Paolo Banchero

[Big J]

Yea lotta guys are butt hurt that Orlando didn’t draft Jabari so now they are taking their frustrations out on Paolo. It’s pretty sad tbh. Julius Randle is garbage. Nobody is taking Randle with a #1 pick.

[BostonCouchGM]

To me Chet and Jabari both might lack some of the shot creation that Paolo has but will fit more seamlessly into an NBA roster and less likely be played off the floor in the playoffs. Both have great defensive attributes for their position and have better jump shots.

Chet is going to be thrown out of the building effortless by any center or powerforward in the league, if he can't gain at least some muscles... hard to block shots when you're outbalanced by the huge strength gap

Camby led the league in blocks a few seasons and he was similarly built. Chet is basically Camby with a handle, shot and passing. Of course Embiid and other quality post players will get off on him on occasion but he'll get plenty of blocks and those guys get off on everyone. Conversely, Chet, unlike those centers, will draw Embiid out of the paint which helps slashers get to the rim. I really don't think weight is going to be as big an issue as people fear. Besides, if he goes on the Giannis PED cocktail he could put on weight fast.

[clyde21]

proven wrong in what capacity exactly?

and saying Paolo doesn't currently have a role defensively and is positionally locked until he does isn't 'an agenda'. it's fact - whether you want to admit it or not. this has nothing to do with Jabari or Chet or anyone else except Paolo and his status as a prospect.

sorry that's offending you my guy.

[Duke4life831]

I had Paolo over Jabari but sorry y'all just arent making good arguments for Paolo here. Clyde brings up the defensive question marks, which are legit. And its not like Clyde said it really all that negatively either. Quoting him,

"if Paolo develops as a guy who can legitimately scale as a 5 in some matchups and in high leverage games, if that happens then the Magic are cookin with grease"

That isnt even a controversial statement in anyway. Ya if Paolo wants to become an elite player and live up to the #1 expectations, he's going to have to show some defensive growth and versatility. Here is KAT's numbers over the last 4 years.

25/11/4 on 51/40/83 shooting on 63 TS%. That is elite efficient offense from a big. The Wolves have basically not improved at all with KAT as their main guy because the issues KAT brings on the defensive end.

Its much easier to hide a bad defensive guard than it is to hide a bad defensive big. Bigs have more responsibilities on the defensive end than guards do. And even then, Luka still gets grilled constantly (especially in the playoffs) because of his defense.

To me Paolo basically has 2 question marks about him.

1. Can he tighten up the jump shot form so it doesnt become so inconsistent out beyond the arc. He has good form and good touch 18ft and in. The form just gets a little inconsistent which leads to inconsistent results from 3. I think if he tightens up the form, he will be a solid 36%+ 3pt shooter and that is plenty good enough to really become a complete offensive player.

2. Paolo was actually a good 1 on 1 defender in college, so that isnt his big question mark. Its more can he have better off ball awareness, better rotation and just overall better team defender. He needs to get that down. And if he can do that, with his size, that should mean he should be able to play minutes as a small ball 5. But if he doesnt improve his defensive awareness and rotations, there is no way you can have him playing minutes at the 5. If that is the case, that severely limits his potential.

Just saying Luka and Curry are elite players is just a bad lazy argument. They play completely different positions, Curry isnt a massive liability as a team defender (Paolo is at the moment), and Luka's defensive issues are easier to hide because he is a guard and his defensive issues still get brought up constantly when the playoffs come around. Plus those two are all time great offensive players, I wouldnt count on Paolo becoming an all time great offensive player.

[Upperclass]

^ Maybe not agenda, but people wanting players to find the spots that fit best for them.. Jabari will fit well anywhere but he fits better in Orlando on a team that needs scoring, especially from 3 where they had Bamba as their floor stretcher.. Paolo fit better in Houston where he could be a utility player.. these are imo of course but looking at the rosters.. seems to be an apt assessment

[clyde21]

i actually like Paolo's fit better in Orlando instead of Houston potentially next to Sengun, and vice versa, I like Bari's fit in Houston better than in Orlando where I think he would've been pretty redundant next to Franz.

[BostonCouchGM]

i actually like Paolo's fit better in Orlando instead of Houston potentially next to Sengun, and vice versa, I like Bari's fit in Houston better than in Orlando where I think he would've been pretty redundant next to Franz.

agreed. Seems like the fit worked out great for everyone

[Upperclass]

i actually like Paolo's fit better in Orlando instead of Houston potentially next to Sengun, and vice versa, I like Bari's fit in Houston better than in Orlando where I think he would've been pretty redundant next to Franz.

Franz seemed pretty good with the ball in his hand, and he isnt an off-ball shooter so now it seems Paolo and him may be redundant as well, meanwhile Houston really doesnt have anyone who can create good opportunities aside from Sengun.. Green and Jabari are finishers.. Porter can create but seems to be secondary to him taking shots too

[clyde21]

Yea lotta guys are butt hurt that Orlando didn’t draft Jabari so now they are taking their frustrations out on Paolo. It’s pretty sad tbh. Julius Randle is garbage. Nobody is taking Randle with a #1 pick.

no one cares if Orlando drafted Bari or not, people's analysis of players doesn't hinge on where they get drafted. maybe to you it does? i actually like Houston much better for Bari so it worked out perfectly.

of course, no one can offer this board the Big J 'look at his instagram account!' and 'his teammates respect him more' level takes so we def all appreciate the knowledge broski kek.

[Big J]

I think it’s safe to expect Paolo to be a top tier offensive hub in 3-4 years based on what we saw in college. He has the physical makeup to easily be better than Jokic or Towns on defense. Randle should be even factor into the comp because Randle doesn’t have what it takes as a leader and has a bad basketball IQ.

[Sea2003]

I get the concerns with him being locked at the 4 but I don't see how Jabari himself is not anything but a 4. Neither have the rim detterence/Vertical threat. I love what the magic did. Paolo, Wendell, Franz is a very nice core.

[Nyce_1]

ESPN have him as the number 1 draft pick the next year, I don't buy that . There are better prospects than him in the USA and internationally. There are some Bagley vibes with him.

[RookieStar]

Guys just to point out...

We lack a 3 level offensive threat. We got that with PB.

Defense? We never worried about defense before because our offensive drought was more glaring. But even so, we do have good to great defensive players to hide PB.

Franz is a great cutter. Beginning of the season, almost all.his offensive highlights were off him cutting to the rim after a pass. PB is a great floor reader and passer.

[NO-KG-AI]

Paolo doesn't have the length or explosion to become a top tier rim protector or ATG defender probably, but far less gifted players have become really good defenders on both the perimeter and in the paint. If he wants to contribute defensively and challenges himself to, he'll be fine.

[whitehops]

players like al horford are 6'9 with a 7'1 wingspan and are terrific defenders, i don't see why banchero is dismissed so quickly as potentially being a good (or better) defender given his ball IQ and court vision.

[SelfishPlayer]

EJ Liddell is a second round pick making the following play on #1 overall pick Banchero

[Roddy B for 3]

I really don't like building a team around my best two creators as guards (barring a Luka, Steph, MJ talent). To me you ideally want one of your two best players to be a frontcourt and the other a backcourt. I don't forsee Franz as a #2 on a contender, I may be wrong. I like Franz a-very lot as a #3.

I had Paolo as the only player in this draft who is a frontcourt "engine" type player that I predict can one day be a #1 or #2 on a contender. He was the clear #1 in this draft to me because of the archetype and the talent.

I think Smith would've been a sick defensive fit with Issac and Wagner, but a Wagner/Banchero/Issac frontcourt has a #1/2 engine in Paolo and a #3 in Franz. If Orlando can add a Mikal Bridges type 3D SG or Smart type 3D PG.. Then all they need is a bench (simple to find) and a #1/#2 engine guard (much easier to find a guard that can do that vs. a frontcourt that can do that).

Issac
Banchero
Wagner
Suggs

Can be your 2-4 (or 1 & 3-5) to close playoffs games. The list of players who can fill that final guard spot and take that team to a contender status is extremely long.
Steph, prime Klay, Fox?, LeBron, CP3, Booker, Mitchell, Dame, Edwards, SGA?, J. Murray?, D. Murray? Luka, Green, prime CJ?, Ja, Butler, Prime Lowry?,prime Beal, Trae?, Ball?, prime Irving, Brown, FVV?, prime Harden, Simmons?, Maxey?, Jrue?, Cade?, Ivey?, Lavigne, Garland, Sexton?

That's literally 1 or 2 players from who (at least if they have a prime type season) should be able to take the core of Issac(healthy), Paolo, Wagner, Suggs to contender+ status

Literally 27 teams have at least one of the requiesit level guard talents. Maybe 17 frontcourt players in the league who fit this description. Paolo is one, and I don't think Chest or Smith are. (Maybe Smith if he gets his drive and kick/drive and score game more efficient)

[The-Power]

players like al horford are 6'9 with a 7'1 wingspan and are terrific defenders, i don't see why banchero is dismissed so quickly as potentially being a good (or better) defender given his ball IQ and court vision.

Because it's not just about measurements. Horford from the moment he stepped onto the court in college was a high-level rim protector and good rebounder. Banchero hasn't shown that at all in college. That doesn't mean he definitely cannot become a decent or even good defender in time, but let's not just look at measurements to determine upside. Very few bigs who haven't shown much defense in college end up being anything special on that end in the NBA.

[basketballRob]

and im not comping him to Julius Randle as a dig, Randle averaged 24/10/6 two years ago and was All-NBA, so yea. it's more a question of upside and ceiling and PO scalability.

Randle is 6'7.75" w/o shoes and Banchero is reportedly 6'10.5" w/o shoes. When Paolo was side by side with Jabari he looked a good two inches bigger than him. He must've had a little growth spurt last season.

I also didn't like Randle's motor after receiving that big contract. Just based on Paolo's performance in the Tournament he seems to have a stronger will.

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[basketballRob]

I had Paolo over Jabari but sorry y'all just arent making good arguments for Paolo here. Clyde brings up the defensive question marks, which are legit. And its not like Clyde said it really all that negatively either. Quoting him,

"if Paolo develops as a guy who can legitimately scale as a 5 in some matchups and in high leverage games, if that happens then the Magic are cookin with grease"

That isnt even a controversial statement in anyway. Ya if Paolo wants to become an elite player and live up to the #1 expectations, he's going to have to show some defensive growth and versatility. Here is KAT's numbers over the last 4 years.

25/11/4 on 51/40/83 shooting on 63 TS%. That is elite efficient offense from a big. The Wolves have basically not improved at all with KAT as their main guy because the issues KAT brings on the defensive end.

Its much easier to hide a bad defensive guard than it is to hide a bad defensive big. Bigs have more responsibilities on the defensive end than guards do. And even then, Luka still gets grilled constantly (especially in the playoffs) because of his defense.

To me Paolo basically has 2 question marks about him.

1. Can he tighten up the jump shot form so it doesnt become so inconsistent out beyond the arc. He has good form and good touch 18ft and in. The form just gets a little inconsistent which leads to inconsistent results from 3. I think if he tightens up the form, he will be a solid 36%+ 3pt shooter and that is plenty good enough to really become a complete offensive player.

2. Paolo was actually a good 1 on 1 defender in college, so that isnt his big question mark. Its more can he have better off ball awareness, better rotation and just overall better team defender. He needs to get that down. And if he can do that, with his size, that should mean he should be able to play minutes as a small ball 5. But if he doesnt improve his defensive awareness and rotations, there is no way you can have him playing minutes at the 5. If that is the case, that severely limits his potential.

Just saying Luka and Curry are elite players is just a bad lazy argument. They play completely different positions, Curry isnt a massive liability as a team defender (Paolo is at the moment), and Luka's defensive issues are easier to hide because he is a guard and his defensive issues still get brought up constantly when the playoffs come around. Plus those two are all time great offensive players, I wouldnt count on Paolo becoming an all time great offensive player.

Mosley is a good defensive-minded coach who can teach Paolo. I think the Magic had the #1 defense for a good stretch after the all-star break. Adding Isaac is only going to help.

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