MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

I don't think PJW is anything like what I'd call a "wing," so my guess is that we just use that term differently. Flagg, maybe, but again, that's not the path for him I'd choose. 

The more ball-handling skills, perimeter shooting and general "wing" play Flagg develops, the MORE advantage he'll have as "the big forward." That's the whole idea. That's how he'll be special, imo. I might be in the minority, not sure, but I feel pretty strongly about this. I love PJW as a player (was one of the only people who wanted him here) but I have seen more than enough of him trying to do "wing" things. I agree he's a fairly versatile and valuable defender, but unless he wants to hang out in the corner and shoot (and improves at it pretty significantly), I don't love the fit. Flagg needs space. 

Totally agree about the PG angle. 100%.

It's probably impossible to articulate exactly what a Wing is, in the sense that I mean it, over a message board. But I'll try to give a general idea of what I mean.

A Guard is someone who is a primary ball handler and initiator of the offense. They defend other Guards.
A Wing is someone who is a secondary ball handler and finisher on offense. They can also be catch and shoot types. They defend other Wings, some Guards, and some Bigs, depending on matchups.
A Big is pretty straight forward.

These are very basic descriptions of course. You have Combo-Guards. 3-and-D guys. Stretch Bigs. Whatever someone gets labeled, it doesn't matter to me. Over the years I've tried to refrain from getting into the old 'position label' battle on the internet.


A good example of this position label thing is Klay. He’s a "2" by definition. But his play style is way more Wing than Guard. He’s a play finisher, not a play initiator. But he's labeled a "2". A Guard. I view him more as a Wing. In the end, it doesn’t matter. He fills a certain role on offense and he can guard “SG”, “SF”, “PF”, depending on the matchup.


Cooper Flagg to me is most definitely a “3”, even by today’s NBA definition. It’s up to him to become a better shooter from outside 15 feet and an even better ball handler/initiator but I have zero doubt that he will. The Tatum comparisons might have been underselling what he can/will be but this “box” of him being a 4 only is not something I'm willing to do. What does it even mean, really? That he’s a weak side defender? Non-ball handler/shooter? Can’t guard the POA, or switch on the perimeter? He’s a Wing. Point-Forward type to me. Both sides of the ball matter in this context. He’s basically the definition of positionless basketball. Which is what makes him easy to build around.