Who Would You Trade Tatum for Right Now?

[Who]

Guys I'd consider - Giannis, AD, Luka and Zion.

Not sure I'd even do it. Just consider. That is how well Tatum has played of late.

[SHAQATTACK]

Giannis impact = automatic playoff team and auto matic contender on many NBA teams.

I don't think anybody moves the needle alone as much as Giannis    not since a younger version  KD or Bron

[LilRip]

Hmm, Giannis and Luka. I think that’s it. Tatum is special. He’s a force on both ends and I think Scottie Pippen/Tmac have it right. Next year, is when Tatum will be a fully fledged superstar. He’s a star now but he’ll be clearly our best player by next year.

That said, Giannis and Luka look like perennial MVP candidates for many years to come.

[mmmmm]

Luka Doncic is averaging as many points created via passing (22.6) per game as Tatum is averaging scoring (22.9) per game.

And then on top of that Luka is also scoring 28.7 points per game.

I think some folks are seriously underselling just how huge of an offensive impact Doncic is having on the game.   He's not "just a better passer".   He's a savant.

I do give Tatum a large edge in defensive impact.   But it doesn't make up for the huge gap on the offensive end.

Does Doncic’s impact go up or down if surrounded by Kemba, Brown and Hayward?

Obviously impossible to know, but my speculation is that it would go up.  Doncic would still be the primary ball-handler with that group around him and he'd have better weapons to finish his potential assists than he does now.

[Monkhouse]

Found this funny considering BostonCeltics reddit was making fun of his beard, and saying it looks so ugly and scraggly lol.

[footey]

No one.

Not even Freak. Nor Doncic.

Sure I'm biased. But neither of those guys can score in so many ways like Tatum.

[Hoopvortex]

Luka Doncic is averaging as many points created via passing (22.6) per game as Tatum is averaging scoring (22.9) per game.

And then on top of that Luka is also scoring 28.7 points per game.

I think some folks are seriously underselling just how huge of an offensive impact Doncic is having on the game.   He's not "just a better passer".   He's a savant.

I do give Tatum a large edge in defensive impact.   But it doesn't make up for the huge gap on the offensive end.

Does Doncic’s impact go up or down if surrounded by Kemba, Brown and Hayward?

Obviously impossible to know, but my speculation is that it would go up.  Doncic would still be the primary ball-handler with that group around him and he'd have better weapons to finish his potential assists than he does now.

Interesting to compare the team approaches of Dallas (and Milwaukee) with Boston in this context. The Celtics use a much more democratic, less single star–centric offense.

So I guess the answer to the question depends a lot on who is coaching.

[Monkhouse]

I will also say this about people saying Jokic is an awful defender.

[Matt Moore] Jokic has 515 pick and rolls defended via Synergy. Only 14 players have guarded 500 or more pick and rolls, and Jokic allows the lowest points per possession of any of them. Gobert is 4th, Embiid is 9th.
https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/1232719743657947137

Jokic has 515 pick and rolls defended via Synergy. Only 14 players have guarded 500 or more pick and rolls, and Jokic allows the lowest points per possession of any of them. Gobert is 4th, Embiid is 9th.

https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/1232719743657947137

Minimum 300 possessions as the big in pick and roll defense (61 players), Nikola Jokic has the 4th highest percentage of turnovers forced.

Wendell Carter Jr. (30.8%!)

Biz (21.8%)

Myles Turner (20.3%)

Jokic (20.2%)

Richaun Holmes (20%)

[Hoopvortex]

Luka Doncic is averaging as many points created via passing (22.6) per game as Tatum is averaging scoring (22.9) per game.

And then on top of that Luka is also scoring 28.7 points per game.

I think some folks are seriously underselling just how huge of an offensive impact Doncic is having on the game.   He's not "just a better passer".   He's a savant.

I do give Tatum a large edge in defensive impact.   But it doesn't make up for the huge gap on the offensive end.

Another point to make, particularly since you’re using per-game data:

Tatum has about 75% of Luka’s usage rate.

Luka’s is almost exactly the same as Giannis’, btw.

[bopna]

Luka
Giannis

That's about it.

Tatum is emerging as top 3 among players 22 and below.

[mmmmm]

Luka Doncic is averaging as many points created via passing (22.6) per game as Tatum is averaging scoring (22.9) per game.

And then on top of that Luka is also scoring 28.7 points per game.

I think some folks are seriously underselling just how huge of an offensive impact Doncic is having on the game.   He's not "just a better passer".   He's a savant.

I do give Tatum a large edge in defensive impact.   But it doesn't make up for the huge gap on the offensive end.

Another point to make, particularly since you’re using per-game data:

Tatum has about 75% of Luka’s usage rate.

Luka’s is almost exactly the same as Giannis’, btw.

Well, if one uses per-36 minutes or per-100 possessions, the numbers skew slightly _more_ in Luka's favor.   Their per-game minutes aren't hugely different, though.

Since USG is a percentage of each _team's_ possessions used, comparing directly like that (one's as a percentage of the other's) is not really accurate since it then becomes dependent on each team's relative pace numbers.

A better way to compare might be to simply compare 'true scoring attempts'.   Per 100 possessions, Luka averages 36.2 scoring attempts.  Jayson averages 28.8 scoring attempts / 100, which is 80% of Luka's rate.

[Phantom255x]

Doncic & The Greek Freak

That's it.

Maybe Kawhi? But given the age difference I'd rather Tatum in the long term obviously.

[chiken]

Tatum is the perfect Celtic...   That counts for something in my book...  Wouldnt trade him for anyone.

[A Future of Stevens]

As has been discussed above, I would trade for Giannis. I would have a conversation about Luka, but that is basically it. Wings are the most important position in the modern NBA, and he is a switchable wing with great foot work, a wet jumpshot, killer instinct, and defense at 21 with 6'9 size.

Couple all of that with him being our homegrown star, and the list of trade targets is tiny.

[dannyboy35]

Luka Doncic is averaging as many points created via passing (22.6) per game as Tatum is averaging scoring (22.9) per game.

And then on top of that Luka is also scoring 28.7 points per game.

I think some folks are seriously underselling just how huge of an offensive impact Doncic is having on the game.   He's not "just a better passer".   He's a savant.

I do give Tatum a large edge in defensive impact.   But it doesn't make up for the huge gap on the offensive end.

Does Doncic’s impact go up or down if surrounded by Kemba, Brown and Hayward?

   Up. Bring on the title this year if that was the case I believe.