And his energy and attitude are better indicators of commitment to defense than either Sharpe or Banchero.
The poll in the other thread suggests the BBS is evenly split on Chet and Smith, with Banchero a very distant 3rd. Banchero just has a few extremely passionate defenders.
You are right it is easy to find rim protection, or long perimeter length, or shooting. Finding somebody who does all 3 with a competent head on his shoulders is nearly impossible.
I wouldn't trade for Mitchell. The difference between him and a prime Harden is that James could have been your team's entire offensive system--you could basically put him with 4 average NBA players and still be in the top 10-12 in offense. Mitchell can score in bunches but he's not on the same level as Harden in terms of playmaking. At least with our young core there's still time for them to develop their defensive skills/instincts--Mitchell's defense is what it is.
In terms of "fit" with Jalen and KPJ, Banchero and Ivey are the worst. I'd say Chet, Jabari and Sharpe all complement the duo much better than Banchero/Ivey. Banchero also encroaches Sengun's space a lot which would crowd the paint again like during those awful Theis/Wood lineups. He's not a threat from deep and needs room in the paint to operate just like Sengun. You take BPA and if the Rockets end up at 5th and Banchero/Ivey are there you obviously take them over Keegan Murray but Chet/Jabari are you're top 2 targets. Then Sharpe. Then Ivey/Banchero. There is a very very good chance though that Ivey ends up as the best player in this draft.
They may translate well, but they are not picked at the top of the draft which is my point, most top 5 picks are judges on what their offensive ceilings are and then if they play plus defense it separates them. And I have to say again because people keep ignoring this being able to block shots at a high rate does not mean you will be great defensively in the NBA add in the fact he will not be playing as a C who will be a rim protector and why is this the factor everybody keeps touting as why he should be the pick. I am not knocking Holmgren I am just going by what I see and everything other than being a great shot blocker (in college) and his ability to hit 3 at an above average rate it will all be projection. We don't know if he hold up guarding the perimeter. If he can't guard outside the paint at a high level he does not make this defense much better, I can't believe that shot blocking is such a thing now when no one drafts for it anymore. It's easier to find high level defensive guys later in the draft than guys who have great offensive skills. This is a process and if you are trying to pick guys that fit on this current team you are doing it wrong.
Is it a projection on how well he dribbles for his size? How about the intelligence he plays with is that projection? You folks create such voluminous comments that you talk yourself into circles. I suppose that is the fun of it I dunno
Who is not as skilled as Mello? Banchero is more skilled than Melo coming out of college who mainly had a mid post game. He is taller and bigger than Mello and a better playmaker, and it's crazy you don't like the Melo comparison but fine with Kristaps as if Kristaps is a better player than Melo. There is a reason he is one of the guys who keeps getting talked about as a possible #1, and It's because he is much better than a mayo sandwich, its crazy that after looking at him play you think that is mayo. Can you link to these prominent scouts that are currently doing it? Thanks. The fact that you think a taller Carmelo with play making skills and wants to pass is somehow a not great prospect is mind boggling we are talking about a all-time top 50 player. Barkley and Harden have never won anything in the NBA either would you not draft a guy who comped to them?
LOL at Paolo being more skilled than Melo as a scorer…Paolo fans will even go so far as to say he’s like a Lebron when it comes to playmaking
Did we NOT just see Evan Mobley get picked at #3 because of how well he played on the defensive end of the floor? Did we NOT just see Scottie Barnes get drafted because he could guard multiple positions? Did we NOT just see Jalen Suggs being touted for things (e.g. his defense) other than his offense? ? What is the data that backs up your claim that a high block rate in college don't translate into the NBA? Players in the top 10 in Block Percentage in the NCAA that got drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft: 2020: Isaiah Jackson (6th in Block Percentage 12.7%); Block % his rookie season 8.4% in limited minutes 2018: Jaren Jackson (2nd; 14.3%); Block % his rookie season 5.1%; He led the league this year with 7.4% Mo Bamba (3rd; 13.1%); Block % his rookie season 7.0%; He finished 4th in the league this year with 5.9% 2015: Myles Turner (9th; 12.3%); Block % his rookie season 5.1%; He finished with 8.3% in this league this year in 42 games; He led the league twice in block % (2018-2019 and 2020-2021) So yea I'd say if you're taking a center in the 1st round and he had a high block % in college chances are he can still block in the NBA If your biggest knock on Holmgren is that you don't know if he can hold up guarding the perimeter then we're at the picking nits stage of evaluating Holmgren. No one from what I've read or seen is expecting Holmgren to be a lock down defender on the perimeter. If your expectation is for him to play a ton of minutes near the 3 point line on the defensive end then yea you're going to be rightfully disappointed. "Holmgren's a great shot blocker and can hit the 3 at an above average rate" but then also say "it's easier to find high level defensive guys later in the draft than guys who have great offensive skills" is a bit confusing. Are you saying Holmgren is a great defensive guy but don't have good enough offensive skills?
We have to draft him. He’s Melo on offense with Lebron body and passing skills. Best prospect ever……..just not in this draft class.
Melo averaged a double double (22/10) and won a championship as the main guy in his only season at Syracuse. Saying Banchero is better scorer is disingenuous to the extreme.
Yeah I just don’t get it lol Banchero is super man and Chet is a role player, yet Chet is rated above him on most sites
The projection is can his handle be effective when people have scouted it and his game. Is his handle effective in the half court or too tall. This is all about projecting if he has 1st or 2nd offense potential on a championship team and not dependent on others to get is points. I think Holmgren has a very high level of intelligence, I don't know why asking what translates to the NBA is talking in circles? All of these players in the top 4 have questions.
I'm not 100% sold on ANY prospect, Chet included, but the mental gymnastics that one needs to go through to try and make Banchero look better than Holmgren is just too much. I'm sure Banchero will be a very good NBA player because I think he can be better than Julius Randle and Randle was an All-Star for God's sake. If anything I could be convinced that Paolo is a bigger/taller version of Cade Cunningham and Chet is a better version of Evan Mobley. That would at least make for a more constructive discussion.
next we’ll hear that Banchero is actually a better defender than Chet, he just had more responsibility offensively when u watch the game with Banchero blinders on, I guess a basic bounce pass looks like
