Building Around Cooper: A Backward-Looking Thought Experiment

[mvossman]

It's true you really can't look at each player in a vaccum. You have to see them (or at least imagine them) with your specific component of players. That doesnt mean you grab a player to fill a statistical need. It means you get a player that has skills to help you win games.

I was thinking about this while watching Caleb Wilson videos - a player with everything (statistically speaking) except a 3-point shot. He could play SF, is an incredible rebounder, great passer, excellent defender, appears smart, low turnover rate, good finisher, pretty good shooter inside the paint, and he sucks at perimeter shooting. But just watching a few of his videos, I can see why no one is going to pass him up at #4. He looks almost fail-proof. He played great against Duke (and Boozer) and NC won the game. He had an impact in every part of that game.

I'm sure San Antonio thought the same thing about Harper. There are different ways to impact a game.

I will probably get flamed for this but would seriously consider picking Flemings over Wilson at 4 if we end up there.