Absolutely, but the operative word is "center." This isn't a center's game anymore. If we are going to develop someone, I'd rather it be someone with the potential to be a superstar wing.
I get it. Development of a freak athletic defensive big with a good motor and who is a good passer seems different than your average “center.” It’s not a centers game offensively, but if you can guard the 3 ball knowing there is a dominant rim protector behind you, that IS what todays game is. Pick and roll, finishing at the rim, crashing the boards, is the game today. That’s what he does offensively. He won’t demand the ball or get lazy on D like Nurk if he doesn’t touch the ball. I feel this way about Sochan also Like I said though, I get the point you’re making, but I think he fits todays game
The two players that received the most MVP votes were centers. Center Nikola Jokic was the winner for the second year in a row. A superstar center can have as big an impact in today's game as a superstar wing.
duren is not jokic or embiid. He probably will never be that skilled. If Duren showed that kinda skill, he would not be projected out of the top 3. And if you go the non-skilled athletic freak big route, he's not anywhere close to as nimble as dwight was early in his career. man some of these comps...
How far did those guys get this year? How many rings they got? When is the last time a team won a title with a center as their best player?
I dont think that matters. If a prospect like Embiid were in this draft, hed be going #1 without question. Duren doesnt compare in the slightest to Embiid.
I just find it interesting that we are clearly looking to be a better defensive team and Duren has an argument at having the highest defensive ceiling in this class. Even the great defensive wing prospects take 1 to 2 years to bring positive value on that end and I don't see anybody in the OG/Mikal mold in that regard. Tari and Sochan have an argument to be at that level, but both of those guys come with far more offensive question marks than those guys had.
It matters because those guys are amazing but they can’t lift up their teams. So I really don’t want to use this pick on a center that’s not even remotely as good as those guys.
To be clear, I said I didn’t want to draft a project center. I also said that if I have to choose between developing a center and a wing, I would choose the wing based on this NBA. Embiid wasn’t a project coming out of college. He was injured though. But Duren isn’t Embiid or Jokic. And my point was that if those guys can’t be the best players on their teams and win it all, what hope does Duren have? I’d rather take a flyer on Sharp or Daniels.
what if you don't feel the wings who'll be around when you're picking have that sort of potential? I'm not going into a draft wanting a particular position, I want the BPA. The star. Locking in on current team need has produced so many draft blunders. Yes the days of the plodding big man have largely passed but there still important roles to be played for Bigs it's just whats valued is changing. The game used to be played inside out, but now its outside in with teams working for clean 3 point looks. But the rim still needs to be guarded. Long sprayed rebounds from all the 3 point shots need to be battled over, tapped & gathered. Athletic ability and the versatility to switch onto all those great wings makes a team's D so much more effective. A team with a legit shotblocker or two can also sell out better on 3 point shooters knowing they've got that guy behind them. These are the types of Bigs on the teams in the finals. Defense still wins championships & these are the two top ranked defensive teams in the league. STOMP
These teams also have a ton of good point-of-attack defenders, meanwhile the Blazers only have one worth playing. They've failed year-after-year to address the forward spots and now are in position to add there. Instead, people want another project C who probably won't be ready to contribute to a winning team for multiple years when we already have a center? I don't understand. If Duren was a sure thing, fine. But he's not. I've seen too many bigs like him end up being mediocre (Nerlens Noel, anyone?). Looking back through previous drafts, bigs need to be really good in two of these or absolutely elite in one out of passing, shooting, and defense. Those are the biggest deciding factors for bigs, and Duren's only shown very sporadic flashes of shooting and passing. Meanwhile, he has the tools but it's a safer bet to assume he's not going to be a top 5 defensive big at some point. Yes, he could be great, just like any of the top 15 prospects in this draft, however he's a bigger risk than some seem to think, and there are forwards that we need who already have positive traits that fit in seamlessly into the NBA. You only need one rim protector, but you need multiple point-of-attack defenders. A premium should be placed on wings for that reason alone.
