Nerlens Noel on the Cleveland Cavaliers?
I think I'd much rather have Muhammad because Kyrie needs a second scoring option and right now he has no one.
Having Tristan Thompson and Nerlens Noel though defensively would be above average but they are both incredibly raw offensively.
The only thing that I'd see as a problem is whether they want to play Bazz as a SF or a SG and that means that we have to know what the management thinks Dion Waiters' role is going forward.
I personally think Waiters should stick with being a 6th man because that is what he thrived as while at Syracuse.
I wouldn't knock them for picking Noels who can anchor your defense. However do not expect him to score much other then put backs and lobs. Shabazz Muhammad inability to create for himself and use his right hand has really caught my attention while watching him. I've noticed all you have to do is play his left side and he'll quickly take a jump shot or pass the ball. He was rated as an elite athlete, but he not. He is a good overall athlete that has great length given his height, but it doesn't really apply to his defense either because his foot and hand speed as a defender isn't great.
They need more scoring. Tristan Thompson has been on a nice run since Varejao has been out, but I don't think I'd ever consider him a scorer. He's more of an effort, energy guy. Putting a couple of big men, non-scorers in the frontcourt together could spell trouble for the rest of the team because they wouldn't occupy the help defenders past the paint, which means the lane would be clogged.
I'd take the BPA on their board who can put the ball in the basket.
Well I still have him going #2 overall, so that should tell you what I think about him as a player. The concerns about his length are legit, so I think that if a team is drafting him to be what we associate with C's: low post, back to the basket, rim protector, etc, then that team will likely be disappointed. I personally would draft him as a big who played in space. PnR, PnPop, face up, flex cuts, high post, running the baseline, etc. Basically, I think the role that he plays now for Indiana, won't be the same role he plays for an NBA team. I think given his straight line quickness and ball skills for a big, his ability to get defenders off balance with fakes, as well as his form and touch on his shot (which he hasn't been able to flash much at all in college), he can be a solid face up big.
I don't think it'd be a bad pick for the Cavs. He's not a sexy pick because he doesn't do any one thing extraordinarily well, but I think he can eventually be an Al Horford type player. He's smart, skilled, fundamentally sound, plays hard, is efficient, needs to get stronger but he has a strong base and he has good feet and quickness for a big, which will enable him to be at least a good position and help defender.
Al Horford is strong, a good rebounder, and known for his defense. 3 things that are in my mind Zeller's biggest weaknesses and the reasons I don't like him. I kinda think he is going to get worked in the league, bullied by bigger players and burned by quicker players. Also believe he will have a tough time finishing at the rim.
Yes, Al Horford in a sense that he's not a focal point of an offense but someone who:
-knows how to move without the ball, is fundamentally sound, opportunistic and intelligent.
-can still be productive without having plays run for him, not a dominant scorer, but somewhere in the teens to high teens
-changes ends very well and can be a factor in transition and secondary breaks
-does his work early and outsmarts his opponents to generate easy shots
-not a back to the basket player, but a player who sets a lot of screens, faces up, moves and plays in space.
Defensively, Zeller needs to improve his strength, but like I said he has a strong base, has really good feet and he doesn't shy away from contact. He's not gonna be a good shot blocker. Neither is Horford, but what Al has is very good feet and the intelligence to be a good position and help defender. Zeller has those attributes as well.
Zeller could stand to improve his rebounding but his rebound rates this yr really aren't that bad, especially his defensive rebound rate which is around 20%. Area rebounding could be a problem, but not position rebounding. He almost always gets his body on a man when a shot goes up.
If they have the cap space I say they go get al jefferson or paul milsap, or another scoring bigman in free agency and draft shabazz or mclemore in the draft. Then they have tristan thompson and dion waiters coming off the bench which is a solid young duo to have on the bench.
Tristan Thompson is not a bench player, he's 5th in the league in offensive rebounds per game. Bigs normally take longer to develop offensively, and he has shown great improvement just over the course of this season. Paul Millsap would be great for a quick fix to the roster, but the growth of TT is more promising in my opinion.
I know people are saying that Muhammad will probably be drafted by the Cavs, but I think Nerlens Noel would be a Much better fit. They already have great offense and with Noel starting at Center i feel they would be a great/dangerous team to watch. Kyrie Irving can already put up big numbers, and Noel can block anybody's shot. His offense is raw, but defense is way above average. ...thoughts?