Thabeet was the second overall pick but was doghoused by Hollin's who poorly utilized him with the expectation that he could be a two way big man. Just because someone was the 2nd pick in the draft doesn't mean that they necessarily have some great upside that isn't being utilized with one team, but would with another. This isn't the case of "buying low"... this would fall under the category of "taking a gamble" on a player ALA Terrence Williams. Buying low would be trading for Andrew Bogut right now while he has injury red flags. With Williams its a gamble shot in the dark type of move because Williams hasn't shown any all-star abilities yet in his career even with starters minutes. If Williams was ever going to show the ability to be a great all-star calliber player in the future, he would have already done it by now regardless of the coach, or the team. Now, Im not saying under no circumstance would I NOT want Williams, or that he wont make himself into a decent role player on another team, but then ask yourself.... does this team really need another role playing 4 man? If Im Morey, Im going to just go ahead and pass on a deal that has me expending assets to acquire him in the hopes that he becomes more than just a role player.
Advanced stats tell a much different story. Williams' rebounding ability is excellent for a "bad player": 13.6 TRB%. For comparison's sake, Josh Smith's is 13.8, Paul Millsap's is 14.3, and Patrick Patterson's is 10.3. His TS% is also very good: .531 TS%. Smith's is .482, Millsap's is .547, and Patrick Patterson's is .565. Williams' extrapolated, per36 numbers also put him at 18 points, 9 boards. Everything points to him not getting enough playing time. Everything points to him being yet another player Adelman has no idea what to do with. Which is good, frankly. You'd WANT the Timberwolves to think he's awful, steal him away for nothing, and then haha...the Rockets have a former #2 pick with great upside who is putting up numbers and getting out and running in Houston.
Thabeet has been a valuable addition for OKC, particularly since THEY weren't the team who invested so heavily with him at the beginning with that #2 pick. Is he the type of impact player you'd expect from being picked that high? Nope. But a hell of a steal for OKC. Please don't confuse "draft bust" with "useless player." There seems to be a lot of that going around right now.
It would be nice if we could get a player that makes us better this season and next yet allows us to remain in the hunt for LBJ next summer. A guy can dream, right?
Yea, his per 36 numbers look great and even his advanced stats too. But that's merely this season on a USG% of 23% and taking 15 shots per 36. Looking at the game logs for this season, he's been inconsistent as heck (maybe as you say because of Adelman messing with his minutes/not utilizing properly) and last season, his TS% was .499. I'll grant you he's not a bust, but he needs to be more consistent. Otherwise, it's basically a lateral move and I've just about had it with our mediocre/low motor/no defense PFs, no need to replace them with a similar player when we can get similar production at a much lower usg%.
What constitutes a low post threat? 1. Averages 16.9 Per game 2. 8.3 Rebounds 3. 2.4 Block ===== This is HUGE 4. Efficient FG scorer at 44.5% and can shoot shoot the 3 5. Spread the floor at the 4 6. Can run with our team but can also play the half-court 7. Has a mean side wich we need somtimes If somehow you can Keep Harden,Lin,Asik and add Smith YOU DO IT If the Hawks wanted PPat,Morrison,Parson + Pick you pull the trigger.
That's part of my point though. Are we going after Williams thinking he's got all-star calliber talent, or just because we think he might be a useful player one day. Then look at our roster and tell me if they just need a "useful player" at the PF spot? That's my point. Im assuming that if fans want to take a stab at Williams its because they think he "might" turn the corner and live up to his draft position when logic tells you he would have already shown that ability at this point in his career regardless of the coach or his PT situation(which isn't that bad). Again, Im not opposed to acquiring him, but Im on the side that believes he's not someone you should expect to turn the corner as a future all-star calliber player.
A lateral move, maybe, except Williams has more upside than any other forward on the Rockets' roster not named Parsons. There are no guarantees with "upside"--not ever--but I think if he gets Patterson's minutes, he gives you at least Patterson's production. Same thing with Morris. And let's be honest here, Patterson and Morris have both been playing way above levels they can be realistically expected to maintain. That is a trade showcasing situation right there. Just totally unsustainable.
Isn't League TS% around 0.54? 0.531 is slight below average which far from very good. Also did lookup on basketball reference. Forwards only who FGA >= 7.3 for this year. Williams Rank 33 out 63 while averaging 7.4 shot a game. PPat Rank 14 out 63 while averaging 10.4 shot a game. You know who very high on list Carl Landry who #3 %TS and average 9.5 rebound per 36. http://www.basketball-reference.com...&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ts_pct
Nooooooo. We're being realistic here. There is always the outside chance that Williams becomes a real power in this league, certainly moreso than with a Patterson or a Morris. But I think the expectation would be more like that he'd be a modest upgrade over either that can be had for cheap.
You'll never make the case to me that a second overall pick from just two years ago, having played just 94 regular season games--essentially one NBA season + 10 games--has already become the best basketball player he will ever be. He is basically still a rookie. You could make the case to me that he'll never have an honest chance of realizing any of his potential as a Rick Adelman bench rider, however.
not sure why we are talking about dw here, but in order to get dw we probably have to give up.more than cp + oa or cp + jl. young talent are exrremely expensive in the league.
I'd like Josh Smith, but I don't think you could call him a good 3pt shooter or even a good stretch four. Those areas are his biggest weaknesses (and his bad decisions and his failure to box out). Still getting him would be really exciting: 1. You add a highlight player to the already most fun team to watch 2. Pairing him with Asik in the post would basically make the paint unpenetrateable. 3. Better rebounder than our PFs and a hustle player that will get several second chance points 4. Finally a PF that actually can create his own shot (not elite in that department, but he is strong, quick and athletic to make some things happen) Would he make us a contender? Not yet, but he can keep on improving his shooting and decisions while not losing his athleticism - and our guys take the next step (fewer TOs, more consistent shooting, better perimeter D) thus team might be a contender before too long.
You must be joking to say that Derrick Williams is worth Chandler Parsons + Omer Asik or Chandler Parsons + Jeremy Lin, let alone MORE than those packages. Not only would Williams not be worth that if he were putting up starter-level production, but the whole point is that the Wolves don't want him, and so he could be had for cheap. If I'm Daryl Morey, I ask if there's anything I can do to help Minnesota "save their season" while taking Williams off their hands.
