We would let Nurk walk or get very little for him in a sign and trade but I get what you're saying. If you think that Chet is the bigger difference maker out of him and Nurk, you're totally right that you take Chet and get whoever makes sense with him instead of sticking with Nurk who you view as less of a positive impact. Personally, especially with Chauncey as the head coach I would like everyone on the team to be extremely mobile but you can't always get what you want. Unless of course someone values Chet much higher than we do and then we cash him in for pieces that fit with what we have and keep Nurk's value. Anyway I cut it, I would take Jabari ahead of either Chet or Paolo... both Chet and Paolo are better at putting the ball on the floor and facilitating offense and Chet is obviously the better rim protector but Jabari is the best athlete of the three, the best overall defender of the three, the best shooter of the three and I think him and Chet are about even at finishing at the rim... oh and he seems to have the best timing as a rebounder out of the three. If we end up in the top 4 I think it would be worth guaranteeing Chicago the pick so we could trade a future lottery protected first to get to Jabari if someone else is looking to get him before us. I especially think Jabari fits the best in our system with Dame, Ant, Grant (assuming we trade the Pels pick for him) and Nurk with two of the best bench players we've had in a long time in Hart and Nas plus whatever else we can get in free agency and trades. But unfortunately Jabari isn't part of this thread.
Banchero has the highest ceiling in the draft. Only player with a chance to be a superstar. Oddly enough, there was a ringer video or espn or something, where an NBA GM (or front office person) said Jabari Davis best comp is Tobias Harris.
Why? Holmgren and Mobley aren’t even close to similar. This is about the equivalent of ppl who compare Zach Collins to Chet. Mobley is much bigger, much more athletic and much more agile. And not a hunch back.
Also, I am pro Chet *for this team* because I think he’s most helpful. Paolo is best, but not for this team. If I had #1 pick and was drafting BPA - Paolo. If I’m drafting best fit - Chet.
I don't think it would be acceptable for us to draft him. I think he has a lot of value but not next to Nurk and I wouldn't choose to have Nurk walk or get very little in return for him in a sign and trade to get what Chet brings. So if Jabari and Paolo are gone when we pick I would simply find out who liked Chet or maybe it's Jaden the most and get the most I could for them. Neither one of those guys are going to make us better as much as what we could get in return for them; Chet because he's a bad fit next to Nurk and Jaden because he'd be playing behind Dame and Ant. If we end up with a new GM who doesn't care about Dame, then that GM will likely trade Dame for the best young established player possible and picks. At that point I'd expect Nurk to walk and I'd have a hard time knowing who I'd want out of Paolo, Jabari and Chet but if we could get Duren as well in the draft then I'd want Chet and Duren. We're just not like a normal lottery team. We don't get to take the BPA who has the most potential. We need a guy or guys that will translate into wins immediately. We have to worry about fit because our stated mission is to win a championship as soon as possible with Dame leading the way. We're also a playoff team that was derailed by injury. So fit has to matter to us. I may be wrong and Chet's lack of foot speed is an illusion but I don't think so. He's the least mobile big in the lotto. We can't put that with Nurk and we can't get fair value for Nurk because he's a UFA.
I disagree that if the player can’t help us win a title next year, we should pass on him. Dame isn’t about to retire. He has 5, 6, maybe 7 years left in his career. If there’s a player who will be an All Star in 2 years with superstar potential, you take him. We are not in a rush and Dame has said so himself. We have time.
I would love to see those guys try to score at the rim after "blowing by" Chet. I bet most get swatted from behind.
This team needs defense more than anything. And I’m of the opinion that Chet will be fine defensively even at the 4 spot - which could be heavily debated. His length at that spot will allow him to content shots while giving more room so he won’t get blown by and if he does… his length will allow him to block a lot of shots still. And he’s not THAT slow/clunky. Once again, that could be a really bad take on my end so I can easily see why you and others would see it differently. And if I’m wrong yes it would be disastrous. Lol
That's assuming that what he did against much slower guys than the ones listed is effective in the NBA. The game will be a lot faster and Chet won't so the savvy he positioned himself with that left him within range to block slower jumpers but still recover to beat guys to the rim with his length just won't be the same formula, I'm not saying there's no way he can make it work in the NBA because I don't know that for sure, it just seems like a much tougher task. The guy has both a foot speed and strength deficit that can't just be ignored. I really think he has to have the correct personnel playing with him down low in order to really capitalize on his strengths defensively and I don't think Nurk is that guy. If you have the great thing that Chet does as monumental game changers then you draft him and find someone different than Nurk to pair him with in our starting lineup. If you do the math and the benefits of Chet plus the benefits of who we'd realistically be replacing Nurk with are less than the benefits of whoever we would draft instead of Chet, with Nurk then you draft the other guy. If you think Chet is going to be an all nba player then you draft him and figure out the fit later.
"Ivey averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and was named to The Associated Press All-America second team. He joined Duke's Paolo Banchero as the only players this season with 600 points, 175 rebounds, 100 assists, 30 steals and 20 blocked shots" I am not a stats fanatic, but those stats I like.
First Team: Tshiebwe (Kentucky) Davis (Wisconsin) Agbaji (Kansas) Cockburn (Illinois) Murray (Iowa) Second Team: Smith (Auburn) Timme (Gonzaga) Ivey (Purdue) Mathurin (Arizona) Holmgren (Gonzaga) Third Team: Banchero (Duke) Liddell (Ohio State) Gillespie (Villanova) Kessler (Auburn) Akinjo (Baylor) Notae (Arkansas)
Unacceptable to draft Chet and keep Nurk? Immobile? The guy can defend on the perimeter. He switches his hips well, has much better foot speed than you give him credit for, and has the length where you're not going to get him out of position with hesitations or pump fakes if he's playing smart. I don't think Jabari or Paolo are quicker laterally than him.