No one is saying that. YOU said a player in this modern NBA can't be an all-star without being able to create for themselves. My counter to that is Klay. Yes, Jabari isn't as good of a shooter as Klay, everyone knows that, but he's also 22. Your argument acts like players can't improve their shooting at all. Also, Jabari isn't 'stiff' he's just 6'10 lol. He runs up and down the floor with ease, he's not 'plodding', and he's one of our better rotational guys. Again, he's just 6'10 lol.
Not so bold prediction but this trade will go down on draft night. Eventually when Houston is on the clock there’s going to be a player phoenix covets, do they miss out on their guy because they wanted more assets from Houston? That would be dumb but I wouldn’t put it past them. Houston on the other hand can just wait it out till December and see how healthy KD is, or if any other players or trades can materialize.
Just using bk reference aging, Jabari isn't 22 yet. Comparing them to age 21 on a per 36 (to factor in less playing time early for Giannis) Jabari higher: Points Rebounds 3pt% FT% Turnovers (fewer) Giannis higher: Assists Blocks Steals Roughly same: 2pt% (51.19% v 51.0%) Seems fair to compare... same age and nba experience... Jabari: 15 points 8.7 Rebounds 1.5 Assists 0.7 Steals 1.0 Blocks 1.4 TOV 51.0% 2pt 34.0% 3pt 80.5% FT Giannis: 14.4 points 7.4 rebounds 3.48 assists 1.0 steal 1.28 blocks 2.49 TOV 51.2% 2pt 28.0% 3pt 72.1% FT
He is stiff and known to be stiff; from his weaknesses on the ringer draft guide: https://nbadraft.theringer.com/2022/chet-holmgren
their age 21 season aren't close: https://stathead.com/basketball/ver...layer_id2=antetgi01&p2yrfrom=2016&p2yrto=2016 even the eFG% that jabari wins is only won by .005
Is it fair to say Klay “couldn’t create for himself?” Pre injury he shot 65%+ off the dribble. He wasn’t shaking people and getting to the rim but he still could create high percentage shots for himself.
Green and the tenth for Durant would be a steal. I’d personally throw in Sheppard if needed to close the deal. Smith or Eason, no way. The latter two for Giannis, but not a 37 yo Durant.
I never expected him to be a good ball handler, it's rare for 6'10 guys, which is why when a 6'10 guy can dribble they often are hyped up as the next big thing. Jabari was supposed to be taller Klay, that's still very attainable, he just has to make more shots. Sam is wrong about his defense, he's by no metrics a terrible or bad defender, he's very switchable, Sam will point out some guard crossing him as evidence of his bad defense but good NBA guards make fools of even elite defenders, the point is he can swap on to guards and give them a hard time, he's a great rebounder too. Sam says "It's because he's 6'10" well, then every 6'10 guy would be a good rebounder. At some point, we're just dogging on him to dog on him, not you, but I feel like some of these knocks on him are just typical of 6'10 guys. It's not like we expect Myles Turner and other guys about his size to go breaking guys off the dribble. If he becomes a better shooter, which is in the realm of possibility, I think he could be an all-star player, especially if he works more in the mid range. I just really hate the idea of throwing him into this trade or that the book is written on him I guess.
Sam sees players like... Spoiler They are eternally unchanged. Amen can't shoot. Sengun can't shoot. Jabari can't dribble. They will never be stars. Better look elsewhere for your franchise player or be really depressed that the Rockets won't be contending in your lifetime.
Yes, he's stiff when dribbling because he's not a good dribbler. But saying he's stiff overall is wrong, this same report talks about how he's flying around the court. That sound like a stiff player to you? I think we all agree he's never going to be Chris Bosh or KG or KD, it would be nice if he magically learned how to dribble...which, has happened before, some players have turned around their weaknesses seemingly in a season or two...but as he is now I still think he could be an all-star level player with JUST consistent shooting. With just consistent shooting he's a plus defender, knock down shooter, and great rebounder. If he ever develops the mid range game that he's been working on then I think he could be even more than that but that will require the Rockets to actually work him into the offense more.
Most of these are off pump fakes though I'd bet. What I mean by that is Warriors were not calling ISO's for Klay. That stat if it includes all non-catch and shoot would also include him pump faking and getting his shot off which is still very much a catch and shoot to me?
Suns propaganda(Gambo) : Suns will wait until they get the best deal. You’ll read a million reports, some true, most false. Bottom line is there is no deal because Suns will wait for the best deal. Everyone I know expected it would be done this week. This week is over tomorrow. They’ll make the deal when they have the right deal. For them. I like Minnesota deal best. It could add some good value. The best player, if I wanted a good young player, I like the Houston deal. Jabari Smith just turned 22. Apparently the Suns don’t like Green. I like Green and think you can play them together. I can live with that. There’s not a home run deal to be made but you can make a good deal. I have not heard that Minnesota has backed out. My belief is they have discussed Jabari. If not, then you won’t do a deal with the Rockets. These teams will look at OKC/Indiana and say I can’t trade my depth for older veterans.
Jabari isn't just not a good ball handler, he's terrible and doesn't seem aware of it. It's like he's done nothing to improve in that regard at all. On defense, guys like DeMar DeRozan leave him standing still. On shooting: Even in year 3, there were times Jabari looked like he forgot how to shoot and completely lost form. It was very noticeable. I'll eat my shoes if he becomes an All-Star, even one time. Props to him if it ever happens. I don't want him traded for KD either. (That's what Jalen is for). Give him a 4th year to prove the Rockets should commit long term. For me, the rose-colored glasses came off this past season and I finally saw Jabari objectively.
Waiting for the best deal is fine, but that is just rhetoric. IMO, the trade market for KD will worsen after the draft and the Suns realize that.
The suns depend on the rockets giving them their picks back to go full rebuild mode. No matter what they say. Id rather they trade Durant elsewhere and us keep chances of drafting high for years to come while remaining competitive.
