You don't get why I would be concerned about an undersized guard that just had his most injury prone season and couldn't finish the playoffs healthy? I'm not saying it's a sure thing but understanding the concern is pretty easy to do. The trade you responded to was Green, #3 pick, and a future first. For me that's too much for a non top 15 player that isn't a plus defender. Between Cam, Green, Amen, and BK picks I think the Rockets have no need to rush to contend unless they are getting a complete player.
No I’m not as concerned wrt his injury. His team was ravaged by injury and he ploughed through. Give me a top 15 player that is available that is without some sort of injury history and concern? He IS top 15 by almost any advanced metric. Go check my other post in the Mitchell Thread. And it might be news to a lot of people, but he IS a plus defender, and then some. His D-EPM is 89th percentile, that’s Amen and Tari territory. Top 30-40 in the NBA. His DBPM is +1.5 (compared to JG’s 27th percentile and -0.9). Being a LONG guard with 6’10” wingspan alleviated a lot of concerns. And he needs to be in the right setup to flourish. I don’t know where your notion he’s a bad defender coming from. It’s drastically outdated. Even with another pick I’d trade for him. You are substantially underestimating him as an impact player.
I didn't say he was a bad defender and he's not going to have the same level of defensive support around him in the starting lineup in Houston that he has in Cleveland. I'll go back and read and watch more of him this year but I don't ever remember watching him a thinking he was a plus defender. I'm not underestimating him. He hasn't carried any teams in the playoffs. He's not even a Jimmy Butler level player. He barely got past a meh Magic team. BTW 3 years ago Bradley Beal was in the same tier of player Mitchell is at the age of 27. 3 years later he's a broken down undersized 2 guard with a huge contract.
Not to pile on the woes that phoenix must bear going forward, but… The Bradley Beal acquisition is one of the worst decisions in sports history.
I don't want Mitchell, but I do appreciate what you laid out above and your perspective. I've looked at potentially available players and haven't seen one that is likely available that I would want to invest in. However, if Ime believes that Mitchell is that missing piece and we can get him at a reasonable cost, then so be it.
Why would I care about counting stats? Honestly if you want to go there, there is no need to argue further. We clearly don’t have the same belief system and speak the same language. Beal is one of the most empty-calory low impact “star”. There is probably zero advanced impact stat that will put him in the top 25-30 ever. See below for DARKO DPM as an example. In the past two seasons, Mitchell averaged 6.0 BPM. Beal averaged 3.0 for the 26 and 27 yr seasons. They are on different impact levels. My more important point is that, for one Bradley Beal, I can give you at least 4-5 stars that came out of a bad injury with value intact. PG, Durant, Curry, Harden, Embiid, Giannis. So your point about contract concern is not valid.
It's more than counting stats. They have some similar advanced stats depending on which ones you are looking at. PG, Durant, Harden, Embiid, and Giannis are not small for their positions. Curry is to an extent but he plays different than Mitchell. How many small 2 guards can you name that had long careers into their 30s?
I really do not understand the support for drafting what would be a third string center at best when one of the best shooters ever will likely be available.
Which are?? I’m all ears. Change my mind. Well you are conveniently changing the goal post from “an injury prone player is likely to lose value when he’s 30 yr old” to “undersized guards are injury prone and have short career”. You lost me at what you are trying to prove.
I so do not want Dillingham no thank you very much. I have been an incredibly skinny dude all my life and I'm literally that guy's size. I think I would break in half if I tried to play in the NBA.
Clingan and Dillingham as #1 and #2? There is less than a 2% chance the Rockets are considering Rob Dillingham.
Topic would be an interesting selection at 3. I wonder if he'd even be available. Sarr seems like the early favorite for #1, I think I'd be fairly certain Wizards take one of Topic or Castle. Idk that Amen will ever take the primary creator role. Topic's greatest ability is just that though. His ability getting to the rim is damned impressive.