The curious case of Caleb Swanigan

[BBert]

I hate to say this, because I liked biggie when we drafted him, but ever since watching him in the g league I’ve been more and more pessimistic about his future in the league. It’s now to the point where I wonder if we should even waste any more time with him.

If you didn’t know he was a first round pick, would you guess that he was?

There are going to be players available that are better than Swanigan imo, so my question is would you cut him? I’ve seen teams give up on higher selections after one season. Shit one of them is on our roster.

I’m just disappointed. I don’t see how he’s going to get better. He looks in better shape yet is still soooo slow. Ten years ago he might’ve found a spot on a roster. Now? I’m ready to throw in the towel.

What I hate is when people say I told you so. And I don't mean to be doing that, but he seems to be exactly what I thought he was. I'd like to be wrong about this but I'm still not seeing the draft drunk hope so many people had based on his over-repeated feel-good story.

I'm still rooting for him though. I'm not one of those bitter types who turn on players who don't live up to armchair GM expectations.

 

[blue9]

I'm not one of those bitter types who turn on players who don't live up to armchair GM expectations.

But you hate Turner, right? PLEASE tell me you hate Turner.

 

[BBert]

But you hate Turner, right? PLEASE tell me you hate Turner.

Dang. You got me. I hold no positive feelings for Evan Turnover....I mean Turner.

 

[illmatic99]

Caleb is not an NBA player. A guy with his lack of athleticism needs to have at least one discernible skill or superior BBIQ. I don't see anything that suggests he can last past his rookie deal.

 

[blue9]

Dang. You got me. I hold no positive feelings for Evan Turnover....I mean Turner.

Phew! I now feel much better about all of your posts I've ever liked.

 

[illmatic99]

That would’ve literally been impossible but I agree about biggie.

Shit you're right. I take that back.

Mitchell at least.

 

[Scalma]

Shit you're right. I take that back.

Mitchell at least.

Mitchell and Kuzma would’ve been nuts.

I do think Neil did well this year though. I like both rookies. Would like it even more if he traded CJ.

 

[Blazinaway]

Caleb is not an NBA player. A guy with his lack of athleticism needs to have at least one discernible skill or superior BBIQ. I don't see anything that suggests he can last past his rookie deal.

Have to agree with you on this, a bummer as it was a wasted pick with some quality players picked after him, So far and I stress "so far" because we have to give Zach more time, but that draft is looking like a cluster F from Neil.

 

[H.C.]

Caleb is not an NBA player. A guy with his lack of athleticism needs to have at least one discernible skill or superior BBIQ. I don't see anything that suggests he can last past his rookie deal.

I don't know if you're right or wrong.
But Moe Speights lasted a long time in the NBA.
He didn't develop an 'NBA Skill' or have superior BBIQ.
(Unless you consider his last three years in the NBA where he actually shot decent % from three)

I don't see any reason why Swanigan wouldn't get a second contract if he became a similar player to Moe Speights.

 

[beast blazer]

I do why anyone ever got excited him. If he were not a 1st round pick he wouldn't have even made the team.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I do why anyone ever got excited him. If he were not a 1st round pick he wouldn't have even made the team.

People got excited because he was a 1st round pick. Fans of basically every team get excited for draft picks because its the one way you expect to add talent to your team every year.

 

[craigehlo]

But Moe Speights lasted a long time in the NBA.
He didn't develop an 'NBA Skill' or have superior BBIQ.

In terms of BBIQ, Speight is Larry Bird compared to Biggie. Speights produced as rookie when given limited minutes. Biggie doesn't look like he would get much run in the G League. It's not a question of when, he's a bust already.

 

[beast blazer]

I still have hope for Collins. But given that we passed on Mitchell and Kuala, Zach had better not suck.

 

[Natebishop3]

Olshey has really whiffed on drafting bigs.

He has done good at signing or trading for bigs (Rolo, Ed Davis, Nurk) but drafting has not been good (MyLe, Collins, Swanigan)

 

[beast blazer]

Zach has flashed some good things. Defense,shooting,even some post moves. And he has good size/athleticism

 

[HailBlazers]

In terms of BBIQ, Speight is Larry Bird compared to Biggie. Speights produced as rookie when given limited minutes. Biggie doesn't look like he would get much run in the G League. It's not a question of when, he's a bust already.

Really? IMO athleticism or lack thereof is Biggie's downfall not BBIQ.

 

[Natebishop3]

Zach has flashed some good things. Defense,shooting,even some post moves. And he has good size/athleticism

The problem is where he was drafted. The guy is a project. He should have been a late first rounder.

 

[beast blazer]

The problem is where he was drafted. The guy is a project. He should have been a late first rounder.

I wouldn't define him as a project. He was a very decent rotational player at a young age.

 

[Scalma]

Really? IMO athleticism or lack thereof is Biggie's downfall not BBIQ.

Yeah. I think Biggies IQ is pretty good. He has the right idea of what to do most of the time. The lack of athleticism keeps him from doing it effectively. That’s why I don’t see him getting much better, and we’d be better off letting him go now. He’s not going to all of a sudden get more athletic as he gets older.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Yeah. I think Biggies IQ is pretty good. He has the right idea of what to do most of the time. The lack of athleticism keeps him from doing it effectively. That’s why I don’t see him getting much better, and we’d be better off letting him go now. He’s not going to all of a sudden get more athletic as he gets older.

He’s a first round pick on a guaranteed contract, makes so much more sense to not cut him loose and wait til his rookie deal is up. That way if he does figure things out you can keep him. Only would make sense to get rid of him if he’s bad in the locker room.

 

[Scalma]

He’s a first round pick on a guaranteed contract, makes so much more sense to not cut him loose and wait til his rookie deal is up. That way if he does figure things out you can keep him. Only would make sense to get rid of him if he’s bad in the locker room.

His contract isn’t guaranteed after this season.

 

[handiman]

People got excited because he was a 1st round pick. Fans of basically every team get excited for draft picks because its the one way you expect to add talent to your team every year.

Except New York. Their fans boo every pick.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yes I've completely given up. He is not an NBA player.

I would not pick up his option for next season. Plan on throwing him in a trade if possible. If not cut him after the trade deadline.

We're paying luxury tax on the Anderson Varego cap hit for acquiring the pick...

 

[Scalma]

Yes I've completely given up. He is not an NBA player.

I would not pick up his option for next season. Plan on throwing him in a trade if possible. If not cut him after the trade deadline.

We're paying luxury tax on the Anderson Varego cap hit for acquiring the pick...

after the deadline is perfect and right around the time we’d convert a two way player to a standard contract.

 

[hoopsjock]

In my opinion, not picking up a rookie option is usually a mistake. What happens if he plays okay? Not picking up the option kills his trade value (see Hezonja) and makes it very difficult to keep him past this year. I know that is the point some of you are making but he's only 7 months older than Collins is.

He does have some useful skills despite being slow. He positions himself well for rebounds, he's an okay passer, he can hit a jump shot, and he understands the game. I wouldn't completely give up on him after one season. Ideally I wouldn't mind him as our 5th big. I feel like people are blaming him for the lack of depth for bigs on the roster. It's not really his fault Olshey didn't acquire someone better or more ready.

 

[Scalma]

In my opinion, not picking up a rookie option is usually a mistake. What happens if he plays okay? Not picking up the option kills his trade value (see Hezonja) and makes it very difficult to keep him past this year. I know that is the point some of you are making but he's only 7 months older than Collins is.

He does have some useful skills despite being slow. He positions himself well for rebounds, he's an okay passer, he can hit a jump shot, and he understands the game. I wouldn't completely give up on him after one season. Ideally I wouldn't mind him as our 5th big. I feel like people are blaming him for the lack of depth for bigs on the roster. It's not really his fault Olshey didn't acquire someone better or more ready.

He’s young, but it doesn’t really mean anything. Wheres the upside? In today’s game he’s a center, but he’s not a good rim protector. There are a lot of available players that can hit a jumper and rebound. Deyonta Davis for example. I mean I’d rather see Biggie on the court than Meyers, but we’re also stuck with Meyers until his contract expires. We don’t have to be stuck with Biggie.

 

[hoopsjock]

He’s young, but it doesn’t really mean anything. Wheres the upside? In today’s game he’s a center, but he’s not a good rim protector. There are a lot of available players that can hit a jumper and rebound. Deyonta Davis for example. I mean I’d rather see Biggie on the court than Meyers, but we’re also stuck with Meyers until his contract expires. We don’t have to be stuck with Biggie.

I mean you're making those judgements off of a rookie year where he barely played because the team was good, G-League, Summer League, and a couple of preseason games? I'm not saying you're wrong but there are tricks to learn to compensate for being unathletic. If he was on Meyers type contract and we had an out I could totally see your point but his cost is cheap enough to not have to dump him.

 

[Scalma]

I mean you're making those judgements off of a rookie year where he barely played because the team was good, G-League, Summer League, and a couple of preseason games? I'm not saying you're wrong but there are tricks to learn to compensate for being unathletic. If he was on Meyers type contract and we had an out I could totally see your point but his cost is cheap enough to not have to dump him.

It’s not really the contract, it’s the roster spot. We have enough dead weight as it is, I want guys that can actually contribute.

I watched every game he played in the g league and he was often overmatched despite some decent surface stats. If he couldn’t get his shot off against g leaguers how is he ever going to get it off against NBA players? And if all he’s going to bring is rebounding and a face up game, then there are much better options out there. Back to Deyonta. He can rebound. He’s got a jumper. But unlike Biggie, he can also defend, and is bigger and more athletic. It just doesn’t make any sense to me to carry Biggie when a guy like that is available.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'm still optimistic. Regardless of the "he's not athletic enough and never will be" trope, he has had some VERY good games (in both summer leagues). My problem with him is that when he's good, he's good, but when he's bad, the other team goes on 19-0 runs with his mistakes runneth over. He's bad much more often than he's good.

 

[craigehlo]

Really? IMO athleticism or lack thereof is Biggie's downfall not BBIQ.

The game is too fast for him and he's physically slow. That's about as bad a combo as you could ask for. I can't remember seeing any plays in the last year and thought "wow, he's a really heady player."

He's a tough worker who's size helped him at the college. In the NBA, he's just a slow, inconsistent shooter that is turnover and foul prone.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/carmelo/caleb-swanigan/