Nah 2 yrs matters a lot especially for raw and unskilled big men with lots of potential. The gap between 18 and 20 is larger than the gap between 20-22 given teenage years is when kids are still filling out their body and getting used to puberty changes. Not sure how you are trying to argue the gap between 20-22 is smaller than 18-20 thats just ass backwards. The years 16-23 are all critical to development every year brings a significant skill increase thats why in NCAA people clearly label the years of players and players who ball out but are juniors and seniors fall way down in the draft. The gap between a freshman and a junior is only 2 years when the last a time a junior got drafted in the top 3? Unless the draft is super deep you wont a franchise player past 3rd pick, which draft in the last 10 yrs had more than 5 franchise players? Theres a huge gulf between role player and franchise player Ayton isnt a franchise player but he is certainly more than a role player.
Banchero aint exactly an offensive machine either he specializes in mid range shots which translates horribly in the NBA and he lacks 3 pt shooting which is critical for pretty much everyone except centers nowadays. I know he is balling March Madness but overwhelming majority of these kids arent gonna be in the NBA, we cant say how well his offense given his nos arent crazy good to begin with. Banchero's offensive nos are pretty far from Zion, KD, Melo etc Defense of Banchero and Smith oth will def translate cuz they are superior athletes and have a lot of length to catch up and bother guys on the perimeter. Again I'm not saying Banchero will be a bust but based on info we can see he is inferior to the other top 3 prospects imo.
#1 pick I'd choose Jabari #2 pick and Smith gone, I'd choose Chet #3 pick and both above gone. I'd choose Banchero I'd be happy with any of those 3 but only in the above scenarios. I wouldn't want Chet or Banchero as the #1 pick for instance and there's always a chance we could still get Jabari at #3 if it fell that way.
Need to see what the lottery has us drafting then I'll get a little more involved with you guys. Still would be happy with any of the top three prospects, but if we draft 5th that would definitely change things.
I've mentally accepted all 5 players as great prospects, adding Sharpe to the consensus top 4 here. I'm not gonna b**** at who the Rockets didn't take because I will just trust that they know how to scout and build a team better than me. All 5 prospects are enticing and that's why I'm so happy with securing the worst record this year. I do have a preference and a ranking order tho. 1. Chet 2. Ivey 3. Jabari 4. Paolo 5. Sharpe
I don't see how Smith can be projected to be a better scorer when he is so deficient at one part of his game needed to be a great scorer. I can't clink the link, the filters here are very tight, will check it out when I go home.
a better scorer in a one on one game or a team game? how many better scorers do you need before you want someone that is an elite shooter and a good defender that doesnt take the ball out of the hands of his teammates? do you want at least one yea sure. that would be green. how about sengun? he can get his own shot and pass.
I need a guy who can create his own shot, it does not matter if he is an elite shooter if he can't create his shot with his dribble. I don't know if Green is that guy for one he is small and will always be small, so I don't know what happens when teams start game planning for him, I want a guy who can score at all 3 levels with size as well, outside of Iverson and Curry we never have had a guy that size be the focal point of a contender and Curry needed to have 2 other guys either on his level or better. Sengun can create his own shot, but will he ever be the guy you give to in crunch time? I want to maximize the chances of getting that guy and Green and Sengun can compliment them or this guy could compliment Green, I think we need to make sure we find "THAT" guy, and then we start building around them. If we get a top 3 pick I am wanting the guy who can be the franchise guy than the guy who projects to be a high-end role player, and I certainly am not drafting a guy I hope can create his own shot when he has never done it at any level. Smith is probably #4 on my list behind Holmgren, Banchero and Ivey, and not necessarily in that order.
I really wish this was clearly a 5 deep draft... but it is 4 deep with guys you feel at least good about. There are other guys that could prove to be better than some in that top tier, like Sharpe, Mathurin, Griffin or possibly even Murray... but they are far from certain...... complicating things for the Rockets is that Sharpe and Mathurin are guards, and Griffin has thus far in college played like a guard.... I am not sure what the Rockets would do at #5.... I guess they would consider a trade down for the two Portland picks if that is something Portland would be interested in, or the Rockets may just suck it up and take Sharpe, knowing that he is likely a couple years away. A lot of fans are saying that the Rockets should trade up if they end up at #5, but the cost for that will be very high if it is even possible. If a team loves Sharpe, then maybe you can deal the #5 pick and the Nets pick for the #3-4 pick..... but that requires a lot of "possibilities" and it also may require more than the Nets pick this season. At this point the Rockets just need to hope they are in the top 4..... the odds are such that, if right now the Rockets were guaranteed the #4 pick in this draft, they would likely do it...... because then they end up with one of the top 4 players..... there is only like a 25% chance at a top 2 pick.
If UK's Chuck Hayes gets good intel on Sharpe I would take him at 5. He probably has the most upside outside of the Top 4 and Stone is likely looking for high upside players. Sharpe is apparently 6'6" with a 7'0" wingspan and a good body frame to pack muscle. I wouldn't have any problem slotting him into that SF spot. A Green/Sharpe wing combo could be pretty deadly in a few years.
Finally did a dive on Murray. What's the difference between him and Banchero? 2 inches but better defense?
Ball Handling? Playmaking? Rebounding? I have not studied the guy but have not heard much about those things which makes Banchero special. There is a reason Murray is never talked about in the big 4 so I would think you are missing something. Just reading a couple of scouting reports and Ball Handling, playmaking seem to be a big difference but he does seem to have more range. What's the difference between him and Smith? Which seems to be a more apt comparison.
FWIW I would take Sharpe at 5 as well... he has some of the same body movements and that McGrady had.... the little tape of him that I have seen is impressive. It is obviously limited, but the athletic ability, and the body control is obviously elite. I am concerned though that the Rockets front office may feel pressure to pass on Sharpe because he will take longer to develop.... but I hope I am wrong.
Banchero is younger and longer.... he also can likely play some center and I am not sure that Murray can do that... also I personally don't think Murray is much of a defender. Banchero is the better prospect, but it is possible that Murray ends up being the better player.... Murray is more experienced and older, we will likely know pretty early on how good Murray will be when the season starts.
Jaden Ivey to me is hands down the best talent in this draft. A future star. He reminds me of Morant. Big time playmaker. I think Jabari Smith is overrated. I like Chet’s upside but his weight is a concern because to me its not that he is skinny he is underweight and doesn’t look healthy. Does his body type or frame support more weight? Can he put on more weight? I do like how he has a playmaking mindset with some handles and can dish the ball. Banchero is another future star. Offensively unmatched for a big man in this draft. Needs to work on defensive awareness. Don’t sleep on Keegan Murray. Very solid 2 way player. Maybe not star material but just an all around very good player.
