I mean, he was their 3rd option and played an important role on those teams but was he really an ideal 3rd option, especially considering that they lost and he couldn't really break through during the Finals (against a strong interior, as opposed to taking advantage of a weak Lakers and Clippers interior)? Seems to me nowadays that it's all predicated on the 3 and 4, with a 1 or 2 being able to score alongside them (but the 1 isn't usually the best player). Unless you have a superstar center, it's the positions other than center that will make for a legitimate top 3, on the pecking order. That's not to say the 4th option isn't important. Again, finding that 3rd through 5th option can be just as difficult as finding a legitimate second wheel to the main star. If the Spurs, for example, already have Wemby as an unstoppable force at the 4, acquire Trae at the 1 as a 2nd option, draft Holland or Williams to be a 3rd/4th option next to Vassell, and put Edey as the 4th/5th option (and let's say Edey pans out as a basic double double guy who can stay on the floor)? Not saying that works out for them 100% but that seems like a sensible pecking order is established and the team identity is established and well balanced. Imo, this is why OKC is so incredibly successful at such a young age. SGA and Chet are the two best players, Jalen is up there with them but knows he's a third wheel (arguable sure) even if he's a better scorer than Chet, and anyone of Dort or Giddey can be #4/5. Likewise, the Celtics and Nuggets have a legitimate pecking order, as well. Tatum, then Brown, then White/Porzingis, then Jrue. Jokic, then Murray, MPJ, Gordon....hence, Murray stinking it up/showing up is the difference maker between a ring or not while MPJ and Gordon are simply expected to just play their roles out. On a championship squad, I don't see Ayton really being the ideal 3rd option due to his offense not being dominant so I think, with productive centers who aren't major stars, they get relegated to the 4th/5th option in today's NBA. Like a Draymond, Gordon, or Brook Lopez, you want the 4th option to be able to play defense, rebound, make extra passes while getting buckets here and there.
Disappointed he's jumped so high up the mocks. Many of us were hoping for him at 14; now he's being mocked to us at 7.
Don't be too disappointed. It just means someone in the top 14 will likely fall to us there. Does it matter if we selected Salaun first and Cody Williams or Ron Holland second? Salaun is definitely getting looked at in the lottery and all eyes seem to be on him. If they like him that strongly, I'm okay with them taking him at 7 and grabbing who is left at 14 or moving up a few spots to say 11 through a trade with the second rounders or Brogdon. Salaun is the only guy I have a strong opinion on right now. I hope the Blazers end up with him.
Exactly what people were saying about Giannis at 7. The organization will have more information than we do. If they like him that strongly, I'm all for it. Someone thought to be top 10 will likely fall to 14 if this is the case.
Yeah but Giannis is the best case scenario. There’s a million highly athletic dudes who never became anything.
I'm not even comparing them as prospects. I agree. My only point is, we shouldn't judge based off mock drafts. Is there a world where Tidjane Salaun is a more productive player than Matas Buzelis and Cody Williams? Absolutely. It was a reach to take Westbrook where Presti did. If they like Salaun that much, they should take him. They are likely to have a top 12 pick slip to them at 14.
The more he keeps playing in the playoffs in France, the more likely his rise will be to top 10. Ousmanne Dieng came out of nowhere to get drafted 12. Hell, even Jalen Williams blew up after the Combine. This kinda rise isn't unusual.
I beg people to watch the warts-and-all tape of Salaun and check out his game log, not just the highlights. no one is saying players don't rise late in the draft cycle. salaun has some very real limitations to his game--that's all.
I don't think any GM should ever draft a guy who shot 37% from the field and 27% from 3s... and is 6'1.5" without shoes. The dude was a top 30-ish player coming out of high school and hasn't done anything to increase that since. He is just not that skilled a basketball player.
That's not exactly what he said. You're abbreviating it. Not just him, but Sam Vecenie as well. His feel for the game IS his knock. To suggest he doesn't have feel for the game is not correct, obviously. What everyone agrees on is his great motor, upside on his shot, size and athleticism. I buy his stock more than I don't.
