Muscala to C’s per Shams

[jpotter33]

Muscala is a strong 3rd string big. He can chip in as an immediate back-up, but is a + as a 3rd stringer. Since becoming a Thunder player, 70% of his field goal attempts have been from 3, at 39.2%. He's also a solid defender and a capable passer (not as good as Kornet or Blake though).

For what we gave up, I like it. Balances out the roster and will allow us to be more cautious with Al and Rob.

Is he third string, though? I’d say he’s our fourth big and preferable to Kornet and Blake in most instances.

Also, I get the sense that he’s significantly more mobile than both Griffin (at this point) and particularly Kornet, so to me that makes up a lot for any defensive comparison. Kornet will be almost unplayable in the playoffs due to how many mismatches he’ll create for the opposition, especially in the PnR.

[mobilija]

Good good

That was pretty close to my guess on the contest!

2 2nds seems like a bit of an overpay tho....

Yeah, I'm curious as to which two seconds.  If it's both of them from this year, that's not cheap.  If one of them is protected, far off, or a swap, that will feel better.

So we get to keep the better of our two seconds this year (be that Houston/TOR/MIA or Portland) and the other one is in 2029.  I'm good with that cost, especially since we have an option on Muscala for next year.  We'll probably have a pick in the 30s on draft night, to use or trade.  That plus Pritchard might get us back into the 1st round.

Cool Cool

Good stuff

[hwangjini_1]

For those interested, here is Muscala shooting chart. He does like to launch shots from 3 point range, particularly at the top right of the circle, where he hits 53.7% of his 3 point shots.


https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/mike-muscala-shot-chart

[radiohead]

I hope he gets to play tomorrow. Would be nice to “break him in” vs Charlotte.

[Phantom255x]

Btw, this just proves again that Brad Stevens and the C’s organization doesn’t leak much info. Even the Muscala trade was a bit out of the blue and there wasn’t too much rumbling about it right before. That’s why I don’t really pay attention to the hot take rumors provided by the likes of SAS on ESPN

[vjcsmoke]

For those interested, here is Muscala shooting chart. He does like to launch shots from 3 point range, particularly at the top right of the circle, where he hits 53.7% of his 3 point shots.


https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/mike-muscala-shot-chart

Muscala seems like a good pickup as a stretch big.  More 3 point shooting is good.  And also gives us insurance cos I think he can play the 5 in a pinch.

Cost of acquisition was pretty cheap too, the roster already felt pretty strong, so this is just more depth for our bench.

[GreenlyGreeny]

Hugely underrated backup big. Just what we needed. He’s quietly carved out his niche the past decade. Under the radar move, just like getting Brogdon for peanuts. Makes us better without messing with chemistry. AAA move from GM Stevens once again.

[GreenlyGreeny]

Brad couldn't use / draft all his 2nd rounders anyway.....

TP. It’s what everyone seems to forget when they grossly over-value the second rounders.

[GreenlyGreeny]

Stevens isn’t worried about always winning a trade.

Which, funny enough, is how you keep winning trades indefinitely into the future. After all, clearly no trade ever happens unless both sides perceive it to be mutually beneficial at the time the deal is made. It’s also possible for both sides to win a trade, which Brad clearly recognizes and others do not. This is especially true when we trade with a western team (SAS, OKC) or an eastern team in rebuild mode (Pacers)

[GreenlyGreeny]

Good good

That was pretty close to my guess on the contest!

2 2nds seems like a bit of an overpay tho....

Yeah, I'm curious as to which two seconds.  If it's both of them from this year, that's not cheap.  If one of them is protected, far off, or a swap, that will feel better.

So we get to keep the better of our two seconds this year (be that Houston/TOR/MIA or Portland) and the other one is in 2029.  I'm good with that cost, especially since we have an option on Muscala for next year.  We'll probably have a pick in the 30s on draft night, to use or trade.  That plus Pritchard might get us back into the 1st round.

That would be exciting. I’m hoping they’ve got their sights on a Timelord-esque big prospect at the end of the first round and we can move up to get him and his cost-controlled contract (and later RFA rights) rather than just hoping he falls to us in the second since you lose years/RFA. Trading Pritchard and our top second to the Clippers for their first, for example.

[Vermont Green]

Musky had a nice debut.  I was interested to see how they used him.  It is just one game and Horford didn't play, but this is how he was used:

Muscala + Griffin    8.5 min  +5
Muscala + RWIII    7.2 min  +0

This, along with how things looked on the court, it appears he is more PF than C.  He can probably play both but we have fewer options at PF right now.  I think pretty much all he bigs can play center, maybe center is a bit of a stretch for Grant, but we have a lot of center options.

This is how I see the bigs:

Horford     Starting PF, Back up C
RWill         Center Only
Kornet       Center Only
Grant        Mostly PF, a little C
Griffin       Mostly C, a little PF
Muscala     Probably mostly PF, some C

In general, I think it is better if starters have a clear natural position.  With bench players, it is useful to have versatility.  To me, RWill (C), Grant (PF), and Kornet (C) have clear natural positions but the rest don't.  Horford is the starter without a clear natural position.  He is so experienced that it doesn't seem to matter.  He can play starter level at either position, which is rare.

[kraidstar]

Right now Houston and San Antonio are tied for wins. There's a decent chance the Houston pick conveys at #33.

In which case the Thunder get our Portland 2nd rounder this off-season as part of the Muscala trade. The Blazers were in line for #42 at the time of the trade, but they have been tanking, raising the pick to #35.

That would be a steep price for a guy who has barely seen the court.

[hpantazo]

Right now Houston and San Antonio are tied for wins. There's a decent chance the Houston pick conveys at #33.

In which case the Thunder get our Portland 2nd rounder this off-season as part of the Muscala trade. The Blazers were in line for #42 at the time of the trade, but they have been tanking, raising the pick to #35.

That would be a steep price for a guy who has barely seen the court.

I'd wait until after the playoffs to make that assessment. He's also a cost effective backup big for next season. A second round pick is not a steep price regardless of where in the second round it lands.

[Neurotic Guy]

Right now Houston and San Antonio are tied for wins. There's a decent chance the Houston pick conveys at #33.

In which case the Thunder get our Portland 2nd rounder this off-season as part of the Muscala trade. The Blazers were in line for #42 at the time of the trade, but they have been tanking, raising the pick to #35.

That would be a steep price for a guy who has barely seen the court.

I'd wait until after the playoffs to make that assessment. He's also a cost effective backup big for next season. A second round pick is not a steep price regardless of where in the second round it lands.

It’d be nice in theory to be looking at the 33 and 35 picks in the draft, but at those draft positions you are hoping for a Mike Muscala (dreaming of something better of course, but unlikely).

[slamtheking]

Right now Houston and San Antonio are tied for wins. There's a decent chance the Houston pick conveys at #33.

In which case the Thunder get our Portland 2nd rounder this off-season as part of the Muscala trade. The Blazers were in line for #42 at the time of the trade, but they have been tanking, raising the pick to #35.

That would be a steep price for a guy who has barely seen the court.

I'd wait until after the playoffs to make that assessment. He's also a cost effective backup big for next season. A second round pick is not a steep price regardless of where in the second round it lands.

It’d be nice in theory to be looking at the 33 and 35 picks in the draft, but at those draft positions you are hoping for a Mike Muscala (dreaming of something better of course, but unlikely).

I still think it's a good deal for the C's.  Muscala is under contract for next year and should allow for the C's to move on from either Kornet or Blake (preferably Kornet).  Muscala has shown he's able to mix it up underneath the basket better than Kornet and is more of an outside threat with his shooting.  hoping that having him in the next training camp will get him adjusted to the team's offense and defense so he's able to contribute more next year.