Is Trae a top 5 player on offense

[kg01]

When we list our top 5 offensive players, I think everyone should add a blurb about their defense as well. Or does that just apply to one guy?

[SF_Warriors]

Trae is second in offensive RAPTOR FWIW this season.
Personally, I would like an elite offensive player with more size as I believe they will fare better in the later stages of the POs.

[falcolombardi]

probably top 5 or close to it

[GeorgeSears]

Top 2

[NZB2323]

Curry, Jokic, and Doncic are better offensive players than him. After that you could make an argument for Trae.

[celticfan42487]

Curry, Jokic, and Doncic are better offensive players than him. After that you could make an argument for Trae.

Likely Durant too if you are counting it by players that will win you games in the playoffs.

I think Giannis has to be put in that level too, we may not like that he isn't bombing 3s but he's consistently hitting 30 ppgs on like 55% shooting for about 3 straight years now. Modern day Shaq in effect.

After those 5 I think you can start making arguments.

[shakes0]

Curry, Jokic, and Doncic are better offensive players than him. After that you could make an argument for Trae.

Likely Durant too if you are counting it by players that will win you games in the playoffs. .

Trae doesn’t win you games in the playoffs? Did you miss last season?

[ChuckChilly]

In reality or in vacuum? If in vacuum, no, as several other players can get a boost by giving up some defense load and focusing on scoring.

What? Outside of Giannis and possibly Jimmy Butler, who are these top players that could score more if they played "Trae level" defense, so to speak.

Jokic/Tatum/Embiid/Luka/Durant/Giannis can all take more usage in offense by giving up some defense and rebounding loads, that's already 6

Some of those are fair picks but I think its highly unrealistic to think most of those players could perform better than what they are doing by simply not playing much defense, considering the more points a player scores, the more they will get double teamed. Thats like basically proclaiming Embiid, Durant, and Giannis could average 40 a game now instead of 30 by playing one side, which would be be historical if they pulled it off.

[celticfan42487]

Curry, Jokic, and Doncic are better offensive players than him. After that you could make an argument for Trae.

Likely Durant too if you are counting it by players that will win you games in the playoffs. .

Trae doesn’t win you games in the playoffs? Did you miss last season?

Sorry I meant more like games against great teams when it matters against the very best. Kind of players you know going into the Finals that they won't be stopped due to physical limitations or anything when the refs swallow their whistle.

Durant and Giannis are just a little more proven there, and Jokic/Doncic are of molds of players that we've seen be that kind of person before.

Trae's an effing stud though and wildly underrated. Players don't average 25-30 and 10 since their second year without being an extremely rare player.

[dygaction]

What? Outside of Giannis and possibly Jimmy Butler, who are these top players that could score more if they played "Trae level" defense, so to speak.

Jokic/Tatum/Embiid/Luka/Durant/Giannis can all take more usage in offense by giving up some defense and rebounding loads, that's already 6

Some of those are fair picks but I think its highly unrealistic to think most of those players could perform better than what they are doing by simply not playing much defense, considering the more points a player scores, the more they will get double teamed. Thats like basically proclaiming Embiid, Durant, and Giannis could average 40 a game now instead of 30 by playing one side, which would be be historical if they pulled it off.

They are really close in terms of offense value though, no need to jump from 30 to 40, a few extra points or assists or offensive rebounding may move the needle.

[MrBigShot]

He's the best offensive player in the game. So, yes.

What argument does he have over Jokic? 27ppg on 66 TS% vs 28ppg on 60 TS%. Trae does average 1.6 more assists a game, but he does so on a slightly higher usage right.

Trae scores very efficiently and creates a lot of scoring opportunities for his teammates so yeah I'd say he is in the convo for being a top 5 offensive player.

He can do everything Jokic can do offensively and he weighs about as much as Jokic's left calf.

You also basically answered your own question, btw.

Well damn I guess i'll be watching more closely for Trae to bang in the post down low from now on lol

[CobraCommander]

Trae is Second to only Jokic-

Curry, KD, Luka, Booker, Ja, Giannis,
Embiid, Harden, Lebron and CP3 can all fight for the spots after Trae…

[Duffman100]

When we list our top 5 offensive players, I think everyone should add a blurb about their defense as well. Or does that just apply to one guy?

Are any of them as bad as Trae is at defense? Like top 10 worst defenders in the league? No? okay then.

But yes, I'd have him in my top 5. Somewhere along with Jokic, Curry, Durant and Doncic.

[Threezus]

When we list our top 5 offensive players, I think everyone should add a blurb about their defense as well. Or does that just apply to one guy?

Are any of them as bad as Trae is at defense? Like top 10 worst defenders in the league? No? okay then.

But yes, I'd have him in my top 5. Somewhere along with Jokic, Curry, Durant and Doncic.

Yet somehow Bogi is even worse than trae on defense it blows my mind. I watch pretty much every single game the Hawks play. Atleast Trae puts in some effort on defense and does make some plays. He isn't great at it but he isn't god awful like he was 2 or 3 years ago. He's just below avg now on defense where as Bogi should be much better than Trae and just does absolutely nothing and lets people go right by him or just wraps his arms around them to stop them way to often.

[dygaction]

The biggest limitation of Trae's offense is reliability or consistency. He has really impressive ppg and apg, but that's averaging many games. On a night by night basis, he can often gets really hot: 15 times this season he shots 3s at high volume with >50%; That often leads to amazing numbers and blow out wins, even against strong teams.

However, he also he can gets cold a lot more than other players and then your team is doomed. This season he has 26 (out of 72) games with fg% <40%. Durant only has 4 games with fg below 40% (out of 51). Even without considering their defensive side, Durant lose less games for you. If Trae's stand deviation is smaller, Hawks would not be in the play-in right now.

[sp6r=underrated]

It's pretty close, so maybe? Only player I would say for sure is a better offensive player atm is Jokic, and his case is bolstered by current injuries to Steph and Kawhi. With them both hurt, I'd say yeah top 5.

I should stop here because we have two posters who lose their ish if you mention defense, but it is important in this context. Steve Nash led the best offense in the league every season for a decade, but those teams made significant defensive sacrifices to achieve that and the Hawks are doing the same thing now. There is more value to players with less offensive talent but who allow you to construct a team better able to hold their own defensively. And yes that matters when discussing just the offensive end. Sorry, but it does.

Yup, I don't think you can look at offense completely in isolation. I'll use Amare since (i) most people know him and his game; and (ii) he played long ago so emotions have died down.

Amare was an excellent offensive player. He had a great touch, excellent first step and was a very strong finisher.

But part of his offensive excellence came from teams putting him at a center to get a defensive mismatch. It worked but it often times caused his team's defense to completely collapse.

I don't think you can simply look at his offensive excellence at Center without considering the damage he did to your D.

[Sothron]

Trae is the second best offensive player in the NBA behind only Jokic. If Trae was seven foot with a low post game then he would be number one. But he isn't. Being the second best offensive player and the best guard in the NBA is still pretty damn good.

[dygaction]

Trae is Second to only Jokic-

Curry, KD, Luka, Booker, Ja, Giannis,
Embiid, Harden, Lebron and CP3 can all fight for the spots after Trae…

Why do you think Trae is behind Jokic? By eye testing or by considering other factors like efficiency... He is averaging more ppg and more apg after all.

[GrindCityHustle]

Trae is somehow better this year while the rest of the Hawks have regressed. They still going to be good long-term.

[CobraCommander]

Trae is Second to only Jokic-

Curry, KD, Luka, Booker, Ja, Giannis,
Embiid, Harden, Lebron and CP3 can all fight for the spots after Trae…

Why do you think Trae is behind Jokic? By eye testing or by considering other factors like efficiency... He is averaging more ppg and more apg after all.

When it boils down to it- I Jokic can do everything everywhere offensively.

A 7’ point center that passes and shoots like a world class guard.

There are things Trae can’t do in the post that are automagic for jokic - like simple tap ins and post ups.

I think jokic might be the perfect offensive player- put a powerful center on him and he shoots and passes so well it’s unfair - put a power forward like ADor Giannis on him and it’s unfair cause he body’s them…

I love Trae but damn jokic is unguardable