Jalen Brunson?

[Rastapopoulos]

I post this in full knowledge of the fact that somebody will immediately bitch about starting a thread for every 2-bit draft prospect. But if I post it in a draft thread, nobody will respond, and I have questions. Specifically, what do people think of this guy? Probably the fact that he has two NCAA championships will actually count against him because he's too overexposed. But not to me, because I NEVER watch NCAA basketball. And he's projected as a low first rounder, right around where we'll be picking (unless we unload our pick to a team that takes a bad contract off our hands). And his strengths, defense, clutchness, seem to be areas we're weak in. Anybody got opinions?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Judging by his Wikipedia page, he fits our "culture" - he's super-dedicated academically. Plus I like (a) the fact that he's of NBA stock (I liked his Dad, although he never could shoot worth a damn) and (b) the fact that he's won at every level.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I say yes if you're talking about our Rip City 3 on 3 team.

 

[julius]

They dont need another undersized guard.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

They dont need another undersized guard.

I'm guessing that we'll be losing Napier. Even if we're not, would you prefer Napier? Let's have a detailed compare and contrast.

 

[julius]

I'm guessing that we'll be losing Napier. Even if we're not, would you prefer Napier? Let's have a detailed compare and contrast.

Id rather they try Baldwin, and draft a position of need at that point.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Would Andre Miller be a fair comparison?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Jalen Brunson Could Make Any NBA Team Better

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I like this:

This season, as Brunson’s junior season commenced, Reid Forgrave of CBS Sports wrote a profile on him. He called Brunson “the smartest player in college basketball.”

Jalen Brunson has unquestionably one of the most advanced basketball minds in the nation. He scores at an elite level, both from 3-point range (he’s shooting above 50 percent this year) and at the rim (he was third in the nation last year at finishing at the rim). We all want a 6-6, ridiculously athletic human being we can turn into an elite point guard. That’s not Jalen Brunson. He’s a basketball savant at a position that values the mind more than any other in basketball.

 

[tester551]

I'm guessing that we'll be losing Napier. Even if we're not, would you prefer Napier? Let's have a detailed compare and contrast.

I like Brunson a lot. I think he's going to have a much longer/better career than most in his draft range.

I think Brunson is going to be MUCH, MUCH better than Napier. He's an excellent shooter & extremely smart. He's below average athletically for the NBA - which is why I think most people are not higher on him.
I could easily see him having a Derrick Fisher type career.

The 3 players that I like that have been mocked in the 20-40 range are Brunson, Shamet, & Hutchinson.

 

[Scalma]

I wouldn’t take him with our pick but I wouldn’t be against buying a pick in the second for him. He can play with Baldwin so I wouldn’t worry about the fit too much.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

I want a 6'6" 220 lb 2 guard that dunks on people.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I could easily see him having a Derrick Fisher type career.

That would be good for him, but I loathe that name with a passion. I liked the Fred VanVleet comparison (I think it's in the article I linked to). He was also compared with Frank Mason, and incidentally, the top two benches in the league (according to a link provided by dviss in some other thread) are Toronto and Sacramento.

But again, I can see Andre Miller - especially as he likes to post up, as well.

Of course, worst case scenario is Nolan Smith...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I wouldn’t take him with our pick but I wouldn’t be against buying a pick in the second for him. He can play with Baldwin so I wouldn’t worry about the fit too much.

People keep mentioning Baldwin, and I guess I don't mind giving Baldwin more of a chance, but I really wouldn't say "we shouldn't draft ___ because we've got Baldwin" about ANYBODY.

 

[hoopsjock]

I'm not super high on Brunson. I think he'll carve out a long career as a backup PG but I have a tough time seeing his game translating into an NBA star like in college.

He shot a decent percentage from 3 this year but his shot mechanics seem like he could struggle with the longer NBA 3 point line. He's not quick enough to get by people in the NBA and lateral quickness on defense might be an issue. Sure, there is some post up potential against smaller guards. His intangibles are through the roof with BBIQ and good character.

I wouldn't mind having him on a 2nd round pick rookie contract but will be kind of upset if they take him at 24. I think we need to take a risk on a boom or bust type player and not someone who is fine but likely never will be great.

I'm probably in the minority here but if money was equal I'd take Napier. I prefer quicker guards than prodding guards.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Hated whatching his dad play.

Not sure I can get over it

 

[julius]

Hated whatching his dad play.

Not sure I can get over it

Me too. I'm not entirely sure why either. Maybe it was that era of Blazer basketball that just is depressing to me. Well, more depressing than the rest of the last 26 (out of 28) years.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I want a 6'6" 220 lb 2 guard that dunks on people.

I am assuming it goes without saying that this player will also be able to handle the ball and shoot from distance? Other wise he will be useless at the end of games.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

I assuming it goes without saying that this player will also be able to handle the ball and shoot from distance? Other wise he will be useless at the end of games.

50/40/95 averages triple double.

 

[TBpup]

I hadn't seen much of him and was looking forward to watching a full game of him in the NCAA Championship game. To say they won in spite of him would be an understatement.....he was terrible. Just a really off game in apparently a great season, but what a stinker.

 

[BonesJones]

I am assuming it goes without saying that this player will also be able to handle the ball and shoot from distance? Other wise he will be useless at the end of games.

Hamidou Diallo

 

[Sarni]

Hamidou Diallo

What has happened to him to fall so low in the mocks? I usually saw him in the mid-first before but right now he's projected either at the tail end of the first round or in the second round. Kind of the same with Chandler Hutchinson, he was shooting up to 18 or so but right now most mocks don't even have him in the first.

 

[Chris Craig]

Portland is trading their pick.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Portland is trading their pick.

For?

 

[Chris Craig]

For?

As part of a larger deal. We will see for who.

 

[CupWizier]

As part of a larger deal. We will see for who.

I agree. I think Olshey will try and package it to either move up of for a player.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Portland is trading their pick.

I agree - as a sweetener to offload a contract.

 

[hoopsjock]

I agree - as a sweetener to offload a contract.

So are you banking on addition by subtraction then or will you be happy with the same team back next year trying to duck the luxury tax? Using a pick to unload a contract doesn't help us get better this summer.

 

[Chris Craig]

So are you banking on addition by subtraction then or will you be happy with the same team back next year trying to duck the luxury tax? Using a pick to unload a contract doesn't help us get better this summer.

No, but it well help us get better later on, going to be another year or so to get rid of shitty contracts so we can start paying guys that will actually help us the proper amount of money

 

[hoopsjock]

No, but it well help us get better later on, going to be another year or so to get rid of shitty contracts so we can start paying guys that will actually help us the proper amount of money

But all of the bad contracts become expiring in a year anyway so if the goal isn't to achieve something that helps this summer then trading away your draft pick does nothing to help now or the future.