Best young hybrid forward: Jayson Tatum vs Ben Simmons vs Pascal Siakam

[GetLucky]

Have you considered: Jaylen Brown?

[Moranis]

Of those 3, Simmons is the clear choice given his unique skill set. 

I'm not so sure that Markkanen won't end up better than them all though. 

Then you have Ingram, who has been an absolute monster so far in New Orleans. 

So right now I think based on all I know of those 5, I'd have Simmons, Ingram, Tatum, Markkanen, Siakam.  Wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years the order was all mixed up though. 

[gouki88]

I don't see what step forward Simmons has taken this year. He's turning it over way more, rebounding less and shooting worse. He's also not a forward, according to himself and his coaches. Simmons also has a unique game - but not for the better. His Shaq-like shooting touch is crippling come playoff time.

Siakam isn't really young, but he's the best of the three. He can defend lots of positions, has a balanced scoring game and is a steadily improving passer.

Tatum is considerably younger than both. He's also the best shooter. It's between him and Siakam.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Of those 3, Simmons is the clear choice given his unique skill set. 

I'm not so sure that Markkanen won't end up better than them all though. 

Then you have Ingram, who has been an absolute monster so far in New Orleans. 

So right now I think based on all I know of those 5, I'd have Simmons, Ingram, Tatum, Markkanen, Siakam.  Wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years the order was all mixed up though.

I would agree that Simmons is 1 of that list. Including Markkanen is interesting. I hadn't thought of him but he is a special offensive talent.

Ingram is putting up stats on the Pelicans this year, but if you watch them play, the offense is a bit disjointed. It's similar to when he played for the Lakers. Good stats on a bad team. I'm still hopeful about him, but I think it's far more about potential to impact winning teams than actual production.

Why would Siakim be last in your mind? He's been pretty special this year so far. You think he is outperforming his ability?

[Who]

Of those 3, Simmons is the clear choice given his unique skill set. 

I'm not so sure that Markkanen won't end up better than them all though. 

Then you have Ingram, who has been an absolute monster so far in New Orleans. 

So right now I think based on all I know of those 5, I'd have Simmons, Ingram, Tatum, Markkanen, Siakam.  Wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years the order was all mixed up though.

I regard Markkanen as a center. I got him top 6 talent wise there along with Towns, AD, Embiid, Porzingis and Jokic.

I prefer Markkanen at center because he would be a matchup nightmare there with his quickness and shooting ability. He would completely change the dimensions of the court. Like Steph Curry or Trae Young do at PG. Markkanen would do that as a center. He has enough size and physicality to be decent enough defensively for the huge gains offensively to outweigh any fall-off on D.

I believe the Bulls using him at PF makes him less effective because most teams play either SFs or combo forwards at PF nowadays and those guys are much better able to keep up with & cover Markkanen on the perimeter. Markkanen gets a few post ups where his size is a plus but those few advantageous opportunities are far less than the number of perimeter touches he gets + far less frequent than the number of advantageous opportunities he'd get on the perimeter at center against slower footed big men.

Also, I am annoyed at the Bulls rationing his playing time. Let him play! Bloody hell he is the most talented player on the team. Get on the court for 33-35mpg. Stop playing him 29-30mpg! I hate that stupid coach.

[gouki88]

Of those 3, Simmons is the clear choice given his unique skill set. 

I'm not so sure that Markkanen won't end up better than them all though. 

Then you have Ingram, who has been an absolute monster so far in New Orleans. 

So right now I think based on all I know of those 5, I'd have Simmons, Ingram, Tatum, Markkanen, Siakam.  Wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years the order was all mixed up though.

I regard Markkanen as a center. I got him top 6 talent wise there along with Towns, AD, Embiid, Porzingis and Jokic.

I prefer Markkanen at center because he would be a matchup nightmare there with his quickness and shooting ability. He would completely change the dimensions of the court. Like Steph Curry or Trae Young do at PG. Markkanen would do that as a center. He has enough size and physicality to be decent enough defensively for the huge gains offensively to outweigh any fall-off on D.

I believe the Bulls using him at PF makes him less effective because most teams play either SFs or combo forwards at PF nowadays and those guys are much better able to keep up with & cover Markkanen on the perimeter. Markkanen gets a few post ups where his size is a plus but those few advantageous opportunities are far less than the number of perimeter touches he gets + far less frequent than the number of advantageous opportunities he'd get on the perimeter at center against slower footed big men.

Also, I am annoyed at the Bulls rationing his playing time. Let him play! Bloody hell he is the most talented player on the team. Get on the court for 33-35mpg. Stop playing him 29-30mpg! I hate that stupid coach.

They might get too close to winning a healthy amount of games that way!

[Moranis]

Of those 3, Simmons is the clear choice given his unique skill set. 

I'm not so sure that Markkanen won't end up better than them all though. 

Then you have Ingram, who has been an absolute monster so far in New Orleans. 

So right now I think based on all I know of those 5, I'd have Simmons, Ingram, Tatum, Markkanen, Siakam.  Wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years the order was all mixed up though.

I regard Markkanen as a center. I got him top 6 talent wise there along with Towns, AD, Embiid, Porzingis and Jokic.

I prefer Markkanen at center because he would be a matchup nightmare there with his quickness and shooting ability. He would completely change the dimensions of the court. Like Steph Curry or Trae Young do at PG. Markkanen would do that as a center. He has enough size and physicality to be decent enough defensively for the huge gains offensively to outweigh any fall-off on D.

I believe the Bulls using him at PF makes him less effective because most teams play either SFs or combo forwards at PF nowadays and those guys are much better able to keep up with & cover Markkanen on the perimeter. Markkanen gets a few post ups where his size is a plus but those few advantageous opportunities are far less than the number of perimeter touches he gets + far less frequent than the number of advantageous opportunities he'd get on the perimeter at center against slower footed big men.

Also, I am annoyed at the Bulls rationing his playing time. Let him play! Bloody hell he is the most talented player on the team. Get on the court for 33-35mpg. Stop playing him 29-30mpg! I hate that stupid coach.

Carter or Markkanen has to play PF.  They are their 2 most important, if not best, players so they both have to play. 

[ETNCeltics]

I don't see what step forward Simmons has taken this year. He's turning it over way more, rebounding less and shooting worse. He's also not a forward, according to himself and his coaches. Simmons also has a unique game - but not for the better. His Shaq-like shooting touch is crippling come playoff time.

Siakam isn't really young, but he's the best of the three. He can defend lots of positions, has a balanced scoring game and is a steadily improving passer.

Tatum is considerably younger than both. He's also the best shooter. It's between him and Siakam.

100% dead on. A player who is a liability at crunch time can't be the "best" anything.

[Jvalin]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

[tazzmaniac]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

That's the name I was waiting for someone to mention. 

[Jvalin]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

That's the name I was waiting for someone to mention.

We had the #3 pick two years in a row. If only we had it in 2018 instead of 2016 or 2017... Don't get me wrong. Tatum and Brown are terrific young players. Having said that, none of them is Luka.

[liam]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

That's the name I was waiting for someone to mention.

How he slipped to 3rd I'll never know.

[gouki88]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

That's the name I was waiting for someone to mention.

We had the #3 pick two years in a row. If only we had it in 2018 instead of 2016 or 2017... Don't get me wrong. Tatum and Brown are terrific young players. Having said that, none of them is Luka.

Imagine Tatum & Luka

Losing the Brooklyn pick was why I was so mad at DA for the IT trade at the time - thought that was our ticket to Luka. I know it ended up being used on Sexton, but I thought we could have had the next superstar

[tazzmaniac]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

That's the name I was waiting for someone to mention.

How he slipped to 3rd I'll never know.

He's white and he's from Europe. 

[jambr380]

Luka >>> everyone else

Btw, 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebs tonight @Cleveland. Luka is the real deal.

That's the name I was waiting for someone to mention.

How he slipped to 3rd I'll never know.

DAL backed into the jackpot. A couple of years ago, their future hinged on DSJ. They then went out and got Luka while somehow turning DSJ into Porzingis and they are now one of the most exciting young teams in the league. I am happy to be a Cs fan and appreciate all that Danny and co. have done, but we really need one of our young guys to break out as a superstar. It's really only fair.