The Draft is Next.....start the Tank

[Natebishop3]

Damn all this winning!

 

[Reep]

Damn all this winning!

This is actually the way I like to semi-tank. Put the players in that need development, but if they win then let them. The higher pick would be great, but having Nurkic help lead the team into the playoffs could be more valuable down the road then jumping up a couple of draft picks. We never want to become the Sixers or the Clippers of old.

 

[Natebishop3]

This is actually the way I like to semi-tank. Put the players in that need development, but if they win then let them. The higher pick would be great, but having Nurkic help lead the team into the playoffs could be more valuable down the road then jumping up a couple of draft picks. We never want to become the Sixers or the Clippers of old.

We have to find out of Vonleh is our PF of the future. The only way to find this out is by playing him. If he shows zero improvement, it's time to move on.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

We have to find out of Vonleh is our PF of the future.

Breaking News!

He's not.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Breaking News!

He's not.

Stotts mentioned Nurks feel for the game. This reminded me that our "PF of the future" also needs this quality. The more the better.
I don't think this describes Vonleh, but I do think he is as good as most of the PF's suggested in this draft. Except one. The one who I see as having multiple skills and a "feel for the game" is TJ Leaf. Even if he is a year away.

 

[Natebishop3]

Breaking News!

He's not.

You should really share this with Canzano.

 

[Reep]

Breaking News!

He's not.

I'm not there yet. He is still young with a good skill set and reasonable defense. Until we are really ready to start challenging in the playoffs and we have a very promising alternative, I would still keep him as the first option. Unfortunately I have less faith in Meyers now that in Vonleh, so I don't see Leonar_ as the the answer either. Layman is also not likely the answer, but I would like to see him get some more minutes as well just to make sure.

Sly, find us a reasonable alternative (can shoot the three, decent IQ, and defend bulk and stretch 4s) and I will "woof" with you.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not there yet. He is still young with a good skill set and reasonable defense. Until we are really ready to start challenging in the playoffs and we have a very promising alternative, I would still keep him as the first option. Unfortunately I have less faith in Meyers now that in Vonleh, so I don't see Leonar_ as the the answer either. Layman is also not likely the answer, but I would like to see him get some more minutes as well just to make sure.

Sly, find us a reasonable alternative (can shoot the three, decent IQ, and defend bulk and stretch 4s) and I will "woof" with you.

Sly only hates Noah because of his youthful good looks.

 

[illmatic99]

Been paying a lot more attention to the draft as of late, and I think Markkanen is a sick prospect. Can fall somewhere between Yi and Porzingis, and I like a potential pairing with Nurk. I'm coming around to this feel of the game thing as a huge predictor when projecting these young dudes, and this Lauri guy has tons of it. Just looks so comfortable out there as a 19 yr old.

 

[Schilly]

Been paying a lot more attention to the draft as of late, and I think Markkanen is a sick prospect. Can fall somewhere between Yi and Porzingis, and I like a potential pairing with Nurk.

Would almost be like having Lamarcus out there for pick and pop opportunities.

 

[illmatic99]

Would almost be like having Lamarcus out there for pick and pop opportunities.

He has a lot more to his game I think. Can hit the three and has a good first step and great mobility/handle for a guy his size. Almost like a more awkward KG.

FWIW, Neil was first to interview Porzingis in 2015 among all NBA teams in Vegas. He's been after this sorta player for a while now.

 

[Schilly]

He looks very Dirk like IMO

 

[Pinwheel1]

Been paying a lot more attention to the draft as of late, and I think Markkanen is a sick prospect. Can fall somewhere between Yi and Porzingis, and I like a potential pairing with Nurk. I'm coming around to this feel of the game thing as a huge predictor when projecting these young dudes, and this Lauri guy has tons of it. Just looks so comfortable out there as a 19 yr old.

His next game on TV is at 1PM on Saturday @ ASU.
The game is on CBS so anyone who wants to watch...can.

 

[BonesJones]

Been paying a lot more attention to the draft as of late, and I think Markkanen is a sick prospect. Can fall somewhere between Yi and Porzingis, and I like a potential pairing with Nurk. I'm coming around to this feel of the game thing as a huge predictor when projecting these young dudes, and this Lauri guy has tons of it. Just looks so comfortable out there as a 19 yr old.

Been waiting for someone to mention him instead of Robert Williams lol.

Dude is shooting almost 50% from 3. I think he could shoot 40% from the NBA 3pt line.

 

[Natebishop3]

Been paying a lot more attention to the draft as of late, and I think Markkanen is a sick prospect. Can fall somewhere between Yi and Porzingis, and I like a potential pairing with Nurk. I'm coming around to this feel of the game thing as a huge predictor when projecting these young dudes, and this Lauri guy has tons of it. Just looks so comfortable out there as a 19 yr old.

Yi wasn't much of a shooter, right? Can this dude drive? He seems like he's mostly a shooter.

 

[Trackjack]

Been paying a lot more attention to the draft as of late, and I think Markkanen is a sick prospect. Can fall somewhere between Yi and Porzingis, and I like a potential pairing with Nurk. I'm coming around to this feel of the game thing as a huge predictor when projecting these young dudes, and this Lauri guy has tons of it. Just looks so comfortable out there as a 19 yr old.

He can shoot alright but the rest of his game is soft and we don't need soft players. We need guys that can be 2 way players with energy that has some upside.

 

[BonesJones]

Yi wasn't much of a shooter, right? Can this dude drive? He seems like he's mostly a shooter.

Yes he can. Arizona has him running 4/5 pick n rolls at times.

His pullup is deadly and he has a simple yet solid handle when attacking closeouts.

 

[BonesJones]

He can shoot alright but the rest of his game is soft and we don't need soft players. We need guys that can be 2 way players with energy that has some upside.

WTF are you talking about? How is he soft? Because he shoots almost 50% from the 3-point line?

You could've said the same thing about Jokic and Porzingas when they came into the league, and look at them now.

We have are junkyard dog in the middle with Nurkic.

Put an extremely skilled 4 next to him and watch how much space it opens up for Nurkic's post ups, as well and Lillard and McCollum's drives.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I was suspicious of him early on when I saw his draft position. (and how bad he looked against the Ducks) But if he has a strong March he might move out of our reach, just on potential.

 

[JDC]

You guys are joking yourselves if you think Markkanen will be able to hang at the 4. He's a short strider with limited lateral mobility and is very slow end to end.

 

[Trackjack]

WTF are you talking about? How is he soft? Because he shoots almost 50% from the 3-point line?

You could've said the same thing about Jokic and Porzingas when they came into the league, and look at them now.

We have are junkyard dog in the middle with Nurkic.

Put an extremely skilled 4 next to him and watch how much space it opens up for Nurkic's post ups, as well and Lillard and McCollum's drives.

Have you watch him the last 8 games in the pac 12?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[illmatic99]

Yi wasn't much of a shooter, right? Can this dude drive? He seems like he's mostly a shooter.

Current Yi is a baller. Rookie year Yi, not so much.

Fwiw, i think Yi would easily be a 15 + mil / yr player in the current NBA. His skillset fits perfectly as a small ball 4

 

[illmatic99]

You guys are joking yourselves if you think Markkanen will be able to hang at the 4. He's a short strider with limited lateral mobility and is very slow end to end.

Something to be said about guys who dictate pace. He's not really fast or overpowering, but still makes it look easy when driving past guys. Has some serious KP feel.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Current Yi is a baller. Rookie year Yi, not so much.

Fwiw, i think Yi would easily be a 15 + mil / yr player in the current NBA. His skillset fits perfectly as a small ball 4

I wonder what happen to him this preseason with the Lakers.

 

[BonesJones]

You guys are joking yourselves if you think Markkanen will be able to hang at the 4. He's a short strider with limited lateral mobility and is very slow end to end.

So Dirk or Porzingas...

Have you watch him the last 8 games in the pac 12?

I've watched tape and a couple games. He's not soft.

 

[Trackjack]

That your opinion about him and I got my opinion about him so we leave it as that for now.

 

[JDC]

So Dirk or Porzingas...
I've watched tape and a couple games. He's not soft.

Go watch 19 year old Dirk. Markkanen is not that kind of athlete.

He's closer to Porzingis, although I'd still contend KP's a step ahead of him as a fluid/straight line athlete. Plus he's over 7' 2" with a 7'6" wingspan which allows him to protect the rim as a 5 while Markkanen is a 7 footer w/ a 7' wingspan and averages less than a block per 40.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I am so torn.

I am sorry, but it is just simply impossible for me to want them to lose.

I absolutely think the best thing for this team is a high lotto pick right now., but watching them beat OKC. I hate watching them lose. Yes I see the big picture, but it still sucks...

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Yes he can. Arizona has him running 4/5 pick n rolls at times.

His pullup is deadly and he has a simple yet solid handle when attacking closeouts.

His shot looked almost identical in every clip in that vid. Even in one he was kinda fading to his left he quickly squared up and hit nothing but net.