Can RJ Hunter play SF?

[Tr1boy]

What do you guys think? Especially if he can add 15-20 pounds onto his frame.  Or if he does it could be a detriment, since he will lose his quickness advantage (to run around screens)?

[MikeJelly]

Right now? No
In the future? Yes but hes gotta put on SIZE. He's gotta put on a solid 30-40 pounds.

I prefer him at SG because his shot is too nice and he has excellent size to capitalize on mismatches

[nickagneta]

I don't think he would be as effective as a SF. He is kind of thin and lanky and that will give him certain advantages at SG that he just won't see at SF even if he adds the extra poundage. His best case scenario is to fill out more and become stronger and utilize his physical advantages at SG ala  Klay Thompson.

Really feel like moving Hunter to SF would hurt him long term. Now that's not to say that in a three guard, small ball, rotation that he couldn't play at the SF position for short spurts, but overall he needs to stay at SG.

[Donoghus]

Certainly seems like an SG body type to me.

[Tr1boy]

I don't think he would be as effective as a SF. He is kind of thin and lanky and that will give him certain advantages at SG that he just won't see at SF even if he adds the extra poundage. His best case scenario is to fill out more and become stronger an utilize his physical advantages at SG aka Klay Thompson.

Really feel like moving Hunter to SF would hurt him long term. Now that's not to say that in a three guard, small ball, rotation that he couldn't play at the SF position for short spurts, but overall he needs to stay at SG.

Some good points. Another question is , in terms of  weight , is he that far off to play against other sgs ?   Because he has a decent height and very good reach adv

Reggie Miller was like a toothpick and still did very well

[Tr1boy]

Another mystery still is how he slipped down as far as he did. The draft analysts were predicting GSW would not let him by.

Imagine curry, Thompson and Hunter out on the floor at the same time? Wow

[Evantime34]

Stevens refers to positions differently than the standard nomenclature. He kind of combines the 2 and the 3 into the "wing position".

So in my opinion the answer to your question depends on who he is playing next to. I don't think putting him with Smart and Bradley is a good idea unless the other team has a 3 that only stands in the corner ready to shoot 3's. Having him in the second unit with Thomas and Turner makes more sense, although you could argue Turner would be the 3 there.

[nickagneta]

I don't think he would be as effective as a SF. He is kind of thin and lanky and that will give him certain advantages at SG that he just won't see at SF even if he adds the extra poundage. His best case scenario is to fill out more and become stronger an utilize his physical advantages at SG aka Klay Thompson.

Really feel like moving Hunter to SF would hurt him long term. Now that's not to say that in a three guard, small ball, rotation that he couldn't play at the SF position for short spurts, but overall he needs to stay at SG.

Some good points. Another question is , in terms of  weight , is he that far off to play against other sgs ?   Because he has a decent height and very good reach adv

Reggie Miller was like a toothpick and still did very well

I don't think adding 10-20 pounds of muscle will cause him any deleterious effects such as lack of speed or agility. It will, in fact, help him to withstand the physical beating that playing an 82 game NBA season can cause on the body. He is going to need those extra pounds. Probably be a couple of years before he puts it on but if he can get that sweet stroke to actually equate to shots dropping, with a more muscular frame, he could be one hell of a SG.

[nickagneta]

And I have to say it concerns me that RJ isn't hitting the long ball at an acceptable rate and that he hasn't done it in a couple years. From the start of his last NBA season, through Summer League and preseason he has been shooting at about 30%. That's a long time to be shooting that poorly from range when one of the best assets he is supposed to have is the ability to hit from 3. I don't know if it's mechanical or just rushing the shot or a combination of both, but he better be shooting over 37% to be earning any regular rotational minutes.

[billysan]

I don't think he would be as effective as a SF. He is kind of thin and lanky and that will give him certain advantages at SG that he just won't see at SF even if he adds the extra poundage. His best case scenario is to fill out more and become stronger an utilize his physical advantages at SG aka Klay Thompson.

Really feel like moving Hunter to SF would hurt him long term. Now that's not to say that in a three guard, small ball, rotation that he couldn't play at the SF position for short spurts, but overall he needs to stay at SG.

Some good points. Another question is , in terms of  weight , is he that far off to play against other sgs ?   Because he has a decent height and very good reach adv

Reggie Miller was like a toothpick and still did very well

I don't think adding 10-20 pounds of muscle will cause him any deleterious effects such as lack of speed or agility. It will, in fact, help him to withstand the physical beating that playing an 82 game NBA season can cause on the body. He is going to need those extra pounds. Probably be a couple of years before he puts it on but if he can get that sweet stroke to actually equate to shots dropping, with a more muscular frame, he could be one hell of a SG.

This is the key for me. I want him to play SG and be strong enough to switch onto a SF for short stretches.

Also think since we have been kinda living with undersized guards here for a while we think ofhim as being bigger than he really is since he is long compared to our other guard except Turner.. IMO he is the size SG many teams already use. We get away with using Bradley and Smart most recently because they are very strong and quick. We get exposed when they switch on to the other teams wing (SF) in many cases. 

[rollie mass]

And I have to say it concerns me that RJ isn't hitting the long ball at an acceptable rate and that he hasn't done it in a couple years. From the start of his last NBA season, through Summer League and preseason he has been shooting at about 30%. That's a long time to be shooting that poorly from range when one of the best assets he is supposed to have is the ability to hit from 3. I don't know if it's mechanical or just rushing the shot or a combination of both, but he better be shooting over 37% to be earning any regular rotational minutes.
[/quote

rj coming into summer league had to adapt to three point line and speeding up of game ,new players and man to man defence-then nba caliber players-the amount of concentration on defence at his level, this early has been a joy to watch-his passing and handling the ball outside of his last game, where he had a couple bounce passes intercepted has been exceptional,to the point that brad had him playing point-his shot might be a little off % wise but his defence has been a priority-if your skinny you got to be smarter-
there will be a time he can be plugged into small ball-

[Eja117]

Certainly seems like an SG body type to me.

This. ....maybe occasionally against certain players if he gains like 12 pounds without losing speed (which is probably possible), but he looks like a classic 2 guard to me

[Sketch5]

Nah, I think he's better at the two being long. A lot of the SF's right now are much bigger, I couldn't see him guarding Lebron like Pierce could. And Durrant would just shoot over him. His frame is a bit small, so adding too much weight might not do him well.

Hunter is a solid SG, and I could even see him playing PG a bit. Once his outside shot starts hitting I could see him and Smart being a tough duo.

[Celtics4ever]

I think this kid is so smart, he would find a way to contribute at SF if played there.   It may not be ideal but he could do it.  He does need to get some muscle.

[Big333223]

It will depend on the match-up. There are definitely 3's in this league that he could physically handle. Not every one but for sure a lot of nights he could play 3.