He averaged 27 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg on 61% FG in 61 games in 20/21 and was an All-Star. New Orleans literally just gave him one of the biggest deals in NBA history based on that season/production, lol. Even if he wasn't healthy, you literally can't find a more impressive sample size of production that big.
No doubt it was impressive. I have never argued that. I have argued that he cant stay healthy and I have my doubts about his ability to do that. I am unsure he takes good enough care of his body and is in good enough shape to withstand a full season and playoffs playing significant minutes. But, I hope he proves that wrong.
I agree, hopefully he can stay healthy but I think it's probably a long shot. I'd guess he has a similar career to someone like Amar'e where his highs are extremely high but it's just pretty short lived.
I like your starting 5, I think that you'd probably have to stagger Murray/Beal quite a bit though because you don't really have any playmaking or shot creation off the bench.
He is a close second. His defense keeps him from being as good as Embiid. I was trying to pick between the two of them with my 2nd pick but after a second it wasnt close for me. Scoring between the two is about the same, last year Embiid was the better 3 point shooter but its been the other way in the past. Jokic is a better passer, Embiid is a much better defender. Both are good players though. I would rather build around a two way guy though.
I probably would for defensive reasons have one of the best guard defenders Gary Trent Jr coming in a lot between the two. I see those three getting equal minutes. Beal probably subs out first and then tears the second units apart. But Trent Jr can create his own shot pretty well, so can Bojan and Oubre. But those 3 dont create much for others.
Yeah I've personally always thought Jokic was severely overrated but I couldn't pass on him at #7.
I think your spacing would be top tier and having someone like Beal/Murray on the court for all 48 minutes would give you an All-NBA level player on the ball the entire game. I do think you would've benefited from drafting a good backup PG/playmaker over Obi Toppin though.
