I think for the most part he can play either forward spot in today's NBA. There are a few teams where we would need to go bigger to match up but maybe that is when a Robert Williams comes into play. Remember how badly some of us wanted Vanderbilt at the trade deadline? He weighs in at 214. I think Camara has more potential.
Yeah I’m not sure why people are heavily judging Murray after a handful of minutes. Even 23 year olds need an adjustment period.
Toumara 7’0.5 wingspan Rupert 7’2 wingspan Williams 7’6 wingspan Shae 7’0 wingspan Grant 7’3 wingspan Thybulle 6’11 wingspan Murray 6’11 wingspan Even Ant and Scoot at 6’9 wingspans have the average wingspan of a SG. This roster is gearing up for a team that can run. We might suck as a defense overall, but I’m hoping we are leaders in steals and fast break points.
That and the fact that he has not looked bad in those minutes, he just has hit his 3s. We see that all the time from rookies.
Vanderbilt is out of control a lot. He's the Will Barton of small forwards. Lots of energy, not always smart energy.
I don't know about other people, but I am judging who should get playing time now, not someone's NBA career. The playing time decision needs to be made now for upcoming games.
Much like summer league though, if a player does not look good playing with scrubs that does not mean he won't play better with the starters. I think he can add a lot to the team without creating his own shot. And if he does play with the 3rd team he might be asked to do more. This team needs defense and rebounding. Is this the last preseason game? I hope they play all the rotation players at least for the first 3 quarters.
I wasn't a fan of KM at #23 either. I was hoping for James Nnaji (that is who I couldn't think of on last night's pod) with the potential and massive wingspan he had. It is what it is now, and hopefully he develops, but his shots seems really slow and he doesn't seem very quick. He seemed like he could play undersized PF in college, but doesn't have the skills to do that here. He seems behind Jabari and Camara right off the bat.
There are people in and around this thread making comments about Murray as a wasted pick. I don't think anyone is arguing for Murray over Camara atm.
I personally don't want Time Lord playing next to DA. If you're limiting his minutes for his longevity than have him and DA split the center minutes about 28-30 for DA and 18-20 for TLord. Grant is not a PF. If he starts there with Tisse or Shady at SF, we will get embarrassed on the boards again. Jabberwocky and Bitchin' Camara are the types we need at PF. Decent to good defensively, very good rebounders, both can effectively space the floor, neither is gonna demand shots. When we go small with Tisse or Shady at SF, I hate the idea of Grant at PF. I like Grant's game, a lot. But, just like the experience of watching 2 midgets in the backcourt for too long, I hope Chauncey sees the outcome when Grant plays PF much quicker. I'm tired of watching Portland have the smallest team on the floor. Now, they have the height and length to avoid that situation. Thunder in the frontcourt, lightning in the back.
The truth is Grant or Thybulle isn’t the best long term fit due to the reasons you’ve listed, but it’s the best we’ve got for now and they’re a decent stop gap for now. It’s better than having Harkless, Aminu, and Vonleh to start a rebuilding roster with. Schmitz at least has us on the right path, bringing in guys with the right physical profiles that can defend, rebound, and shoot. Walker and Camara are great NBA ready players given their draft selection. Kris hasn’t shown much yet but may show something soon. Right now, I like Kobe Brown as a guy we can get back in a Brogdon trade. He’s another guy that looks NBA ready and has great physical attributes: 6’6.5 no shoes (6’8 with shoes), 250lbs, 8’10.5 standing reach, 7’0.75 wingspan and in the mold of Camara/Walker. That would give us four guys in Camara, Brown, Kris, and Walker that will be fighting for minutes at forward. If more than one of those guys show us they need minutes, it makes Grant and Thybulle easier to trade.
It’s not just a handful of minutes. I watched him in summer league too. So far I’m not seeing NBA athleticism. He just seems slow. If he can carve out a 3&D role that’s great, but for a guy who is 23 and should be more NBA ready because of his age, he doesn’t look at all ready for minutes. It doesn’t help that Camara has looked exactly how you want a 23 year old rookie to look.
