Skal Labissiere

[Smartacus]

The Nets are awful.

There's no way around it, barring a trade for an established vet (Mike Conley?) there really aren't many ways Brooklyn finishes with a good record this year. The early returns show Joe Johnson looking elderly,  Brook Lopez not being able to win games by himself despite putting up numbers, and the team missing Deron Williams more than theyd care to admit.

Its 5 games into an 82 game season, and of course they could turn it around especially considering they'll be playing harder at the end of the year than many tanking teams but judging by how they've look so far and how likely they are to improve its no longer a pipe dream to imagine a top 3 pick,

While Ben Simmons is looking like one of the top prospects in years and Jaylen Brown fits the profile of the athletic wing that so many teams covet, the player that might just have the greatest transformative effect on this roster is Skal Labissiere.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Skal-Labissiere-71664/
(Mike Schmidts' video breakdown here is well made)

6'10 W/o shoes and a 7'1 wing span he's not the athletic monter that someone like an Anthony Davis was but in terms of where he is as a prospect he's actually well ahead of his delvelopment curve. A late bloomer, Labissiere was discovered by a (shady) booster who had him in touch with the right skill development people as soon as Skal started to really picking up the game.

Say what you want about the virtues of profiting off a minor (the booster used to routinely ask coaches how to make money off this kid) but he appears to have come out with a feel for the game that reminds you more of a seasoned veteran than a wet behind the ears giant from one of the most impoverished nation on the plant in Haiti.

Despite his 221 pound frame Skal Labissiere is a post player here we see him holding his own and arguably getting the better of one of the most highly touted prospects in years Thon Maker...http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T_OlIxqaobM.

He moves well, he can lock himself into a space and not get pushed around. Skal shows a pretty strong go to move in the post in his right-handed hook shot and a nice touch on his high release jumper. Not quite as polished looking as Karl Anthony Towns but maybe a bit more of an edge, listening to him speak reminds me of but of David Ortiz both in accent and self confidence.

With the shift to mobile athletic big men and the glaring need for a rim presence on both ends we'd be extremely fortunate to walk out of the 2016 with Skal Labissiere. If the Brooklyn pick "Nets" us a top 3 pick we'll have options but if it were up to me I'd think I'd role the dice on a nice young PF/C TO finally push this team over the top and into the playoff picture.

Skal or Bust.

[hpantazo]

Hey, we've all known for years now that the Celtics savior is named Scal. We just thought he had red hair and went by the nickname 'white mamba', but I guess we can settle for this Skal.

[mef730]

The Nets are awful.

There's no way around it, barring a trade for an established vet (Mike Conley?) there really aren't many ways Brooklyn finishes with a good record this year. The early returns show Joe Johnson looking elderly,  Brook Lopez not being able to win games by himself despite putting up numbers, and the team missing Deron Williams more than theyd care to admit.

I've seen the discussion that they're after Conley. No way he's going anywhere. RFA and, unlike Brooklyn, Memphis has a future (I know you weren't saying that Conley is likely to be traded, but that's the kind of fear that keeps me up at night.). In fact, I have trouble seeing them signing any of the top 25 or so free agents in the next off-season. Or the one after that.

Mike

[PhoSita]

Watching Labissiere, I have to say I'm not immediately wowed by how he looks.  He kind of reminds me of Channing Frye from a physical standpoint, though he obviously does more inside than Frye ever has.  Lab just doesn't "pop" as the most impressive player on the floor in most of the videos I'm seen of him.

Ben Simmons is more impressive in that respect, but I worry about his defensive position at the next level.  I'd definitely be concerned about the Derrick Williams / Michael Beasley potential with him.

Jaylen Brown looks to have "it" from what I've seen of him, though I don't like to place my hopes for a savior on smaller guard / wing prospects.

Brandon Ingram kind of reminds me of Giannis.  Looks like he could be awesome if he locks in mentally and develops his body a bunch -- as Giannis appears to have done -- but if not, he could be a bust.  Generally Duke guys don't bust, though; I imagine he'll at least be a valuable role player if nothing more.

Dragan Bender excites me.  That dude looks really good, but it's always so hard to tell with foreign prospects.   Henry Ellenson is another guy who I like from what I've seen of him.


We'll know so much more about who the "must have" prospects are once the college season gets underway.

[Evantime34]

I'm more of Ben Simmons guy. He seems more likely to be a go to scorer. I also really like Jaylen Brown.

[Evantime34]

Watching Labissiere, I have to say I'm not immediately wowed by how he looks.  He kind of reminds me of Channing Frye from a physical standpoint, though he obviously does more inside than Frye ever has.  Lab just doesn't "pop" as the most impressive player on the floor in most of the videos I'm seen of him.

Ben Simmons is more impressive in that respect, but I worry about his defensive position at the next level.  I'd definitely be concerned about the Derrick Williams / Michael Beasley potential with him.

Jaylen Brown looks to have "it" from what I've seen of him, though I don't like to play my hopes for a savior on smaller guard / wing prospects.

Brandon Ingram kind of reminds me of Giannis.  Looks like he could be awesome if he locks in mentally and develops his body a bunch -- as Giannis appears to have done -- but if not, he could be a bust.  Generally Duke guys don't bust, though; I imagine he'll at least be a valuable role player if nothing more.

Dragan Bender excites me.  That dude looks really good, but it's always so hard to tell with foreign prospects.   Henry Ellenson is another guy who I like from what I've seen of him.


We'll know so much more about who the "must have" prospects are once the college season gets underway.

Good call on Ellenson. I see Simmons as more of Lamar Odom  type  than the guys you mentioned because he has point guard handle.

[PhoSita]

Watching Labissiere, I have to say I'm not immediately wowed by how he looks.  He kind of reminds me of Channing Frye from a physical standpoint, though he obviously does more inside than Frye ever has.  Lab just doesn't "pop" as the most impressive player on the floor in most of the videos I'm seen of him.

Ben Simmons is more impressive in that respect, but I worry about his defensive position at the next level.  I'd definitely be concerned about the Derrick Williams / Michael Beasley potential with him.

Jaylen Brown looks to have "it" from what I've seen of him, though I don't like to play my hopes for a savior on smaller guard / wing prospects.

Brandon Ingram kind of reminds me of Giannis.  Looks like he could be awesome if he locks in mentally and develops his body a bunch -- as Giannis appears to have done -- but if not, he could be a bust.  Generally Duke guys don't bust, though; I imagine he'll at least be a valuable role player if nothing more.

Dragan Bender excites me.  That dude looks really good, but it's always so hard to tell with foreign prospects.   Henry Ellenson is another guy who I like from what I've seen of him.


We'll know so much more about who the "must have" prospects are once the college season gets underway.

Good call on Ellenson. I see Simmons as more of Lamar Odom  type  than the guys you mentioned because he has point guard handle.

Fair point, though Lamar was 6'11'' and could defend three positions.  Most of the guys who come into the league and get compared to Lamar just end up as positionless busts.

[Evantime34]

Watching Labissiere, I have to say I'm not immediately wowed by how he looks.  He kind of reminds me of Channing Frye from a physical standpoint, though he obviously does more inside than Frye ever has.  Lab just doesn't "pop" as the most impressive player on the floor in most of the videos I'm seen of him.

Ben Simmons is more impressive in that respect, but I worry about his defensive position at the next level.  I'd definitely be concerned about the Derrick Williams / Michael Beasley potential with him.

Jaylen Brown looks to have "it" from what I've seen of him, though I don't like to play my hopes for a savior on smaller guard / wing prospects.

Brandon Ingram kind of reminds me of Giannis.  Looks like he could be awesome if he locks in mentally and develops his body a bunch -- as Giannis appears to have done -- but if not, he could be a bust.  Generally Duke guys don't bust, though; I imagine he'll at least be a valuable role player if nothing more.

Dragan Bender excites me.  That dude looks really good, but it's always so hard to tell with foreign prospects.   Henry Ellenson is another guy who I like from what I've seen of him.


We'll know so much more about who the "must have" prospects are once the college season gets underway.

Good call on Ellenson. I see Simmons as more of Lamar Odom  type  than the guys you mentioned because he has point guard handle.

Fair point, though Lamar was 6'11'' and could defend three positions.  Most of the guys who come into the league and get compared to Lamar just end up as positionless busts.

Simmons is 6'10 240. The difference between the two is I see Simmons as a rich mans Odom.

That being said, I have never seen him play outside of youtube (and reading articles) so I pretty much don't know what I'm talking about lol.

[PhoSita]

Watching Labissiere, I have to say I'm not immediately wowed by how he looks.  He kind of reminds me of Channing Frye from a physical standpoint, though he obviously does more inside than Frye ever has.  Lab just doesn't "pop" as the most impressive player on the floor in most of the videos I'm seen of him.

Ben Simmons is more impressive in that respect, but I worry about his defensive position at the next level.  I'd definitely be concerned about the Derrick Williams / Michael Beasley potential with him.

Jaylen Brown looks to have "it" from what I've seen of him, though I don't like to play my hopes for a savior on smaller guard / wing prospects.

Brandon Ingram kind of reminds me of Giannis.  Looks like he could be awesome if he locks in mentally and develops his body a bunch -- as Giannis appears to have done -- but if not, he could be a bust.  Generally Duke guys don't bust, though; I imagine he'll at least be a valuable role player if nothing more.

Dragan Bender excites me.  That dude looks really good, but it's always so hard to tell with foreign prospects.   Henry Ellenson is another guy who I like from what I've seen of him.


We'll know so much more about who the "must have" prospects are once the college season gets underway.

Good call on Ellenson. I see Simmons as more of Lamar Odom  type  than the guys you mentioned because he has point guard handle.

Fair point, though Lamar was 6'11'' and could defend three positions.  Most of the guys who come into the league and get compared to Lamar just end up as positionless busts.

Simmons is 6'10 240. The difference between the two is I see Simmons as a rich mans Odom.

That being said, I have never seen him play outside of youtube (and reading articles) so I pretty much don't know what I'm talking about lol.

Me either.

[konkmv]

Simmons brown or ingramm please

[GreenShooter]

Bender would be a good get later in the lottery.

[Smartacus]

Watching Labissiere, I have to say I'm not immediately wowed by how he looks.  He kind of reminds me of Channing Frye from a physical standpoint, though he obviously does more inside than Frye ever has.  Lab just doesn't "pop" as the most impressive player on the floor in most of the videos I'm seen of him.

Ben Simmons is more impressive in that respect, but I worry about his defensive position at the next level.  I'd definitely be concerned about the Derrick Williams / Michael Beasley potential with him.

Jaylen Brown looks to have "it" from what I've seen of him, though I don't like to place my hopes for a savior on smaller guard / wing prospects.

Brandon Ingram kind of reminds me of Giannis.  Looks like he could be awesome if he locks in mentally and develops his body a bunch -- as Giannis appears to have done -- but if not, he could be a bust.  Generally Duke guys don't bust, though; I imagine he'll at least be a valuable role player if nothing more.

Dragan Bender excites me.  That dude looks really good, but it's always so hard to tell with foreign prospects.   Henry Ellenson is another guy who I like from what I've seen of him.


We'll know so much more about who the "must have" prospects are once the college season gets underway.

Great points all around, Labisserie might be the worst "eye test" top prospect to come out in a while and I'm not convinced his BBIQ would allow him to be a fit for this team. That being said still think I'd take a maxed out developed Labisserie over anyone in this draft except Simmons. I'll be interested to see if his play on Kentucky this year will do anything to sway your opinion of him.

For what it's worth a kid at a party(only the finest sources from this poster) told me the other night that that Simmon's followed Danny Ainge and the Celtics on twitter which is encouraging with all of that talk that he wants to be a Laker next year.

Could see Jaylen Brown being a better pro than college player. Get that kind of player in some NBA spacing and an offense that showcases his strengths and he might start showing out.

Dragan Bender looks really great. I hear you on Euro's being tough to project but I think if Krstaps and Hezonja have taught us anything it's that many Euro prospects are more ready to assimilate into the NBA culture than players coming out even 10 years ago. These kids had more access to the NBA growing up and it's paying dividends in their understanding of what they're getting themselves into.

Going to have my eye on Ellenson all year. Big, tough, smart and tall enough to play center. Could be just the kind of prospect we should be looking for.

I need to see it with Ingram but like you said Duke prospects have been low bust potential lately which is crazy when you go back and think of how so many used to bust every year like Sheldon "The Landlord" Williams.

[PhoSita]

I need to see it with Ingram but like you said Duke prospects have been low bust potential lately which is crazy when you go back and think of how so many used to bust every year like Sheldon "The Landlord" Williams.

Shelden was definitely a bust for where he was taken, but at the same time, he had a long career in the league and proved to be a decent rotation role player on a number of teams, at least.

It seems to me that Duke guys don't often turn into "stars" at the NBA level, but unlike Kentucky guys, if they don't turn into stars, they are usually at least useful role players with a good sense of what they can and cannot do, and what kind of role they should play on a team.

Basically, they're generally well coached and developed prospects.  They're the polar opposite of Syracuse prospects, though generally less talented than their Kentucky brethren.

[Smartacus]

The Nets are awful.

There's no way around it, barring a trade for an established vet (Mike Conley?) there really aren't many ways Brooklyn finishes with a good record this year. The early returns show Joe Johnson looking elderly,  Brook Lopez not being able to win games by himself despite putting up numbers, and the team missing Deron Williams more than theyd care to admit.

I've seen the discussion that they're after Conley. No way he's going anywhere. RFA and, unlike Brooklyn, Memphis has a future (I know you weren't saying that Conley is likely to be traded, but that's the kind of fear that keeps me up at night.). In fact, I have trouble seeing them signing any of the top 25 or so free agents in the next off-season. Or the one after that.

Mike

The reasoning to try from Brooklyn's perspective is get him in for a half a season back to his old coach Lionel Hollins, and start working with Lopez in hopes that you can convince him to resign.

As for Memphis well they got rocked the other night. If they start under performing and think they could lose Conley to free agency, it's not a stretch to imagine Brooklyn tempting them around the deadline like they did with Deron William and Utah.

That being said what can Brooklyn even offer at this point? We and Atlanta have all of their picks.  

[esel1000]

The Nets are awful.

There's no way around it, barring a trade for an established vet (Mike Conley?) there really aren't many ways Brooklyn finishes with a good record this year. The early returns show Joe Johnson looking elderly,  Brook Lopez not being able to win games by himself despite putting up numbers, and the team missing Deron Williams more than theyd care to admit.

I've seen the discussion that they're after Conley. No way he's going anywhere. RFA and, unlike Brooklyn, Memphis has a future (I know you weren't saying that Conley is likely to be traded, but that's the kind of fear that keeps me up at night.). In fact, I have trouble seeing them signing any of the top 25 or so free agents in the next off-season. Or the one after that.

Mike

The reasoning to try from Brooklyn's perspective is get him in for a half a season back to his old coach Lionel Hollins, and start working with Lopez in hopes that you can convince him to resign.

As for Memphis well they got rocked the other night. If they start under performing and think they could lose Conley to free agency, it's not a stretch to imagine Brooklyn tempting them around the deadline like they did with Deron William and Utah.

That being said what can Brooklyn even offer at this point? We and Atlanta have all of their picks.

Nets can't offer anything... we own all of their assets, that's why this trade was so amazing. We have their first rounders for three years I mean that's crazy. Memphis wouldn't want anything the Nets could offer, they'd probably risk losing Conley over trading him to them. The Nets are honestly screwed and we'll be reaping the rewards.