Following potential 2015 draftees

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Keep in mind, if Jerry Sloan were the coach of the Jazz, Exum wouldn't be seeing the floor at all. It would be like CJ Miles' rookie year. Ronnie Brewer had a couple years of college and didn't play until the tail end of the year. Bryon Russell didn't get any time until the tail end of his rookie year. Etc.

Why don't Raptors fans ***** and moan about that guy Bruno Carpaccio (or whatever his name is)? Guys this young and underdeveloped need time to get their sea legs. They're still learning the game to some extent.

Bruno is in the D-League, like Exum probably should be.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Gobert didn't really need game time to learn the game. He had spent years playing Pro ball in France, he just needed time to adjust to America and get another year of advanced strength training.

 

[Hantlers]

Anyone else wary of Winslow solely because he goes to Duke? Duke prospects taken in the lottery who aren't "sure things" (Kyrie, Jabari) seem to have been kind of underwhelming recently in the NBA.

Austin Rivers 10th overall looks like a bust
Sheldon Williams 5th overall: bounced around the league for 6 seasons and plays in China now
Gerald Henderson 12th overall is ok
JJ Redick 11th is good at what he does and a late bloomer
Luol Deng 7th overall was an all-star and a good pick

I only went back through the last 10 drafts. Previous drafts in the 2000s had Mike Dunleavy 3rd overall, Jay Williams 2nd overall(played one season before career ending motorcycle crash), Shane Battier 6th overall

I haven't watched Winslow enough to decide how I feel about him, it's just a random thought.

In most cases, judging a player by what school they go to is stupid. I'm not going to judge Karl Towns differently because of MKG, I'm going to judge Karl Towns on Karl Towns, and Winslow on Winslow. I just think it's dumb to judge a school based on NBA teams drafting poorly.

With that said, people have to remember that before the season started, Winslow was viewed as a 2-3 year college player because his offense was such a limiting factor to his game. He got off to a great start, but he's obviously regressing towards his mean right now. At this point, he is what he is, a great defensive player with a lot of athleticism, good ability to finish, pretty good handle for a wing, put an average shooter at best. I'm not worried about his midrange game, because the midrange shot is incredibly overrated.

I think Winslow will be a very good player someday, but he does have to develop his shot a lot. Whatever team drafts him has to realize that. It would however be silly to judge Duke because of that, just like it would be silly to judge Kentucky because of MKG's struggles in shooting.



Fwiw, I believe at the beginning of the year I compared Winslow to MKG but with a slightly better shot. I should have stuck with that instead of getting carried away by his strong start.

 

[fishonjazz]

LOL @ everyone bitching about us drafting Exum.

Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid were off the board 1-2-3. Who else did you guys want? It's been an incredibly underwhelming rookie class thus far, and Exum still appears to have as much or more potential as anyone else in the class.

Honestly, I've been pleased with Exum so far. We knew he would be raw as all hell but he's shown more flashes than I thought. The physical tools to be an elite-level PG are all still there. He just needs time to come into his own and let the game slow down.

I'm still pumped we got Exum.

Here's to hoping he breaks out next year like Gobert has.

Good posts. I have definitely been bashing exum too much. I need to be more patient for sure

As for exums body not being ready and being an 18 year old body or whatever.... I think that is kind of a lame excuse. Wiggins is super skinny, Burks was about the same size as exum when he was a rookie, durant is about as skinny as it gets.

Exum just needs to stop playing scared

 

[mellow]

No you are right, I'm sorry.
I don't have a problem with adult pro leagues in other countries for the most part.

It's the high school competition and high school all star tourneys that I am cautious of.

Or one all star game sponsored by a shoe company or energy drink or whatever.

 

[Beer]

Good posts. I have definitely been bashing exum too much. I need to be more patient for sure

As for exums body not being ready and being an 18 year old body or whatever.... I think that is kind of a lame excuse. Wiggins is super skinny, Burks was about the same size as exum when he was a rookie, durant is about as skinny as it gets.

Exum just needs to stop playing scared

Wiggins is a FREAK athlete even by NBA standards. Burks was older than Exum when he came to the NBA and didn't do a whole lot right off the bat. Durant well he is also a 7' tall with PG skills. Not fair comparisons. Getting stronger will make such a big difference in what he can do and how confident he is doing it. I do think he is lacking in the alpha mentality though. I wish he would say screw it and start taking it hard to the basket instead of trying to be such a complementary player.

 

[Hantlers]

If it wasn't for Stifle, I wouldn't have known that drafting based on potential was risky. I'm so glad I know now!!

Look, we drafted a PG with good measurables, a high IQ, and lots of potential. He's low on confidence, which if you look at his situation, is pretty freaking normal. Y'all need to relax. Most players with good measurabls and a high IQ turn out to be at least average starters. I ain't worried. I'd still take him over Payton, who might never learn how to shoot or finish.

 

[fishonjazz]

If it wasn't for Stifle, I wouldn't have known that drafting based on potential was risky. I'm so glad I know now!!

Look, we drafted a PG with good measurables, a high IQ, and lots of potential. He's low on confidence, which if you look at his situation, is pretty freaking normal. Y'all need to relax. Most players with good measurabls and a high IQ turn out to be at least average starters. I ain't worried. I'd still take him over Payton, who might never learn how to shoot or finish.

Great post.
Thanks

 

[Hantlers]

Good posts. I have definitely been bashing exum too much. I need to be more patient for sure

As for exums body not being ready and being an 18 year old body or whatever.... I think that is kind of a lame excuse. Wiggins is super skinny, Burks was about the same size as exum when he was a rookie, durant is about as skinny as it gets.

Exum just needs to stop playing scared

1) those guys were all built better.
2) they all played in college for at least a year, where they got beat up and got used to not being the stud they were in HS
3) Exum is just going through that, except he's in the pros instead of in college, so yeah, I wouldn't say he has a weak excuse at all. Do I want him to be agressive and confident? Of course, but it is more than understandable why he isn't, and it still isn't reason to worry.

 

[BTP]

I think Exum's main problem is that he's never faced this quality of defensive bigs in his life before. Now he's gotta readjust his finishing around the rim, because everytime I see him try it it goes horribly wrong. He'll get there next season. I'm confident.

 

[The Midnight]

Exum needs to go talk to Stockton during the offseason. Can't believe he has not done that yet.

 

[Doublea]

I think Exum's main problem is that he's never faced this quality of defensive bigs in his life before. Now he's gotta readjust his finishing around the rim, because everytime I see him try it it goes horribly wrong. He'll get there next season. I'm confident.

Definitely this. Just look at him in the Nike Hoop Summit. He was comfortable and confident. The NBA physicality is definitely the main factor here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdbE72z2VE&spfreload=10