Rise of the bigs: Canadians in the NBA, 2017-18

[Hair Canada]

I started this season summary with a post on the great seasons of Brooks and Murray:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1697691


The next four are all bigs who did better than expected this year. A bit hard to believe, but all seem in better shape right now than Tristan Thompson, who seemed like our leading big at the beginning of the year. With these four, though, team Canada’s frontcourt seems to be in great shape for the coming World Championship games (assuming we get there) and Olympics.


Kelly Olynyk

Notable stats: 11.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, 17.8 PER, and a wonderful 61% true shooting (all career highs). Per 40, Olynyk is a 20, 10, 5 guy. Who would have thought?

Wonderful season for Kelly. In the summer, he signed a four-year $50M deal with the Heat, many thought he was seriously overpaid and that it was all because of that 7th game against the Wizards last year. Well, Olynyk has shown this year that this is clearly not the case. He’s been arguably the best Canadian in the league, together with Murray and is one of Miami’s best players. In my opinion, he deserves even more credit than what he’s getting from Spoelstra (23 minutes a game from the bench), given what he’s been showing when given the opportunity. As it is though, he’s been great, showing high game intelligence, his regular excellent shooting, and perhaps most notably, some very good passing abilities, which is an area of his game that can really be further developed in the coming years (he’s already one of the better passing bigs in the league). All this bodes extremely well for the Canadian national team, where I think he can be a key player, as his style of play is especially well-adjusted to the international game.

Season grade: A


Trey Lyles

Notable stats: (in less than 20 minutes a game): 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, 49% from the field, 38% from 3, and 59% true shooting (all easily career highs). Per 40, Lyles had 21, 10, and 2.5 assists.

Lyles also had a breakout season. There was a stretch, during January and February where he had 15 points and 7 rebounds a game and looked a like a legit starting 4, perhaps even a future star in this league. Then Paul Millsap came back from his injury and Lyles’ minutes (less than 14 a game in March and April) and confidence suffered. Still, he showed this season that he more than belongs in the league, with everything you might want from a modern PF – mobility, outside shooting, and even stretches of good defense. If I’m Denver, I’m seriously thinking about him as my future PF and perhaps even find a deal for Millsap, who hasn’t shown this year that he is worth the 100 mil 3-year contract he got last summer. To be honest, I had my doubts about Lyles after two very mediocre (to say the least) seasons with the Jazz. But he showed great potential this year and looks like the future starting PF for the Canadian national team.

Season grade: A- (would have been an A if not for the decline over the last two months, which as I said was mostly not his fault)


Dwight Powell

Notable stats: 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 21 minutes a game (all easily career bests), on a tremendous 65.6% true shooting (third in the league!).

Another very pleasant surprise. Like Olynyk, Powell signed a contract this summer ($29M for three years), which many considered to be a serious overpay on the part of the Mavericks. And much like Olynyk, Powell proved them wrong. He was a very solid backup center for the admittedly weak Dallas team and at some point in the season, he even looked like a legit starting center, posting 14 points and 8.5 rebounds in the month of February, on his usual wonderful shooting accuracy. Powell clearly still has some disadvantages. He is not a great rim protector and shot blocker, although he has great mobility and can stay with smaller players on defense. Offensively, he’s fairly limited, with not much of an outside shot and little ability to create for himself. He’s a player that depends on the system and on players like Barea to create for him. He is one of the best bigs in the league, though, in reading the pick and roll and finishing at the basket with great hands and touch.

Season grade: A-


Khem Birch

Notable stats: 4 points, 4 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 14 minutes a game (42 games). 11 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over the last six games of the season.

Birch started the season in the G-League and got called to the Orlando roster only after Vucevic got injured. Birch was never a star in Europe and it was unclear whether he can even keep the spot on the roster. He did and played better than expected. He’s never been a great offensive threat, but did well in the limited minutes he got with the Magic. His defensive presence, mobility and shot-blocking ability is what makes him a legit NBA bench player. Could honestly say that I don’t see a huge difference between him and teammate Bismack Biyombo, but while Birch makes less than a million a year, Biyombo gets 17mil… In any case, I think with his play and consistency from the bench, Birch should win himself the contract renewal (team option) for next year in Orlando and might be able to carve a place for himself in the league for years to come.

Season grade: B+

[MEDIC]

Imagine those guys surrounded by:

PG: Murray
SG: Barrett
SF: Wiggins

In 3-4 years.

[Hair Canada]

I agree. And would probably add SGA and Brooks to the mix, especially if Wiggins continues to slump. A bright future.

[mojo13]

Imagine those guys surrounded by:

PG: Murray
SG: Barrett
SF: Wiggins

In 3-4 years.

We are more than imagining that for the 2019 WCs. Dreaming about it.
Might even see some of this during this summers qualfiers.

[Alpha Mentality]

Canada will be winning medals soon.

[OGLife]

Bring them home

[Kurtz]

Yes, but can we get these guys to show up to our national team?

[kwajo]

Yes, but can we get these guys to show up to our national team?

Doesn’t Kelly play for Canada quite often? His game seems pretty ideal for the international style too, although I am hardly an expert.

[mojo13]

Yes, but can we get these guys to show up to our national team?

Doesn’t Kelly play for Canada quite often? His game seems pretty ideal for the international style too, although I am hardly an expert.

You are very correct on both points. Kelly has historically been fairly committed to the national team. The only big absence was 2016 in Manila for the last shot qualifying for the olympics. Kelly was injured (shoulder surgery) but even then was still at camp. I contend if he was playing we could have beaten France.

He is an ideal FIBA big man, very suited to the international game which relies even more on outside shooting and ball movement. It can be easily argued he is the most important player for Canada nowadays in FIBA ball.

[mojo13]

Yes, but can we get these guys to show up to our national team?

We will never get 100 percent turnout. Every year there are injuries and free agents who don’t want to take the risk or can’t get insurance to play. Rookies or second year players that are pressured to play summer league instead. Other players whose teams lean on them to not play. The deeper we are the better chance we can field a competive line up. An 80 percent turnout would make be quite happy.

[Patman]

Yes, but can we get these guys to show up to our national team?

We will never get 100 percent turnout. Every year there are injuries and free agents who don’t want to take the risk or can’t get insurance to play. Rookies or second year players that are pressured to play summer league instead. Other players whose teams lean on them to not play. The deeper we are the better chance we can field a competive line up. An 80 percent turnout would make be quite happy.

We should have a national team program like the US has. Name 25-30 players who are in the pool for tournament roster selection. Get together every summer. There's ZERO national team culture right now, and it's unfortunate.

[PhilBlackson]

Imagine those guys surrounded by:

PG: Murray
SG: Barrett
SF: Wiggins

In 3-4 years.

Don't forget the homie Simi Sh*ttu.

[Hair Canada]

Imagine those guys surrounded by:

PG: Murray
SG: Barrett
SF: Wiggins

In 3-4 years.

Don't forget the homie Simi Sh*ttu.

Yes, I have big hopes for him as well. But it will take a number of years for him to get to this level, if at all. I think he could be an improved TT, but that's only if he lives up to his potential.

[TooBad]

I started this season summary with a post on the great seasons of Brooks and Murray:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1697691


The next four are all bigs who did better than expected this year. A bit hard to believe, but all seem in better shape right now than Tristan Thompson, who seemed like our leading big at the beginning of the year. With these four, though, team Canada’s frontcourt seems to be in great shape for the coming World Championship games (assuming we get there) and Olympics.


Kelly Olynyk

Notable stats: 11.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, 17.8 PER, and a wonderful 61% true shooting (all career highs). Per 40, Olynyk is a 20, 10, 5 guy. Who would have thought?

Wonderful season for Kelly. In the summer, he signed a four-year $50M deal with the Heat, many thought he was seriously overpaid and that it was all because of that 7th game against the Wizards last year. Well, Olynyk has shown this year that this is clearly not the case. He’s been arguably the best Canadian in the league, together with Murray and is one of Miami’s best players. In my opinion, he deserves even more credit than what he’s getting from Spoelstra (23 minutes a game from the bench), given what he’s been showing when given the opportunity. As it is though, he’s been great, showing high game intelligence, his regular excellent shooting, and perhaps most notably, some very good passing abilities, which is an area of his game that can really be further developed in the coming years (he’s already one of the better passing bigs in the league). All this bodes extremely well for the Canadian national team, where I think he can be a key player, as his style of play is especially well-adjusted to the international game.

Season grade: A


Trey Lyles

Notable stats: (in less than 20 minutes a game): 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, 49% from the field, 38% from 3, and 59% true shooting (all easily career highs). Per 40, Lyles had 21, 10, and 2.5 assists.

Lyles also had a breakout season. There was a stretch, during January and February where he had 15 points and 7 rebounds a game and looked a like a legit starting 4, perhaps even a future star in this league. Then Paul Millsap came back from his injury and Lyles’ minutes (less than 14 a game in March and April) and confidence suffered. Still, he showed this season that he more than belongs in the league, with everything you might want from a modern PF – mobility, outside shooting, and even stretches of good defense. If I’m Denver, I’m seriously thinking about him as my future PF and perhaps even find a deal for Millsap, who hasn’t shown this year that he is worth the 100 mil 3-year contract he got last summer. To be honest, I had my doubts about Lyles after two very mediocre (to say the least) seasons with the Jazz. But he showed great potential this year and looks like the future starting PF for the Canadian national team.

Season grade: A- (would have been an A if not for the decline over the last two months, which as I said was mostly not his fault)


Dwight Powell

Notable stats: 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 21 minutes a game (all easily career bests), on a tremendous 65.6% true shooting (third in the league!).

Another very pleasant surprise. Like Olynyk, Powell signed a contract this summer ($29M for three years), which many considered to be a serious overpay on the part of the Mavericks. And much like Olynyk, Powell proved them wrong. He was a very solid backup center for the admittedly weak Dallas team and at some point in the season, he even looked like a legit starting center, posting 14 points and 8.5 rebounds in the month of February, on his usual wonderful shooting accuracy. Powell clearly still has some disadvantages. He is not a great rim protector and shot blocker, although he has great mobility and can stay with smaller players on defense. Offensively, he’s fairly limited, with not much of an outside shot and little ability to create for himself. He’s a player that depends on the system and on players like Barea to create for him. He is one of the best bigs in the league, though, in reading the pick and roll and finishing at the basket with great hands and touch.

Season grade: A-


Khem Birch

Notable stats: 4 points, 4 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 14 minutes a game (42 games). 11 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over the last six games of the season.

Birch started the season in the G-League and got called to the Orlando roster only after Vucevic got injured. Birch was never a star in Europe and it was unclear whether he can even keep the spot on the roster. He did and played better than expected. He’s never been a great offensive threat, but did well in the limited minutes he got with the Magic. His defensive presence, mobility and shot-blocking ability is what makes him a legit NBA bench player. Could honestly say that I don’t see a huge difference between him and teammate Bismack Biyombo, but while Birch makes less than a million a year, Biyombo gets 17mil… In any case, I think with his play and consistency from the bench, Birch should win himself the contract renewal (team option) for next year in Orlando and might be able to carve a place for himself in the league for years to come.

Season grade: B+

I think Lyles should have gotten an A or A+ he was close to an all-star #'s when he was playing consistently and was extremely efficient. Milsap is the only reason his #'s fell and you can't blame the player for being benched for a vet making 30 mil a season. He had a better season than Milsap which says a lot considering where he as last year.