Unlike guards like Dame and CJ who play on one end of the court and only really on the perimeter, forwards like Grant and Murray are the kinds of guys you want duplicated on your team. Both have length and high level athleticism, both can put the ball on the floor, shoot, finish at the hoop and make the right pass and both defend on the perimeter and in the post. So although I don't see either doing it at an all star level next year, I think both could be a notch below that and that would be a big step up from any forward tandum we've had since Nic and LaMarcus. I don't know why people don't like Grant... if he's by far your second best player you're probably not in a good place but if Ant, him and Nurk are your 2a, 2b and 2c then you're doing pretty great. He's very well rounded and when engaged he's tenacious on both ends. I would not give up the seventh pick for him but I'd give up a mid first rounder for him and right now with what we're trying to do I'd overpay in future draft capital.
I think Duren and Grant is realistic. Dame/BWill Ant/Hart/Keon Nas/Winslow Grant/Watford/GB3 Nurk/Duren A couple 2nd rounder to fill out the bench. If that^ happens are you mad? Do you expect more than the 5-6 seed?
Please don't be right about that. I just can't see Dame wanting to stick around for a team just as midling as the one that had his boy CJ on it... just without CJ on it. I think if he doesn't see real improvements after what we just went through as a team last season, he'll start to finally want to see if the grass really is greener. That look on his face at the lotto today wasn't one from a guy who is enthusiastic about what's going on around him. I mean none of us are feeling over the moon about today or the Pels pick situation but this is Dame's life and he was willing to give up on the dream of winning with his friend and teammate he'd had the longest probably in his whole life but I think he was only willing to if it meant winning with other teammates, not if it meant doing the same shit with other teammates.
I posted that a few weeks ago. That would solve two holes. A backup center and a starting PF. We would get real long real quick. I still see no reason why Detroit would not take a future 1st for Grant. I like Jerami but for Detroit to hold out for a lottery pick is too much. No one else will give that to them without making them take back salary.
If that happens I'm confused. You don't tank to draft a guy who sits. If we did pick Duren I would hope that we would cash in Nurk with a sign and trade. I also don't think Nas starts over Hart unless somehow he's made another big leap forward but this time as a shooter, even though his shoulder has been messed up. I get why you would put Nas as the starter though, because Hart is a known commodity and what we know is he's the guy you want coming off the bench or the fifth starter with at least a couple all stars in that starting lineup. So hoping Nas breaks out a lot more and stays healthy keeps things exciting but I don't know if it's realistic. I'll tell you what's definitely not realistic, putting that roster up and then mentioning the fifth seed. Do I expect more than the 5th or 6th seed? No I expect much less, I expect that team to struggle to make the playoffs and when looking at the rest of the West maybe that team struggles to make the playins.
I think the potential of the 18 year old Duren at 20 years old is much greater than getting a Griffin or any other player at 7 that would start. No one we draft at 7 is gonna supplant a guard so we are hoping a starting Forward drops. I don’t think any of the big 4 forwards will drop so it’s basically a Griffin or Mathurin imo. Will they make a bigger impact year 1 probably, but I think Duren will be the better prospect after that.
I think that's a Play In Tourney team at best. Nas simply isn't consistent enough to start and and you don't tank for a backup C. I'd draft Mathurin who has the advanced stats that project well for an NBA wing. Add Grant to the mix and there is a nice offensive squad. Dame Ant Mauthurin Grant Nurk Bench: Hart, Nas, free agents
As long as we don't overpay Nurk and have to attach a pick to him just to get him off our books. Don't get me wrong, I like Duren a lot, so much that I think he would rattle Nurk, so much that I'd probably like to have him over Nurk. He is the ultra athletic big that Dame has been saying he wants to play with since playing with Bam in the Olympics. So I do think Duren is good value at 7 and in fact I think we'll be kicking ourselves if we don't take him but then I think Nurk will be bad value at whatever contract the team seems to already have come to terms with.
I’m sick of not having any size or toughness. People drive down the middle on us repeatedly and how often have we struggled desperately to get an offensive rebound. Your team is nice offensively but I think it’s shredded nightly on the other end. What’s wrong with having multiple guys over 6’9?
You need two quality centers. Nurk can't start the whole season. Injuries and fouls are to be expected for bigs. The kid is 18, let him ease into it.
Didn't Chauncey say something to the effect of, 'wanting a rim-runner, a shot-blocker, and someone who could dunk a lob pass'?
I don't think you need two quality old school centers that don't stretch the floor in today's NBA. I think if you get Duren, which I am not against, you try to get what you can for Nurk in the sign and trade market. Then you put a vet center behind Duren that you can get for the league min or half the TPMLE. I don't think you draft Duren and pay the 15M+ a season that Nurk has probably been promised.
Yeah, not only does the thought of Duren make me call into question Nurk's future with this team, the rumors about Ayton also make me wonder about it. Especially when I think about Dame talking about wanting a really athletic big last summer. Who knows? I'm probably getting ahead of myself and if we sign Nurk to a three year deal with a team option on the third year you could bring Duren along very similarly to the way the Heat did with Bam.
Mathurin was not always consistent in college so why would he be consistent in the NBA his rookie year? Also, his 6'9" wingspan is not that impressive compared to the 7'2" wingspan for Little. I would roll with Little, draft someone bigger, and trade for Grant.
What if he develops an outside shot in 3 years (when he turns 21) will he still be an old school center with the way he runs the court? He has decent form.
Point taken and not to quote my own post but... Edit: I guess my issue is remembering last summer, that presser from Dame when he was leaving for Japan and his repetitive use of the word urgency. I don't know if drafting Duren and keeping Nurk screams urgency.
I agree. I watch a lot of PAC-12 basketball and I project Mathurin to be nothing more than a role player. He may have a higher floor than some prospects, but his ceiling will be the lowest.
