LivingLegend wrote:TripleThreat wrote:LivingLegend wrote:newyorknewyork wrote:Nalod wrote:Teams that draft habitually in the top 5 don't have a great track record because they either suck at it or the Draft is a treacherous place to be. But that's where you get your stars. Then you have to be patient.
Philly for all their shenanigans drafted Carter-Williams (ROY), Noel, Oka4, Embiid, Simmons and Fultz. they went 2 for 6. Might be fair to say but Jury still out on Fultz. As for Simmons he is a solid athlete that penetrates well. Shoots an avg 5 FT's makes 60%. Shoots over 50% but attempts no 3pt shot. He is 22 now and soon $$ time. Max him out? I don't know. Really he deserves Zach Lavine money. He is also a product of having good shooters around him. With Butler now the team is different. They should be good.
My point is Saric and Covington were not the lottery picks and they netted them Butler. Saric played a year over seasons before coming. Patience. Covington got better each year. Patience.
They also gonna have cap space for another 20+mil contract if they want. Though they most likely just retain JJ on a cheaper deal or get a cheaper option and target shooting forwards & bigs with their cap a wealth of assets. Guys like Bobby Portis, Marvin Williams, Mbah a Moute, Markieff Morris & Marcus Morris, Beverley, Ariza, Rudy Gay, Matthews.
Landed Zahire Smith, another possible lotto pick from the Suns, and Shamet looks real good as a rookie even with Fultz struggles.
They sacrificed many years loading up to get to this point. Now they are playing with house money.
Sun's GM giving up unprotected pick and Z-Smith for older M-Bridges pick should have been a fire-able offense --- gifted Philly what could be a GREAT draft pick.
Mikal Bridges looks good. I liked him pre-draft. I still like him better than Knox now. The Miami 2021 pick is a risk, but odds are it won't be a high pick. Zhaire Smith, at this point, you hope he won't be attacked by poisonous snakes and bolts of lightning.
Scary to think the 76ers could have had Tatum and Bridges along with their core.
I don't know -- Knox is a full 3 years younger than Mikal (19 vs 22).
Last 5 games with Mikal avg. more minutes on floor than Knox -- Knox is 39%/37%/56% - getting to line 3X per game, with 7 rbs, 2.2 assts and avg 15.6. Mikal 39%/33%/83% - getting to line 1 time per game, with 3.4 rebounds and avg. 10.6.
I see very little upside in Mikal's game / body --- don't hate the kid but sure feels like a pure 3&D guy to me given age & athleticism. Knox is like Bambi - once he fills out, starts taking 1 more dribble to finish at rack - with his off bounce versatility and stroke he is going to be a nightmare.
You see hints of what Knox can do...and he is not only young in years, but still physically immature.
I see a little Greek Freak in him when he has the ball. He's still like a runaway train, sometimes, but KK has a crazy upside.
I want to see a little more from him on D, buy I think he has the tools to play solid D when he gets some seasoning and his body hardens.
He was moving around without the ball quite well yesterday, especially the 1st quarter, something that is sorely lacking on the Knicks, for the most part.
Mikal was on my get list, as was Z. Smith, but we made the right choice taking Knox.
EnySpree: Can we agree to agree not to mention Phil Jackson and triangle for the rest of our lives?
12/14/2018 3:25 PM