khans2k5 wrote:I think the main reason Russell should at least be in the conversation is guards and wings dominate the league now. If he can be an all-star, that type of player tends to get teams further than great bigs nowadays. AD is special, but how many other bigs would you even put in your top 10? Lebron, Durant, Curry, Harden, AD, Westbrook, CP3, Griffin, LA and Wall are probably my top 10 right now (in no order) which is mostly guards and wings. That's at least why I think he deserves to be in the conversation even if we don't end up picking him.
Devils advocate, what if you project Towns/Okafor to be the next top flight player, then you have the one dominating big. You already have a guy who projects to be a great wing.
I don't project either Towns or Okafor to be the next great big and I honestly don't know enough about Russell if he could be the next great guard.
khans2k5 wrote:I think the main reason Russell should at least be in the conversation is guards and wings dominate the league now. If he can be an all-star, that type of player tends to get teams further than great bigs nowadays. AD is special, but how many other bigs would you even put in your top 10? Lebron, Durant, Curry, Harden, AD, Westbrook, CP3, Griffin, LA and Wall are probably my top 10 right now (in no order) which is mostly guards and wings. That's at least why I think he deserves to be in the conversation even if we don't end up picking him.
Devils advocate, what if you project Towns/Okafor to be the next top flight player, then you have the one dominating big. You already have a guy who projects to be a great wing.
I don't project either Towns or Okafor to be the next great big and I honestly don't know enough about Russell if he could be the next great guard.
Yeah I'm not so sure that a "superstar" is in this draft. If Okafor were better defensively he would be that guy, or if Russell were better athletically he would be that guy.
There is no case for Russell, he's a better version of C.J. Mccollum nothing to get excited over. Not enough athleticism, great in game smarts = limited upside. MN paid an above average backup PG a good sum of money though so what do I know.
Tactical unit wrote:There is no case for Russell, he's a better version of C.J. Mccollum nothing to get excited over. Not enough athleticism, great in game smarts = limited upside. MN paid an above average backup PG a good sum of money though so what do I know.
Exactly!!!
Except Russell played in a better conference. Has a 6 inch higher reach and 4 inch longer wingspan. Better court vision and passer. Is younger and doesn't have injury history. He's the 10th one-and-done player with a WARP projection higher than 3.0. Of the previous nine, six developed into All-Stars. Nerlens Noel is too young to evaluate. Greg Oden was unable to live up to his potential because of injuries. The only non-injury disappointment in this group was Michael Beasley.
Tactical unit wrote:There is no case for Russell, he's a better version of C.J. Mccollum nothing to get excited over. Not enough athleticism, great in game smarts = limited upside. MN paid an above average backup PG a good sum of money though so what do I know.
Exactly!!!
Except Russell played in a better conference. Has a 6 inch higher reach and 4 inch longer wingspan. Better court vision and passer. He's the 10th one-and-done player with a WARP projection higher than 3.0. Of the previous nine, six developed into All-Stars. Nerlens Noel is too young to evaluate. Greg Oden was unable to live up to his potential because of injuries. The only non-injury disappointment in this group was Michael Beasley.
Tactical unit wrote:There is no case for Russell, he's a better version of C.J. Mccollum nothing to get excited over. Not enough athleticism, great in game smarts = limited upside. MN paid an above average backup PG a good sum of money though so what do I know.
Exactly!!!
Except Russell played in a better conference. Has a 6 inch higher reach and 4 inch longer wingspan. Better court vision and passer. Is younger and doesn't have injury history. He's the 10th one-and-done player with a WARP projection higher than 3.0. Of the previous nine, six developed into All-Stars. Nerlens Noel is too young to evaluate. Greg Oden was unable to live up to his potential because of injuries. The only non-injury disappointment in this group was Michael Beasley.
Looks like good company to me.
Great work, bleedspeed. You have explained well why Russell needs to be in the mix. I'm still a Towns guy, but Russell is a strong #2 for me.
I just don't look at the draft as big or bust. Guys like Bogut, West, Al Jefferson, Milsap, etc all changed teams for less than max. I think in 2 years we could fill the big need via FA with a near all-star player. Which is what I think Towns and Okafor will be. I think Russell we be the Roy/Harden/Curry/Joe Johnson type guy and you have to give the farm to get them.
I hope we get this right. I will proudly eat crow if we pick someone else and they turn out to be the best player. It will sting if we dont' and Russell ends up being the guy.
Russell is not Roy and he's certainly not Harden or Curry. He's probably closer to Waiters or Turner. Roy shot over 50% in college and Russell shot less than 45% with a soft schedule and shoots less than 36% against ranked teams. He doesn't play great defense, not a good finisher near the basket, not that athletic or strong or tall.
TeamRicky wrote:Russell is not Roy and he's certainly not Harden or Curry. He's probably closer to Waiters or Turner. Roy shot over 50% in college and Russell shot less than 45% with a soft schedule and shoots less than 36% against ranked teams. He doesn't play great defense, not a good finisher near the basket, not that athletic or strong or tall.
Have you seen Russell play or are you basing everything solely on numbers? Russell plays a lot like Roy.
TeamRicky wrote:Russell is not Roy and he's certainly not Harden or Curry. He's probably closer to Waiters or Turner. Roy shot over 50% in college and Russell shot less than 45% with a soft schedule and shoots less than 36% against ranked teams. He doesn't play great defense, not a good finisher near the basket, not that athletic or strong or tall.
Have you seen Russell play or are you basing everything solely on numbers? Russell plays a lot like Roy.
I'd rather have Anthony Davis (Towns) or Duncan (Okafor) than Brandon Roy.
