Why the last 4 games matter

[BigAlTheFuture]

Triboy, what do you think about Wiggins? Wiggins is as explosive as Gordon, and on the same level defensively. Not to mention a much better offensive skill-set. How come you're not as high on him?

[nickagneta]

Parker's and Wiggins passing abilities aren't all that great. I would think its fair to say that they might be average passers at best. Gordon's passing ability being as good as Parker's or Wiggins' doesn't say a whole lot.

Explosiveness is great at the next level if you have offensive skills. Without the offensive skills, explosiveness means nothing. Tony Allen might have been one of the most explosive players I have seen play in the league over the last ten years. He's got a similar skill set offensively to Gordon. Tony Allen is a glorified role player.

I would be quite satisfied with a 6'9" Tony Allen on my team.

So would I, if I am picking out of the top 8-10 players. But I don't want him on my team if I have to expend a top 6 pick on him.

[BigAlTheFuture]

On the same boat as Nick here. Gordon is a very nice player, but after the season we had, I would be highly disappointed if the end result was Aaron Gordon.

[Tr1boy]

Triboy, what do you think about Wiggins? Wiggins is as explosive as Gordon, and on the same level defensively. Not to mention a much better offensive skill-set. How come you're not as high on him?

Iam high on him. But realistically chances are low we get him.

So im looking fwd to either exum or gordon instead

[Birdman]

I want Parker or Wiggins!!!!! 

[Tr1boy]

When ppl watch gordon some are missing the details of what impact he provides. Being fundementally sound, not turning over the ball, defensive machine, high motor, correct play and passes is truly underrated. Imagine duncan without as good offensive skills. He would still be an excellent player. The icing on the cake is some of the flashy things ppl like , like deadly shooting etc. He will develop his offense imo. Even adding more strength without skills at worse will increase his offensive capacity. Ppl think thats all gordon can provide after 1 yr in college.

I rather take my chanches gordon develops his offense vs parker develpping his body or able to be an advance defender. He has no position to defend in the nba and will need to be bailed out or play with 3 or 4 strong defenders currently

[D.o.s.]

Consider: in the same thread, we've seen Aaron Gordon compared to everyone from LeBron to Bruce Bowen on the back of his successful March Madness performance (the smallest of small samples, which ended in a loss)

Don't forget Tim Duncan.

[footey]

Parker's and Wiggins passing abilities aren't all that great. I would think its fair to say that they might be average passers at best. Gordon's passing ability being as good as Parker's or Wiggins' doesn't say a whole lot.

Explosiveness is great at the next level if you have offensive skills. Without the offensive skills, explosiveness means nothing. Tony Allen might have been one of the most explosive players I have seen play in the league over the last ten years. He's got a similar skill set offensively to Gordon. Tony Allen is a glorified role player.

I would be quite satisfied with a 6'9" Tony Allen on my team.

So would I, if I am picking out of the top 8-10 players. But I don't want him on my team if I have to expend a top 6 pick on him.

Yes, a fair point.  Maybe trade down and take him there.  For an extra late first round pick, or early 2nd rounder. 

[Fafnir]

Parker's and Wiggins passing abilities aren't all that great. I would think its fair to say that they might be average passers at best. Gordon's passing ability being as good as Parker's or Wiggins' doesn't say a whole lot.

Explosiveness is great at the next level if you have offensive skills. Without the offensive skills, explosiveness means nothing. Tony Allen might have been one of the most explosive players I have seen play in the league over the last ten years. He's got a similar skill set offensively to Gordon. Tony Allen is a glorified role player.

I would be quite satisfied with a 6'9" Tony Allen on my team.

So would I, if I am picking out of the top 8-10 players. But I don't want him on my team if I have to expend a top 6 pick on him.

Yes, a fair point.  Maybe trade down and take him there.  For an extra late first round pick, or early 2nd rounder.

He's not going to last past 8 from what I have read/heard.

[footey]

Kevin O'Connor's excellent draft board supports the thesis of the OP (me), placing Exum in the first tier of players with Parker, Embiid and Wiggins. 

This is my essential point in this thread: If we finish tied with, or worse than, Orlando at season's end, our odds of getting a top 4 pick improve dramatically.  Furthermore, I would not be at all surprised if one of Parker, Embiid or Wiggins is available at 4.  I have a strong hunch that Exum will be selected in top 3. 

[CoachBo]

If we fall far enough to get stuck with Exum or Gordon - or Marcus Smart, for that matter - the pick should be traded. None of them are going to significantly help us.

[Spilling Green Dye]

When ppl watch gordon some are missing the details of what impact he provides. Being fundementally sound, not turning over the ball, defensive machine, high motor, correct play and passes is truly underrated. Imagine duncan without as good offensive skills. He would still be an excellent player. The icing on the cake is some of the flashy things ppl like , like deadly shooting etc. He will develop his offense imo. Even adding more strength without skills at worse will increase his offensive capacity. Ppl think thats all gordon can provide after 1 yr in college.

I rather take my chanches gordon develops his offense vs parker develpping his body or able to be an advance defender. He has no position to defend in the nba and will need to be bailed out or play with 3 or 4 strong defenders currently

I personally would much rather Jabari Parker over Gordon b/c the likelihood of a player getting stronger and in better physical condition is much more likely than a player developing an offense / shooting.  I like Gordon, and very much value Defense (which is why I think Carmelo, AI, Kevin Love, etc. are overrated), but we've seen first-hand with Tony Allen & Rondo on the court at the same time how restricted the offense becomes when two people aren't good shooters. 

Again, I really like what Gordon brings to the table, and wouldn't be disappointed if we drafted him around 6 or 7.  But I've seen him play, and an offense based around "energy" as opposed to scoring/shooting/getting to the line, does not correlate as well to the NBA in my opinion.

[footey]

If we fall far enough to get stuck with Exum or Gordon - or Marcus Smart, for that matter - the pick should be traded. None of them are going to significantly help us.

Per KO (and I agree), Exum is a tier one player.  Smart a tier 2 player.  Randle is tier 3. With a guy like Exum, the possibilities are endless, including sending Rondo to Detroit for Drummond or Monroe on draft night.

[Eddie20]

When ppl watch gordon some are missing the details of what impact he provides. Being fundementally sound, not turning over the ball, defensive machine, high motor, correct play and passes is truly underrated. Imagine duncan without as good offensive skills. He would still be an excellent player. The icing on the cake is some of the flashy things ppl like , like deadly shooting etc. He will develop his offense imo. Even adding more strength without skills at worse will increase his offensive capacity. Ppl think thats all gordon can provide after 1 yr in college.

I rather take my chanches gordon develops his offense vs parker develpping his body or able to be an advance defender. He has no position to defend in the nba and will need to be bailed out or play with 3 or 4 strong defenders currently

What scares me about Gordon is his foot quickness as described below. Perhaps it was hidden because he was playing the 4 in college and the competition is obviously weaker. But how we handle covering really quick 3's at the next level?

While he has tremendous explosiveness, he lacks perimeter skills (shooting, passing) and great foot speed. Lack of foot speed hurts him on both ends of the floor as it limits his on ball perimeter defensive efficiency as well as his ability to get by opponents off the dribble ... Foot work is not very good for a high level athlete ... While he is an elite athlete, his general quickness is not at an elite level ... Shows some developed ball handling ability but his lack of foot speed negates that ability to some degree.  Plays too upright defensively. Looks a little stiff in his movements. While his physical strength is good, he appears to lack some flexibility in his body. Ankles and hips lack fluidity as he appears to run and move more like a 4 than a 3.

[Lucky17]

If we fall far enough to get stuck with Exum or Gordon - or Marcus Smart, for that matter - the pick should be traded. None of them are going to significantly help us.

Per KO (and I agree), Exum is a tier one player.  Smart a tier 2 player.  Randle is tier 3. With a guy like Exum, the possibilities are endless, including sending Rondo to Detroit for Drummond or Monroe on draft night.

Monroe is an impending restricted free agent, and cannot be traded until this coming July.