Payton has a jump shot? Draining 3's? Who knew? He couldn't hit the ocean from the beach when he was in Summer League or Preseason I'll have to see it again to believe it.
Welp, I think he has great physical gifts. But the shot needs to continue to fall and confidence stay high for him to ever really do anything. He literally did nothing on offense on his preseason stint. Glad to see him have a good game though.
GP II hasn't scored more than 17 points in any of his other games and averages about 12 ppg... meanwhile, Isaiah Taylor is averaging 26 ppg for the Vipers and is 2nd in the D-League in scoring and nobody wants to make him a Rockets starter or crown him the 2nd coming of Jordan. BTW, Onuaku was averaging more ppg for the Vipers than GP II before this last game.
Pros -athlete -defense -rebounding -NBA legends son Cons -shooting -playmaking -handle If he can become a knockdown three point shooter, he'll likely play In the NBA for a long time. The guy could be an elite defender in the NBA right now. His instincts and athletism are off the charts. He's a very good rebounder. Think of how bev played D his first 2 years but a better athlete and a little bigger and that's GP2. He's worth a look I'm surprised the rockets haven't signed him to a contract yet TBH. Some people think he has allstar talent. He's a very late bloomer in terms of basketball. Didn't really get noticed till about 3 years ago. He got chances because of his daddy but he's a legit prospect Now. Personally I wish he was on the roster right now. He improved every year in college and his final season he really improved his playmaking out of the pick and roll. I think this kid has a chance to be a legit longtime backup pg/sg on a very good team. There's absolutely no reason he can't become an Avery Bradley type player. Bradley has really become a pretty good offensive player. I would like to see that happen for GP2 because he's a really good kid. I got chance to talk to his mom at the preseason game against the knicks. Very nice lady humble and from talking to her I know he has his head on straight. This kid wants it he doesn't feel entitled at all and in fact wants to do this without his daddy's help. He loves his dad and all he's doing for him but he doesn't want a team to offer him a contract because of his dads connections he wants to earn it and I can respect that.
The 3 pt stroke was great, but the help defense in the paint was porous. Still like the guy though. If that 3pt shot is consistent, he may play the Bev role in a couple of years.
It's not about his stats, it's the fact that he is an ace defender already and If he ever starts draining threes he is PERFECT for the league. Taylor isn't a strong 6-4 freak athlete.
Of course it's about stats. This thread wouldn't exist if he hadn't gone off for 51 in 1 game. Nobody would've mentioned him for the rest of the month if it hadn't been for that game's 51 point stat. GP II had more things wrong with him than just his shot or he would've been drafted. He's a hell of an athlete, but his PG instincts weren't the best and his shot was broken. We already have a similar player at another position in KJ McDaniels who can't smell the court lately. Maybe with a better jumper, he could be Patrick Beverley, but Bev has the heart and tenacity few people show on the court... that gets you playing time. Anyway, I'd love for this kid to succeed. All I'm saying is don't get so excited about what's going on in those games down there. They're not indicative of NBA-level play. We've seen it before. Onuaku is in the top-5 rebounders in the D-league. There are 3 point shooting legends from the DLeague that couldn't get their shot off in the NBA, or at least nowhere near the rate they were doing it down there. If he ever develops defense, he'll be a GOD in the NBA.
I'm not even sure what you are trying to say here. Obviously the DLeague is not the NBA. Is anyone here saying it is? (NOOOOOOO) If GP2 develops an improved jumper, as he has shown in the highlights (A quicker, more fluid release) he is absolutely a player that could develop into something better than Bobby Brown and Tyler Ennis. Rocket fans have the right to be excited about a guy that was the best defensive guard in college basketball, that previously couldn't hit water from a boat. He looks improved, period. This guy is a low turnover, combo guard that will not be making decisions, PG instincts or not. He will be defending his ass off with an elite, physical skill-set and a wise basketball pedigree, and If he can knock down open threes and attack the rim when he is open, we have ourselves a cheap ass player with potential. MUCH like KJ. If KJ could knockdown threes, which he hasn't shown at ANY level, he would be making huge dollar amounts. And let's be honest, KJ has looked good nearly every single time he has stepped onto the court this year.
