Very good article on Banchero: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/paolo-bancheros-case-for-1?s=w " The Verdict The mix of size, strength, and skill that Paolo Banchero boasts is impressive and fits what a typical #1 pick possesses. He is one of the best on-ball scorers in this class as well as one of the best passers, which is a rare combination to have—especially at 6’10”. The key areas of improvement for Paolo are consistency on defense and with the shot. Both will obviously be important aspects of the game to iron out, but I believe he’s farther along in both than what people give him credit for being. I am not here making the case that Paolo Banchero is the clear #1 pick in this draft (I have him, Chet, Jabari, and Ivey in the same tier), but he deserves to be in the conversation for that top spot. "
This has to stop. He’s not anywhere close to the athlete Lebron is. Smooth, good all around athlete but not explosive and not blowing by many in the league on sheer athleticism. He’s not Lebron, saying things like this is setting him up for failure.
Paolo is more Lamar Odom than Lebron in terms of athleticism. Odom with less defense is probably the most apt comparison for him.
that's a very good comparison, especially since Odom's early years with the clippers he wasn't a good defender. but he became one later on with the lakers. clippers odom, Detroit Blake, Julius Randle... none are a perfect comparison, but together they form a good picture of his game and what he can become. borderline Allstar maybe gets there once or twice. good #2 option.
He can be a great player but it’s going to take some growth. The size, ball handling and good athleticism is intriguing. Have to stop comparing him to Lebron. There are other big guys that can dribble and pass lol
Wood arguably was one of the best scorers if you look at his numbers. But there is a reason a true stretch 4 with his numbers has such little trade value and 99% of this board want him gone. He’s a total black hole with little to no court vision or basketball IQ. He doesn’t make the team better. Paolo can be heliocentric but he doesn’t need to be all the time. For this first time in his life he’s going to play with someone as talented or more than himself in Green. What I get so excited about with the two of them is the flexibility on offense. We saw Green getting doubled out on the perimeter last year and forced to give up the ball. Now you can have Paolo as well to punish that. So yeah we will see Paolo as the roll man and as the ball handler. He can also iso face up and you can also give it to him in the post. A competent coach should be able to make our offense varied and unpredictable. This shouldn’t be a Hakeem/Barkley who gets it in the post or Harden/Paul who runs the offense situation. I feel like Green and Banchero will be a much more natural pairing.
Both Green and Paolo have been train with NBA players since High school, and i know Green has worked with Curry during one of Curry's off seasons.
The Good: https://twitter.com/eric_shap/status/1530254463306440704?s=20&t=DiqC-q2aIELKFeVM7AD0BA The Bad: https://twitter.com/eric_shap/status/1530250427194818562?s=20&t=DiqC-q2aIELKFeVM7AD0BA https://twitter.com/eric_shap/status/1530251616439484417?s=20&t=DiqC-q2aIELKFeVM7AD0BA
that's true lol. and to his advantage, there aren't a lot of 6'10 guys who can dribble and pass as well as he can. and those who can may not also be able to pair that skill and size with his athleticism (40" vert) and strength (250lbs). he can be a mismatch nightmare. but he's got to become a smarter defender and better shooter. the good news is he's not starting from scratch in either area, just has to improve on what he's got.
there might not be a real tier 1 but without a doubt, offensively, Paolo is in a tier of his own to me. because the conversation seems to be: Jabari - can’t dribble in half court or create for others but boy can he shoot! True… but means he’s relying on others for sure. Chet - Such a smart unique player who did amazing as a 2/3/4 option! Again… are you giving this guy the ball in the 4th quarter of a playoff game Paolo - man he’s crazy gifted offensively and was clearly the best player on a stacked Duke team… but can he “really” shoot?!? In other words… he’s a consistent 3 point shot away from being clearly a guy that is THAT GUY. but a lot of people are turned off by (1) his perceived defensive weakness and (2) well, if he doesn’t get that shot he’ll be another inefficient type guy who thinks he should be the guy type so might as well pick that safer supremely amazing role player type cause hey, 3&D baby!!! which… I absolutely get. thing is, we’re picking where we’re picking. We get who we get. If it’s Paolo at least there’s a strong chance he can be THAT GUY and if he is, what a stroke of back to back luck with those picks.
I don't know enough about Isaac but people seem to think he's pretty damn good when he actually plays. If he could be our long-term solution at guarding 3's, I would be intrigued. That said, dude never plays and seems like a self-righteous goof.
meh… those seem as much comparison in size and frame as anything to me. He “looks” like those guys so he probably will be like them. well… not Lamar. But his game is as close to Lamar’s as it is to say Chris Bosh - 5x all star or even Webber. Which is to say close in some ways and not close at all in others. also… to the extent he is a combination of all those guys above… assuming your combining the good parts, that’s a great player. What I’m envisioning you saying is a dude that has some sneaky power athleticism (Blake but not quite as athletic), some bully ball (Randle… hopefully higher iq and just more engaged …. Which at least based on his time at Duke seems like an absolute yes) and point forward and dribbling (Odom but not as long)… again, isn’t that a REALLY REALLY good player. Blake Griffin is a 6x all star. A 5x all nba player - never first team but 3x second team. He was really really good… and that’s was mostly pure athleticism… I think it benefits Paolo that it’s not all athleticism. People forget about amazing Blake cause it went downhill so fast - another thing that benefits Paolo not just pure athleticism, seems more skilled and should mean longer career. Randle was second team all nba last year. the hope is that you get a Luka - 3x first team all nba in his first 3 seasons - but that dude isn’t in this draft it doesn’t seem. and again in comparisons … Bleacher Report compared Tatum to Harrison Barnes. Another site compared him to Rudy Gay realistically but with Carmelo upside. I find with most of these guys you look back 5 years later and the comparisons are almost always strange in hindsight. It’s drafts like this where they can get wonky. Lots of debate. Who is the one?? In 5 years maybe Ivey is the clear guy… or someone else.
I’m convinced Paulo will go 1 or 2. I just keep on thinking how enticing it’ll be especially for Orlando to have someone like Paulo who on day 1 can immediately look like the best rookie. I think Paolo goes 1 unless Chet or Jabari just blow away everyone in private workouts.
I think you’re burying the lede a little here. Not saying his first step is all world but on Twitter last year he posted a video of himself touching the rim with his head. Even by NBA standards that’s exceptional for a 6’10 player.
That video was impressive. He’s a good build up, open court jumper. But he’s not explosive off the floor and it doesn’t translate in game. He’s a good athlete, but not anywhere near Lebron level. He’s not blowing by anyone on athleticism alone. Edit* There’s the video of him training where he misses 3 standing one hand dunks off of pivots in a row. 6’10 guys that have “40 inch” verts don’t miss those.
I think this is lacking a little nuance. I’m definitely not comparing him athletically to Lebron, he’s a generational athlete. But when you say ‘blowing by anyone on athleticism alone’, who at this height blows by their defender on athleticism alone? Every example I can think of uses a blend of muscling to the rim combined with their first step but that’s a whole lot more than just ‘blowing by’ their defender.
