Better Fit: Anthony Bennett or Shabazz Muhammad?

[HornetGuru]

As Slim said, Athleticism goes a lot farther in this league. Cerebral players don't get the respect they deserve, guys like Josh McRoberts are actually solid players who lack supreme athleticism. They won't be posterizing anybody, but they take smart shots, allow your team to create an excellent half-court offensive tempo by having people who can make the 'extra pass', and don't cost you possesions. It's really a Javale McGee vs. Joakim Noah kind of debate I guess. Freak Athlete vs. Smart player. In my book, the smart players may not exceed expectations but they rarely drop out of the league.

Ya i agree, i would take noah over mcgee any day.

[MeSoHornets504]

Ya i agree, i would take noah over mcgee any day.

Yet, if they were in the same class I would have a feeling there would be a huge debate over which one to take. It's easy to say now that they are nearly complete prospects, that you would take Noah. Back then though, Mcgee's athletic abilities would have made him about as desirable of a prospect as Noah(who wasn't looked upon very well coming out of school). Otto Porter is basically Joakim Noah as a small forward. The next play he takes off will be his first kinda guy, who we do not have in anyone besides Vasquez right now.

[nikkoewan]

I don't get the "JJ Hickson" love out here. I mean his individual advanced numbers look good (PER of 20, REB splits of 13/29/21, ORTG of 114). But for all his rebounding abilities, why is it that POR rebounds better when he's off the court?

According to most sites that provide on/off court splits, POR rebounds better when Hickson is OFF the floor. I'll go with NBAWowy.com since I know how he gets the info (play-by-play parsing, so it's actual rebounding percentage, not an estimate). Without Hickson, POR rebounds at a rate of 24.6/75.4/49.7. With Hickson, 26.4/71.9/45.2. That may speak to Hickson's inability to consistently box out his man. And the 5 players that play the most without Hickson on the court is the lineup featuring their starting five but replacing Hickson with Leonard -- who's a worse individual rebounder than Hickson.

Not to mention the fact that the amount of shots at the rim (meaning dunks, layups or tip-in) is higher when Hickson is ON the court, than off.

Amount of Dunks+Layups:
with JJ = 988 (or 26.4% of total attempts) where opponents make 63.3%.
without JJ = 644 (or 25.2% of total attempts) where opponents make 62.4%

The fact that according to 82games.com, POR is better off with Hickson NOT on the floor speaks something.

Don't want him anywhere near here or I'll never hear the end of Monty continuously pounding at Hickson's inability to box out or rotate properly on defense.

[nikkoewan]

Otto Porter: 16pts-7.5reb-3ast 49% shooting 42% 3pt
Marcus Smart: 15.5pts-6reb-4ast 40% shooting 29% 3pt
Ben Mclemore: 16pts-5reb-2ast 49% shooting 42% from 3pt
Shabazz Muhammad: 18pts-5reb-1ast 44% shooting 38% 3pt
Trey Burke: 18.5pts-3reb-7ast 46% shooting 36% 3pt
Victor Oladipo: 13.5pts-6.5reb-2ast 60% shooting 44% 3pt

impressed the most by porter and oladipo.
crazy that oladipo is only 20 and is a junior and is younger than mclemore by a year who is 21 and bazz by 5 months who are both freshmen.

According to Wiki,

Oladipo's bday: May 4 1992
Mclemore's bday: Feb 11 1993
Muhammad's bday: Nov 13 1992

You're off on your proclamations (according to Wiki). Oladipo is about nine months older than the redshirted freshman McLemore and 6 months older than Muhammad. Yes?

[takezor]

Theres a huge flaw with the Harden comparison. Harden has great handles and is a multidimensional player. He can attack the basket, shoot, create, hustle, and rebound. Muhammad has displayed very little outside of scoring.

As stated before, I haven't watched too much of shabazz but like you many ppl is saying so. Just comparing him cause of shoting and moving form, plus being left handed.
His attitude is also a concern for everyone who is willing to pick him up.

[HornetGuru]

According to Wiki,

Oladipo's bday: May 4 1992
Mclemore's bday: Feb 11 1993
Muhammad's bday: Nov 13 1992

You're off on your proclamations (according to Wiki). Oladipo is about nine months older than the redshirted freshman McLemore and 6 months older than Muhammad. Yes?

Hmm i just googled mclemore and it says his birthday is feb 11, 1992 making him 21. and another one saying he is born in 93, idk which is right.

[smcgull]

One thing that sucks is i dont think porter makes it to us, the cavs are really looking for a 2way SF since they have plenty of offense with kyrie and waiters, someone who can defend, rebound, and his the open shot would be a perfect fit for them. I still think the draft goes like this:

Bobcats - Noel
Magic - Smart
Cavs - Porter
Suns - McLemore
Pistons - Oladipo
Hornets - Shabazz
Kings - Bennett
T'wolves - Len
Thunder - Burke or Zeller
Wizards - GR3

hopefully the cavs go with shabazz and we land porter but i dont see it happening, maybe we get lucky in the lottery and land the 3rd pick.

I hope Noel falls in the draft, and the Pelicans draft him. The rookie they get, in this draft, will not get the team to the playoffs next year. Any veteran they get in free agency or with trades, will help get to the playoffs. So Noel can play in late next season.

[Mr. West]

I'd love to add Hickson and Martell Webster this offseason. Hickson is a great rebounder, and Webster is a great 3-point shooter who plays solid defense. I'd rather Blesdoe than Jennings. We won't be able to afford Jennings and Hickson, so that isn't really possible as a lineup.

Bledsoe, Gordon, Bazz, Davis, and Hickson is a real nice lineup IMO.

I really hope we don't get Hickson as our 5, he cannot protect the rim. Even Portland's GM has said he was overmatched at center.

Here's a direct quote from Portlands GM (Neil Olshey) about JJ Hickson:

What are the odds on keeping J.J. Hickson?

We have J.J.'S Bird Rights. He has a very high cap hold ($7.98MM). It's not just a question of whether you bring him back. It's within the context of … what positions would you not be able to bring in if you sign him? We are the worst team in the NBA in points in the paint and protecting the rim. We've been disguising J.J., who has been a warrior and played hard all year, but there's a certain reality to playing a 6-8 power forward as your 5-man. That's not an indictment of J.J. He has played out of position and done all we've asked him to do. But we've become a 3 (small forward) and rim type of league. We have the 3-man down. Now defensively, we have to protect the rim better.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2013/04/o...on-center.html