Blind Taste Test - Pick 3 Players

[Handlogten's Heros]

You have to move Ochai before one of our first rounders. Those first rounders could turn out to be young promising players. You want to give up a pick that could turn into someone like Ochai Agbaji?

I get it... but the pick could end up top 4 which would have a higher expected outcome than Ochai... it could end up middle of the draft and I would say Ochai is a good median outcome of a pick in the teens... but there is also a chance it becomes an all-star... and the value he brings projects to be fairly replaceable.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

I'm definitely not making him untouchable, but I do feel like these discussions gloss over the fact that Ochai has already cleared the biggest hurdle that all worthwhile draft picks have to get over: He can play in the league.

It's easy to get hyped about prospects, but half these dudes will simply bust out of the league, including some top-10 picks. If you wanna take a big swing, and use him to take it, that's fine. But it should be acknowledged that you are giving up a known quality NBA player for a dice roll. You could trade 16 and Ochai for #10 or whatever, and #10 could bust completely, #16 could be better, etc. And you can't chalk it up to draft **** happens, because you knew this dude was a nice player (and handsome af) and you still moved him as nothing more than a trade sweetener.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Ochai also has particular value to a particular set of teams: ones that are desperate to win now and not excited about the risk of a draft pick not working out. He is also one of the exact player types (at least in theory) that Dallas - for example - should be targeting

This... some teams might prefer the extra pick... some might prefer the player.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm definitely not making him untouchable, but I do feel like these discussions gloss over the fact that Ochai has already cleared the biggest hurdle that all worthwhile draft picks have to get over: He can play in the league.

It's easy to get hyped about prospects, but half these dudes will simply bust out of the league, including some top-10 picks. If you wanna take a big swing, and use him to take it, that's fine. But it should be acknowledged that you are giving up a known quality NBA player for a dice roll. You could trade 16 and Ochai for #10 or whatever, and #10 could bust completely, #16 could be better, etc. And you can't chalk it up to draft **** happens, because you knew this dude was a nice player (and handsome af) and you still moved him as nothing more than a trade sweetener.

Its true... you can also trade Trey Lyles and the draft pick that became that syracuse stiff that is out of the league and get Donovan Mitchell.

If you give up Ochai in a deal and the pick doesn't workout... well that sucks... but you can also sign someone to replace what he brings at a relatively easy to swallow price. Unless he takes a few leaps (which could happen)... then it would really hurt.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Its true... you can also trade Trey Lyles and the draft pick that became that syracuse stiff that is out of the league and get Donovan Mitchell.

If you give up Ochai in a deal and the pick doesn't workout... well that sucks... but you can also sign someone to replace what he brings at a relatively easy to swallow price. Unless he takes a few leaps (which could happen)... then it would really hurt.

But if there was no risk that he'd be missed in the net or that there is significant untapped upside, then there is no trade value.

The way gambling (or investing) works is you can lose or win. If you're good/smart at it, then you find ways to take a small risk with the potential for a bigger reward and plan for the ramifications of the worse scenario playing out.

 

[Coach Ellis]

All numbers are per36 and shooting percentages are overall/3P/FT

Player 1 - 14.6 pts - 2.7 ast - 4.1 reb - .7 stls - .2 blks - 41/35/88 - 9 three point attempts per game

Player 2 - 13.2 pts - 2.4 ast - 3.9 reb - .8 stl - .3 blks - 46/43/64 - 8 three point attempts per game

Player 3 - 14.9 pts - 4.2 ast - 4.4 reb - 1.1 stl - .1 blks - 44/37/87 - 7 three point attempts per game

Player 4 - 12.9 pts - 4.8 ast - 6.2 reb - 1.8 stl - .2 blks - 43.5/40/82 - 7 three point attempts per game

Player 5 - 13.9 pts - 2 ast - 3.6 reb - .5 stl - .4 blks - 43/35.5/81 - 7 three point attempts per game

Player 6 - 13.7 pts - 3 ast - 4.3 reb - 1.1 stl - .3 blks - 44/40/90 - 7 three point attempts per game

Player 7 - 15.4 pts - 4.1 ast - 4.1 reb - 1.6 stl - .5 blk - 43/36.5/85 - 7 three point attempts per game

Player 8 - 13.6 pts - 2.3 ast - 5.5 reb - 1.4 stl - .5 blk - 42/40/81 - 4.4 three point attempts per game

Player 9 - 12.5 pts - 1.9 ast - 5.5 reb - 1.0 stl - 0.7 blk - 49/44/72 - 5.2 three point attempts per game

This is the one we want. . .

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Player 9 - 12.5 pts - 1.9 ast - 5.5 reb - 1.0 stl - 0.7 blk - 49/44/72

This is the one we want. . .

50% more rebounds, 100% more steals, 75% more blocks and more efficient shooting… but sure I’ll play along.

If these were Ochais numbers I’d likely be quite a bit higher on him FYI.

 

[Coach Ellis]

50% more rebounds, 100% more steals, 75% more blocks and more efficient shooting… but sure I’ll play along.

If these were Ochais numbers I’d likely be quite a bit higher on him FYI.

Do you know who it is?

 

[Coach Ellis]

Player 9 - 12.5 pts - 1.9 ast - 5.5 reb - 1.0 stl - 0.7 blk - 49/44/72 - 5.2 three point attempts per game

This is the one we want. . .

Player 10 - 10.5 pts - 1.8 ast - 6.0 reb - 1.1 stl - 0.3 blk - 43/38/87 - 5.4 three point attempts per game

Here’s another option.

Also, this one is only 9 months older than Agbaji. He’s probably not going to be as affordable as the other guy I posted about (who played less and is older) but he should be a viable option for the Jazz if they want to sign him.

 

[NUMBERICA]

50% more rebounds, 100% more steals, 75% more blocks and more efficient shooting… but sure I’ll play along.

If these were Ochais numbers I’d likely be quite a bit higher on him FYI.

49/44 is way, way more efficient. Those are damn-near if not literally elite. I don’t know how those are comparable to 40/34.

 

[Coach Ellis]

49/44 is way, way more efficient. Those are damn-near if not literally elite. I don’t know how those are comparable to 40/34.

Also, I’m not bagging on Ochai. I actually think he has great potential and I liked a lot of what I saw from him this year. I’m hoping he goes out there and competes his *** off to TAKE the starting SG position this next season. I think he definitely has the potential to be a quality starter.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Do you know who it is?

Nope