The 2022 NBA Draft Thread

[thelead]

Another poor outing for Chet (so far) against Saint Mary's.

[fendilim]

I'm not sold on notion that Jabari Smith is good defender. Guy plays with best college shotblocker in college, by far. How amazing Kessler as shotblocker is? Well at average he blocks 1 shot every 5:30 minutes.
How good he actually is? Well he is on pace to be best shot blocker in college in last +15 years. Only close comparison on defense & shotblocking is Anthony Davis, but Kessler is actually better at it, by numbers.

Jabari really doesn't have to do much on defense, nor he actually does much. He is average athlete with average vertical leap and average mobility. He stays with his man and guides them toward center of a rim where Kessler does his job ( Gobert effect, where every single average defender looks better with him because players simply tend to be scared of his presence and throw bricks in air to avoid him , even when he isn't near them ).

Other than suspicies looking defense at next level, Jabari also has suspicious looking offensive set.
What else he does well than spot up shooting ? And answer to is is obvious one but one that nobody wants to heard for player projected to go top 3 in lottery. It's nothing.
He can't drive left, he can't drive in general with ball, his passing is poor, his 2% FG is godawful for "big" ( 45%) and his shot selection is him taking bunch of mid range shots.

And take in considirations all his 3s are nba long 2s, and his mid range shots are worst shots in nba. And when he is not shooting on offense, he really doesn't do anything else ( poor offensive rebounds, poor passing, not much of screener, poor pick&roll rolling big).
Hell, that sounds like somebody described bit more skilled Bamba ( on offense) more than anything else. Camping at 3 point line and being no inside presence.

If there is team in basketball that has 1# pick and passes on Chet in favor of Jabari, i'm betting everything that GM won't hold his job for long period of time

I’d still take Jabari.

The problem with Chet is the possibility of him being another Bamba or Kristaps, which pretty much makes his height not an advantage. Opponents tend to put smaller guys on Bamba or Kristaps because they arent really dominant against stronger smaller players.

Jabari’s offensive game is more advanced than Chet. He can post up and has an array of offensive moves. And with NBA’s offense being more wide open, I think Jabari will have an easier time finding teammates. And also, Jabari has a good feel of the game. His shot selection and passing will be better through time.

Yes, Jabari’s defense has flaws, so does Chet’s offense. For a team lacking a Go-to guy, we better take Jabari, especially when you have guys like Isaac, WCJ and even Okeke to help him on defense. ( yes, I do think a Isaac, Wcj and Jabari lineup would work. Similar to the cavs)

so you're pushing Franz to the bench?

Forgot him, I think eventually WCJ will be benched. Isaac losing athleticism due to injury might have to move to 5.

[pepe1991]

I'm not sold on notion that Jabari Smith is good defender. Guy plays with best college shotblocker in college, by far. How amazing Kessler as shotblocker is? Well at average he blocks 1 shot every 5:30 minutes.
How good he actually is? Well he is on pace to be best shot blocker in college in last +15 years. Only close comparison on defense & shotblocking is Anthony Davis, but Kessler is actually better at it, by numbers.

Jabari really doesn't have to do much on defense, nor he actually does much. He is average athlete with average vertical leap and average mobility. He stays with his man and guides them toward center of a rim where Kessler does his job ( Gobert effect, where every single average defender looks better with him because players simply tend to be scared of his presence and throw bricks in air to avoid him , even when he isn't near them ).

Other than suspicies looking defense at next level, Jabari also has suspicious looking offensive set.
What else he does well than spot up shooting ? And answer to is is obvious one but one that nobody wants to heard for player projected to go top 3 in lottery. It's nothing.
He can't drive left, he can't drive in general with ball, his passing is poor, his 2% FG is godawful for "big" ( 45%) and his shot selection is him taking bunch of mid range shots.

And take in considirations all his 3s are nba long 2s, and his mid range shots are worst shots in nba. And when he is not shooting on offense, he really doesn't do anything else ( poor offensive rebounds, poor passing, not much of screener, poor pick&roll rolling big).
Hell, that sounds like somebody described bit more skilled Bamba ( on offense) more than anything else. Camping at 3 point line and being no inside presence.

If there is team in basketball that has 1# pick and passes on Chet in favor of Jabari, i'm betting everything that GM won't hold his job for long period of time

if only every player was fully developed at 18 and didnt have any weaknesses, it would make drafting so much easier.

This is one of dummest things people like to say and think here and by default always leads teams to draft half baked, untalented kids with good physical profiles and little to non basketball skills because of "potential".

Jabari Smith, much like any 18,19 years old college players, plays basketball for years. Being close to youth basketball circles for years and being nba fan for 20 years now one thing i learned long time ago. Young kids in basketball, much like in any other sport figure out what they are good at and stick to it . Fat kid will always have tendency to turn back to opponent and push him inside, good shooter will camp at 3 key circles ( corner and straight to rim , easiest shots to make ) , kids good at non will always play hard to hustle below rim.

This does not mean player can't learn new things at age of 19, but much like it was case with Hezonja and dribbling, Payton and shooting, Gordon and shooting, Ja Morant and shooting, Josh Jackson and shooting, Steph Curry and defense or any other player and his weaknesses THEY NEVER GOT NBA GOOD AT THEIR WEAKNESSES! PERIOD!

"bUT hE iS 18 hE WiLl LeARN ". True and false. He will learn how to be more assertive and better at next level. That learning curve will never be nba good for skills who still does not have at age of 19 because it simply means it's too late and not part of his game. And that's fine. But it's delusional to think different.
Why Bamba didn't learn post moves 4 years into nba? Why Isaac didn't learn post moves? Why Howard and Amare were paying $50 000 to attent Hakeem teaching classes and never were able to post up with efficiency?

This is one of most annoying american -mindsets about basketball on this forum. Just because somebody is young that does not give him unlimited potental. Being young just means being born later than others.

As for Chet vs Jabari, the one thing I'd say is that a lot of Chet's value is tied up in rebounding and shot-blocking. These are two things he does very well at the college level. So if you put him out on the wing, you're not getting the most out of him. (Maybe you have to do it -- temporarily or permanently -- if he can't handle the physical game inside, but it's a real compromise. it cuts into his value. I don't think you draft him with the intent of moving him.)

As for Jabari... I mean, I don't know. He's a good shooter, he knocks down open college threes, that's cool. He also just... doesn't do much else? He's an inefficient scorer inside the arc, and can't finish around the basket. His rebounding is mediocre at best. Nobody's calling him a plus defender or passer/handler. I get that he's young, and I'm not saying he's a bad prospect. I'm just not seeing a real game-changing skill set here. Unlike Chet, where the question is "he has it, but can he use it at the next level?," there are real "does he have it?" questions with Jabari.


SO i'm asking you, why don't every player at age of 18 does not turn in lebron james? You think young = unlimited potential so why not? Why Magic don't draft bunch of 16 years old kids and turn them into 10 Lebron's? Maybe, just maybe for same reason why every draft has always same bust arytypes , ones that Magic love the most " athletic, can't shoot, long limbs" ( minus Wagner, who, suprise suprise, is best prospect they drafted in 15 years, and pretty much only one who does not fit their mold)

Bottom line: young player entering nba will almost never addopt new skillset, one that he never showed before and become nba level good ( or elite ) at it. NBA player, entering league at age of 19, more often than not, played basketball for 10 years already and his previous basketball experience along with countless amount of hours they spent with their coaches, playing street ball, playing youth tournaments molded him as player that made him sucessful to that date ( Cole being chucker is example i used on other thread for same ). If you have guy who stands at 6'10, is good shooter but isn't good rebounder, isn't good passer , isn't post presence, isn't pick&roll finisher, can't play center, can't play SF, can't put ball on the floor, can't drive left, can't drive much in general, isn't anything special defender ( but plays along side one ) than we can look at Marvin Willimas, Tobias Harris, maybe Rashard Lewis , very limited Towns arhytype. People here LOVE to use Jaren Jackson Jr as comp for him, issue is, Jarret Jackson Jr plays with Ja Morant AND spents almost 50% of his PT at center. Jabari will never be able to play center sucessful ( same reasons why Bamba can't, not good at pick&roll, no inside presence, poor skills at postups) so you are stuck with him at PF. In general "streach PF" who are "elite " almost don't exist in nba.Shheesh i wonder why is that? Maybe because today "PF is basically taller SF, and all good ones are super versitale. Jabari simply isn't. He is very tall shooter. Cool. That's not usless, but also not skill worth top pick.

[AaronB]

I'm not sold on notion that Jabari Smith is good defender. Guy plays with best college shotblocker in college, by far. How amazing Kessler as shotblocker is? Well at average he blocks 1 shot every 5:30 minutes.
How good he actually is? Well he is on pace to be best shot blocker in college in last +15 years. Only close comparison on defense & shotblocking is Anthony Davis, but Kessler is actually better at it, by numbers.

Jabari really doesn't have to do much on defense, nor he actually does much. He is average athlete with average vertical leap and average mobility. He stays with his man and guides them toward center of a rim where Kessler does his job ( Gobert effect, where every single average defender looks better with him because players simply tend to be scared of his presence and throw bricks in air to avoid him , even when he isn't near them ).

Other than suspicies looking defense at next level, Jabari also has suspicious looking offensive set.
What else he does well than spot up shooting ? And answer to is is obvious one but one that nobody wants to heard for player projected to go top 3 in lottery. It's nothing.
He can't drive left, he can't drive in general with ball, his passing is poor, his 2% FG is godawful for "big" ( 45%) and his shot selection is him taking bunch of mid range shots.

And take in considirations all his 3s are nba long 2s, and his mid range shots are worst shots in nba. And when he is not shooting on offense, he really doesn't do anything else ( poor offensive rebounds, poor passing, not much of screener, poor pick&roll rolling big).
Hell, that sounds like somebody described bit more skilled Bamba ( on offense) more than anything else. Camping at 3 point line and being no inside presence.

If there is team in basketball that has 1# pick and passes on Chet in favor of Jabari, i'm betting everything that GM won't hold his job for long period of time

if only every player was fully developed at 18 and didnt have any weaknesses, it would make drafting so much easier.

This is one of dummest things people like to say and think here and by default always leads teams to draft half baked, untalented kids with good physical profiles and little to non basketball skills because of "potential".

Jabari Smith, much like any 18,19 years old college players, plays basketball for years. Being close to youth basketball circles for years and being nba fan for 20 years now one thing i learned long time ago. Young kids in basketball, much like in any other sport figure out what they are good at and stick to it . Fat kid will always have tendency to turn back to opponent and push him inside, good shooter will camp at 3 key circles ( corner and straight to rim , easiest shots to make ) , kids good at non will always play hard to hustle below rim.

This does not mean player can't learn new things at age of 19, but much like it was case with Hezonja and dribbling, Payton and shooting, Gordon and shooting, Ja Morant and shooting, Josh Jackson and shooting, Steph Curry and defense or any other player and his weaknesses THEY NEVER GOT NBA GOOD AT THEIR WEAKNESSES! PERIOD!

"bUT hE iS 18 hE WiLl LeARN ". True and false. He will learn how to be more assertive and better at next level. That learning curve will never be nba good for skills who still does not have at age of 19 because it simply means it's too late and not part of his game. And that's fine. But it's delusional to think different.
Why Bamba didn't learn post moves 4 years into nba? Why Isaac didn't learn post moves? Why Howard and Amare were paying $50 000 to attent Hakeem teaching classes and never were able to post up with efficiency?

This is one of most annoying american -mindsets about basketball on this forum. Just because somebody is young that does not give him unlimited potental. Being young just means being born later than others.

As for Chet vs Jabari, the one thing I'd say is that a lot of Chet's value is tied up in rebounding and shot-blocking. These are two things he does very well at the college level. So if you put him out on the wing, you're not getting the most out of him. (Maybe you have to do it -- temporarily or permanently -- if he can't handle the physical game inside, but it's a real compromise. it cuts into his value. I don't think you draft him with the intent of moving him.)

As for Jabari... I mean, I don't know. He's a good shooter, he knocks down open college threes, that's cool. He also just... doesn't do much else? He's an inefficient scorer inside the arc, and can't finish around the basket. His rebounding is mediocre at best. Nobody's calling him a plus defender or passer/handler. I get that he's young, and I'm not saying he's a bad prospect. I'm just not seeing a real game-changing skill set here. Unlike Chet, where the question is "he has it, but can he use it at the next level?," there are real "does he have it?" questions with Jabari.


SO i'm asking you, why don't every player at age of 18 does not turn in lebron james? You think young = unlimited potential so why not? Why Magic don't draft bunch of 16 years old kids and turn them into 10 Lebron's? Maybe, just maybe for same reason why every draft has always same bust arytypes , ones that Magic love the most " athletic, can't shoot, long limbs" ( minus Wagner, who, suprise suprise, is best prospect they drafted in 15 years, and pretty much only one who does not fit their mold)

Bottom line: young player entering nba will almost never addopt new skillset, one that he never showed before and become nba level good ( or elite ) at it. NBA player, entering league at age of 19, more often than not, played basketball for 10 years already and his previous basketball experience along with countless amount of hours they spent with their coaches, playing street ball, playing youth tournaments molded him as player that made him sucessful to that date ( Cole being chucker is example i used on other thread for same ). If you have guy who stands at 6'10, is good shooter but isn't good rebounder, isn't good passer , isn't post presence, isn't pick&roll finisher, can't play center, can't play SF, can't put ball on the floor, can't drive left, can't drive much in general, isn't anything special defender ( but plays along side one ) than we can look at Marvin Willimas, Tobias Harris, maybe Rashard Lewis , very limited Towns arhytype. People here LOVE to use Jaren Jackson Jr as comp for him, issue is, Jarret Jackson Jr plays with Ja Morant AND spents almost 50% of his PT at center. Jabari will never be able to play center sucessful ( same reasons why Bamba can't, not good at pick&roll, no inside presence, poor skills at postups) so you are stuck with him at PF. In general "streach PF" who are "elite " almost don't exist in nba.Shheesh i wonder why is that? Maybe because today "PF is basically taller SF, and all good ones are super versitale. Jabari simply isn't. He is very tall shooter. Cool. That's not usless, but also not skill worth top pick.

I am not disagreeing or agreeing, but just want to know how this fits into your NBA development scheme:

Jordan over his first 4 years made about 15% of his 3 pt shots.

He finished his career at almost 33%.

[pepe1991]

if only every player was fully developed at 18 and didnt have any weaknesses, it would make drafting so much easier.

This is one of dummest things people like to say and think here and by default always leads teams to draft half baked, untalented kids with good physical profiles and little to non basketball skills because of "potential".

Jabari Smith, much like any 18,19 years old college players, plays basketball for years. Being close to youth basketball circles for years and being nba fan for 20 years now one thing i learned long time ago. Young kids in basketball, much like in any other sport figure out what they are good at and stick to it . Fat kid will always have tendency to turn back to opponent and push him inside, good shooter will camp at 3 key circles ( corner and straight to rim , easiest shots to make ) , kids good at non will always play hard to hustle below rim.

This does not mean player can't learn new things at age of 19, but much like it was case with Hezonja and dribbling, Payton and shooting, Gordon and shooting, Ja Morant and shooting, Josh Jackson and shooting, Steph Curry and defense or any other player and his weaknesses THEY NEVER GOT NBA GOOD AT THEIR WEAKNESSES! PERIOD!

"bUT hE iS 18 hE WiLl LeARN ". True and false. He will learn how to be more assertive and better at next level. That learning curve will never be nba good for skills who still does not have at age of 19 because it simply means it's too late and not part of his game. And that's fine. But it's delusional to think different.
Why Bamba didn't learn post moves 4 years into nba? Why Isaac didn't learn post moves? Why Howard and Amare were paying $50 000 to attent Hakeem teaching classes and never were able to post up with efficiency?

This is one of most annoying american -mindsets about basketball on this forum. Just because somebody is young that does not give him unlimited potental. Being young just means being born later than others.

As for Chet vs Jabari, the one thing I'd say is that a lot of Chet's value is tied up in rebounding and shot-blocking. These are two things he does very well at the college level. So if you put him out on the wing, you're not getting the most out of him. (Maybe you have to do it -- temporarily or permanently -- if he can't handle the physical game inside, but it's a real compromise. it cuts into his value. I don't think you draft him with the intent of moving him.)

As for Jabari... I mean, I don't know. He's a good shooter, he knocks down open college threes, that's cool. He also just... doesn't do much else? He's an inefficient scorer inside the arc, and can't finish around the basket. His rebounding is mediocre at best. Nobody's calling him a plus defender or passer/handler. I get that he's young, and I'm not saying he's a bad prospect. I'm just not seeing a real game-changing skill set here. Unlike Chet, where the question is "he has it, but can he use it at the next level?," there are real "does he have it?" questions with Jabari.


SO i'm asking you, why don't every player at age of 18 does not turn in lebron james? You think young = unlimited potential so why not? Why Magic don't draft bunch of 16 years old kids and turn them into 10 Lebron's? Maybe, just maybe for same reason why every draft has always same bust arytypes , ones that Magic love the most " athletic, can't shoot, long limbs" ( minus Wagner, who, suprise suprise, is best prospect they drafted in 15 years, and pretty much only one who does not fit their mold)

Bottom line: young player entering nba will almost never addopt new skillset, one that he never showed before and become nba level good ( or elite ) at it. NBA player, entering league at age of 19, more often than not, played basketball for 10 years already and his previous basketball experience along with countless amount of hours they spent with their coaches, playing street ball, playing youth tournaments molded him as player that made him sucessful to that date ( Cole being chucker is example i used on other thread for same ). If you have guy who stands at 6'10, is good shooter but isn't good rebounder, isn't good passer , isn't post presence, isn't pick&roll finisher, can't play center, can't play SF, can't put ball on the floor, can't drive left, can't drive much in general, isn't anything special defender ( but plays along side one ) than we can look at Marvin Willimas, Tobias Harris, maybe Rashard Lewis , very limited Towns arhytype. People here LOVE to use Jaren Jackson Jr as comp for him, issue is, Jarret Jackson Jr plays with Ja Morant AND spents almost 50% of his PT at center. Jabari will never be able to play center sucessful ( same reasons why Bamba can't, not good at pick&roll, no inside presence, poor skills at postups) so you are stuck with him at PF. In general "streach PF" who are "elite " almost don't exist in nba.Shheesh i wonder why is that? Maybe because today "PF is basically taller SF, and all good ones are super versitale. Jabari simply isn't. He is very tall shooter. Cool. That's not usless, but also not skill worth top pick.

I am not disagreeing or agreeing, but just want to know how this fits into your NBA development scheme:

Jordan over his first 4 years made about 15% of his 3 pt shots.

He finished his career at almost 33%.

But he only made 580 threes his entire career. 222 during two seasons ( 1995-96 & 96-97). In that period of time he took more threes than ever before. And made more than ever before or later. But there is very interesting kicker:



See how his only 3 point "barage" was during period of time when nba out of nowhere started to shoot more 3s ( at average) and how he decided to not shoot 3s year after and league just followed?

Two possible scenarios:
1) he figured he can make more and league followed
2) league started to shoot more so he adjusted

I don't know what was that case, tbh i don't think anybody but him knows, but Jordan is the best basketball player who ever lived, so it's fair to assume somebody who was athletic marvel and one of most skilled players in history could easly adjust his game to different eras.

One thing about Jordan 3s is interesting, there are no stats from 2 out of 3 college years during his time with North Carolina. But in one that do exist, he shot 34/76 (44,7% for 3 ).
But people missing the point with him and shooting. He entered nba in 1984. NBA teams shot 3 threes a game in that period. In other words 3 point shot ateemps made 3,3% of all shots . Keep in mind that 3 point shot didn't even exist until 1979-80 season and didn't part of Olympic basketball under FIBA rules until 1984.
In College basketball, NCAA addopted 3 point shot as official in 1987, before that from 1980- 1986 every conference had it's own interpretation of 3 point shot, including it's lenght, so it was hot mess.

Game over time simply changed. You look at Reggie Miller, during 1400 games he played he took 6500 threes.
Klay played sub 700 games and took 5700 threes.
Same was thing with Petrovic, guy shot 44% for 3 on 277 attemps , in today's basketball somebody with that shooting profile would be taking close to 500 a season without question ( Joe Harris for example , +350 4 four years in a row).
Steve Nash never took 400 threes in single season for similar reasons, he played during one of most ineffective basketball eras... Now, we have Reggie Jackson this year who will probably reach 500 three point attemps during single season on 32,6% for 3 and 34,5% for career

[cedric76]

We need to trade our pick for a legit sg that can attack the basket

Our 2022 1st + a combination of (Cole, bamba, Ross, future 1st) for RJ barret + ny 8th pick

[Skybox]

This is one of dummest things people like to say and think here and by default always leads teams to draft half baked, untalented kids with good physical profiles and little to non basketball skills because of "potential".

Jabari Smith, much like any 18,19 years old college players, plays basketball for years. Being close to youth basketball circles for years and being nba fan for 20 years now one thing i learned long time ago. Young kids in basketball, much like in any other sport figure out what they are good at and stick to it . Fat kid will always have tendency to turn back to opponent and push him inside, good shooter will camp at 3 key circles ( corner and straight to rim , easiest shots to make ) , kids good at non will always play hard to hustle below rim.

This does not mean player can't learn new things at age of 19, but much like it was case with Hezonja and dribbling, Payton and shooting, Gordon and shooting, Ja Morant and shooting, Josh Jackson and shooting, Steph Curry and defense or any other player and his weaknesses THEY NEVER GOT NBA GOOD AT THEIR WEAKNESSES! PERIOD!

"bUT hE iS 18 hE WiLl LeARN ". True and false. He will learn how to be more assertive and better at next level. That learning curve will never be nba good for skills who still does not have at age of 19 because it simply means it's too late and not part of his game. And that's fine. But it's delusional to think different.
Why Bamba didn't learn post moves 4 years into nba? Why Isaac didn't learn post moves? Why Howard and Amare were paying $50 000 to attent Hakeem teaching classes and never were able to post up with efficiency?

This is one of most annoying american -mindsets about basketball on this forum. Just because somebody is young that does not give him unlimited potental. Being young just means being born later than others.

As for Chet vs Jabari, the one thing I'd say is that a lot of Chet's value is tied up in rebounding and shot-blocking. These are two things he does very well at the college level. So if you put him out on the wing, you're not getting the most out of him. (Maybe you have to do it -- temporarily or permanently -- if he can't handle the physical game inside, but it's a real compromise. it cuts into his value. I don't think you draft him with the intent of moving him.)

As for Jabari... I mean, I don't know. He's a good shooter, he knocks down open college threes, that's cool. He also just... doesn't do much else? He's an inefficient scorer inside the arc, and can't finish around the basket. His rebounding is mediocre at best. Nobody's calling him a plus defender or passer/handler. I get that he's young, and I'm not saying he's a bad prospect. I'm just not seeing a real game-changing skill set here. Unlike Chet, where the question is "he has it, but can he use it at the next level?," there are real "does he have it?" questions with Jabari.


SO i'm asking you, why don't every player at age of 18 does not turn in lebron james? You think young = unlimited potential so why not? Why Magic don't draft bunch of 16 years old kids and turn them into 10 Lebron's? Maybe, just maybe for same reason why every draft has always same bust arytypes , ones that Magic love the most " athletic, can't shoot, long limbs" ( minus Wagner, who, suprise suprise, is best prospect they drafted in 15 years, and pretty much only one who does not fit their mold)

Bottom line: young player entering nba will almost never addopt new skillset, one that he never showed before and become nba level good ( or elite ) at it. NBA player, entering league at age of 19, more often than not, played basketball for 10 years already and his previous basketball experience along with countless amount of hours they spent with their coaches, playing street ball, playing youth tournaments molded him as player that made him sucessful to that date ( Cole being chucker is example i used on other thread for same ). If you have guy who stands at 6'10, is good shooter but isn't good rebounder, isn't good passer , isn't post presence, isn't pick&roll finisher, can't play center, can't play SF, can't put ball on the floor, can't drive left, can't drive much in general, isn't anything special defender ( but plays along side one ) than we can look at Marvin Willimas, Tobias Harris, maybe Rashard Lewis , very limited Towns arhytype. People here LOVE to use Jaren Jackson Jr as comp for him, issue is, Jarret Jackson Jr plays with Ja Morant AND spents almost 50% of his PT at center. Jabari will never be able to play center sucessful ( same reasons why Bamba can't, not good at pick&roll, no inside presence, poor skills at postups) so you are stuck with him at PF. In general "streach PF" who are "elite " almost don't exist in nba.Shheesh i wonder why is that? Maybe because today "PF is basically taller SF, and all good ones are super versitale. Jabari simply isn't. He is very tall shooter. Cool. That's not usless, but also not skill worth top pick.

I am not disagreeing or agreeing, but just want to know how this fits into your NBA development scheme:

Jordan over his first 4 years made about 15% of his 3 pt shots.

He finished his career at almost 33%.

But he only made 580 threes his entire career. 222 during two seasons ( 1995-96 & 96-97). In that period of time he took more threes than ever before. And made more than ever before or later. But there is very interesting kicker:



See how his only 3 point "barage" was during period of time when nba out of nowhere started to shoot more 3s ( at average) and how he decided to not shoot 3s year after and league just followed?

Two possible scenarios:
1) he figured he can make more and league followed
2) league started to shoot more so he adjusted

I don't know what was that case, tbh i don't think anybody but him knows, but Jordan is the best basketball player who ever lived, so it's fair to assume somebody who was athletic marvel and one of most skilled players in history could easly adjust his game to different eras.

One thing about Jordan 3s is interesting, there are no stats from 2 out of 3 college years during his time with North Carolina. But in one that do exist, he shot 34/76 (44,7% for 3 ).
But people missing the point with him and shooting. He entered nba in 1984. NBA teams shot 3 threes a game in that period. In other words 3 point shot ateemps made 3,3% of all shots . Keep in mind that 3 point shot didn't even exist until 1979-80 season and didn't part of Olympic basketball under FIBA rules until 1984.
In College basketball, NCAA addopted 3 point shot as official in 1987, before that from 1980- 1986 every conference had it's own interpretation of 3 point shot, including it's lenght, so it was hot mess.

Game over time simply changed. You look at Reggie Miller, during 1400 games he played he took 6500 threes.
Klay played sub 700 games and took 5700 threes.
Same was thing with Petrovic, guy shot 44% for 3 on 277 attemps , in today's basketball somebody with that shooting profile would be taking close to 500 a season without question ( Joe Harris for example , +350 4 four years in a row).
Steve Nash never took 400 threes in single season for similar reasons, he played during one of most ineffective basketball eras... Now, we have Reggie Jackson this year who will probably reach 500 three point attemps during single season on 32,6% for 3 and 34,5% for career

So, the question of the hour, as always, in every Magic thread...who do you like (or who do you hate least? What would you reccomend the Magic do (other than just sell the franchise and fold up)?

[pepe1991]

I am not disagreeing or agreeing, but just want to know how this fits into your NBA development scheme:

Jordan over his first 4 years made about 15% of his 3 pt shots.

He finished his career at almost 33%.

But he only made 580 threes his entire career. 222 during two seasons ( 1995-96 & 96-97). In that period of time he took more threes than ever before. And made more than ever before or later. But there is very interesting kicker:



See how his only 3 point "barage" was during period of time when nba out of nowhere started to shoot more 3s ( at average) and how he decided to not shoot 3s year after and league just followed?

Two possible scenarios:
1) he figured he can make more and league followed
2) league started to shoot more so he adjusted

I don't know what was that case, tbh i don't think anybody but him knows, but Jordan is the best basketball player who ever lived, so it's fair to assume somebody who was athletic marvel and one of most skilled players in history could easly adjust his game to different eras.

One thing about Jordan 3s is interesting, there are no stats from 2 out of 3 college years during his time with North Carolina. But in one that do exist, he shot 34/76 (44,7% for 3 ).
But people missing the point with him and shooting. He entered nba in 1984. NBA teams shot 3 threes a game in that period. In other words 3 point shot ateemps made 3,3% of all shots . Keep in mind that 3 point shot didn't even exist until 1979-80 season and didn't part of Olympic basketball under FIBA rules until 1984.
In College basketball, NCAA addopted 3 point shot as official in 1987, before that from 1980- 1986 every conference had it's own interpretation of 3 point shot, including it's lenght, so it was hot mess.

Game over time simply changed. You look at Reggie Miller, during 1400 games he played he took 6500 threes.
Klay played sub 700 games and took 5700 threes.
Same was thing with Petrovic, guy shot 44% for 3 on 277 attemps , in today's basketball somebody with that shooting profile would be taking close to 500 a season without question ( Joe Harris for example , +350 4 four years in a row).
Steve Nash never took 400 threes in single season for similar reasons, he played during one of most ineffective basketball eras... Now, we have Reggie Jackson this year who will probably reach 500 three point attemps during single season on 32,6% for 3 and 34,5% for career

So, the question of the hour, as always, in every Magic thread...who do you like (or who do you hate least? What would you reccomend the Magic do (other than just sell the franchise and fold up)?

IMO Chet is the best nba prospect in 2022 draft. By far. By non.
We know for sure what Chet can do today. He can block shots, alter shots , spot up, rebound well. Those things should translate fine. He probably won't dominate in nba right away due his slim build but he should still be somewhat servicable until he is confident enough to take bigger role.
Things with him that may, or may not translate right away is passing and ability to put ball on the floor and attack missmatch. But if you look some moves he did even last night , it's super unique to see 7 footer beating man off dribble, doing spin move and dunking.

Now ofc, strenght issues are clear, his built is huge red flag, and there are legit fears that he won't be able to stay healthy for long.

Second player like is Banchero, paired with elite center he could be waking missmatch nightmare. In past I already said it multiple times , i even voted for him on this thread in particular.

Keegan Murray is another player i like. Some Rudy Gay type.

I have no opinion about Ivey. I can see him going toward Oladipo/Edwards but also into much worst comps ( Suggs, Josh Richardson). Depending can he shoot and how effective he can be.


I don't like Griffin as nba prospect. I think he is most overhyped for no reason draft prospect this year. I just can't shake off Justice Winslow when i see him.



maybe i'm wrong, and i'm fine with being wrong, but i think people project Jabari Smith to become some super effective scorer, in reality, he shoots +40% for 3 in college and yet his efficiency is bit above average despite it, mostly because of amount of bad shots he takes for 2.
It's not that i would not draft jabari at all, i'm just not drafting him if i can draft Chet or Banchero.

[drsd]

The Magic and Thunder lost.


Orlando is the worst team in the NBA

30th positioned Orlando sits as :

1/2 game worse than Houston, tied in W's.
2 1/2 game worse than Detroit, with 2 less W's.
4 1/2 games worse than OKC, with 4 less W's.

[tiderulz]

I'm not sold on notion that Jabari Smith is good defender. Guy plays with best college shotblocker in college, by far. How amazing Kessler as shotblocker is? Well at average he blocks 1 shot every 5:30 minutes.
How good he actually is? Well he is on pace to be best shot blocker in college in last +15 years. Only close comparison on defense & shotblocking is Anthony Davis, but Kessler is actually better at it, by numbers.

Jabari really doesn't have to do much on defense, nor he actually does much. He is average athlete with average vertical leap and average mobility. He stays with his man and guides them toward center of a rim where Kessler does his job ( Gobert effect, where every single average defender looks better with him because players simply tend to be scared of his presence and throw bricks in air to avoid him , even when he isn't near them ).

Other than suspicies looking defense at next level, Jabari also has suspicious looking offensive set.
What else he does well than spot up shooting ? And answer to is is obvious one but one that nobody wants to heard for player projected to go top 3 in lottery. It's nothing.
He can't drive left, he can't drive in general with ball, his passing is poor, his 2% FG is godawful for "big" ( 45%) and his shot selection is him taking bunch of mid range shots.

And take in considirations all his 3s are nba long 2s, and his mid range shots are worst shots in nba. And when he is not shooting on offense, he really doesn't do anything else ( poor offensive rebounds, poor passing, not much of screener, poor pick&roll rolling big).
Hell, that sounds like somebody described bit more skilled Bamba ( on offense) more than anything else. Camping at 3 point line and being no inside presence.

If there is team in basketball that has 1# pick and passes on Chet in favor of Jabari, i'm betting everything that GM won't hold his job for long period of time

if only every player was fully developed at 18 and didnt have any weaknesses, it would make drafting so much easier.

This is one of dummest things people like to say and think here and by default always leads teams to draft half baked, untalented kids with good physical profiles and little to non basketball skills because of "potential".

Jabari Smith, much like any 18,19 years old college players, plays basketball for years. Being close to youth basketball circles for years and being nba fan for 20 years now one thing i learned long time ago. Young kids in basketball, much like in any other sport figure out what they are good at and stick to it . Fat kid will always have tendency to turn back to opponent and push him inside, good shooter will camp at 3 key circles ( corner and straight to rim , easiest shots to make ) , kids good at non will always play hard to hustle below rim.

This does not mean player can't learn new things at age of 19, but much like it was case with Hezonja and dribbling, Payton and shooting, Gordon and shooting, Ja Morant and shooting, Josh Jackson and shooting, Steph Curry and defense or any other player and his weaknesses THEY NEVER GOT NBA GOOD AT THEIR WEAKNESSES! PERIOD!

"bUT hE iS 18 hE WiLl LeARN ". True and false. He will learn how to be more assertive and better at next level. That learning curve will never be nba good for skills who still does not have at age of 19 because it simply means it's too late and not part of his game. And that's fine. But it's delusional to think different.
Why Bamba didn't learn post moves 4 years into nba? Why Isaac didn't learn post moves? Why Howard and Amare were paying $50 000 to attent Hakeem teaching classes and never were able to post up with efficiency?

This is one of most annoying american -mindsets about basketball on this forum. Just because somebody is young that does not give him unlimited potental. Being young just means being born later than others.

As for Chet vs Jabari, the one thing I'd say is that a lot of Chet's value is tied up in rebounding and shot-blocking. These are two things he does very well at the college level. So if you put him out on the wing, you're not getting the most out of him. (Maybe you have to do it -- temporarily or permanently -- if he can't handle the physical game inside, but it's a real compromise. it cuts into his value. I don't think you draft him with the intent of moving him.)

As for Jabari... I mean, I don't know. He's a good shooter, he knocks down open college threes, that's cool. He also just... doesn't do much else? He's an inefficient scorer inside the arc, and can't finish around the basket. His rebounding is mediocre at best. Nobody's calling him a plus defender or passer/handler. I get that he's young, and I'm not saying he's a bad prospect. I'm just not seeing a real game-changing skill set here. Unlike Chet, where the question is "he has it, but can he use it at the next level?," there are real "does he have it?" questions with Jabari.


SO i'm asking you, why don't every player at age of 18 does not turn in lebron james? You think young = unlimited potential so why not? Why Magic don't draft bunch of 16 years old kids and turn them into 10 Lebron's? Maybe, just maybe for same reason why every draft has always same bust arytypes , ones that Magic love the most " athletic, can't shoot, long limbs" ( minus Wagner, who, suprise suprise, is best prospect they drafted in 15 years, and pretty much only one who does not fit their mold)

Bottom line: young player entering nba will almost never addopt new skillset, one that he never showed before and become nba level good ( or elite ) at it. NBA player, entering league at age of 19, more often than not, played basketball for 10 years already and his previous basketball experience along with countless amount of hours they spent with their coaches, playing street ball, playing youth tournaments molded him as player that made him sucessful to that date ( Cole being chucker is example i used on other thread for same ). If you have guy who stands at 6'10, is good shooter but isn't good rebounder, isn't good passer , isn't post presence, isn't pick&roll finisher, can't play center, can't play SF, can't put ball on the floor, can't drive left, can't drive much in general, isn't anything special defender ( but plays along side one ) than we can look at Marvin Willimas, Tobias Harris, maybe Rashard Lewis , very limited Towns arhytype. People here LOVE to use Jaren Jackson Jr as comp for him, issue is, Jarret Jackson Jr plays with Ja Morant AND spents almost 50% of his PT at center. Jabari will never be able to play center sucessful ( same reasons why Bamba can't, not good at pick&roll, no inside presence, poor skills at postups) so you are stuck with him at PF. In general "streach PF" who are "elite " almost don't exist in nba.Shheesh i wonder why is that? Maybe because today "PF is basically taller SF, and all good ones are super versitale. Jabari simply isn't. He is very tall shooter. Cool. That's not usless, but also not skill worth top pick.

when you start off calling me dumb and acting like you are the only one with basketball knowledge, im back to not engaging with you. no where did i say he has unlimited potential. but also, college coaches play players in specific roles, whether they can do more or whether they can develop more. they do the development in the offseason, but when a player first gets on campus, they look to where how they can use them now, not what they can become. Maybe Jabari Smith can develop more skills, at 18 i think the odds are better than not, and maybe he cant. that is why the draft is a crapshoot. there is no crystal ball.

but thats enough from me, pump your own chest that you believe you know more than anyone else. I'm taking another break from you

[cedric76]

BENNEDICT MATHURIN is climbing my ranking, we need to get another lottery pick to get him

[pepe1991]

if only every player was fully developed at 18 and didnt have any weaknesses, it would make drafting so much easier.

This is one of dummest things people like to say and think here and by default always leads teams to draft half baked, untalented kids with good physical profiles and little to non basketball skills because of "potential".

Jabari Smith, much like any 18,19 years old college players, plays basketball for years. Being close to youth basketball circles for years and being nba fan for 20 years now one thing i learned long time ago. Young kids in basketball, much like in any other sport figure out what they are good at and stick to it . Fat kid will always have tendency to turn back to opponent and push him inside, good shooter will camp at 3 key circles ( corner and straight to rim , easiest shots to make ) , kids good at non will always play hard to hustle below rim.

This does not mean player can't learn new things at age of 19, but much like it was case with Hezonja and dribbling, Payton and shooting, Gordon and shooting, Ja Morant and shooting, Josh Jackson and shooting, Steph Curry and defense or any other player and his weaknesses THEY NEVER GOT NBA GOOD AT THEIR WEAKNESSES! PERIOD!

"bUT hE iS 18 hE WiLl LeARN ". True and false. He will learn how to be more assertive and better at next level. That learning curve will never be nba good for skills who still does not have at age of 19 because it simply means it's too late and not part of his game. And that's fine. But it's delusional to think different.
Why Bamba didn't learn post moves 4 years into nba? Why Isaac didn't learn post moves? Why Howard and Amare were paying $50 000 to attent Hakeem teaching classes and never were able to post up with efficiency?

This is one of most annoying american -mindsets about basketball on this forum. Just because somebody is young that does not give him unlimited potental. Being young just means being born later than others.

As for Chet vs Jabari, the one thing I'd say is that a lot of Chet's value is tied up in rebounding and shot-blocking. These are two things he does very well at the college level. So if you put him out on the wing, you're not getting the most out of him. (Maybe you have to do it -- temporarily or permanently -- if he can't handle the physical game inside, but it's a real compromise. it cuts into his value. I don't think you draft him with the intent of moving him.)

As for Jabari... I mean, I don't know. He's a good shooter, he knocks down open college threes, that's cool. He also just... doesn't do much else? He's an inefficient scorer inside the arc, and can't finish around the basket. His rebounding is mediocre at best. Nobody's calling him a plus defender or passer/handler. I get that he's young, and I'm not saying he's a bad prospect. I'm just not seeing a real game-changing skill set here. Unlike Chet, where the question is "he has it, but can he use it at the next level?," there are real "does he have it?" questions with Jabari.


SO i'm asking you, why don't every player at age of 18 does not turn in lebron james? You think young = unlimited potential so why not? Why Magic don't draft bunch of 16 years old kids and turn them into 10 Lebron's? Maybe, just maybe for same reason why every draft has always same bust arytypes , ones that Magic love the most " athletic, can't shoot, long limbs" ( minus Wagner, who, suprise suprise, is best prospect they drafted in 15 years, and pretty much only one who does not fit their mold)

Bottom line: young player entering nba will almost never addopt new skillset, one that he never showed before and become nba level good ( or elite ) at it. NBA player, entering league at age of 19, more often than not, played basketball for 10 years already and his previous basketball experience along with countless amount of hours they spent with their coaches, playing street ball, playing youth tournaments molded him as player that made him sucessful to that date ( Cole being chucker is example i used on other thread for same ). If you have guy who stands at 6'10, is good shooter but isn't good rebounder, isn't good passer , isn't post presence, isn't pick&roll finisher, can't play center, can't play SF, can't put ball on the floor, can't drive left, can't drive much in general, isn't anything special defender ( but plays along side one ) than we can look at Marvin Willimas, Tobias Harris, maybe Rashard Lewis , very limited Towns arhytype. People here LOVE to use Jaren Jackson Jr as comp for him, issue is, Jarret Jackson Jr plays with Ja Morant AND spents almost 50% of his PT at center. Jabari will never be able to play center sucessful ( same reasons why Bamba can't, not good at pick&roll, no inside presence, poor skills at postups) so you are stuck with him at PF. In general "streach PF" who are "elite " almost don't exist in nba.Shheesh i wonder why is that? Maybe because today "PF is basically taller SF, and all good ones are super versitale. Jabari simply isn't. He is very tall shooter. Cool. That's not usless, but also not skill worth top pick.

when you start off calling me dumb and acting like you are the only one with basketball knowledge, im back to not engaging with you.

I'm calling your opinion dumb, not you. Difference is clear.
Learning curve for everything does not start at age of 18. All studies prove it kind a ends there.
Player can settle in, can adjust to new system, learn about new league, get nutrition and practice in check and normally by year 3- or 4he is finished product.
At average, nba player turns into allstar at age of 24, by default, for most players that's their 3rd or 4th nba season.

Players do get better, but they get better within skills they showed in past. Player, at age of 19, entering nba , already played that sport for 9 years at least.
Players rarly to never learn new skills in nba, ones that they showed no flashes off in past. College brick shooter ( MKG; MCW, Ben Simmons and others) almost never turn into even average nba shooters, let alone great ones.
Players without post moves ( Bamba, Isaac to name a few) almost never later become good at it.

Last year i called Okeke bench Ariza, you said i'm too impatient. Funny how this year you are yet to mention once that his rookie year was actually better than his sophmore year. So, i guess we need to wait additional 10 years ? Or maybe, just maybe i was right?

We just played Suns, they have that one 10th overall Magic lottery pick that were everybody was up in arms he will become good shooter "just give him time". He was DNP-CD guy tonight, like he is most of the season.
His rookie 3% was 26,2%. His career average is 28,8%, including with exponetional decline in usage of shot and usage of him as nba player as he never got any better at it. And this is execlly how expected progress looks like. 2-5% until your coach and GM figure that's not your game.
AG , rookie 27% ,career 32% , change of team , wide open looks, much easier role to fill, still 32% . That's his reality.

Ofc you can dig up everybody's favorite Chauncey Billups ( drafted 25 years ago and 1440 players later) and Kyle Lowry drafted 14 years ago and 780 players later, but ask yourself simple question: if my best hope is one out of seven hundred eighty how f*** am I?

What's your opinion about Jarret Culver ?
How about Killian Hayes.
How about our kid Cole Anthony ?

You telling me they can develop new skills, so why don't we collect all 19 yeras old scrubs and see how that goes?
Just keep in mind Killian Hayes is 20, soo... by your logic...just proper development and he is Lebron James in no time.

To me this is crazy talk .Player will enter nba with some skills ,either work on them and get nba- level good at it, or will simply not translate and his skillset will be wasteful. Every nba player has some skills and NO nba player has all the skills. Jarret Culver / Josh Jackson might be way more all around talented player than Duncan Robinson, but Duncan can do his role at nba level, where not a Jackson / Culver don't have clear plus size skill for nba, therfore they are not nba players. But all around, no dubt, Jackson is waaaaaaaay more talented and skilled than Duncan Robinson.

[BCS]

Even though he goes the wrong way about it. Pepe is not wrong ALL prospects have weaknesses. You are going to be right most of the time if you just say every player is a bust, just the easy way out as statistically most players are bust and don't live up to expectations. As a scout/GM you need to figure out which weaknesses are easier to overcome. IMO Jabari's weaknesses are the easiest to overcome and reason why I have him #1 on my board.

I evaluate college players by IQ, improvement as the year goes by, having skills already that are hard to improve on, and consistency. Jabari checks off all those boxes.

Not saying he will be the best player in the draft, a superstar or anything. But based on what I've seen. He has the highest floor with the highest % of reaching his upside, which if he does he will be one of the best players if not the best of the draft class.

Sent from my SM-A716U using RealGM mobile app

[KillMonger]

Watch on YouTube

If this kid enters the draft(which he should) for a team it's a homerun swing...whether or not it's a hit or a strike remains to be seen

[PrimeThyme]

I think Jabari’s defense will translate immediately. The biggest thing about Jabari is his motor runs hot on both ends. He runs the floor incredibly hard and he gives high effort defensively.

With his length and foot speed I expect him to continue to make an impact on that end.

[tiderulz]

Learning curve for everything does not start at age of 18. All studies prove it kind a ends there.
Player can settle in, can adjust to new system, learn about new league, get nutrition and practice in check and normally by year 3- or 4he is finished product.
At average, nba player turns into allstar at age of 24, by default, for most players that's their 3rd or 4th nba season.

Players do get better, but they get better within skills they showed in past. Player, at age of 19, entering nba , already played that sport for 9 years at least.
Players rarly to never learn new skills in nba, ones that they showed no flashes off in past. College brick shooter ( MKG; MCW, Ben Simmons and others) almost never turn into even average nba shooters, let alone great ones.
Players without post moves ( Bamba, Isaac to name a few) almost never later become good at it.

Last year i called Okeke bench Ariza, you said i'm too impatient. Funny how this year you are yet to mention once that his rookie year was actually better than his sophmore year. So, i guess we need to wait additional 10 years ? Or maybe, just maybe i was right?

We just played Suns, they have that one 10th overall Magic lottery pick that were everybody was up in arms he will become good shooter "just give him time". He was DNP-CD guy tonight, like he is most of the season.
His rookie 3% was 26,2%. His career average is 28,8%, including with exponetional decline in usage of shot and usage of him as nba player as he never got any better at it. And this is execlly how expected progress looks like. 2-5% until your coach and GM figure that's not your game.
AG , rookie 27% ,career 32% , change of team , wide open looks, much easier role to fill, still 32% . That's his reality.

Ofc you can dig up everybody's favorite Chauncey Billups ( drafted 25 years ago and 1440 players later) and Kyle Lowry drafted 14 years ago and 780 players later, but ask yourself simple question: if my best hope is one out of seven hundred eighty how f*** am I?

What's your opinion about Jarret Culver ?
How about Killian Hayes.
How about our kid Cole Anthony ?

You telling me they can develop new skills, so why don't we collect all 19 yeras old scrubs and see how that goes?
Just keep in mind Killian Hayes is 20, soo... by your logic...just proper development and he is Lebron James in no time.

To me this is crazy talk .Player will enter nba with some skills ,either work on them and get nba- level good at it, or will simply not translate and his skillset will be wasteful. Every nba player has some skills and NO nba player has all the skills. Jarret Culver / Josh Jackson might be way more all around talented player than Duncan Robinson, but Duncan can do his role at nba level, where not a Jackson / Culver don't have clear plus size skill for nba, therfore they are not nba players. But all around, no dubt, Jackson is waaaaaaaay more talented and skilled than Duncan Robinson.

1 - show me all these studies that say you cant learn anything after age 18.
2 - Tim Duncan, HOF'r, didnt start playing basketbal until 14. many do but many dont start until later as they may have been playing a different sport.
3 - Okeke has been hurt this year, kind of hard to evaluate a player when they are still hurt.
4 - you always like to throw out this idea that "everyone said X and I said X and look now" when many times you are not the only voice in the cold.

I'm done, you've insulted me before too. keep talking down to people on here. You still have never said why you like the Magic, other than coming on here to berate posters. I lived in Orlando, went to many games, mostly when we were bad. Why do you, on the other side of the world, keep coming onto the Magic board when you hate so much about the team unless you obviously enjoy just insulting everyone?

[tiderulz]

Even though he goes the wrong way about it. Pepe is not wrong ALL prospects have weaknesses. You are going to be right most of the time if you just say every player is a bust, just the easy way out as statistically most players are bust and don't live up to expectations. As a scout/GM you need to figure out which weaknesses are easier to overcome. IMO Jabari's weaknesses are the easiest to overcome and reason why I have him #1 on my board.

I evaluate college players by IQ, improvement as the year goes by, having skills already that are hard to improve on, and consistency. Jabari checks off all those boxes.

Not saying he will be the best player in the draft, a superstar or anything. But based on what I've seen. He has the highest floor with the highest % of reaching his upside, which if he does he will be one of the best players if not the best of the draft class.

Sent from my SM-A716U using RealGM mobile app

no one has said they dont. everyone else just doesnt talk down to everyone like they are talking to children who dont know anything. Lets not act like Pepe is some great NBA scout, or else he would be doing that for a living.

[VFX]

Rookies in the NBA get better as they adjust.

Some insurmountably and some not so much. That’s the whole point of a scouting department.

Gauging whether a player will meet their perceived potential (or not) is part of the draft process.

How do people not believe this?

Every player in the league was a rookie.

[tiderulz]

Rookies in the NBA get better as they adjust.

Some insurmountably and some not so much. That’s the whole point of a scouting department.

Gauging whether a player will meet their perceived potential (or not) is part of the draft process.

How do people not believe this?

Every player in the league was a rookie.

to add to this, some players develop differently. Some come out like gang busters their rookie year and regress. Some start slow and get better. Some come into horrible coaching situations and some come into structured environments. So many different paths for the NBA players.

Look at the scouting report for Kawhi Leonard

Does not have one aspect offensively that stands out or which allows him to consistently score the ball … With his size and frame, will almost certainly be a perimeter player at the next level, but he lacks the polish and skill necessary to consistently operate on the wing … He does not have break down ability off the dribble and he is especially shaky handling the ball with his left hand … His jumpshot (while definitely improved) is still very inconsistent

Leonard is not only an average ball-handler, but he also struggles to make shots consistently from beyond the arc. His 0.743 points per shots on jumpers ranks 16th of 17 in the class, where he shot an abysmal 31% from the field. His struggles extend both to his catch and shoot jumpers (32%) and pull-ups (28%).

However, given Leonard's 6'7'' frame, he will be forced to play on the perimeter on the next level. Leonard is a great athlete, but simply does not have the ballhandling or the frame of mind to play small forward at a high level.

But good situation given time and forced by a coach to work on parts of his game. yes, not every player will be able to improve certain aspects and that is what scouts are paid to identify who can improve and who cant.

[VFX]

Rookies in the NBA get better as they adjust.

Some insurmountably and some not so much. That’s the whole point of a scouting department.

Gauging whether a player will meet their perceived potential (or not) is part of the draft process.

How do people not believe this?

Every player in the league was a rookie.

to add to this, some players develop differently. Some come out like gang busters their rookie year and regress. Some start slow and get better. Some come into horrible coaching situations and some come into structured environments. So many different paths for the NBA players.

Look at the scouting report for Kawhi Leonard

Does not have one aspect offensively that stands out or which allows him to consistently score the ball … With his size and frame, will almost certainly be a perimeter player at the next level, but he lacks the polish and skill necessary to consistently operate on the wing … He does not have break down ability off the dribble and he is especially shaky handling the ball with his left hand … His jumpshot (while definitely improved) is still very inconsistent

Leonard is not only an average ball-handler, but he also struggles to make shots consistently from beyond the arc. His 0.743 points per shots on jumpers ranks 16th of 17 in the class, where he shot an abysmal 31% from the field. His struggles extend both to his catch and shoot jumpers (32%) and pull-ups (28%).

However, given Leonard's 6'7'' frame, he will be forced to play on the perimeter on the next level. Leonard is a great athlete, but simply does not have the ballhandling or the frame of mind to play small forward at a high level.

But good situation given time and forced by a coach to work on parts of his game. yes, not every player will be able to improve certain aspects and that is what scouts are paid to identify who can improve and who cant.

True. People really don’t take situation into account as much as they should. It can completely define a players entire career based on where they start.