Trae Young

[VCfor3]

I feel like he isn't moving off the ball unless he is running towards the ball handler for a pass/handoff.

This is true, and it's one of the reasons why he's a far-cry from Steph.

Steph is a better off ball player obviously but that assessment isn't very fair. None of his teammates are playmakers in the slightest. Heck, who on his team can even dribble a basketball for more than 2 seconds with a defender on them? I didn't see many situations where I thought Young could have created an open shot for himself if he tried to curl around the defense. Just like every other game the past few months, they were draped all over Young and today his teammates clearly let him down with their inability to finish anything inside or hit great looks from three (1-11 behind the arc).

28-7-5 on 65% TS in his first tournament game ever at 19 years old while being double teamed the whole game and taking a clearly better URI team to OT but reading all the comments on social media, you would think he blew the game. The expectations for the kid are pretty crazy.

I think that him moving off the ball will be something he can learn/do in the NBA. He also seemed gassed in the second half until he found that second wave of energy after hitting those FTs, and I think fatigue is a large part of the lack of movement. He has to do so much that he tries to catch his breath when others have the ball. In the NBA he shouldn't have to shoulder such a load so I think he'll have the energy to keep moving around.

I agree that he is the only one who can handle the ball, but in the moments he doesn't have it he can still move around and pull defenders.

[yoyoboy]

Steph was the far superior off ball player in college. And you can't make the argument that Steph had better teammates in college while at Davidson compared to what Young has at OU.

I'm not comparing the two? I'm saying if you're going to criticize Young's ability to play off the ball, at least put it into context. Why are we comparing Young to a guy who turned into a top 2 player in the league instead of just looking at what Young has been able to do?

Context considered...it's still an issue. If you're drafting Trae Young with Steph as the baseline/benchmark, this needs to be taken into account.

I don't think that's the benchmark at all. I don't think there needs to be one. Trae is his own player and I think with his combination of shooting, passing, and underrated ability to accelerate going downhill, he's a pretty great prospect.

Is the issue that Trae can't or refuses to play off the ball? Or that it's futile because his teammates can't create at all. They just can't. The next highest assist man on his team is Christian James at 1.5 assists per game. Whenever Young passes another player the ball or goes out of the game, they look completely helpless and either recklessly barrel their way into the lane or immediately look to throw it back to him. I mean anyone who watched today's game should've seen that. This isn't a case where Young is dominating the ball and disallowing others from creating; it's literally not in their skillset, and that's why it's so easy for other teams to double Young and beat Oklahoma in the process because it shuts down their entire offense. He's going to look a lot better playing with legitimate NBA players at the next level. He's a fantastic passer and guys aren't going to be constantly blowing easy finishes at the rim or open three point looks that he sets up. And there's no reason he won't be able to utilize his gravity and become a solid off ball player. He doesn't have to be Steph in that regard. That Lillard guy is pretty good, too.

His defense is a big issue and probably will always be below average at the very best, but he has terrific offensive potential and I think people will be surprised but how different he looks with better teammates.

[TheSuzerain]

This is true, and it's one of the reasons why he's a far-cry from Steph.

Steph is a better off ball player obviously but that assessment isn't very fair. None of his teammates are playmakers in the slightest. Heck, who on his team can even dribble a basketball for more than 2 seconds with a defender on them? I didn't see many situations where I thought Young could have created an open shot for himself if he tried to curl around the defense. Just like every other game the past few months, they were draped all over Young and today his teammates clearly let him down with their inability to finish anything inside or hit great looks from three (1-11 behind the arc).

28-7-5 on 65% TS in his first tournament game ever at 19 years old while being double teamed the whole game and taking a clearly better URI team to OT but reading all the comments on social media, you would think he blew the game. The expectations for the kid are pretty crazy.

Steph was the far superior off ball player in college. And you can't make the argument that Steph had better teammates in college while at Davidson compared to what Young has at OU.

I mean you can make that argument. Jason Richards is a far better playmaker than anyone Trae had to play off of.

I don't know how you can watch the non-Trae players on this team and expect Trae to make hay off ball.

[JMac1]

The luckiest teams in the lotto will be the teams that pick 1 and 2 and whoever has to draft Trae as BPA because everyone else is “too smart” not to pick him 3-6. If someone picks Sexton over him....lol...see Minny 2009. I hope the Suns are 1.2 or whoever he falls to.

[VCfor3]

The luckiest teams in the lotto will be the teams that pick 1 and 2 and whoever has to draft Trae as BPA because everyone else is “too smart” not to pick him 3-6. If someone picks Sexton over him....lol...see Minny 2009. I hope the Suns are 1.2 or whoever he falls to.

So I guess you are hoping to get Ayton up top and then with some combination of 15, 16, and players move up enough to grab Young? It'll be interesting to see the draft order since that will heavily influence which of these top 7 prospects fall. Orlando drafting late (6/7) could take a chance on Young I feel like.

[JMac1]

The luckiest teams in the lotto will be the teams that pick 1 and 2 and whoever has to draft Trae as BPA because everyone else is “too smart” not to pick him 3-6. If someone picks Sexton over him....lol...see Minny 2009. I hope the Suns are 1.2 or whoever he falls to.

So I guess you are hoping to get Ayton up top and then with some combination of 15, 16, and players move up enough to grab Young? It'll be interesting to see the draft order since that will heavily influence which of these top 7 prospects fall. Orlando drafting late (6/7) could take a chance on Young I feel like.

Man don’t eff with me like that....lol! Ayton and Young. We are the Suns......

[MemphisX]

Trae Young is NOT Steph. Not even the same mentality. He is Steve Nash-like. He is not going to be a 30 ppg scorer in the NBA. He is going to be a 17/12 type guy.

[JMac1]

I like what Kenny Smith told Charles...everyone’s bracket is right before the tournament starts....

[GreatWhiteStiff]

Trae Young is NOT Steph. Not even the same mentality. He is Steve Nash-like. He is not going to be a 30 ppg scorer in the NBA. He is going to be a 17/12 type guy.

He has the mentality to score x (30ish) points per game as a freshman in college, what was steph curry's mentality as a freshman in college again?

[doordoor123]

I like what Kenny Smith told Charles...everyone’s bracket is right before the tournament starts....

It really hasn’t been hard to predict till now. Teams that rebound and defend from the most positions win. That’s it. Shooting teams never make it.

[GIMME_DATT]

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2764689-i-dont-see-it-nba-scouts-execs-doubting-trae-young-after-ncaa-tourney-exit.amp.html

[rpa]

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2764689-i-dont-see-it-nba-scouts-execs-doubting-trae-young-after-ncaa-tourney-exit.amp.html

This part particularly stands out as outright comedy (the bolded):

At 6'2", 180 pounds and with short arms, minimal explosiveness and a heavy reliance on threes (10.3 attempts per game, 36.1 percent) and free throws (8.6 attempts per game), Young has size and scoring limitations that concern scouts.

We're talking about a guy who's coming into a league where at least one team (a very successful one) had a "3s or layups (/fouls)" offensive system last year. But now that's a limitation? Really ...

[getrichordie]

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2764689-i-dont-see-it-nba-scouts-execs-doubting-trae-young-after-ncaa-tourney-exit.amp.html

This part particularly stands out as outright comedy (the bolded):

At 6'2", 180 pounds and with short arms, minimal explosiveness and a heavy reliance on threes (10.3 attempts per game, 36.1 percent) and free throws (8.6 attempts per game), Young has size and scoring limitations that concern scouts.

We're talking about a guy who's coming into a league where at least one team (a very successful one) had a "3s or layups (/fouls)" offensive system last year. But now that's a limitation? Really ...

What they are saying is that he can’t score unless he has a 3-ball going. Just because you can shoot a 3, that doesn’t mean you are going to be an impact player in the NBA. You have to be able to create space, make passes, dribble drive as well as a PG. He is going to struggle mightily in the NBA. He should be a 2nd rounder.


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[King Ken]

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2764689-i-dont-see-it-nba-scouts-execs-doubting-trae-young-after-ncaa-tourney-exit.amp.html

This part particularly stands out as outright comedy (the bolded):

At 6'2", 180 pounds and with short arms, minimal explosiveness and a heavy reliance on threes (10.3 attempts per game, 36.1 percent) and free throws (8.6 attempts per game), Young has size and scoring limitations that concern scouts.

We're talking about a guy who's coming into a league where at least one team (a very successful one) had a "3s or layups (/fouls)" offensive system last year. But now that's a limitation? Really ...

What they are saying is that he can’t score unless he has a 3-ball going. Just because you can shoot a 3, that doesn’t mean you are going to be an impact player in the NBA. You have to be able to create space, make passes, dribble drive as well as a PG. He is going to struggle mightily in the NBA. He should be a 2nd rounder.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

I agree with you here. He really should be a 2nd rounder. I feel like he will get over-drafted due to his young age and the Curry factor but he's not close to ready to even be a backup in the NBA right now. He needs a year in the G-League. His floor reminds me of Dennis Schroeder out of Germany during his draft. His ceiling does as well. That's a good thing. That means he could develop into an average starting PG but he needs a lot of help like good coaching and a development club.

[getrichordie]

This part particularly stands out as outright comedy (the bolded):



We're talking about a guy who's coming into a league where at least one team (a very successful one) had a "3s or layups (/fouls)" offensive system last year. But now that's a limitation? Really ...

What they are saying is that he can’t score unless he has a 3-ball going. Just because you can shoot a 3, that doesn’t mean you are going to be an impact player in the NBA. You have to be able to create space, make passes, dribble drive as well as a PG. He is going to struggle mightily in the NBA. He should be a 2nd rounder.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

I agree with you here. He really should be a 2nd rounder. I feel like he will get over-drafted due to his young age and the Curry factor but he's not close to ready to even be a backup in the NBA right now. He needs a year in the G-League. His floor reminds me of Dennis Schroeder out of Germany during his draft. His ceiling does as well. That's a good thing. That means he could develop into an average starting PG but he needs a lot of help like good coaching and a development club.

You are higher on him than I am. I don’t think he can be a starting point guard in the league unless he completely reforms his physique and gains that explosion and a quick first step like an IT or Kyrie.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[JMac1]

This is how stubborn people can be which leads to plain stupidity. The dude led college basketball in points and assist 29 and 9 as as TRUE FRESHMAN for a major college basketball program playing with guys would could not shoot or finish or playmake for him to play off the ball, yet people still FIND reasons to make excuses to not believe their lying eyes,lol,smh. Never cease to amaze me.

That’s why players are always “overlooked.” See something someone has never shown over someone who has. I understand to a point.....but with this guy.

A lot of people will be eating crow next year, and unfortunately it will probably be the Suns included, that’s our luck.

[VCfor3]

This is how stubborn people can be which leads to plain stupidity. The dude led college basketball in points and assist 29 and 9 as as TRUE FRESHMAN for a major college basketball program playing with guys would could not shoot or finish or playmake for him to play off the ball, yet people still FIND reasons to make excuses to not believe their lying eyes,lol,smh. Never cease to amaze me.

That’s why players are always “overlooked.” See something someone has never shown over someone who has. I understand to a point.....but with this guy.

A lot of people will be eating crow next year, and unfortunately it will probably be the Suns included, that’s our luck.

That just depends on where the Suns end up drafting. I think they take Doncic/Ayton if they get a Top 2 pick and then start to consider Young once those two are off the board. I don't feel like Bagley and JJJ would fit as well since you already have Bender and Chriss. Porter is an option but I don't feel like you go that direction. Bamba would be a center that could anchor your defense so he is certainly an option but the draw of Young's offense could be more appealing.

I think Young could develop into a very good offensive PG. He is probably best with a Klay Thompson/3&D SG next to him to take the harder guard assignment on defense, but I could still see him developing into a so-so team defender. He needs to tighten his handles as well and make better decisions with the ball but some of that will come with time and NBA coaching.

[shakes0]

I've been saying for 2 months that Trae has the worst teammates in major college basketball. That was on full display in yesterday's game. Every single one of them is complete trash.

But, in the end it's Trae's fault because he could've gone to any school in the country and since he lives in Norman he knew full well what he was getting himself into this year.

[TheSuzerain]

Trae Young is NOT Steph. Not even the same mentality. He is Steve Nash-like. He is not going to be a 30 ppg scorer in the NBA. He is going to be a 17/12 type guy.

I think he's Steve Nash doing a Steph Curry impersonation.

His skillset/physical profile is very well aligned with Nash.

[Alatan]

Trae Young is NOT Steph. Not even the same mentality. He is Steve Nash-like. He is not going to be a 30 ppg scorer in the NBA. He is going to be a 17/12 type guy.

I agree that Young will be a Steve Nash type player eventually. His scoring wont translate to the NBA but his playmaking will. He has scoring threats to open up the floor and passing skills and awareness to create for others. A 15 and 10 player is what i think he could be eventually. Not really a player you build around but a player that ties it all together.