Offseason Thread

SWedd523 · Post #521 » by **SWedd523** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 6:55 pm

Mark blew me away with how close he was to the center of the size/mobility/touch triangle. Physically, I don't think I'd change anything about him from a prototype standpoint (aside from him gaining natural weight and strength as he ages).

He's a killer mentality away from being an imposing force. He seems a little too nice, so I go back to wanting an old mean big to beat up on him and teach him how to be a bully.

LofJ · Post #522 » by **LofJ** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 7:08 pm

The game where Mark blocked Trae Young's jump shot to tie the game and finished at the other end was my favorite play of the season. It was elite two-way play, if we get more of that this season oh boy....

CuseMayne · Post #523 » by **CuseMayne** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 7:08 pm

Oh I love me some Big Mark. I honestly think he can become an All-Star Center. I remember last year EC proclaimed, "How did he fall to pick 15?!", and I echo that sentiment. The sky's the limit with this kid. Really think we finally found our franchise C.

Bassman · Post #524 » by **Bassman** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 7:35 pm

CuseMayne wrote:Oh I love me some Big Mark. I honestly think he can become an All-Star Center. I remember last year EC proclaimed, "How did he fall to pick 15?!", and I echo that sentiment. The sky's the limit with this kid. Really think we finally found our franchise C.

Completely agree. With all the talk about how Kai is such a bust of a pick, our biggest break may have been everyone sleeping on Mark Williams potential. I loved him at Duke, felt his athleticism and ceiling was underrated, and was thrilled we drafted him. His offensive game will continue improving as well. Good passer, IQ, great motor, born to block shots!

chabber · Post #525 » by **chabber** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 8:09 pm

Braggins wrote:Does anyone else think Mark Williams is going to be really good?

I'm not going to make any big proclamations, but I get the feeling hes going to blow expectations out of the water this season. I have very little doubt his defensive impact will be legit in time. He also actually showed a very surprising level of touch and shotmaking within 12 feet last season and his length allows him to get off shots with ease that you wouldn't expect coming from a guy that was supposed to just be a garbage man. Hes already probably not far off from being an elite lob threat in the league and hes a foul drawing machine who actually hits his free throws.

Idk, it seems like there is a lot more to his game than most of us expected and his ceiling may have been significantly underrated coming out of Duke.

I'm super pumped on Mark, but I was before the draft as well; He was a better prospect than Wiseman in my book. I didn't want Duren. Right now he still needs to put on some more muscle up top but he is the biggest reason I'm optimistic our record will significantly improve this year. He should mesh really well with Melo, Miles & Miller.

Braggins · Post #526 » by **Braggins** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 8:28 pm

I won't be surprised if prime Mark is perennially near the top of the league in true shooting %, total dunks, and blocked shots.

HornetJail · Post #527 » by **HornetJail** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 8:52 pm

prior to the 2022 draft, I legitimately would've traded picks #13 and #15 to secure Mark if we had to. Most players with his measureables are much much less NBA-ready than he was, and he's proven to be an impact player in just half a season worth of action despite the entire team being in complete dysfunction. I truly believe he's the second most important player for our future, ahead of Miles and Miller.

amcoolio · Post #528 » by **amcoolio** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 10:51 pm

I didn't understand it either. Mark should have gone top 8. A lot of teams are now looking for his skillset.

I'm hoping he stays healthy first and foremost.

Post #529 » by **Diop** » Tue Oct 3, 2023 11:18 pm

CuseMayne wrote:Oh I love me some Big Mark.

Trey24 · Post #530 » by **Trey24** » Wed Oct 4, 2023 5:43 am

Braggins wrote:Does anyone else think Mark Williams is going to be really good?

I'm not going to make any big proclamations, but I get the feeling hes going to blow expectations out of the water this season. I have very little doubt his defensive impact will be legit in time. He also actually showed a very surprising level of touch and shotmaking within 12 feet last season and his length allows him to get off shots with ease that you wouldn't expect coming from a guy that was supposed to just be a garbage man. Hes already probably not far off from being an elite lob threat in the league and hes a foul drawing machine who actually hits his free throws.

Idk, it seems like there is a lot more to his game than most of us expected and his ceiling may have been significantly underrated coming out of Duke.

I think Mark is going to be a top 10 center this season and also he is the reason (and Nick) that I ultimately think we will outperform any Borrego team this season with good health

Post #531 » by **fatlever** » Wed Oct 4, 2023 5:52 am

I'm very optimistic about Mark, which makes me nervous. He could be a stud.

Post #532 » by **JDR720** » Wed Oct 4, 2023 6:11 am

He should be an easy 10/10 with 2 blocks.

Future all-defense potential.

Chapelchilla · Post #533 » by **Chapelchilla** » Wed Oct 4, 2023 4:27 pm

HornetJail wrote:prior to the 2022 draft, I legitimately would've traded picks #13 and #15 to secure Mark if we had to. Most players with his measureables are much much less NBA-ready than he was, and he's proven to be an impact player in just half a season worth of action despite the entire team being in complete dysfunction. I truly believe he's the second most important player for our future, ahead of Miles and Miller.

I agree. His value to the franchise going forward is super high if he develops like he has been.

Post #534 » by **JDR720** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 2:48 am

Read on Twitter

Interesting that they called PJ a center and left Kai out.

Post #535 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 2:54 am

JDR720 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Interesting that they called PJ a center and left Kai out.

Where did they call PJ a center? Seems like they just said "big man".

Also seems like it makes sense not to mention Kai in a piece about training camp bigs since he's not at training camp.

Post #536 » by **JDR720** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 3:01 am

Oh yeah, forgot Kai isn't there.

The tweet called them centers " Big things to look forward to with our young centers"

Post #537 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 3:03 am

JDR720 wrote:Oh yeah, forgot Kai isn't there.

The tweet called them centers " Big things to look forward to with our young centers"

Oh lol I just clicked the link and read the article

SWedd523 · Post #538 » by **SWedd523** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 3:05 am

They dismissed him from the team, so it'd be more odd if they included him in the "training camp bigs"

They also called PJ a Forward, not a Center

see the F under his name?

Post #539 » by **Diop** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 3:07 am

and they only expect big things from the young centres, not from their forwards

is this a penis thing?

Trey24 · Post #540 » by **Trey24** » Thu Oct 5, 2023 3:49 am

JDR720 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Interesting that they called PJ a center and left Kai out.

I didn't see them call him a center in the article, they said he played center previous 2 seasons before last where he played 95% PF. Maybe they were referring to Mark and Nick and threw PJ in the picture, as the article talks about front court including Miles and Thor