The curious case of Caleb Swanigan

And Josh Hart, Jonah Bolden, Ojeleye, Brooks, etc etc

Completely whiffed on the pick.

Harry Giles is going to come back to haunt us.

 

He's big which is a major plus, but he's caught in the middle. Either needs to lose weight to increase his speed or gain muscle and bully people. As is I think opposing big men actually look forward to him having the ball in his hands.

The struggle is not over for him, at all. If he doesn't improve, we'll be drafting another big next offseason. If we don't, Neil will give him a chance at a "3rd year leap." It he doesn't make that, he's definitely gone.

But I haven't given up hope. He's a good passer, a fantastic rebounder, and he sets really good screens. There is still time to improve his decision-making, shooting, and body. If he does, he'll have some Brian Grant in him.

 

He looks more out of shape to me.

 

He's an incredibly hard worker, so it's unlikely that he is out of shape. But I see what you mean, that is just one of the reasons the Case is so Curious.

 

It comes from the fact he was a fatso as a kid and that never really goes away. BonesJones is fitness obsessed too so he’s going to have that angle.

 

Zach Randolph

 

So, you're saying people are blinded by Caleb's previous chubs and the media focus on his weight loss last year, and that somehow adds up to an implied weight rebound this year?

Dude's always been slow in his movements. I hated him as a prospect and only very mildly warmed up to him as a draftee, on the assumption he was the safe pick as someone ready to play the first year but with very limited long-term potential. (But that's what minimum salary journeymen are for, right?) He needs a lot of plays run for/through him to look good offensively. And even then, he needs physical match-up advantages that are few and far between at this level.

 

You tell me.



That was Biggie last summer.

He looks nothing like that now. My guess is he got in the best shape he could for the draft process, then let himself go. Disappointing for a guy that’s evidently a hard worker. This year he looks in better shape, but instead of losing weight, he just added muscle. It’s not looking like a great strategy. Let’s see what he looks like in training camp.

 

How? He was picked 6 picks before Caleb.

 

@yuyuza1 doesn't like Collins so I'm guessing he thinks we shouldn't have traded up for him and stayed at 15 and 20.

 

I don't not like Collins. I just don't see him being anything more than a fringe starter. And I don't think Caleb will be in the NBA after his rookie deal. And when you have 3 picks in the top 26, you expect better return than that.

And Giles has looked really good.

 

Post a side-by-side if you want comparative feedback...

Some people are saying he's out of shape, you're saying he's in better shape but added muscle. I think everyone's imagining things to fit a narrative of why he's not playing well, when the truth is he was always a scrub that looked good only briefly in SL when he was firing on all cylinders. He had nowhere to go but down.

 

I'm having a hard time finding any photos of him from this summer. There's a ton from last summer.

 

The last pic is probably the closest one.

But here’s caleb during last season. Compare it to the summer league one

 

Hard to tell, but it looks like his arm and legs are both bigger now. But he's not going into people's chests like a bigger stronger player should (e.g. Harrell).

 

Yeah his play strength isn’t there. I don’t know why that is, maybe he doesn’t know how to use his body, but he doesn’t move guys as much as you’d want for a guy his size. He struggled to move guys in the g league and so far nothing has changed. Maybe he can reinvent himself into more of a Patrick Patterson?

 

I think this is the case but not because he isn't a good player.

 

Him gaining weight isnt imagining things to fit a narrative. The broadcast team mentioned numerous times after he was recalled from the G league that he lost some of the weight he gained during the season.

Look at his introductory press conference last summer. Looks like a different person.

 

I have hope, but......
the market is so soft for bigs right now. We could probably get Harrell for $5mil (if we had the $$$). There are a number of bigs who would play for vet min that are clearly better than he is right now.

 

Teams with cap space:

Atlanta
Chicago
Dallas
Phoenix
Sacramento

Would any of these teams be interested in Biggie? They’re all rebuilding.