Cole World: Orlando Magic Select Cole Anthony at #15

[tiderulz]

He looks like Monte Ellis to me. And I think that's a good thing.

ehh, Monta was fearless attacking the basket.

[JBSouthpaw]

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[Knightro]

Speaking of Monta Ellis... how crazy were the 2010s from a load management perspective?

Monta Ellis played 41.4 and 40.3 minutes per game in back-to-back seasons

[KillMonger]

He looks like Monte Ellis to me. And I think that's a good thing.

ehh, Monta was fearless attacking the basket.

yeah, eventually not year 1

[PrimeThyme]

Though I know I’ve been a detractor when it comes to his skill set, I have to admit that he does so many positive intangible things when he is on the floor that it makes it really hard for me not to like him.

I mean he gives full blown effort on every play. He was diving for balls on the floor in a preseason game the other night. If this kid doesn’t make it in this league, it certainly won’t be due to his motor or for a lack of trying. He wants to be great.

After some of the players we’ve had come through here over the last 8+ years or so, that’s pretty refreshing to say. Motor or effort level won’t ever be a question for him.

[Skybox]

what's the ultimate source of (accurate) measurables for NBA players? I'm aware that some sources would list Cole (and Jameer) at 6'3 lol. I love this kid's attack-mode and I was just wondering how he compares physically to so many other great scoring lead guards like Kemba, Kyrie, CJ, Dame, Murray, Westbrook, Trae, Fox, CP3, Mitchell, Rozier, Coby White, DRose, Curry, Oladipo, FVV, Lowry, Beal, Sexton, Garland, etc ...just for kicks. I'm not saying he's the Savior but I'm not saying he's not.

I know there are other significant things than height, weight, wingspan but I'd like to know where he sits on those.

[zaymon]

Though I know I’ve been a detractor when it comes to his skill set, I have to admit that he does so many positive intangible things when he is on the floor that it makes it really hard for me not to like him.

I mean he gives full blown effort on every play. He was diving for balls on the floor in a preseason game the other night. If this kid doesn’t make it in this league, it certainly won’t be due to his motor or for a lack of trying. He wants to be great.

After some of the players we’ve had come through here over the last 8+ years or so, that’s pretty refreshing to say. Motor or effort level won’t ever be a question for him.

Weltman hit on many "motor" guys outside Bamba. Isaac, Fultz, MCW, Ennis, Birch.... pure fire. Okeke is a no slouch either, he just needs a worse opponent than Gallinari

[PrimeThyme]

He looks like Monte Ellis to me. And I think that's a good thing.

Relatively speaking, I’d say so. That would mean he becomes a rotational piece and potentially a starting level player which is what you’re looking for at the 15th spot.

However, being the next Monte Ellis isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. Monte Ellis put up some high point totals over his career, but it was on some bad teams and he was one of the least impactful (BPM, Vorp, etc) starting guards in the league during the time. I mean seriously, In his highest ppg season (26 ppg) he managed a -1.2 BPM and his team won 26 games. That’s really hard to do.

My fear is that’s what Cole is. A guard who is going to stuff the points category but not really effect the game in any meaningful way. My hope is that with his work ethic and his eagerness to improve, he will develop into more then that and can help us actually win games in the future.

[MagicFan101]

My fear is that’s what Cole is. A guard who is going to stuff the points category but not really effect the game in any meaningful way.

We spent a non-lottery pick on him and we desperately need scorers.

This doesn’t sound bad to me given how the rest of our young roster is with Fultz and Isaac (+ Vuc if we consider him part of the future core).

[SOUL]

Scoring is very important in the NBA, that is meaningful IMO. As long as he gets to a point where he can do it at an efficient clip, which I think he could.

His size is obviously an issue defensively but he has that dog in him to disrupt defenders and he isn't DJ small. Also athletic enough to disrupt people when he hangs in the air to contest. Seem him do that a lot in college and a few times already in the NBA to some effect.

I don't know if he will be a playmaking PG ever but it's not like he was advertised as one. I haven't seen him egregiously look anybody off like most of our players do yet.

[Xatticus]

He looks like Monte Ellis to me. And I think that's a good thing.

Relatively speaking, I’d say so. That would mean he becomes a rotational piece and potentially a starting level player which is what you’re looking for at the 15th spot.

However, being the next Monte Ellis isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. Monte Ellis put up some high point totals over his career, but it was on some bad teams and he was one of the least impactful (BPM, Vorp, etc) starting guards in the league during the time. I mean seriously, In his highest ppg season (26 ppg) he managed a -1.2 BPM and his team won 26 games. That’s really hard to do.

My fear is that’s what Cole is. A guard who is going to stuff the points category but not really effect the game in any meaningful way. My hope is that with his work ethic and his eagerness to improve, he will develop into more then that and can help us actually win games in the future.

We need to keep him away from scooters then. Ellis was looking really good til his scooter accident. He enjoyed a long career and scored a lot of points thereafter, but he was never actually good after he hurt himself.

My concerns with Anthony aren't really related to his size. I just don't like his game. Good offensive players make good decisions and Anthony doesn't make good decisions. To get away with being a poor decision-maker means you have to be a really good finisher/shooter and he doesn't appear to be that either. We just have to be patient and hope he develops.

[RookieStar]

what's the ultimate source of (accurate) measurables for NBA players? I'm aware that some sources would list Cole (and Jameer) at 6'3 lol. I love this kid's attack-mode and I was just wondering how he compares physically to so many other great scoring lead guards like Kemba, Kyrie, CJ, Dame, Murray, Westbrook, Trae, Fox, CP3, Mitchell, Rozier, Coby White, DRose, Curry, Oladipo, FVV, Lowry, Beal, Sexton, Garland, etc ...just for kicks. I'm not saying he's the Savior but I'm not saying he's not.

I know there are other significant things than height, weight, wingspan but I'd like to know where he sits on those.

Did he have his official draft measurements? I thought he did and was listed at 6'1-1/2 WITHOUT shoes? Someone correct me if Im wrong. Anyway with shoes that's at least 6'3.. Good enough for the modern day Guard position.

Also, I don't think it's fair to compare him to those guys. I mean he just got out of college while those guys had years with NBA level trainers/instructors to sculpt their bodies. He will look puny compared to them even if he is taller than them.

[SOUL]

My concerns with Anthony aren't really related to his size. I just don't like his game. Good offensive players make good decisions and Anthony doesn't make good decisions. To get away with being a poor decision-maker means you have to be a really good finisher/shooter and he doesn't appear to be that either. We just have to be patient and hope he develops.

I think a small part of this is a bit of projection from a small sample size at UNC though, Xat. He hasn't made any egregious mistakes so far and if there's anything that Clifford can teach rookies, it's taking care of the ball and making simple passes. Cole moves the ball fairly well in the small amount we've seen from him (or as much as you'd want from a non-playmaking rookie guard), albeit someone who is ultimately going to look for his shot first. It's nothing special but not MCW Philly levels of not giving a ****. His shot looks like it has a quick release and he's comfortable pulling up from NBA range. Shot isn't fundamentally broken and he looks confident. He has some nice burst going to the rim and finished some plays I didn't think he would, but he's not going to get calls as a rookie. He's not Fultz crafty, but he just goes up pretty strong compared to what we're used to with DJ Augustin.

He will struggle by virtue of not being that big and not being crafty around the rim.

I think when it comes down to it he will be an average/below average finisher in the league eventually while being a good shooter and completely average playmaker. But he does have massive potential as a scorer. I can't say if he will be efficient or not, but I think a statement of "doesn't appear to be a good shooter" definitely fits as a quote to LaMelo.

[Def Swami]

He's the 15th pick. If he's anything close to a microwave bench player or solid rotation guy, that's a win at that draft spot. Everything else is just a bonus. Expecting more is just setting oneself up for disappointment.

The two things he has going for him are the two prerequisites I look for in any draft prospect.

1) He has a strong work ethic, great attitude, and willingness to win

2) We don't have to teach him to shoot

You bank on those two criteria that over time he finds a niche in the league where he can be effective and efficient.

My favorite play from Anthony in the last game was the one where he picked Trae Young's pocket and dived on the floor to secure the possession. Plays like that in a meaningless preseason game give me some solace that he's going to be alright. I don't know what his ceiling is, but he'll do whatever it takes to hit it. And he's knows he has to be more than a scorer to earn minutes and be a player in the league.

[MagicFan101]

I was much much much much happier with what I saw in game 2.

Yes, the box score was better but I don’t care about that right now. I’m talking about the eye-test.

He settled down and looked like he had been there before.

[Xatticus]

My concerns with Anthony aren't really related to his size. I just don't like his game. Good offensive players make good decisions and Anthony doesn't make good decisions. To get away with being a poor decision-maker means you have to be a really good finisher/shooter and he doesn't appear to be that either. We just have to be patient and hope he develops.

I think a small part of this is a bit of projection from a small sample size at UNC though, Xat. He hasn't made any egregious mistakes so far and if there's anything that Clifford can teach rookies, it's taking care of the ball and making simple passes. Cole moves the ball fairly well in the small amount we've seen from him (or as much as you'd want from a non-playmaking rookie guard), albeit someone who is ultimately going to look for his shot first. It's nothing special but not MCW Philly levels of not giving a ****. His shot looks like it has a quick release and he's comfortable pulling up from NBA range. Shot isn't fundamentally broken and he looks confident. He has some nice burst going to the rim and finished some plays I didn't think he would, but he's not going to get calls as a rookie. He's not Fultz crafty, but he just goes up pretty strong compared to what we're used to with DJ Augustin.

He will struggle by virtue of not being that big and not being crafty around the rim.

I think when it comes down to it he will be an average/below average finisher in the league eventually while being a good shooter and completely average playmaker. But he does have massive potential as a scorer. I can't say if he will be efficient or not, but I think a statement of "doesn't appear to be a good shooter" definitely fits as a quote to LaMelo.

I'm not trying to **** on the guy. It's just an honest appraisal. I'm not optimistic, but I am hopeful. I just want to rebut the notion that a guy that goes out and gets 15 or 20 points a night is necessarily a good offensive player. You have a finite number of possessions to work with and you need guys that make the team's offense more efficient.

My position absolutely heavily weights what I have seen of him from UNC. I'm not blank slating him just because he is new to the team. Just to be clear, I didn't say a 'good' shooter, but rather a 'really good' shooter. That's an important distinction. Ball, by contrast, is a terrible shooter. Being able to create and make difficult shots is only a benefit if you can hit a high enough percentage of those shots though. Guys like Lillard, Curry, or Young can take those shots because they hit a high enough percentage of them to be a weapon in those situations. When you are looking for favorable comps for Anthony, none of the guys you are hoping he will some day become put together a season that in any way resembles what he did last year at UNC.

You are never drafting a finished product. At least, you hope you aren't. He isn't good enough as a shooter/finisher to simply force the issue and expect the defense to respond. He has to get better at moving the ball and picking his spots as opposed to attacking and expecting to unlock the defense. That's what he has shown thus far. He has some craft, but he doesn't have great habits and he doesn't make good decisions. He has to add something that he doesn't currently have if he is ever going to become a good offensive player. Even then, the upside is sketchy due to his limited tools. Like Fultz, he is another post-hype prospect that this front office is hoping pans out. I'm perfectly willing to be patient and watch him develop.

[RookieStar]

With the 15th pick, we cant expect to win the lotto and draft the next Giannis. Even if we did, Giannis as a rookie was waaaaay different than the Giannis now.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but our 15th pick showed way more offensive potential and production than our last few lotto picks ( cough cough JI Bamba Mario AG )

[KillMonger]

the thing i liked most is his effort defensively, moving his feet and actually attempting to keep his man in front of him which kind of shocked me considering how our guards have just seemed to.... accept penetration(had to pg-13 what i really wanted to say)

i like that his motor is already where you want it to be, you can't teach effort.....i'm looking at you fournier

[Optimus_Steel]

With the 15th pick, we cant expect to win the lotto and draft the next Giannis. Even if we did, Giannis as a rookie was waaaaay different than the Giannis now.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but our 15th pick showed way more offensive potential and production than our last few lotto picks ( cough cough JI Bamba Mario AG )

To be nitpicking with the 15th pick, given we picked a player that has a skill set we desperate need is rather funny.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using RealGM mobile app

[RookieStar]

With the 15th pick, we cant expect to win the lotto and draft the next Giannis. Even if we did, Giannis as a rookie was waaaaay different than the Giannis now.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but our 15th pick showed way more offensive potential and production than our last few lotto picks ( cough cough JI Bamba Mario AG )

To be nitpicking with the 15th pick, given we picked a player that has a skill set we desperate need is rather funny.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using RealGM mobile app

Yup.. esepciallly since during the poll before the draft majority of us wanted a scoring guard. Sure we got a midget looking one but everything else so far is on the checklist.