Duke4life831 wrote:doordoor123 wrote:Hawks were the worst team he could have gone to. A new coach, no accountability, no leader on the team, no good veterans. I was so upset when he went there because it’s the same situation he had in Oklahoma. One of the worst situations for a rookie. I feel bad because this might ruin his career. He would have had a better year on almost any other team.
What would have been a better situation though? His best skill is being a high usage PG. He is really bad when he plays off the ball. He has a great PnR and lob threat with Collins, ATL is trying to surround him with as many shooters as they can. He is given as long as a leash as he can get, so he gets a chance to play through his mistakes. I just dont know what better of a situation he couldve asked for. He goes anywhere else and the ball is going to be taken out of his hands more often, which again isnt a strength of his.
I know its really early, but his struggles hasnt surprised me at all. I get it was a little hyperbole, but like I said last year, Im not sure I see a big difference between him and some G Leaguers. I thought he was going to be a major bust. Now Im not declaring I was right or anything like that, its only been like 20 games, a ton can change. But so far this is pretty much what I expected. I dont think a different team would mean all that much.
It's not a hyperbole. He is not a good NBA player. I would say there is a massive difference between him and G-League as no one as bad as him on that level would get the minutes nor are they talented enough to get the minutes.
Trae is extremely talented. One if not the most talented player in this class. Can finish at the rim at a higher clip. Is a good catch and shoot shooter when open and he can get to spots on the court at will. That's not to add his court vision.
But he is so raw. passing needs improvement. Not a good passer. Just has exceptional passing vision and passing skill but he doesn't really have the sense nor does he have the filter that this can be bad. He plays such an AAU style of Basketball at this stage. Just unpolished all over.
What he needs is the DeAaron Fox kit. Meaning Fox had issues with strength, shooting v. length, stamina, understanding that every possession matters, AAU minded, and being more crafty around the rim v. big dawgs.
Trae can improve those things, I can see him being a top 10-15 PG next year and maybe top 8 the year after.
It's not that Trae can't shoot. He just can't shoot over length. Teams are throwing the kitchen sink at him. No one is just letting him get off. It's not like he is getting Trey Burke treatment. He is getting great PG treatment from teams but damnit, he ain't ready yet. Trae will be much better next year but for this year, he sucks.
That said, Trae will never be anywhere near as good as Fox on D and honestly, none of us have that expectation.
I do think Trae is going to have to fix his shooting form. He shoots from the hip, he needs to shoot it like Steph. Adjust it so that it remains a quick release but it not so easy to put a hand in his face.
For Trae to become a superstar, it's all about developing his off the ball skills. I am not expecting Steph or Rip but if he can get to a respectable level like Lillard, the sky is the limit. But if he remains John Wall Jr., he will struggle to ever be a superstar.
Trae improving his body will be critical. He doesn't have to be huge but he needs to improve it like Dennis and Jeff did. Where he has a lot of core strength. Right now, he's weak. He is just so skilled but as he is realizing, you need a lot more in the NBA when you lack the measurables and the tools.
