^ i was thinking the same thing but really like the way his game is evolving as is and love his obvious athleticism and ability to find the ball
If he fixes his shot and learns to shoot the 3 at a good percentage, he's really going to be a good player.
I don't follow the NBA because...well, because it sucks pond water. But if I'm reading this post correctly, there is a player that IF he learns how to shoot the ball he will be pretty good.
It's pretty much been proven recently that even when LAL looks bad off they still get interest from free agents like Melo and Aldridge because they're still the top brand in the sport. Not saying guys don't care about wins because they do, just saying that regardless of all the losing the Lakers have been doing in recent years, these free agents still know that the Lakers largely remain the reason for the NBA's mega TV deal and so they continue to be interested in meeting with the Lakers to see if there's a fit. Ultimately, the Lakers' plans have just been harder to sell with limited cap space + like Kupchak said recently they were carrying Kobe's corpse into meetings and they can't truly move on until he's retired and gone. There is no greater impact on LAL's ability to land free agents than Kobe retiring, so keep the tank rolling for me. We're witnessing the truth right now, the Lakers are a better team without Kobe and they clear all his money off the books after the season, daily double. It's just far easier to sell joining the Lakers with 50MM+ in cap space and no old Kobe trying to be the man. Also, it's cool to land a marquee free agent here and there, but Kevin Durant starts next season at the age of 28. Pretty much means that whomever signs him is getting a middle of his prime Durant that they'd hope can max out the next 4 hopefully 5 years. Which is nothing to sneeze at and I'd gladly accept that, but think about it, it's already been almost 3 years since Dwight was a Laker. 4-5 prime years of Durant will be gone before you know it as well and hopefully they'd squeeze out a couple championships there. But Simmons is the best prospect since LeBron, a player who could be a Laker for the next decade and a half. The ceiling there is just greater and I'm greedy Laker fan so I want it all. Lol But Simmons has actually already said he wants to be a Laker too, played with Russell in HS, perfect fit, so he's won me over. They have to at least try for Simmons IMO, Lakers always get a great career long Laker in the draft. If Jeanie has to screw around with anything, she should step in here, especially since he's from Australia. Lakers already own much of Asia in terms of popularity, with help from Kobe, imagine the love from Down Under...
Excited about his development, but someone should let him know that scoring a basket for the other team is generally a no-no.
Mostly that Kobe is a) a walking corpse that all free agents hate the smell of; and b) Kobe is a tyrant which was Ok when he was throwing up 25/5/5 every game but now he's just old and no one likes him. Simmons being the best since LeBoner?? Hard one to sell... but he claims to have played all 5 positions which does separate him from the others.. how many 4's or 5's every played PG with any competence?? No so many
NBA has changed a lot. Especially with the success of the Warriors and Spurs... people are trying to duplicate those models. Team play is back.
... we hope team play is back... worst thing for the NBA was all time ego LeBoner going to Miami to make a 'super team' with Wade and Bosh... Of course all time putz Stern was all for that trade
Resisting the urge to be a smart ass.... He plays good defense, he rebounds well, he finishes/shoots well at close range, but he doesn't shoot well from outside. Think of it like a baseball player that does everyrhing else well adding the ability to hit for power and becoming a more complete player.
Admittedly, I don't follow the 'sport' (I find it difficult to call it a sport when men amble up and down the court like it's a strain for them go break into a jog.) But when you only put 5 men in a game they better be able to do damn near everything. If he scores well and often from close in, then OK, I guess that's value. I just found it funny because the post basically said what I said it did. Think of it like saying "if Puig learns how to square the ball up on the bat he could be pretty good..."
He's widely recognized as that, also pretty much looks it. You could argue few players are on par at his age, other than LeBron maybe Durant, but that's the list. The weird thing about Simmons is he doesn't look to score enough, he'll have to grow into that and improve his jump shot too, but if Randle can now knock down threes I wouldn't put it past Simmons to improve his shot. Also have Nance that shoots threes, so pretty much the whole front court could be bombing away. Don't even wanna think about how Durant would fit into that beautiful picture.
If they have them all spotting up at times, maybe. Russell is a pretty good rebounder, as is Clarkson, they're gonna be matched up with their guys, but that'd probably happen in transition most times. But Russell is a three point shooter as well, it's a 4 out league now anyway, GSW can play 5 out
Lots of differences between the two. I wasn't saying they'd be as good, I was saying what GSW is doing is the standard, pretty much the ultimate
Yet you're a baseball fan? Chewing on sunflower seeds all day is truly the definition of athletic accomplishment. Like you said, you don't follow basketball. Very few NBA players can do it all. Lots of them are specialists. You can think of it that way, but you'd be wrong. Puig is a complete player, and one of the best talents in the game. Really, he's one of what, about 10 true 5-tool guys in baseball? More like saying if Yasmani Grandal could hit for average he'd be a really good player.
Nah more like saying if AJ Ellis could hit for average and stop passed balls then he could be an average catcher
Puig is potentially a 5 tool player, but if he fails to hit how much value does he provide? His value falls dramatically without the hit tool. IMO,(I could be wrong) a basketball player who can't shoot (I get you clarified outside) is not worth much unless he is a center type who is getting paid to wreak havoc in the paint. JMO.
