TRKO wrote:I think Wiggins is in Davis' class of elite prospect with unlimited potential. The difference between the two is Davis is realizing it while Wiggins has just begun.
Yeah. I think if we're comparing them only as rookie prospects... they're more comparable. I tried to make that distinction earlier.
The thing is that Davis has made HUGE strides each of his 3 years in the league. I just don't know if it's realistic to expect the same leaps from Wiggins. I hope it happens. But, it's not exactly common.
That's why they're both elite prospects. They don't do common things. Wiggins was the most hyped prospect since Lebron. I don't think we do the "most likely somewhere in the middle" projections with a prospect of his caliber. He's been more than a common player his whole life so why would it be unrealistic that he gets better at the same pace as Davis? That's what stars do. There's not really a slow development path to stardom outside of bigs. Guards and wings usually show it and they show it early. I still think it will take until the 3rd year, but he's not a normal prospect so we shouldn't treat him to the standards of a normal guy.
I get that. But I gotta ask...
So if Wiggins doesn't become a Top 5 player, is he a disappointment?
Based on what I believe he is capable of doing, yes. He's a freak athlete who plays fundamental defense. He was shooting better than most of the stars (currently in the league) did as rookies until he ran out of gas and he was still getting to the rim and scoring off of post attempts. So he can get to the rim, shoot and post up at 20 years old and his offense was a question mark coming into the league. All that while guarding the opposing team's best player most nights. He still has a lot of room to get better on both sides of the ball as well. I think he will be a top 5 player because he is a true two way player who will be elite on both sides of the ball.
TRKO wrote:I think Wiggins is in Davis' class of elite prospect with unlimited potential. The difference between the two is Davis is realizing it while Wiggins has just begun.
Yeah. I think if we're comparing them only as rookie prospects... they're more comparable. I tried to make that distinction earlier.
The thing is that Davis has made HUGE strides each of his 3 years in the league. I just don't know if it's realistic to expect the same leaps from Wiggins. I hope it happens. But, it's not exactly common.
That's why they're both elite prospects. They don't do common things. Wiggins was the most hyped prospect since Lebron. I don't think we do the "most likely somewhere in the middle" projections with a prospect of his caliber. He's been more than a common player his whole life so why would it be unrealistic that he gets better at the same pace as Davis? That's what stars do. There's not really a slow development path to stardom outside of bigs. Guards and wings usually show it and they show it early. I still think it will take until the 3rd year, but he's not a normal prospect so we shouldn't treat him to the standards of a normal guy.
I get that. But I gotta ask...
So if Wiggins doesn't become a Top 5 player, is he a disappointment?
Based on what I believe he is capable of doing, yes. He's a freak athlete who plays fundamental defense. He was shooting better than most of the stars (currently in the league) did as rookies until he ran out of gas and he was still getting to the rim and scoring off of post attempts. So he can get to the rim, shoot and post up at 20 years old and his offense was a question mark coming into the league. All that while guarding the opposing team's best player most nights. He still has a lot of room to get better on both sides of the ball as well. I think he will be a top 5 player because he is a true two way player who will be elite on both sides of the ball.
Obviously, I hope you're right.
I just think it's less of a sure thing than you do.
TRKO wrote:I think the best Towns comparison is Horford with a higher upside. Okafor's best comparison is Brad Daugherty. Russell's best comp is Brandon Roy.
My biggest concern with Towns is 51% of games he was held to within single digits. Cousins, Jones, Davis, Noel, and Randle weren't held to single digits near that often. That leads me to believe that it's not Calipari holding back. That's the concern to me. Towns will be a good pick and if I were a betting man I would bet heavily that he will be the pick.
The Horford comparison is a bad one. Horford has an 8'11" overhead reach and was not a shot-blocker in college. Towns has a 9'5" overhead reach and is an elite shot-blocker. Just two totally different player in completely different bodies. I like Horford, but even acknowledging Towns higher ceiling doesn't make the comparison very helpful.
The Okafor/Al Jefferson comparison is a better one. Both have roughly the same overhead reach (Okafor 9'3, Jefferson 9'2), both are natural elite low post scorers, and both are weak defensively.
TRKO wrote:I think the best Towns comparison is Horford with a higher upside. Okafor's best comparison is Brad Daugherty. Russell's best comp is Brandon Roy.
My biggest concern with Towns is 51% of games he was held to within single digits. Cousins, Jones, Davis, Noel, and Randle weren't held to single digits near that often. That leads me to believe that it's not Calipari holding back. That's the concern to me. Towns will be a good pick and if I were a betting man I would bet heavily that he will be the pick.
The Horford comparison is a bad one. Horford has an 8'11" overhead reach and was not a shot-blocker in college. Towns has a 9'5" overhead reach and is an elite shot-blocker. Just two totally different player in completely different bodies. I like Horford, but even acknowledging Towns higher ceiling doesn't make the comparison very helpful.
The Okafor/Al Jefferson comparison is a better one. Both have roughly the same overhead reach (Okafor 9'3, Jefferson 9'2), both are natural elite low post scorers, and both are weak defensively.
I've been struggling to get a good Towns comp. Maybe Rasheed Wallace, but a normal human being? I don't know.
I don't think Jefferson is the best comp because Jefferson struggles to get to 50% and can't pass. Okafor is a very good passer and much more efficient scorer. Daugherty while an older player is a perfect comp for me. Daugherty wasn't a shot blocker either and was a nice low post player for the Cavs way back in the day.
