Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: potential franchise player?

[spearsy23]

I assumed he'd top out in his prime at 18-20 ppg, so he's proving to be a more potent scorer than I expected. Will need to improve efficiency for it to be effectual, but he's starting from a good base.

[ThunderBolt]

I assumed he'd top out in his prime at 18-20 ppg, so he's proving to be a more potent scorer than I expected. Will need to improve efficiency for it to be effectual, but he's starting from a good base.

I think he’s a smart player but at some point it wouldn’t hurt to have a coach that doesn’t just say “here’s the ball, go do what you want”.

[jambalaya]

SGA currently negative on raw on court plus minus and one RAPM estimate. By modest amounts.

[jambalaya]

SGA so far this season: efg% and ts% below league average and down from last season. Usage up, assist rate down 30%. More defensive rebounds, less blocks and 45% less steals. Overall probably about the same level of impact. I.e. not much compared to average. Probably slightly negative impact. Slightly negative on the court team plus minus and on / off on a meh to weak team. Bad with Ferguson and not good to bad with several of the main bench players.

[Galloisdaman]

SGA has actually progressed faster than I thought. He is still young and barely more than a rookie. I give him props. I can not say if he will be a franchise player. That term means different things to different people but I view it as elite. His next step would be becoming an all star. If he does that then ....

[jambalaya]

-1.1 on overall PIPM, because of estimated worst defensive impact on team at -1.7.

[Jamaaliver]

An excerpt from a recent ESPN article:

The underrated NBA moves making the biggest impact

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Much was made of the bounty of draft picks that the Oklahoma City Thunder received when Paul George was traded to the Clippers. However, the inclusion of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was somewhat overlooked in the moment.

The Clippers had put such a premium on the guard that he was deemed close to untouchable at February's trade deadline, even if that meant an opportunity to get Anthony Davis as a one-year rental. It took the combination of landing Leonard and George to get the Clippers to relent and let SGA go.

What Gilgeous-Alexander has done in his sophomore season with the Thunder is borderline All-Star-worthy.

He has thrived off the ball in OKC, logging 84% of his minutes at the 2 after playing 97% of them at the 1 with the Clippers. As Zach Lowe pointed out, the three-headed point guard lineup of Chris Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder is plus-40 when all three are on the court.

Gilgeous-Alexander gives OKC options during this rebuilding process. The Thunder have a potential franchise player in the fold without enduring a full-on tank.

ESPN Insider

[ThunderBolt]

An excerpt from a recent ESPN article:

The underrated NBA moves making the biggest impact

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Much was made of the bounty of draft picks that the Oklahoma City Thunder received when Paul George was traded to the Clippers. However, the inclusion of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was somewhat overlooked in the moment.

The Clippers had put such a premium on the guard that he was deemed close to untouchable at February's trade deadline, even if that meant an opportunity to get Anthony Davis as a one-year rental. It took the combination of landing Leonard and George to get the Clippers to relent and let SGA go.

What Gilgeous-Alexander has done in his sophomore season with the Thunder is borderline All-Star-worthy.

He has thrived off the ball in OKC, logging 84% of his minutes at the 2 after playing 97% of them at the 1 with the Clippers. As Zach Lowe pointed out, the three-headed point guard lineup of Chris Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder is plus-40 when all three are on the court.

Gilgeous-Alexander gives OKC options during this rebuilding process. The Thunder have a potential franchise player in the fold without enduring a full-on tank.

ESPN Insider

Thanks for sharing.

[jambalaya]

Most SGA raw player pairs are negative. Only notable positive is with Schroder. 3rd worst LARAPM estimate on the team (ahead of just Noel and Nader).

[Old Man Game]

I assumed he'd top out in his prime at 18-20 ppg, so he's proving to be a more potent scorer than I expected. Will need to improve efficiency for it to be effectual, but he's starting from a good base.

I think he’s a smart player but at some point it wouldn’t hurt to have a coach that doesn’t just say “here’s the ball, go do what you want”.

I'm sure someone will correct me, but something about him just reminds me of a Zach Lavinne sort. Best player on a bad team type.

Sent from my Pixel using RealGM mobile app

[spearsy23]

I assumed he'd top out in his prime at 18-20 ppg, so he's proving to be a more potent scorer than I expected. Will need to improve efficiency for it to be effectual, but he's starting from a good base.

I think he’s a smart player but at some point it wouldn’t hurt to have a coach that doesn’t just say “here’s the ball, go do what you want”.

I'm sure someone will correct me, but something about him just reminds me of a Zach Lavinne sort. Best player on a bad team type.

Sent from my Pixel using RealGM mobile app

Zach lavine was terrible at basketball when he was shai's age. He looked like he had no idea what to do on a basketball court.

21 year olds are almost never anything more than best players on bad teams. Shai had already proven he can be something other than that, as long as Billy/okc doesn't ruin it.

[Old Man Game]

I think he’s a smart player but at some point it wouldn’t hurt to have a coach that doesn’t just say “here’s the ball, go do what you want”.

I'm sure someone will correct me, but something about him just reminds me of a Zach Lavinne sort. Best player on a bad team type.

Sent from my Pixel using RealGM mobile app

Zach lavine was terrible at basketball when he was shai's age. He looked like he had no idea what to do on a basketball court.

21 year olds are almost never anything more than best players on bad teams. Shai had already proven he can be something other than that, as long as Billy/okc doesn't ruin it.

See I knew someone would correct me.

Seriously though, if not best player on a bad team, maybe third best player on a good team. I'm still not getting the franchise superstar level guy from what I've seen so far but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

[spearsy23]

I'm sure someone will correct me, but something about him just reminds me of a Zach Lavinne sort. Best player on a bad team type.

Sent from my Pixel using RealGM mobile app

Zach lavine was terrible at basketball when he was shai's age. He looked like he had no idea what to do on a basketball court.

21 year olds are almost never anything more than best players on bad teams. Shai had already proven he can be something other than that, as long as Billy/okc doesn't ruin it.

See I knew someone would correct me.

Seriously though, if not best player on a bad team, maybe third best player on a good team. I'm still not getting the franchise superstar level guy from what I've seen so far but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

Lavine was honestly God awful. He knew how to jump and throw the ball at the basket and that was the extent of his game. I cannot stress this enough, because it made absolutely no sense how little he seemed to understand about how basketball works.

I don't think anyone is buying SGA as a franchise superstar. He's got borderline allstar talent. If built and coached right he could be the 2nd best player on a contender, more likely a really good third on a championship caliber team.

[jambalaya]

What will SGA look like in 18 months? About the same as now or better? If not better, they might want to consider trading him.

[Anderson Silva]

I'm sure someone will correct me, but something about him just reminds me of a Zach Lavinne sort. Best player on a bad team type.

Sent from my Pixel using RealGM mobile app

Zach lavine was terrible at basketball when he was shai's age. He looked like he had no idea what to do on a basketball court.

21 year olds are almost never anything more than best players on bad teams. Shai had already proven he can be something other than that, as long as Billy/okc doesn't ruin it.

See I knew someone would correct me.

Seriously though, if not best player on a bad team, maybe third best player on a good team. I'm still not getting the franchise superstar level guy from what I've seen so far but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

I agree, I just dont see "Franchise player" with him. Very good player. Potentially excellent, but never top tier. And not a full lock franchise player.

[spearsy23]

What will SGA look like in 18 months? About the same as now or better? If not better, they might want to consider trading him.

wut? Are you confusing sga and Abdel nader

[Osirus89]

-1.1 on overall PIPM, because of estimated worst defensive impact on team at -1.7.

I mean... isn't Dennis Schroder one of the better defenders on the team by some metrics. Some of the numbers right now are a little funny.

[Galloisdaman]

I do not understand the trade SGA post unless it was for a very good offer. Championship teams need many good players. They do not win without them. They are not all elite franchise level players. There are very few of them in the NBA. SGA may become a very good very valuable player without being one of the NBA's top 10 or top 20 players.

[QPR]

He's literally a second year pro who only played a single season of college. jambalaya's vendetta against him is bizarre.

[slick_watts]

it's not a vendetta, he's just looking at the #'s and asking questions. what's wrong with that? sga's performance has been a bit 'blah' since his hot start that's for sure.