Q12543 wrote:The one thing Russell brings to the table that is unique versus our cadre of young guys is that he can really shoot the ball. He knocked down 41% of 3's on 231 attempts. And a lot of those shots were quick-trigger off the dribble 3s. He wasn't getting set-up for easy looks by anyone. That is a sizeable sample size, which gives me confidence that his shooting can translate to the NBA. After defense and rebounding, outside shooting is the biggest bugaboo with this team and he could help address that problem.
In terms of position, he's a tad undersized versus the prototypical 2, but not by much. He's 6'5" in shoes with a decent wingspan. That puts him ahead of guys like JJ Redick and Courtney Lee, not to mention the dual-PG pairings we see on teams like Phoenix.
A Rubio/LaVine/Russell guard rotation could be kind of fun.
Yeah, I don't share Lipoli's concerns about Russell, or Camden's concerns about his size or defense. And Q, there's another element that Russell would bring to us beyond shooting...this kid can handle the rock. I saw some magical things happen when he had the ball in his hands last season, and so effortlessly. That said, I think he belongs at SG next to Rubio, and agree that a Rubio, LaVine, Russell rotation (with Martin providing instant offense at times) could be lethal. Cam is probably correct that his defense is occasionally a weakness, but anyone who watched him against the Gophers this year would call his defense a strength. Right now I have him second behind Towns on my board.
Being a good defender against the Gophers joke of a backcourt this year isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.
Gotta admit I was thinking the same thing as I was typing that, Khans...he did have 2-3 blocked shots in that game. But I don't hold myself out as an expert on Russell's defense this year. I may move him down a slot or two as I learn more about him, but I sure like his offensive game.
Don't know if it's been mentioned in this thread yet (excuse me for not looking though all 128 pages)... but did anybody see Mudiay airball a free throw in the Chinese league playoffs.
I know flukes happen. But I can't recall the last time I saw a top-talent guard miss a free throw that badly. I read where shooting is the one thing holding him back right now... but is that a problem considering the other shooter in the backcourt right now? Or does Mudiay signal the end of the road for Rubio?
By the way... I've changed my mind. I'm joining those who said from the beginning that they prefer Towns over Okafor. I'm all in.
I saw the missed free throw, abe...and I also have seen some good plays by Mudiay. But they were against guys who play defense like me. Who knows if his game translates to the NBA.
Point guards who dominate in high school are fun to watch, but also one of the riskiest propositions if you are wagering a top 5 pick. Take this guy for instance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=83&v=xNIuy2w842Y
If Mudiay was exciting people half as much as this guy was in high school, there would be even more buzz about him. But this guy ended up a journeyman. Mudiay is going to have to be very impressive in his pre-draft scrimmages against non-Chinese guys to move back into my top 4. Where he belongs in this draft is as wide a range to me as what kind of player Zach LaVine ends up being. Flip swung for the fences last year. Can he afford to do it again this year?
longstrangetrip wrote:I saw the missed free throw, abe...and I also have seen some good plays by Mudiay. But they were against guys who play defense like me. Who knows if his game translates to the NBA.
Point guards who dominate in high school are fun to watch, but also one of the riskiest propositions if you are wagering a top 5 pick. Take this guy for instance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=83&v=xNIuy2w842Y
If Mudiay was exciting people half as much as this guy was in high school, there would be even more buzz about him. But this guy ended up a journeyman. Mudiay is going to have to be very impressive in his pre-draft scrimmages against non-Chinese guys to move back into my top 4. Where he belongs in this draft is as wide a range to me as what kind of player Zach LaVine ends up being. Flip swung for the fences last year. Can he afford to do it again this year?
To be fair, it's easier to take a risk and swing for the fences at #13 than at #2 - #5.
longstrangetrip wrote:I saw the missed free throw, abe...and I also have seen some good plays by Mudiay. But they were against guys who play defense like me. Who knows if his game translates to the NBA.
Point guards who dominate in high school are fun to watch, but also one of the riskiest propositions if you are wagering a top 5 pick. Take this guy for instance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=83&v=xNIuy2w842Y
If Mudiay was exciting people half as much as this guy was in high school, there would be even more buzz about him. But this guy ended up a journeyman. Mudiay is going to have to be very impressive in his pre-draft scrimmages against non-Chinese guys to move back into my top 4. Where he belongs in this draft is as wide a range to me as what kind of player Zach LaVine ends up being. Flip swung for the fences last year. Can he afford to do it again this year?
To be fair, it's easier to take a risk and swing for the fences at #13 than at #2 - #5.
Yep, and actually that's about where schoolboy legend Telfair was drafted too...there used to be much more skepticism about players who hadn't proved it in college (e.g. Bryant and Garnett). And I think the risk is compounded when you want to play the most difficult position in the NBA...point guard. Dominance at PG in high school does not always translate to the NBA level. Mudiay may turn out to be a star, but he still scares the crap out of me.
And thought about what's going on in the NBA. Dumping the ball into the post and watching the big guy go to work is just not the preferred (best?) strategy. When that guy hits only half his free throws? And can't defend well on the other end?
I don't think he's the next Shaq. Towns is big. Talented. And he won't need to command the ball to be effective in a game.
Yeah, I'd probably have to rank Towns ahead of Okafor too. He seems like the kind of guy you could plug into a variety of offensive systems, whereas Okafor is sort of a wasted asset without being a focal point of the offense. Drafting him means you really have to gear your team around inside-outside action.
Towns on the other hand can theoretically be used a lot more in Princeton type sets due to his passing and outside shooting. And he's good enough in the low block to exploit mismatches there too. Just a lot more things you can do with Towns whereas Okafor is super good in one thing. It's an interesting contrast.
If Cool is somehow wrong about the lotto and we don't win it..
Outside of trading Rubio, Wiggins, Lavine, Bazz or Dieng I think Flip needs to do w/e it takes in order to get Towns on draft night. He's arguably the best combination of best fit and best talent for us. Granted the worst case scenario is probably a team like the Knicks winning it and being unwilling to trade him.
Coming away with Pek/Towns/Dieng at C with KG/Dieng/Towns/Bennett/Payne at PF (if the latter 2 would each still be on the roster) would look very promising especially if Pek's surgery does the trick which I'm thinking it will since they didn't do any repairing of the tendon.
