My point, which you seem committed to missing, is that you have no idea whether we are bad at drafting or not. You are writing off 19 and 20-year-old kids because of rookie ladder rankings or other nonsense. By your logic, Kobe and Tmac would’ve been busts. You should pump your breaks before making definitive statements about things that are still to be determined.
I can say that I would not have said "trade embiid" when he was injured because that seems like selling low. if I were a Thunder fan, I wouldn't say "trade chet" - I'd like to see what we have. Yeah, you wouldn't bet on any of them being as good as Embiid - because like me, you think it's unlikely. I think most would agree. The situation is not whether I "would trade them" - nobody has offered us any trades for Jabari or Jalen and they're not on the blcok and this thread is about John Collins. No I have not made that clear at all - I'm saying Jabari Smith Junior has fallen behind Jalen Williams in many people's estimation, despite their draft postiion. The same can be said for Green and Giddey. I wouldn't trade Green for Williams because I doubt the Thunder would even offer that trade. If they offered it to me, I'd consider it - I haven't watched enough of Williams to reasonably say.
OK, thanks, you let me know when it's ok to not be impressed by them, I think we have a good sample on a lot of these guys to redefine our expectations by now but reasonable minds can indeed differ.
If you can get Collins for KJ, Gordon, filler then you do it. Why are people looking down on Collins like we can do better? He's not what the Hawks need and he's been a disappointment but we need to welcome any talent to this team. You guys look at this junk and still talk that tanking bullshit. It's like some people want to become the Kings and miss the playoffs for the next 15 years. If you can marginally upgrade your team without sacrificing a lot then you do it and Collins is a massive upgrade which says more about this team than it says about him. Bu bu but we have Jabari Smith jr. gtfo lmao. Jabari is a bench player and that's being nice.
Not understanding the attitude coming from you man. Some of us knew the rebuild would be painful. Some of us understand we have 19 and 20 year old kids on this team (talking about our top picks). Yeah, it's painful, but we also should be trying to build a cohesive team with some guidance, not have grumps like Eric Gordon around anymore. I'm patient to see how our young guys turn out. I definitely don't think they are busts, just think they need more time. I'll give them until year 4 to really get a good idea on them. In the mean time, my opinion is that we should be trying to build some sort of team and considering we aren't going to be attracting any top talent via free agency, I don't mind looking at mid tier talent like John Collins to join the team, assuming the price is not unreasonable. If we give up a Brooklyn draft pick, we better have some protection on that pick, because he isn't worth that much either.
Nah, you definitely would have judging on how quick you're ready to call these guys role players. Easy for you to deny it now though. Of course its unlikely because Embiid is a great player. It's unlikely for anyone to be as good as he is. You doubt the Thunder would trade Williams for Green and you would consider it??? Well, you've made it more clear to me that you think its at least something you would consider. I agree, I don't think the Thunder would even offer the trade because they know it has no chance of happening.
I mean it makes us better, but what is the point? If we have patience some of our guys will be John Collins in 2 years. DD
not giving you attitude my guy. Like i said i like Collins but not for a team in full rebuild and I definitely am not giving up assets in the proposal posted to get him.
This conversation cracks me up. Name 5 teams who would have passed on Green at 2 ON DRAFT DAY. Name 5 teams who would have passed on Jabari at 3 on DRAFT DAY. "The Rockets can't draft!" Bunch of damn clowns. Edit: The only argument was MAYBE Mobley at 2, but that's it.
That's another thing. They drafted who everyone expected them to draft. Past the top 5 Stone has drafted some good players, including Sengun who could turn out to be a huge hit. Stone has MANY MANY MANY MANY flaws as a GM, drafting ain't one of them, probably the only thing he has going for him.
Green was taken one pick higher at same age as Luka. He doesn't have to be Luka but he's nowhere close... 21.7 p 3.7 a 4.1 r 48.2 efg V 28.8 p 8.8 a 9.4 r 53.1 efg He's about Tyreke Evans... as a rookie same age Green is now: 20.1 p 5.8 a 5.3 r 47.3 efg Evans did nothing after his rookie year... just a guy... Jabari is shooting under 40%. He has failed to score 10 points in about a third of his games. In what reality is that what you're happy to see at this stage?
Disasters come in all forms. Another Kevin Martin/Scola era level team, where you’re basically Treadmill City, is arguably a disaster, also. Sure, a little easier on the eyes, but the end result is still meh. That’s what you get, best case scenario, by adding a player like Collins, overpaying for somebody this summer, and a few other marginal upgrades. Unless our young guys, mainly Sengun or Jalen (or Wemby or Scoot, if we’re lucky) catapult us into another stratosphere and take the proverbial “leap” we are still waiting on a true alpha-superstar to build around. Plus, with Trae potentially on the market this summer and any other unknowns, I’d like to keep my options open for actual difference makers. The end result is we either suck or suck with less draft capital at our disposal.
If we could get John Collins without giving up picks, then it would be a great deal. I'd hate to give up the BKN '27 pick (as suggested in the article) and then find out BKN we're the worst team in the NBA that season!! Maybe a lottery protection on picks could work. I'd also hate to look back in '27 if BKN pick was 28-30, and think "we could have had 4 years of John Collins for this crazy pick!" Bottom line: he is like a bigger version of KJMjr, with some go-to moves where he can generate his own offence. I'd see him as a solid fit next to Sengun, and he would work the same way as KJ in terms of fit with Smith. No issue there
