Originally Posted by
Pelicanidae
Nesmith shot over 50% from 3 on high attempts. For some people, that is literally all they need.
They don't care that it was a giant jump from last year, through fairly few games, and therefore unlikely to be wholly representative of his ability (I still think he'll be a good shooter but not that good). They also don't care that he has basically no other skills at all. Poor decision maker, bad defender, bad ballhandler, no passing feel or craft, can't finish at the rim even when he does get there which isn't often, isn't particularly fast, isn't particularly strong, and can't shoot off the dribble.
His one skill is shooting off the catch. He is very good at that, and I think he will be good at that in the NBA. But the popular idea that he's the best shooter in the draft or something is absolutely absurd, imo.
Bane is better at basically everything. Cassius Winston is small, but is still a better shooter and has much better auxiliary skills. Markus Howard has 4 consecutive years of shooting at least 40%, and took over 8 threes per game for the last three years in a row, as well as being a better passer. Like, look at this:
Career totals:
Aaron Nesmith: 41.0% from 3 (119/290)
Desmond Bane: 43.3% from 3 (249/575)
Cassius Winston: 43.0% from 3 (259/602)
Markus Howard: 42.7% from 3 (434/1017)
Sam Merrill: 42.0% from 3 (319/759)
Killian Tillie: 44.4% from 3 (106/239) [note: he is a centre]
You see how so many of these guys actually have higher career percentage on as many as double, even triple the attempts?
Now, there are other reasons you might not be so hot on those guys: Sam Merrill is already 24, and Markus Howard is Jameer Nelson size. But if all you're talking about is shooting, they are just clearly better at it. Add to that that all of those guys can shoot off the dribble (outside of Tillie, who I remind you is 6'10 and can still shoot off curls) and can relocate, both vital skills for shooters that Nesmith cannot do, it's just obvious that he's not one of the top 3 shooters in the class.