Remember when Brooks and Landry were drafted and played their first SL. Brooks played very well while Landry didn't show anything. Some of the posteres said Landry would be bust or something...Give Tylor some time. Don't alway judge anybody too early because time will tell..
No way to tell anything in summer league. Every player is trying to demonstrate their talents, trying to do too much. The role players have no way to shine, especially when they often excel when the talent around them is far superior. We know Taylor can score, be the go-to guy, carry an inferior team offensively. But can he fill a role effectively?
I would like to point out that it was the general consensus of this board after his first summer league that Carl Landry was a waste of a draft pick and that he would never be a good NBA player. I would have to say that you were all wrong. I am going to say that history may repeat itself here. JT will be better than he is currently showing. Edit: and now I see that someone beat me to the punch on this one... must learn to read the entire thread before I comment!
Any observant basketball aficionado can tell that Taylor is actually on a different level than Newley. Although I like the kids effort, he is DEFINITELY not an NBA caliber player. He shot is suspect, his handles are suspect, his IQ is ok at best, and his athleticism is average. On the flip side, if any of the horrible Rocket's front court players could catch a pass or had a IQ higher than 80, they might be looking for one of those very good passes from Taylor. I must have seen at least 4-5 excellent interior passes that the front court guys (all of them) simply couldn't handle. A guy with those type of passing skills alone takes Newley's lunch.
Newley is far better than Taylor is. Newley has basketball IQ, he plays within the system, he has good size, good finishing, a good shot, he can defend, he's a team offense kind of player. Newley is the kind of role player that helps you win.
Not one player on the summer league will help with getting into the playoffs. They must learn to play D or shoot lights out (ala Von before the LA series) to get any action. Taylor will be in the D league for a 1 yr or 2. Chase Budinger is the second coming of Novak. D league also.
I think Newley will stay overseas his whole career, he just doesn't have the explosiveness or quickness of an NBA caliber player. I believe Jermaine will play this whole season in the D-league to refine his game.
Taylor's hammy could be giving him trouble. IMO he's the one who looks most like an NBA on that SL team. It's just that his shot isn't falling. Newley needs to try to hook up with an Euroleague Spanish team and go from there.
