For reference, this was Fox’s age 24 season, two seasons ago: 23.2/3.9/5.6 (2.8to) on .473/.297/.750 (5.9fta) In this season, the Kings finished 12th in the conference, 30-52. Ant’s current age 24 season: 25.3/2.7/5.3 (2.3to) on .419/.414/1.00 (4.0fta) Current standing, 14th in the conference. They are closer in comparison as players than you would think. Neither are true PGs, both are a threat to score (just in different ways). I think Ant’s playmaking has largely caught up to Fox’s—Fox might still be the ‘better passer’ if you’re looking at raw stats, but I think Ant is going to be this player going forward, where he averages between 6-7apg a season. The prior two years to this season, Ant’s 2P% (50.9%) has within range of Fox’s 2P% between ages 20-24 (51%). The similarities are closer than you think. Fox’s 2P% really jumped last season at 58% (54% this season). Fox is like 1.5 years older than Ant, and has always had this reputation of being an elite PG prospect. Ant is closing the gap, on a much smaller salary.
This is why I think it's important for Portland to draft a talented point forward to compliment Simons, who plays more like a scoring combo guard. That Sharpe is proving himself to be able to make plays, as well, means that trio of Simons-Sharpe and the Point Forward will be able to compliment each other. More and more, I'm thinking Cody Williams could fit here especially since Buzelis has been kind of mediocre in the G-League (maybe a later draft pick for him?). Ideally, if Portland secures Cooper Flagg or Cam Boozer at the 4? That's a starting line up with five players who can each hit 20ppg (on separate teams).
Yeah, I was a pretty big Thompson twin guy. I still think he or his brother was Pippen to Sharpe's "Jordan". Ausar's performances are similar to what I saw in Sharpe, last season, where there is a TON of potential and a natural feel for the game and I think, if Amen were given free reign in Portland rather than the forward-heavy Rockets, he would showcase something similar. We'll see though Even before the injury, he was just 'okay' in his G-League games. Again, that goes with my comparison to Chandler Parsons/Nic Batum as his median where, if he improves, he'll become Gordon Hayward/Rashard Lewis which, due to his unique skillset, I think he can but it's a bit riskier to take him. It's a good thing his stock has fallen imo. If Portland can move Grant and/or Brogdon, they might be able to snatch up draft picks in what is a "weak draft" and nab him. I know some want to ride this out with Grant and Brogdon but there's no reason Portland can't be the OKC Thunder (currently #2 in the West at the time of this writing) where Sharpe is SGA backed by talented players like Dort, Giddey, Williams, Wallace, Poku....with a legitimate second star in Chet showing up......and plenty of draft picks still available.
We both shared the same love for the twins. I somewhat disagree on your assessment of Buzelis, simply due to your player comparisons/projections. The only guy you stated that’s actually similar to Buzelis is Batum, and I do agree that’s is floor or basement. I hadn’t watched too much of Hayward at any point if his career so I had to check his stats, and I guess Hayward averaged more assists than I thought. I do think that Buzelis is a tier above Hayward as a playmaker and isn’t worse than Hayward at anything, as a prospect. In his peak, I think Buzelis will be a better rebounder and playmaker, probably even defender. The other two players (Parsons and Lewis) aren’t the same as Buzelis at all. Lewis was only a shooter, and although Parsons did a little more than that, he wasn’t particularly good at anything besides being a pretty good shooter, and averaged 12ppg in his career. I do agree on the idea that Buzelis’s performances right now could benefit us though. I’ve had him as my 2A in this draft but continuously said he could slip to around 10 or even past 10. There were people here keen on getting Gradey Dick in any Dame or Holiday trade with Toronto, and I just think Buzelis is a much better prospect. I think that between our pick, the Warriors pick, and two 2nds between 30-40 are plenty of picks to have in a ‘weak draft’. Between the two 1sts, we could land Buzelis if Schmitz really wanted him, with the available picks that we have. We currently have a total of one 1st in the Cooper Flagg draft (zero if we make the playoffs), I’d rather look for a second 1st in ‘25, or a later 1st in general.
Simons is finally playing the role that he needs to be playing to show his full potential and this is a good thing. We can keep Scoot on the bench and let him develop. There’s no rush. If it takes him a year or two, that’s fine. We have Simons on an affordable deal and he’s playing well. We need a young stud forward to replace Grant.
Yes, simply because I’ve set my expectations for Ant at 24-26/3-4/6 on increased efficiency from last season, and all he’s done is be on line with that expectation. It wasn’t like I had this idea of Ant staying the same player (20ppg, not much else) he he’s been and am now overreacting to three games. If you’re someone like wizenheimer who already thought to Ant as a CJ-clone, then yes it sounds ridiculous to compare the two. I have faith CJ will be more than that, so it doesn’t sound far fetched to me.
For some reason this guys 30 points and 8 ASTs are different than when Dame has 30 points and 8 asts. Doesn’t really impact winning
I was just commenting on a 3 vs 59 game stats comparison. People are making a fairly valid argument that the 12 game sample for Scoot is next to meaningless. A 3 game sample is even more meaningless, IMO, especially when we already have a 5-season/290-game sample for Ant I'm not sure I'd call Ant a CJ-clone. They have different styles although Ant did go full-bore-MeJ in the 4th Q against Golden State but their weaknesses are the same: high usage undersized SG's with enough tweener skill to slide a bit awkwardly into a PG role; really poor at defense so no two-way-wing upside (where contenders are made), and no 3&D potential
Yeah, that’s the logical conclusion to make. The Mavs’ bigs are feasting in the paint, doubling the Blazers’ scoring there, but the reason the Blazers lost is because Ants’ 30-8 stat line doesn’t mean as much as when Dame did it.
I'm not an Ant fan but he sure wasn't the reason Portland got boat-raced in the paint by over 30 points last night; or that Scoot & Camara combined to shoot 10-37 on FG's (27%), and 2-16 on three's (12.5%)
crazy thing is OKC is younger, and Orlando is the same average age. They are 14-7 & 15-7 respectively
Both teams also have been playing together longer. Ant, sharpe and Grant are the only teammates that were here all of last year - and all 3 played together 1 game this year. It's not just age, it's also familiarity.
I wonder what this is rated by minutes played? I always thought the "average roster age" stat very misleading when players 11-15 have the same impact as players 1-5.
I wonder what the actual average total height is for NBA teams? Entering the 2023-24 season, the average height for an NBA player is 6-foot-6.5-inches.
