What is Motiejunas's ceiling? Is he a poor man's Dirk Nowitzki or is he Jorge Garbajosa, staying in the league for like 2 years and fleeing back overseas or is he Brian Scalabrine, a benchwarmer?
Hopefully the future but it is a low risk move acquiring him. We give up a guy who won't play for 4 years (late 1st what is considered a weak draft) and a future mid-late 1st (Grizzlies lotto protected). Plus we get another prospect in Flynn. And we get rid of Brad's contract. Even without him in the deal, it was a good deal for us. Him being there is gravy. If he pans out, MONEY.
Garbajosa was in his 30s, when he played for the Raptors. Motiejunas being only 19 or 20 will not have to worry about declining athleticism for another decade. Dirk is a poor comparison, because Dirk is an incredible shooter from the outside. Motiejunas has more inside game. His style of play is more like Gasol.
You will be very happy with him. It will prob. take two-four years or so for him to get used to the NBA, but it will be worth the risk. I thought he was a lotto pick this year.
Neither the future or a mistake. He is a great risk:reward bet at the 20th pick. I am hoping like hell that he develops, and believe he has a great shot at it under McHale. If he doesn't, no big deal.
Agree it will take him some time. It looks like he has already added a lot of muscle during workouts.
Why does everyone and their grandmother hate on this kid? He was projected to be a top 5 pick last year (prob even #2, after Wall). He is tall and lengthy, exactly what we needed. Best of all? It didn't cost us an arm and a leg to get, perhaps, our starting C for a long long time.
What about this radical idea.......why don't we wait 2-3 yrs before we call him the next Dirk, Pau, or BUST!
Can we please stop with the Dirk comparisons! D-Mo and Dirk have two completely DIFFERENT games. Dirk's game is a lot more perimeter oriented, and who times can post up or slash to the rim. While D-Mo is more of a low post player, who can score inside with an a ray of moves, and can also stretch out the court with his shooting. The only thing they really share is that their both great passing big's and both can shoot(although D-Mo is not in the same level as Dirk)... D-Mo's game is more comparable to Pau Gasol then Dirk Nowitzki.
Garbajosa was also better than Bargnani before he got hurt. This draft was a giant game of craps. The number of guys without big bust potential are about a handful. Motiejunas isn't going to make enough as a #20 pick for us to regret the risk. Gambling on Biedrins ($9M per for three more years) is something worth worrying about. As it stands, I'm penciling in Donatas as a garbage time guy going into the season. Not a C, too many ready to play guys at the F positions, and his rebounding and defensive inefficiencies are definitely sending him to the D League as soon as the Vipers are ready. He could pan out though. Like his chances way more than Thabeet's.
D-mo was also predicted top 5 pick in mock drafts (NBA.net) before leading to the draft den the site dropped him in the 20s all of a sudden well we got him with the 20th pick and he has top 5 ability sounds like a winner 2 me and let's jus remember da kid has game we been talking bout him 4 awhile now dat we got him wers everbodys excitement at?
Oh, yeah. Not even close. Where D-Mo is at even right now, he has shown that at least he has the work ethic enough to be skilled offensively. Thabeet has shown he has the work ethic enough to... be tall?
with no summer league we won't have any clue…. i hope they bring him in now to start his development and not wait 2-3 years… if we don't get a star through a trade or free agency then i'd rather let these rookies play and gain experience now
I think that had to do more with KGs talent...KG would have been a beast under almost any circumstance.
He definitely has the most potential out of all the big men we have right now on the roster. Hopefully, D-Mo and MM can develop in the next couple of years and become stars. We need McHale to mentor Donatas and help him further develop his post up game.
