Warren and JJ getting significant playing time playing together as the 2 and 3 or 3 and 4? If so...like I said...like consistently, every game for 10-12 minutes, then I'll gladly admit I am wrong and change my tune. Deal??
