Is Babbitt really this bad?

[Fez Hammersticks]

"Kevin Pritchard says Babbitt is a Blazer. “You’ll love him,” he says"

This was the last quote by Pritchard to Jason Quick soon after that draft. It's becoming evident like it's his last shot at the organization.

Babbitt just doesn't have a feel for the game, at least on this level.

I'd be willing to bet KP looked like this as he told Quick about Babbitt:

 

[Nate Dogg]

He's not the best choice to hold onto as a roster spot but I did notice one thing in the scrim on Friday night. His shot selection and form is much better than last years. He made a 3 pointer and two other 2 pointers in the game. He seems to be more cordinated with Nate's game sets or plays.

 

[Natebishop3]

And we traded Martell for him.....

It's not like Tell was a great player, but he was a hell of a lot better than Luke Wascally Wabbitt.

 

[craigehlo]

And we traded Martell for him.....

Martell has been an injury nightmare since that trade, so it's no huge loss.

Babbit showed a little improvement in his shot, but he still a long way off in most other aspects. He should go D-League it up for a while this season to get some run.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

someone on here coined babbitt as kp's "steaming pile of revenge"

i think that fits so far

 

[Sinobas]

I don't think KP would do that in purpose, because every player a GM picks goes on their "resume". But yeah, Babbit looked awful last year. More like an undrafted training camp invitee or a guy from someone's church league than a #16 pick.

If you take a look at a history of players taken in the 15-17 range, he looks pretty bad by comparison.

He did come out after his 2nd year though, so I don't write him off completly..

 

[Natebishop3]

It's not like there were a bunch of studs taken after him. Bledsoe would be nice, but I'm not seeing any obvious stars that we missed out on.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

He's the next white guy that people hope will be the next Larry Bird.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

I still like Babbitt. I believe he'll be a pretty good player eventually, but might just take 3-4 seasons to get up to speed with the NBA game.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

He seems to lack confidence; it's as if he doesn't really feel like he belongs in the NBA. Not sure if he will be able to overcome that.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I still like Babbitt. I believe he'll be a pretty good player eventually, but might just take 3-4 seasons to get up to speed with the NBA game.

What is it that you still like about him? His personality, his game, his ability to dance the "Dougie?" Personally I thought that whole draft was basically KP's double barrel "Eff You Paul" as he was walking out the door. Even Eliot Williams who might have some promise had huge medical red flag with his knees and those eventually cost him his rookie season.

I'm sorry, maybe Babbitt will make a nice 11th man on somebody's roster someday, but even if he gets there in 3-4 years as you say, is reserving a roster spot for a guy who is probably below replacement level worthy of an NBA roster spot when there are going to be more deserving prospects coming up or coming along? Hell, I'd wager you could pretty easily find a more useful player with roughly the same amount of upside as Luke in the D-league without even trying all that hard.

 

[Carlito]

Easy answer to this thread


YES

 

[Natebishop3]

I think we'd be lucky if he was a Jud Buechler.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

his one skill, shooting, is crap thus far

 

[gatorpops]

He's not the best choice to hold onto as a roster spot but I did notice one thing in the scrim on Friday night. His shot selection and form is much better than last years. He made a 3 pointer and two other 2 pointers in the game. He seems to be more cordinated with Nate's game sets or plays.

On a cotrary note, Nic did not hit even one of his seven threes. Lets cut him (sarcasim)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Isn't KP with Indiana now? Seeing as they like to collect white guys, can we send Babbitt there for a conditional 2nd round pick in 2020? And throw in Armon for free?

 

[jlprk]

And we traded Martell for him.....

Webster sucked year after year. Babbitt will be as "good" as Webster, eventually a serviceable low sub that we can fool a team into giving us something for, same as Webster.

 

[BrianFromWA]

haven't given up on either Babbitt or Armon, but if the Pacers came with a 2nd in 2014, I'd drive Luke to the airport/

 

[barfo]

haven't given up on either Babbitt or Armon, but if the Pacers came with a 2nd in 2014, I'd drive Luke to the airport/

Kind of a long drive for you, so I guess you must really be interested in that 2014 pick.

barfo

 

[Boob-No-More]

He seems to lack confidence; it's as if he doesn't really feel like he belongs in the NBA. Not sure if he will be able to overcome that.

The same fault that has plagued Martell Webster for most of his NBA career (excluding one 24-point 3rd quarter outburst against Utah).

Babbitt was basically selected 16th in a draft that was 15 players deep. He was a crap shoot. Or, maybe just crap. Too soon to tell. He's definitely D-League material at this point. As mentioned there weren't exactly a lot of studs picked after him. Yeah, Bleadsoe got a lot of playing time, but his WS/48 was basically zero. The only guy picked after Babbitt that really contributed much as rookie was Trevor Booker, and he only got to play so much because Washington was bad and short handed at the end of the season with Josh Howard injured and Al Thornton traded to Golden State.

Babbitt is still young and inexperienced. Maybe he'll eventually adjust to the NBA game, maybe he won't. It's not like the future success of this team hinges on Luke Fucking Babbitt.

BNM

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i think he should grow a huge beard and be a scrappy rebounder fan favorite and PA could sell huge fake beards to everyone at the rose garden and when he gets a rebound everyone can yell "luuuuuke" and will sound like "booooo" and it will be super cool

 

[Pinwheel1]

So you guys really think KP made the draft pick decision by himself? As he was walking out the door? So out of the blue after finding out he was being fired, he changes direction of who they were targeting and went with someone else. Do any of you really think that is how it went down?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

There are some players who can dominate college but are just a step slow for the NBA. Ammo was one (good move on ditching that contract with Belgrade, eh?) and Babbitt is another. (And it's not just white boys - remember Mateen Cleaves?) Babbitt is MADE for Europe and needs to go there soon.

As for Armon: it's lack of skills with him. If he was 6'7" he could probably carve out a Matt Barnes like career.

 

[illmatic99]

Don't draft white guys from weak division colleges.

 

[THE HCP]

Don't draft white guys

Truer words.........

 

[MARIS61]

Don't draft college players.

Even better.

Ten years ago we had a contender that was exciting to watch. Now after a ridiculous decade-long PR stunt where they were supposedly going to patiently rebuild through the draft we have zero (O) healthy, talented NBA starter-quality players attained through the drafts.

We have a talented PF, but his heart condition should rule out counting on him long term.

We have Gerald Wallace, our best healthy player, a true NBA starter.

We have 5-6 very solid backups, but none of them can consistently dominate as a starter.

The rest of our squad are throwaways.

Paul Allen makes Donald Sterling look like a basketball mastermind.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Truer words.........

Like Bill Walton and Arvydas Sabonis?

 

[Boob-No-More]

We have a talented PF, but his heart condition should rule out counting on him long term.

Bullshit. Do you even understand what the issue is with his heart? Apparently not - unless by not counting on him long term you're expecting to continue to play in the NBA past the age of 50.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Don't draft white guys from weak division colleges.

You mean guys like Larry Bird (Indiana State), John Stockton (Gonzaga) and Steve Nash (Santa Clara)?

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

You mean guys like Larry Bird (Indiana State), John Stockton (Gonzaga) and Steve Nash (Santa Clara)?

BNM

Dude................. you really went there. You picked the ONLY white guys to succeed in the history of this planet!!!!!! AAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!