Which direction do you want the team to go the rest of the season?

[sip]

Good post. I agree.
Pretty cool that we have hella draft picks and 2 current rookies who already are contributing then right?

Unfortunately the griz and pelicans just have way more young pieces that are already in place. I think we would all agree that if 2 of our picks next year turned into Herb Jones, Trey Murphy or Santi Aldama caliber of players we would be happy as hell.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I also think we learned a controlled rebuild can be the best patient path. Don't do what Minny did... put a bunch of cakes in the oven and bake (sorry).

 

[hgb]

Yeah, but most teams have an idea about what the range probably will be. Unless it's 2029 picks (total crapshoot then), but most picks are traded only a year or two out. At that point the teams have at least some idea if the picks they're trading are gonna be in the lottery, mid-draft or high 20s.

I don't know, I think the majority of the teams that traded away those picks were feeling pretty good about making the playoffs, but I didn't go through the trades, so I don't know.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

It almost feels like Ochai spent too many years playing college ball. He probably has a lot of defensive bad habits that are hard to shake now that his opponents are much better, bigger, stronger and quicker. Hardy even hinted as much in some interview. Despite his athleticism and length, he plays really small - probably because he didn't really need to be playing big at Kansas. Being 6'5'' was enough on the wing.

Still, I've come around on this kid and I'm eating my crow. He seems to be a willing learner and has all the physical tools to be an effective wing in this league.

And I just don't know if you learn the stuff he needs to in practice or workouts... its kinda trial and error in games. It'd be nice to have like an Iggy or washed vet mentor that could work with him on defense and what he can get away with.

He also just makes some young player mistakes like ducking under a screen on Norman Powell when he's going nuclear... but he at least has the ability to stay in front of guys which is a big improvement over most our guards.

 

[fishonjazz]

I think Ochai is not a great defender at this point but I think he needs reps. He is a good shooter and has started to do other things as a cutter or off the catch and go. I just think if it looks awesome with a Basic Bitch 3 and D guy then you can kinda build that direction to upgrading at SF or PG and try for a more dynamic option.

My only worry is he is just okayish and then you draft or acquire a better option and move him to the bench and its viewed as a demotion. Its not a huge concern and I would guess he'd take it well. All reports on him through college were he's a worker and everyone loves him. If we went that route and ended up out of the playoffs with a lotto pick great... if we won the play in and made the playoffs... great. If we just rely on vets a ton and win the play in then its a hollow victory to me.

Agreed. Especially with the last sentence. I have been on the fence about tanking or trying to win more than just about anyone. I simply want to ride the younger guys (so does hearskys mom). Dont care much if we win or lose.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I don't know, I think the majority of the teams that traded away those picks were feeling pretty good about making the playoffs, but I didn't go through the trades, so I don't know.

Teams stopped trading unprotected picks for a while because of Brooklyn and other disasters. They just didn't do it. They handed them out like candy this last offseason cuz mfers forgot. It will tighten up over the next 2-3 years as teams remember how stupid it is. Those picks will gain in value as the nba market on picks starts to swing back the other way again.

 

[sip]

They don't have Ainge...so...yeah.

You are putting way too much trust in Ainge. I like the guy but he has never found a star player outside of a top 10 pick. He is great at acquiring draft assets but he isn't anything special at actually putting them to work outside of the top 5. You can also make a strong case that Presti is every bit the wizard that Ainge is when it comes to acquiring draft assets while the griz and pelicans gm's have been insane at identifying draft talent over these last few years.

 

[fishonjazz]

And I just don't know if you learn the stuff he needs to in practice or workouts... its kinda trial and error in games. It'd be nice to have like an Iggy or washed vet mentor that could work with him on defense and what he can get away with.

He also just makes some young player mistakes like ducking under a screen on Norman Powell when he's going nuclear... but he at least has the ability to stay in front of guys which is a big improvement over most our guards.

As for your second sentence there. One pet peeve i have is pointing out young guys making young guy mistakes and then watching Jordan Clarkson do literally the exact same thing last night when Powell got a screen while he was on fire from outside. Those aren't really young guy mistakes. They are mistakes. I watch conley make bad young guy mistakes too. (we talked about a couple in last nights game)

 

[hgb]

Teams stopped trading unprotected picks for a while because of Brooklyn and other disasters. They just didn't do it. They handed them out like candy this last offseason cuz mfers forgot. It will tighten up over the next 2-3 years as teams remember how stupid it is. Those picks will gain in value as the nba market on picks starts to swing back the other way again.

There's real downside to trading protected picks too, though. It means you quite often will be very limited in picks you can trade away. Since we have a bunch of other picks now, we should be good, but without those, we couldn't trade a pick until '28 IIRC.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

As for your second sentence there. One pet peeve i have is pointing out young guys making young guy mistakes and then watching Jordan Clarkson do literally the exact same thing last night when Powell got a screen while he was on fire from outside. Those aren't really young guy mistakes. They are mistakes. I watch conley make bad young guy mistakes too. (we talked about a couple in last nights game)

JC has a young soul... especially on defense.

 

[str8line]

Trade JC for sure while he's hot. He has value and doesn't fit our timeline.

 

[Elizah Huge]

Agreed. Especially with the last sentence. I have been on the fence about tanking or trying to win more than just about anyone. I simply want to ride the younger guys (so does hearskys mom). Dont care much if we win or lose.

This caught me off guard and literally made me LOL.