He would first have to learn to shoot 4ft shots, then elbow shots, then baseline shots. All that has to come before he could learn to shoot a corner three. Those little inside gimmies, are totally not, gimme. I dont think he will wash out after first contract, because he is more mobile than Thabeet ever was, but i do not believe he will be anything besides a backup.
The Ibaka comparisons don't work because Serge was shooting 43% on long-2s in his first two seasons in the league. He shot 45.5% on jumpers as a 20-year-old rookie. So the idea that he went from a non-shooter to the midrange threat he is today is completely false; he could always shoot. Blake's improvement as a shooter would be the better roadmap. But people are off base when they say Noel lacks offensive skills. He's a good passer and shows a lot of potential as a PnR finisher. If you can dribble and pass, you can survive at the 4 without great shooting range. You probably won't be able to build a team around him, but you'll be able to build a defense around him.
While not impossible, only cause nothing really is, it is pretty clear that Noel doesn't have the sort of skill set that translates into being an outstanding offensive player. Summing up - he is probably a taller Ben Wallace.
I think you can build around Nerlens and Okafor, but not Nerlens alone. To build around a player like Nerlens, he would have to be a 16-17 rebound per game guy and add like 3 blocks, but he's not enough. Great chip either way. The sixers should be glad they have him.
He can't dribble that well and his passing is mediocre not exceptional like let's say Noah's. But he is very young and can still develop some offensive moves like a hook shot. Also apart from injuries there's no way in hell a defensive talent like Noel will wash out of the league after his rookie contract. He may have to be traded so he can better be utilised by some other team as a defensive center/ rim protector but that's it. He will also get paid a good amount of money even a rookie max. Because it's difficult to find such great defensive centers even with the current influx of centers in the league. I don't think he will be a good pf because in the modern NBA the pf positition are more and more based on skill.
Camby was a defensive player of the year and had some offense as well. You are calling Noel better than Camby. Noel could be, and I hope he does because I love his game, but Noel has a long way to go before he beats these achievements: Awards and Honors by Type (Camby): Defensive Player of the Year - Once 2006-07 Blocks Leader - 4 times 1997-98, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 All-Defensive First Team - Twice 2006-07, 2007-08 All-Defensive Second Team - Twice 2004-05, 2005-06 All-Rookie First Team 1996-97
You are right but I am not sure that matters. Do you guys remember when Theo Ratliff developed that face up 15 footer? If Noel can get that, plus something other than put backs around the rim, he will be fine.
Bolded for effect. The belief Ibaka learned to shoot after coming to the NBA is mythology. I've seen videos of him shooting 3-pointers as a 16 year-old.
He could be a taller Ben Wallace. So, you could build a championship with him in the mix. Don't know about building AROUND him. Depends on how you define that. You could have a C like Noel, and decide you want a very savvy playmaker and shooter like Billups was, a great off-ball mover and shooter like Rip was (korver?), stretch 4 like Rasheed (a million of them these days). Defensive wing like Taysean, etc. In this case, you are kind of building around him by acknowledging the sort of pieces that would work with him. But I wouldn't call him the centerpiece because he is not the best player on the team. In this sort of system, it would probably be what ever PG you choose to become the "Billups" of the team. For arguments sake I'd do this lineup Noel Milsap Jimmy Butler Beal CP3 That's a serious championship caliber starting 5 for the next 3 years. Clearly Noel is not the centerpiece of that team.
well well well.....There is a Philly beat writer who was speaking of Embiid's attitude problems for a whie but he was ridiculed and ignored by the fanbase and other writers as having an agenda against management. I don't know who Geltzeiler is but this isn't totally a surprise.
