Is Trae a top 5 player on offense

[CobraCommander]

I view Jokic as on a tier of his own. I think Trae is in that next grouping including: Steph, Luka, KD. In short, yes.

Jokic is in that MVP possibly best center offensively to ever do it tier (minus wilt obviously)

[moderndarwin]

Lol at Joker in a tier of his own.

Put some respect on Steph and Durants name. Even Giannis for that matter.

[LukaTheGOAT]

Curently, Trae is #2 in the league offensively in just about all the major impact metrics such as

O-Backpicks BPM

O-EPM

O-RAPTOR

O-LEBRON

Assuming what you think of him as a PS performer last year, and potentially what he does this year, I think the numbers are supportive. I think he might have more trouble getting a bucket compared to the guys he is competing with for a top 5 spot, but his playmaking is so otherworldly, maybe he should be here regardless.

[Madhouse]

He probably is. I take him over any guard except Luka. And then there are Giannis, Durant, Lebron, Embiid and Jokic. I' think he can edge out 2 of those 6 and be 5th.

[BoatsNZones]

He probably is. I take him over any guard except Luka. And then there are Giannis, Durant, Lebron, Embiid and Jokic. I' think he can edge out 2 of those 6 and be 5th.

God I hope Curry is healthy enough to once again put everyone back in their place next week.

[Madhouse]

He probably is. I take him over any guard except Luka. And then there are Giannis, Durant, Lebron, Embiid and Jokic. I' think he can edge out 2 of those 6 and be 5th.

God I hope Curry is healthy enough to once again put everyone back in their place next week.

He is top 10 but not at the absolute top level after his hot start.

But he is still up there. I take Trae's season over Steph however.

[Branduil]

Lol at Joker in a tier of his own.

Put some respect on Steph and Durants name. Even Giannis for that matter.

I don't think that's a disrespect to Steph or Durant. But Jokic can basically carry a team to the playoffs on his own, which we are seeing this season. That's why he's going to win the MVP.

[BoatsNZones]

He probably is. I take him over any guard except Luka. And then there are Giannis, Durant, Lebron, Embiid and Jokic. I' think he can edge out 2 of those 6 and be 5th.

God I hope Curry is healthy enough to once again put everyone back in their place next week.

He is top 10 but not at the absolute top level after his hot start.

But he is still up there. I take Trae's season over Steph however.

25/5/7 on 49/40/96 his final 20 games. The shooting slump after he was the heavy MVP favorite for the first couple months proved to be just that. Warriors a +10.1 with him on the floor on the season. That is better than everyone in the league (despite scuffed lineups for much of the year). Trae was a +2.4, for comparison. Different tiers.

[Madhouse]

God I hope Curry is healthy enough to once again put everyone back in their place next week.

He is top 10 but not at the absolute top level after his hot start.

But he is still up there. I take Trae's season over Steph however.

25/5/7 on 49/40/96 his final 20 games. The shooting slump after he was the heavy MVP favorite for the first couple months proved to be just that. Warriors a +10.1 with him on the floor on the season. That is better than everyone in the league (despite scuffed lineups for much of the year). Trae was a +2.4, for comparison. Different tiers.

It was a very lengthy shooting slump. And compare EPM for example. Trae has been better.

[cl2117]

Probably? He's definitely top 10.

I know we're just talking offense, but I'm part of the group that thinks there are a handful of guys who could squeeze him out of the top 5 if they were to focus on that end of the court more, but that's just a hypothetical so I think given what we actually see on the court it's hard not to have him top 5.

[Sothron]

btw...

Trae Young has joined Oscar Robertson as the only two players in NBA history to have 7,000+ points and 2,500+ assists within their first four seasons.

[Sothron]

And this as well:

Oscar averaged 44 mins a game in his 1st 4 seasons too, and had 4 full 82 game seasons to collect his stats. Trae had 25 games taken away because of Covid.

Just amazing.

[Ballerhogger]

Objectively ones who are better
KD
Lebron
Booker
Jokic
Luka.

So no.

[kg01]

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

I can't tell if you're in on the joke or not but I'll go with it.

Trae adds something new to his game every offseason. Up next? The patented Mark Jackson back 'em down from halfcourt post 'em ups, baybee. You heard it here first.

[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?

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.

When we talk top 10 defenders, I think we should assess them based on their offensive skillset as well then.

[rapstarter]

btw...

Trae Young has joined Oscar Robertson as the only two players in NBA history to have 7,000+ points and 2,500+ assists within their first four seasons.

And this as well:

Oscar averaged 44 mins a game in his 1st 4 seasons too, and had 4 full 82 game seasons to collect his stats. Trae had 25 games taken away because of Covid.

Just amazing.

Oscar also had 9000+ points and 3000+ assists (averaging 30 and 10), so he's still way ahead.

[Branduil]

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.

When we talk top 10 defenders, I think we should assess them based on their offensive skillset as well then.

You're being facetious, but this is absolutely true to a degree, especially in terms of actually building a team. It has never been harder to hide guys on offense or defense, and players are asked to do more on both ends than any other time in NBA history. A guy like Tony Allen would not get playing time any more, the "3" in 3&D isn't optional. Teams need at least 4 shooters on the floor, and every guy needs to be able to switch and guard the perimeter, to a certain degree.

So it's quite possible there are Top 10 defenders we just don't know about, because they're not good enough on offense to get playing time.

[shakes0]

Objectively ones who are better
KD
Lebron
Booker
Jokic
Luka.

So no.

stopped reading after the bolded. Who do you think you're kidding dude?

[kg01]

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.

When we talk top 10 defenders, I think we should assess them based on their offensive skillset as well then.

You're being facetious, but this is absolutely true to a degree, especially in terms of actually building a team. It has never been harder to hide guys on offense or defense, and players are asked to do more on both ends than any other time in NBA history. A guy like Tony Allen would not get playing time any more, the "3" in 3&D isn't optional. Teams need at least 4 shooters on the floor, and every guy needs to be able to switch and guard the perimeter, to a certain degree.

So it's quite possible there are Top 10 defenders we just don't know about, because they're not good enough on offense to get playing time.

I hear what you're saying here. The funny thing though is that all I'm hearing from all these other posters is that Trae is not good enough on defense to get playing time.

You're right that I'm being mostly facetious. However I do find it strange that, in a conversation specifically about offense, the same folks go out of their way to inject 'defense' into the discussion. But only when talking about one player and literally no one else. I find it weird.

[Dacost]

One of the most unique players in NBA history.

Top 5 on offense.

Bottom 5 on defense.

He can't guard anyone in the NBA.