This is such an insane take, and I don't see anyone else here addressing it in the correct way, so it appears that I (a loooooong time lurker) am going to have to step in and bring some rationality to this insanity.INFORMER wrote:Ultimately, the draft was a crushing disappointment for me. We went in with so much leverage, so much potential to really do some good, and it feels like we came away with nothing. I think we sunk a huge investment in two prospects that will be mediocre players at best. People write off my F grade as melodrama, but it's really how I feel and I'll elaborate on why.
When I saw the Bender pick, I wasn't surprised, but I was disappointed, but I thought to myself "well at least they didn't go with Chriss." I thought, "Ok, they wasted one pick but at least we have 13, 28, and 34, so this night could still be a success." Sigh, if only I knew what was coming next.
This decision means 2-3 years of waiting for something that will probably never happen. And in the mean time, will overlook prospects in future drafts because we have misplaced hope in these two mediocre prospects. That kills me.
This was a big draft. Some take solace in that, if it is a miss, it will be the end of Ryan. That doesn't comfort me one bit because it doesn't change the fact that we would have wasted considerable assets and years for nothing. That is devastating. And I'm tired of throwing away seasons. We've thrown away seasons on the Morris Twins, Eric Bledsoe, etc. Enough is enough.
These were the correct picks for a number of reasons. First, the current state of HOW basketball is played in this league. Second, our current timeline as a team in respects to the overall all goal of WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP.
The league is not just trending in the direction of positional versatility, we have already arrived in a time where positional versatility is ESSENTIAL to success, especially for front court players. The ability to play the 3-5 in smallball lineups is so important. Projecting Bender and Chriss, they will be able to do this on both side of the court. Prior to the draft, we had no one on our roster who could do that, be it during this season or in the future. Bender's positional flexibility in particular, and his ability to facilitate is what could really unlock our potential. Chriss' athleticism, shooting, and switchability compliment him perfectly. These are the type of players that can make your team versatile, and more importantly, easy to build around. When you factor in Booker, you can see the pieces truly beginning to fit.
Now let's talk about the players we DIDN"T draft, as I suspect that is a the root of your disapproval. Who would you have rather had?? Murray? A massive defensive liability who has shown no ability to run a team? Heild? Yes, a fantastic shooter and scorer, but a pure combo guard who does not facilitate for others (2.0 assists despite have the ball in his hands most of the time) and again, a mediocre defender. Oh, and let's not forget he will be 27 at the start of his second contract. Dunn? Personally, I would have been intrigued by a Dunn pick, but in order for this plan to be realized, we couldn't let Bender slip past the #4.
I mentioned Heild's age, so lets dive into that a little more and consider the concept of a team timeline. One of the primary problems with the McDonough era is that we have tried to straddle the line between present and future without fully committing to either. Obviously, the results have been poor. And this is why this draft was so exciting. It showed a clear commitment to a path. It showed McDonough and Sarver FINALLY understand where we are in the team building process. We are nowhere near ready to compete at a high level. In fact, ideally, we are in the top 5 again next year, giving us the chance to add the final young, talented peace at the PG or SF position, both spots that are loaded in next year's draft. With 7 players on rookie contracts, we don't more youth with mediocre ceilings(We only lost out on the 28th pick in the draft...and player who isn't in the NBA and become redundant the moment Booker began blossoming). Consolidating on potential was THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
Looking at next year, we could have a core of Ulis, Booker, lets say... Jayson Tatum/Josh Jackson, TJ, Chriss, Bender, and Len. That screams high-ceiling (versatile!!) potential. That is a future that is the envy of all but 2-4 other teams in the NBA. And we have Bledsoe (ahead of the timeline), and Knight as trade chips. Not to mention the Miami picks which could used to bolster a roster coming into its prime, or as trade chips themselves.
Finally, thanks to the draft, this team is being run with a clear-cut vision. Finally, we have real reason to hopeful for the future. Not in a middling 6-8 seed way, but in a real shoot for the stars way.
