[NBA TV - Game Time] Isaiah Canaan considered Top 5 ''Ready to Play'' Rookie

CP25, PBEV, AB, Canaan

 

It's only been 5 years, but it seems like so long ago that we talked about 50+ as a given. On the other hand, this is a remarkable turnaround from 2 seasons ago.

 

That and there aren't that many significant upgrades at the position available right now. Maybe you get a better "fit for the system" but you dont give up that much value just to get a player who might fit better in the short term.

Now if a star player opens up at the PF position, then you have to be open to moving Lin IF he helps you get the transaction done... which most likely he doesn't unless you just have to have the salary to get the deal done. Most likely, Asik, young talent, & picks are going out the door in any case to make the last splash move to bring in a top tier PF.

I think Lin is here to stay at least this year, and might very well get resigned after his current contract is up next year. If he commands too much in free agency, you let him walk. I wouldn't worry about trying to trade him just to avoid loosing him in free agency. You can get caught with your pants down if you make a bad deal just for the sake of trying to not lose him for nothing.

 

would take it with a grain of salt
but PGs turned out better than PFs in Houstonland lately....

 

Dennis Scott from NBATV had his top 5 ready to contribute rookies and he had Isaiah Canaan number 1among the rookies ready to play. This was after Scott had seen them during the rookie gathering for the NBA and said he like his toughness. I personally think he was the steal of the draft.

He measure at a hair above 6ft with shoes. He has a 40.5 vertical leap and has a 6-4.5 wingspan and is strong as a bull. He is very crafty going into the basket and a very good defender off the ball.

 

The more moves Morey makes, the more I'm convinced that Lin isn't in this team's long term plans. With PBev and Canaan now signed to the team, it seems like Morey believes that a '3 and D' player at the PG position is what the team needs to win a championship, as opposed to a penetrating, playmaking player (which is what Lin is). If Lin can't improve that 3 pt% drastically, expect him to be shipped by the deadline.

 

Does anyone remember Khalid El Amin, out of UConn, late 90's???

Great college player. Stocky. Good shooter. Strong. But short. The knock on El Amin was his below average speed, defense, and height. He lasted one year with the Bulls and that was it.

So far from what I'm reading Canaan fits the mold of El Amin.

 

ElAmin was a bit shorter not as athletic or body fat like Canaan. Canaan is a much better shooter than ElAmin. Plus Canaan doesn't have the supporting cast ElAmin had. Wingspan and his vertical leap is what stands out.

 

Nope nope probably not anymore and nope. If they are stuck at the 3 point line with a decent defender on them then they are screwed. The definition of shot creation:

"They are able to “get their own shot,” putting points on the board without the benefit of an assist to provide them an open look."

Name ........... %Assisted
Harden ..........31.3%
Lin .................39%
Beverly ...........54%
Parsons............74%
NBA Average ....59%
AB ..................100%

So Harden and Lin are the only 2 players the Rockets have that can create their own shots consistently.

 

All of these people expecting Lin to get shipped out. Well it probably is not going to happen. Lin after the all star break was at least an average starting point guard in the NBA. The only 2 Rockets that can consistently create their own shots are Lin and Harden. Morey never sells low.

 

Well put him out there Bob.

Kareem Jackson was the most NFL ready Cornerback coming out of college, so that GOTTA hold water :grin:

 

Oh boy... Another "the answer" Machado.

 

Nope.

El-Amin was sloppy fat and he was slow. Canaan is anything but fat and he's much, much faster and quicker than El-Amin. Bad comparison. No comparison.

 

Holy cow there are people on this site who really know their basketball!

 

Maybe Morey's expecting Lin to break out so he can trade Lin at peak value?

Seriously though, Cannan was likely just the BPA. Was there any position that the Rockets couldn't have drafted? No. You can make a case for any position drafted at 35. So I doubt Morey went into the draft thinking he'll be getting Lin's replacement there.

 

I'd say the nearest comparison would be Vinnie Johnson, a bit more explosive though at the rim and farther shooting range.

If he can play a microwave type role, that would already be a plus, I don't think he will easily learn PG skills within the next couple of years.

 

So true as always Meh. CF seems to want to jump on any bandwagon available. Machado take 2.

 

I assume those are regular season stats.. do you have raw numbers during the playoffs?

 

I'd like to see Canaans % assisted from last year. I guarantee it was less than 10%. Maybe less than 5%.

 

Nobody knows for sure whether a player is "ready to play" in the NBA until he actually plays in the NBA.

The "ready to play" label often slapped on older (21+) rookies and it works only sometimes. Chandler Parsons was actually ready to play, so were fellow older rookies like Taj Gibson, Carl Landry, and Damian Lillard. On the other hand, plenty of countered examples are out there: Joey Dorsey was supposedly "ready to play," Thomas Robinson was supposedly "ready to play." Also, there are plenty of young guys who showed competence (even if not quite superstar play) since season 1: Kyrie Irving, Andre Drummond, Kevin Garnett, etc.