Lot of people on this board are high on Gordon, I will admit not to have seen him play. But to me he sounds like a tweener that can't hit 3s.
Right now I'd be disappointed if we ended up with him, I just don't see where he fits on the team.
The tweener thing is a major concern for Gordon. As anyone who has followed Josh Smith can attest, 3's who don't stretch the floor are a major liability to have on offense... many good NBA lineups these days have 4 shooters, and if you have only 2, it isn't good. I think Gordon can play the 3 alongside KO at the 4, with Gordon taking on the 4's position in the offense and KO spacing the floor. Ideally we'd also have a center who could hit the 15 footer.
exactly. If we had a PF and C who couldn't also shoot a lick, i wouldn't even want Danny to draft Gordon. But it's bc of KO , Sullinger who both can shoot, plus Green, AB can shoot ok that i don't mind getting Gordon. You look at a team like Miami or the spurs and they have enough guys that are not naturally good shooters. Lebron James, Dwade, Parker, Duncan . These guys have learned to make the open shot but again are not naturals and they are doing just fine, winning game, championships etc.
you don't need a lineup full of ray allens. Matter of fact a lineup like that is prob missing other key elements and won't go too far. A perfect example of such teams are the GS warriors or the Knicks
I told you why I think Gordon is not a top 5 pick in another thread, but I want to know what position you think he plays in the NBA. I think you said he's a small forward, and it would appear that way from watching him in college, but he lacks the handles and shooting touch for an NBA small forward.
In the combine telecast all the ESPN cheeseheads said he's 100% a power forward in the NBA.
I'd probably prefer that but is he going to be able to hold his own against monsters like Blake Griffin or Zac Randolph? Is he going to be a hybrid 3/4 like Jeff Green?
I've watched plenty of his games too. You seem to have an obsession with his intangibles and his 'leadership' abilities. Those again are great, but they are often attained (as Nickagenta said), by 2nd round picks with defensive prowess.
I think he could be a better version of Tony Allen in that he could score and rebound more, whilst being a lock down defender. Problem is when there are other guys with more All Star potential and more complete games, with defined positions, his stock drops dramatically.
We need a player like an Allen or Gordon right now. This current lineup has a bunch of nice guys plus Rondo (all with nice skills). Adding more skill might win you a few more games, but you are not going far from there.
And btw you are not going to find players with the kind of intangibles, leadership skills + talent Gordon has in the 2nd round. List me a few 2nd round guys that have all these things in the nba today.
Actually, we need a player like Rondo now. An All Star. A guy that might one day take us through the playoffs against the best players in the world. A guy with size, strength, speed, footwork, finishing ability and ball skills.
Aaron Gordon is not that guy and doesn't have the offensive capabilities to be that guy.
If he's not gonna be the guy on offense, then his best asset is his defense. Obviously you aren't going to find a tonne of guys like Gordon in the 2nd round, but defensive minded wings often come in the 2nd round or late first round because they lack the scoring prowess and fundamentals for an NBA scorer. You keep talking about fundamentals and work ethic.
Yeah his work ethic is great but his offensive fundamentals are close to a high school level. He 100% won't be able to break down NBA defenders off the dribble because he's a straight line drive type of player on offense. He puts his head down and barges his way to the hole or he runs the length of the court and uses his size and speed like Jeff Green or Lebron. He's great at tip ins and rebound put backs BUT...
The big gaping hole in his game his is dribble breakdown and getting to the rim 1v1. If he could do that he'd be on the same level as Wiggins, Parker, Exum and Smart- the elite wings of this draft- in fact he'd be better.
Coming out of high school he was touted as the next Lebron because he was so athletic and big, but he hasn't developed his offensive game to be an elite small forward.
Because he can't break defenders down he's being defined as a power forward in the NBA.
Now we begin discussions about if he has the size to be an NBA power forward.
I'll ask you again, what position does he play in the NBA?You seem adamant that he's an SF but he doesn't have the offensive tangibles needed to be an elite SF. Hiis athleticism makes him dominant in college vs boys but in the NBA it won't be enough.
He's looking like he'll be a tweener power forward without a true position- someone you throw out there that can guard anyone from Lebron to Haslem, who works his butt off and hustles every play. A glue guy. Not a potential franchise guy.