TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[mvossman]

We already had that player. Traded him to New York for 3 first hot airs.

The handling of Brunson was a disaster, but he is not that guy.  The guy needs to be a high level defender and that is not Brunson.

[Jommybone]

Nah. I personally think this board tends to massively overvalue JB. I might be dead wrong, but I do not see any more ceiling to JB. He is not going to become Nash. He will just be a good NBA player. It seems the Mavs agree with my evaluation. But again time will tell if we are wrong or not.

My take differs:

He was the best high school player in Illinois. He was the best college player in the country. He was the best player in the first-three games of the playoffs against 2 all stars. Yet we keep calling him not that good. Why?

Steve Nash isn’t the right comparison. He’s the next Chris Paul. As the Knicks’ #1, he’s going to start getting superstar calls. That’s going to get him 10 FTs/game and push his efficiency to new, head-scratching levels. He’s going to get away with reaches and swipes that heretofore were whistled against him, leading to significantly improved defensive numbers. He’s going to be all over tv, selling jerseys and garnering even more endorsements galore. And he’s going to be in the gym, working, getting better, cause that’s who he is. 

At age 25, his work ethic and consistent improvement are not likely on the verge of ending.

[Kammrath]

He’s the next Chris Paul. As the Knicks’ #1, he’s going to start getting superstar calls. That’s going to get him 10 FTs/game and push his efficiency to new, head-scratching levels. He’s going to get away with reaches and swipes that heretofore were whistled against him, leading to significantly improved defensive numbers. He’s going to be all over tv, selling jerseys and garnering even more endorsements galore. And he’s going to be in the gym, working, getting better, cause that’s who he is. 

At age 25, his work ethic and consistent improvement are not likely on the verge of ending.

If you are right, then this might be the most catastrophic mistake in Mavs organization history. 

But I think you are dead wrong. CP3 had been an All Star FOUR times by age 25 and already had superstar level impacts on both sides of the ball. JB has been an average to above average NBA player so far. I do not see another gear in him and very seldom do true stars blossom after 25. Basically never happens. Nash is one of the rare exceptions.

[KillerLeft]

He's not going to be Steve Nash or Chris Paul...but he's good enough to be the second best player on a championship team, and they had him here. They drafted him and developed him. He was a significant part of the culture and direction of the team.

[cow]

He's not going to be Steve Nash or Chris Paul...but he's good enough to be the second best player on a championship team, and they had him here. They drafted him and developed him. He was a significant part of the culture and direction of the team.

I'm not sure I agree with the second best player on a championship team bit, but I do think a lot of that depends on who the first best player is and I don't love the Luka/JB pairing for that reason.  Still, bird in the hand beats two in the bush.

[DallasMaverick]

He's not going to be Steve Nash or Chris Paul...but he's good enough to be the second best player on a championship team, and they had him here. They drafted him and developed him. He was a significant part of the culture and direction of the team.

So then, Randle will be the best, and JB second best?

[KillerLeft]

So then, Randle will be the best, and JB second best?

Oh, no idea what the Knicks will do from here, or how well their plan will workout. 

I don't expect much from Randle though, no.

[mvossman]

Oh, no idea what the Knicks will do from here, or how well their plan will workout. 

I don't expect much from Randle though, no.

It might end up being Mitchell.  Hard to see a team with Mitchell/Brunson being your two best players having any chance at contending.

[michaeltex]

IF (big if), NYKs give up 3 rotation players and 5-6 FRPs to get Mitchell, they will be as big a train wreck as last years LALs.

IMO, Mitchell is JB, part deux. Same height, similar body type, same position, similar skills. Do we really think that will work against the likes of Jalen Brown, Ben Simmons, James Hardin, Jrue Holiday, Tyler Herro, et.al.? At a contender level? 

And if you are not in contention, why give away all these assets which amounts to future flexibility?

[Scott41theMavs]

IF (big if), NYKs give up 3 rotation players and 5-6 FRPs to get Mitchell, they will be as big a train wreck as last years LALs.

IMO, Mitchell is JB, part deux. Same height, similar body type, same position, similar skills. Do we really think that will work against the likes of Jalen Brown, Ben Simmons, James Hardin, Jrue Holiday, Tyler Herro, et.al.? At a contender level? 

And if you are not in contention, why give away all these assets which amounts to future flexibility?

I didn't realize how short Spida was before reading this post and checking Wikipedia to verify. Wow. I guess I'd say he "plays" a lot bigger than Brunson, and probably has longer wingspan.

[michaeltex]

Mitchell is listed with a 6'10" wingspan while Brunson is 6'4".

[Kammrath]

Mitchell is listed with a 6'10" wingspan while Brunson is 6'4".

Wingspan makes all the difference in the world.

[dirkfansince1998]

Wingspan makes all the difference in the world.

If he would know how to use. Last time we saw him Mitchell was probably the worst defender on the floor. Mercilessly exposed by the Mavs switch hunting.

[cow]

Wingspan makes all the difference in the world.

[Fuerza1]

Morant 6'7 wingspan. Bane 6'4 wingspan. Brooks 6'6 wingspan. 

I think the Mitchell/Brunson "too small" stuff is a bit overblown but that's not why the Knicks would struggle. They'd gut a good chunk of their rotation of young, promising players to make the move. I think they're better off standing pat and seeing what they have. They could always revisit the Mitchell trade by the deadline.

[KillerLeft]

Wingspan makes all the difference in the world.

Yes, and not just in basketball.

https://youtu.be/-Sr38Dcui9U

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/NYPost_Lewis/status/...1426707457

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/...6009414656

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/statu...6815416321

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/...9256832002