Let's be realistic about James Young

[alewilliam789]

I read all these commenters coming out and saying how we need to make room for James Young or that he has trade value. I've watched this guy in the D-League when he got sent down and it's pretty bad. This guy can't even defend D-Leaguers he is so bad at defense. His biggest asset was his shot, but that has not translated at all to the NBA. He can't handle the ball at all. So in other words he's a complete liability when he's in the game. He is a rookie so he can obviously improve, but I'm being optimistic when I say he can be a nice bench player. If he doesn't make any significant jump into next year I wouldn't be surprised if he is out of the NBA in 2016-17.

[GreenGoggles]

And here we see antithesis to the pro tanker, the "player development doesn't exist guy".

In all seriousness, he's a teenager. Give him enough court time to develop before we make judgements.

[manl_lui]

in my honest opinion, he is still young (no pun intended). And we have been sending him back and forth between D league and our team. He isn't playing consistently, he is playing 2-3 games in the D-League then recalled, then not play for almost a month before being sent back. I think his defense will come along. He has potential as an offensive player.

He has a lot of work to do if he wish to crack our rotation next year. We have a log jam in the guard position and if Danny doesn't make any changes, I only see him playing forward. He needs a good offseason workout and a good summer league.

[rondohondo]

he had the highest amount of mins on the Kentucky team when the went to the Finals, and his defense was actually really solid.

He just needs to keep learning the type of defense they want him to play. He isn'[t going to be a great on ball defender like a Bradley or Smart , but could be a solid team defender just by positioning himself and sending a guy towards another defender .

He will be a deadly shooter though , want to see him find his stroke off the bench next year .

[Donoghus]

Gorgeous shot but the kid has a ways to go before he's a serviceable NBA player, IMO. 

I do agree that he has become a bit of the new Mr. Potential on these boards, though.

[CelticGuardian]

He has potential as a spot up shooter, however with his body frame he could see a rotation spot as a legit offensive threat in the league. But I agree, out of him and Chris Babb, I would much prefer Babb in our bench, just because that guy hustles.

My biggest gripe with Young is that he doesn't get serious on the defensive end like Smart. He only likes to score, he needs to look at Smart, see why he is a starter, and try to emulate him.

[Forza Juventus]

Let's see how he plays next season. He will have a full offseason and summer league and all that stuff. He won't be returning from an injury from a car accident. He will have a normal start and won't be playing catch up. He can shoot and drive to the basket, he is a very modern player. His game is like James Harden. Not saying he will be as good as Harden, just saying that's what his game is like. Give him a chance next season and I think he will play well.

[Evantime34]

Here is me being realistic about James Young. At the age of 19 it is way too early to judge him either way.

[CFAN38]

Young is a long term project who I fear may not pay dividends for the team that drafted him but rather the team that signs him to his second contract (or further out ala Gerald Green). I actually think G Green may be an excellent comp for Young.

He was a competent defender in college that's to his great length and athletic profile. In the NBA he cant get by on this anymore and must improve his defensive fundamentals. On offense he needs consistent minutes to produce and get in a groove. He showed in the D-league that when he is the focal point he can produce points. He will not be the focal point of an offense in the NBA and must learn to find his spots inside of offense.

In the end I still love the pick for the Cs if he pans out or not he is the type of player the Cs need to take a shot on (young, excellent size for position, with high end offensive potential)

[PhoSita]

I think with Young you've got a few clusters of names that provide a sense of his potential outcomes:

- Daequan Cook / Rodney Carney / James Anderson

- CJ Miles / Chase Budinger / Rasual Butler

- Danny Green / JR Smith / Martell Webster


I'd be happy if he turns out like any of the names in the bottom two groups.

[Maurice98]

Guys, Don't give up on James Young (yet)!

Why are y'all so impatient! It takes time for a 19yr. old kid to develop (at least 2-3 yrs) so I would not trade him unless you'll get a star or a very high draft pick varying from #1 to #5. I think you guys just look at Young's jersey number #13 which is the same as Wilt Chamberlain's so you expect him to be a superstar from the gate! (just kidding).

He wasn't selected in the lottery so he share his flaws that I think are very adjustable (footwork, fundamentals on D and ball handling but all will depend on him). For example, this year I think that DA and Stevens would like him to work on his strength because right now he's a boy against men. I expect him to gain at least 15-20 pounds so that he will be able to compete against some SFs. He's already a very good rebounder, decent passer, good floater and upside to be an outstanding shooter.

This kid has the right tools to be a great player (excellent size, long arms and not super athletic but athletic nonetheless) and his ceiling is extremely high but I hope that he will also be able to take the next step on his mindset. And again, he's still young but I really hope he will mature and understand that work ethic will lead to a become a better player. Marcus can be really helpful because I think he's one of the guys who can impact other people's intensity and I hope he can be a huge influence to him. I think Smart will improve James' attitude towards the game due to their age similarity.

Patience is key and Danny knows it. Let me give few examples of paying off the waiting and check their rookie season averages:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/butleji01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lewisre01.html RIP Reggie 
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wallage01.html

Look, I am not saying he will be as good as this guys but this guy were very motivated in being successful and waited for their occasion in order to rise. All this guys were/are hard workers so that they will be better and more successful players. I would have never imagined that Butler would be a 20+ points scorer, I just thought he was a good role player who as an excellent defender but an alright/inefficient offensive player.

I don't know why but I really think he's gonna be a good contributor in the long-term haul but there is also a chance that he's a bust.

Scouting report:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuCeDQvrEUE

[LooseCannon]

Here is me being realistic about James Young. At the age of 19 it is way too early to judge him either way.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't way too early to start making judgments about Darko Milicic when he was a 19-year-old NBA player.

[Evantime34]

Here is me being realistic about James Young. At the age of 19 it is way too early to judge him either way.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't way too early to start making judgments about Darko Milicic when he was a 19-year-old NBA player.

It absolutely was. Especially because the reason he couldn't crack the rotation as a rookie was because his team was a contender.

Just because in retrospect it didn't work out doesn't mean that anyone could say with certainty it wouldn't work out after his rookie year.

[LooseCannon]

Why are y'all so impatient! It takes time for a 19yr. old kid to develop (at least 2-3 yrs) so I would not trade him unless you'll get a star or a very high draft pick varying from #1 to #5. I think you guys just look at Young's jersey number #13 which is the same as Wilt Chamberlain's so you expect him to be a superstar from the gate! (just kidding).

On the one hand, you have to have talent to be a teenager in the NBA.  On the other hand, most NBA teenagers who develop into stars earn more playing time than Young did at this stage.

Some people act like an athletically gifted player who has flawed fundamentals is something easily fixed by good coaching.  I'm a lot more pessimistic about being able to wring on-court value out of that sort of player.  Whether Young is worth keeping ultimately depends on what's in his head, something we are poorly positioned to evaluate.

[D.o.s.]

I hear they're already laying the groundwork for his wing in Springfield.