How come Green is not a project? His G-League stats (LOL). Most everybody is calling KPJ a project and he is miles ahead of Green right now. You might say Green has a higher ceiling, but that doesn’t mean he is less of a project. Like it or not SGs without a great handle and no defense are not instant all-stars. Mobley won’t be either, but saying he is a project and Green is not is disingenuous.
Because defense is harder in the NBA, and you are drafting Mobley mostly for his defense. Is Mobley not this supposed defensive anchor? I think Mobley has the highest ceiling but I think he also has the most variance.
Green is safer but I don't want safe, I want a home run swing. People need to stop boxing Mobley in because of his height. If you watch him play, offensively it's more similar to Middleton than it is Capela. He's closer to a big wing than he is a traditional center. Just cause he's huge, a lot of people are putting him in the mold of a roll man but really, he has the skills to initiate offense on the perimeter. The level of fluidity is very advanced. If he can realize that potential it'll be nuts.
IDK.... Barnes could be the draft's best defender. You can at least trust Barnes's strength and positioning to go along with his IQ and quickness.
AD was definitely AD from day 1, he finished second in ROY and was a 20/10 all star in his second season and never looked back.
We will have to disagree. His size, athleticism, natural shot blocking, lateral foot speed and instincts all are easily translatable to the NBA. His floor as a defender is very high, the question is whether he will be a good defender or will be an an anchor defensively. The NBA is not a very physically league at this point and hasn't been for a long time. Offensively, Mobley will be decent as he is skilled. The question is whether he will be a 12-15 point a game scorer long term or whether he will expand his shooting and become a 20 plus point a game scorer. Green is every bit as big a project at Mobley is. Green did not draw fouls well, he was not terribly good at creating for others. He was very up and down as a perimeter shooter in the GLeague too. He showed the ability to get his shot off, and to get to the rim which are indicative of likely being a very good scorer at the next level but there are questions about how efficient he is. Defensively he has pedestrian skills with a lack of good lateral foot speed. He should be at least adequate defensively with work, but will likely never be a shut down defender. I understand the argument that in the NBA, perimeter players are more valuable because they have the ball in their hands. If that is why someone wants Green, I can understand that. However the idea that Mobley is more of a project just doesn't hold water to me. It is clear that both Green and Mobley have areas of concern.
I love this question because I don’t know the answer. None of us know, really. I guess I’m going Mobley as the safer pick just because of his defense and size, but that could end up being completely wrong. If we are lucky, Cunningham ends up available at two and we won’t have to worry about which one is safer!
Barnes has a chance to be excellent defensively, but I don't think he has the chance to be a top 3-5 defensive anchor at the 5 spot like Mobley does. Barnes is a better one on one defender, and probably a better switch defender as well but he isn't going to keep the land empty like Mobley does potentially.
Lavine and Beal are Green’s most widely used comps, and they were nothing more than 1-dimensional mediocre scorers their 1st 4 years in the league…Idk why people just act like it’s a given that Green will dominate right out of the gate Mobley could take years to be good, but so could Green
but what about Cade? I thought HE was the for sure, no doubt #1 two way player of the draft? Ready made for Day 1 they say?
Good defender vs anchor defender is a big difference. I just don't see the latter with Mobley. The NBA is more physical and stronger than ever, but that's not to be confused with the bruising style of the 90s and earlier. Mobley is going to need time to work on his body. I'd bet Barnes ends up being a better defender.
Its too bad Jalen Green didnt go to Memphis and give draftniks more film. Hard to discern "game tape" when the amateur players have twice as much film to dispel narratives either way. 15 games is not alot of data to make these concrete statements IMO, but everyone has their own eye test and I respect that.
It's funny how most laugh at Fertitta reportedly wanting to rebuild this team back into contention in 1-2 years but expect sheer greatness out of whoever we draft this summer, as if we did not have an almost 50/50 chance of losing this pick outright.
I think Mobley has the greatest potential but I think Barnes has the most realistic chance. People make fun of my high ass complaint, but leveraging and position is a real thing. Barnes is just built right. Mobley has the build of an elite help side defender.
Cade is the safest and arguably the best player in the draft and should go #1..... he is not the best two way player in the draft though. He lacks elite athleticism and isn't great laterally. That will keep him from being a great defender. He can become a good defender with better anticipation and spacing, but there are limitations.
I would agree with you on both points. Center of gravity is very important, in both the post and perimeter. long torso and long arms are huge.
