The point of this post is try to start a discussion about how we expect this team to evolve as our young players get better.
If our goal is to win a championship we need to find a superstar, a MVP candidate.
Let's take a look at our team right now. Or just skip to the bottom and read the overall evaluation.
Point Guard:
Devin Harris's game is based on his speed and quickness. His speed and quickness is declining and so his effectiveness. He is a stop gap at the PG position.
Watson can't shoot consistently and his best years are behind him.
Price is and will be an effective energy player for a few more years.
Shooting guard/Small Forward:
AK's body is starting to fail him. He is still effective as a defender in certain matchups. But he needs to relegated to being a role player off the bench.
Gordon Hayward has the size and athletic ability to play the 2 or the 3. He has improved his body during the season and has improved his jumpshot. He limited because he doesn't current have the finishing skills to score in the paint consistently. He is also limited by his lack of a consistent pullup jumper. He has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive end. He can move his feet well and he uses his length and leaping ability to block and challenge shots effectively. He if continues to develop in his current path he will become a very good role player at the 2 or the 3. He will be able to his open shots, make good passes, score in the open court and defend his positions well. I believe he could be a starter on a very good team. But we need a dynamic guard to pair him with.
CJ Miles is IMO who he is always going to be. An athletic streak shooter who will always not be completely focused. CJ could be the 8th best player on a championship squad, but you are relying on him to score every night you will be in the lottery.
Raja Bell's spirit is willing but his body to old. On his best nights he is an effective defender and role player. But those are few and far between.
Power Forward:
This is the position we have the most talent.
Paul Millsap is in the prime years of his career. He could to stand to improve his passing out of double teams, but that is the only hole in his game I can see. The downside is he has maximized his potential but he is limited by his height. He is a good player, but you need at least a couple of great players to win a championship. If Paul is your 3rd or 4th best player your are a really good team. If he is your second best player you are in the lottery. I like Paul as your first big man off the bench.
Derrick Favors has the physical profile of a multi-year all-star. I wonder is he has the burning desire and competitive fire to match his potential. He reminds me a lot of a young Nene. He could develop into a game changing defender and in force in the paint in the offensive end. He is the only player on the team with the potential to become a superstar. The problem is he is likely years away from realizing his potential.
Jeremy Evans has very good quickness, leaping ability and length. He uses his athletic ability to finish plays, block shots and track down loose balls. If he can become strong enough to hold his own he would become a very good role player.
We have enough talent at the position we may need to trade away a player to improve our guard play.
Center:
Al Jefferson has several holes in his fundamentals. He struggles to pass the ball effectively. He doesn't have a left-handed post shot. His defensive awareness and rotations are often poor. He is a very good isolation post scorer. He is a decent shot blocker and rebounder. All in all Al is a star player but likely never an all star. He looks like an effective 2nd or 3rd scorer if he is paired with a superior defender like Favors could become.
Memo in a best case scenario because a ten minutes a night scorer off the bench. I believe he will just retire.
Fess over the last 4 years has shown what he is. A huge, physically talented but mentally weak player. I don't expect him to be a difference maker on a good team ever.
Elson is a stop gap player.
Overall Evaluation
We are solid at the 4 and the 5 with the potential to become very good. Our point guard position needs to be upgraded. We need to find a superstar caliber player that can play on the perimeter to go with our potential superstar in Favors. The difficulty is the upcoming draft seems to be loaded with big man prospects. Derrick Williams looks like the only likely superstar to me.
So what do we do? Trade away one of bigs for a wing player? If there is a decent PG prospect we need to draft him.
If our goal is to win a championship we need to find a superstar, a MVP candidate.
Let's take a look at our team right now. Or just skip to the bottom and read the overall evaluation.
Point Guard:
Devin Harris's game is based on his speed and quickness. His speed and quickness is declining and so his effectiveness. He is a stop gap at the PG position.
Watson can't shoot consistently and his best years are behind him.
Price is and will be an effective energy player for a few more years.
Shooting guard/Small Forward:
AK's body is starting to fail him. He is still effective as a defender in certain matchups. But he needs to relegated to being a role player off the bench.
Gordon Hayward has the size and athletic ability to play the 2 or the 3. He has improved his body during the season and has improved his jumpshot. He limited because he doesn't current have the finishing skills to score in the paint consistently. He is also limited by his lack of a consistent pullup jumper. He has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive end. He can move his feet well and he uses his length and leaping ability to block and challenge shots effectively. He if continues to develop in his current path he will become a very good role player at the 2 or the 3. He will be able to his open shots, make good passes, score in the open court and defend his positions well. I believe he could be a starter on a very good team. But we need a dynamic guard to pair him with.
CJ Miles is IMO who he is always going to be. An athletic streak shooter who will always not be completely focused. CJ could be the 8th best player on a championship squad, but you are relying on him to score every night you will be in the lottery.
Raja Bell's spirit is willing but his body to old. On his best nights he is an effective defender and role player. But those are few and far between.
Power Forward:
This is the position we have the most talent.
Paul Millsap is in the prime years of his career. He could to stand to improve his passing out of double teams, but that is the only hole in his game I can see. The downside is he has maximized his potential but he is limited by his height. He is a good player, but you need at least a couple of great players to win a championship. If Paul is your 3rd or 4th best player your are a really good team. If he is your second best player you are in the lottery. I like Paul as your first big man off the bench.
Derrick Favors has the physical profile of a multi-year all-star. I wonder is he has the burning desire and competitive fire to match his potential. He reminds me a lot of a young Nene. He could develop into a game changing defender and in force in the paint in the offensive end. He is the only player on the team with the potential to become a superstar. The problem is he is likely years away from realizing his potential.
Jeremy Evans has very good quickness, leaping ability and length. He uses his athletic ability to finish plays, block shots and track down loose balls. If he can become strong enough to hold his own he would become a very good role player.
We have enough talent at the position we may need to trade away a player to improve our guard play.
Center:
Al Jefferson has several holes in his fundamentals. He struggles to pass the ball effectively. He doesn't have a left-handed post shot. His defensive awareness and rotations are often poor. He is a very good isolation post scorer. He is a decent shot blocker and rebounder. All in all Al is a star player but likely never an all star. He looks like an effective 2nd or 3rd scorer if he is paired with a superior defender like Favors could become.
Memo in a best case scenario because a ten minutes a night scorer off the bench. I believe he will just retire.
Fess over the last 4 years has shown what he is. A huge, physically talented but mentally weak player. I don't expect him to be a difference maker on a good team ever.
Elson is a stop gap player.
Overall Evaluation
We are solid at the 4 and the 5 with the potential to become very good. Our point guard position needs to be upgraded. We need to find a superstar caliber player that can play on the perimeter to go with our potential superstar in Favors. The difficulty is the upcoming draft seems to be loaded with big man prospects. Derrick Williams looks like the only likely superstar to me.
So what do we do? Trade away one of bigs for a wing player? If there is a decent PG prospect we need to draft him.
