Potential vs Potential: Anthony Randolph vs Perry Jones (as prospects)
Perry has dominated in a few games this year. This is very impressive when you take into account that he is playing with Dunn. Who NEVER feeds him the ball. Jones is by far the more nba ready player and though I don't think he will be a franchise player, I think that he can be a borderline all-star type player down the road. Randolph is having a tough time cracking a rotation.
Jones is better because he has a position and some skills to hang his hat on. Randolph has talent and he's got size, but he never has had a true position or a certain skill that he stood out at in the NBA, even though he was a solid rebounder. Jones has a bit more polish than Randolph at the same stage, and maybe even right now in all honesty despite Randolph having 3 years more NBA experience..
"If you look at their stats in college, Randolph actually was better, and is a much better shotblocker and rebounder, and Randolph seems like a better passer. But I will give Jones a slight edge on athleticism and ball handling."
Randolph didn't play with LaceDarius Dunn though. Jones plays on a Baylor team with very shaky guard play, a guy who he shares shots and rebounds with in Quincy Acy, a guy who likes to shoot the ball alot in Dunn, and still is about the same level as Randolph was statistically.
Randolph didnt have a true position? And Jones does? Also, you say Randolph didn't have a particular skill that stood out, well he averages 2BPG in college, and it's actually translated in the NBA if you look at his Blocks per 38 min average, so I would say his rebounding and shot blocking are stand out skills to me. Can you name a skill that Jones posses that you would consider a stand out?
And you make an argument that Jones plays with Lace Dunn, and it's the reason why his stats is not better than Randolph, well Randolph played with Marcus Thornton who averaged 19.6PPG and was a ball dominant combo guard, and LSU basically had no PG, Randolph infact played a bit of point forward on some occasions during his time at LSU.
"Randolph didnt have a true position? And Jones does? Also, you say Randolph didn't have a particular skill that stood out, well he averages 2BPG in college, and it's actually translated in the NBA if you look at his Blocks per 38 min average, so I would say his rebounding and shot blocking are stand out skills to me. Can you name a skill that Jones posses that you would consider a stand out?"
Randolph is a tweener forward who thought/thinks he was a point-forward too. Jones is clearly a PF. Randolph can block shots a bit and rebound, but he's not polished offensively. He has no standout skill offensively. He's not a shooter for a guy who shoots as much as he does, and he's not a low post scorer. He's also not a guy who's going to score off the dribble consistently. Jones has already shown very good passing skills, the ability to score around the basket, and the ability to take guys who play his position off the dribble to score. He's not a great shooter yet, but he's already a better shooter than Randolph is, even though he's a mid-range guy.
Randolph had some very good potential. Problem is, he had a coach who could't figure out what position to develop him as, thus causing him to never fully develop his slashing skills, or post skills, whatever. Every other day you heard about Nelson wanting him a pf, next day he was a center, the day ater that he was a small forward. Not to mention Randolph is a mentally soft player who just can't stay out of the doghouses. Not to mention he has a certain plan for himself as a player, which is that of a Lamar Odom, which causes him to never fully buy into what his coaches see. It's unfortunate really. Hope he figures it out, maybe just get a shooting coach, as I think his best bet would be to try and be a more athletic Tayshaun Prince. At the very least, if he did get a shooting coach, he could get a decent mid-range J and be a Joe Smith type. My guess, he's the next Stromile Swift. Too much athleticisim, too little Brain.
yeah now AR potential looks like a joke, but he really really has it 6'10 200 skinny kid got 8pp6rpg in just 18 his rookie season and finished it avg 15/10 he grew into 6'11 220 during that summer and just DOMINATED summer league and Perry is still better..
they are very similar at almost everything and you can say AR is better rebounder defender but Perry has all that atleticism and versatility being around 40pounds! bigger than Randolph at the same stage and Perry has far better jumpshot too.
Same people who all said Randolph was going to be the next Kevin Garnett...
Between the two, I would say Jones is the better prospect. Randolph had better averages (in less minutes) across the board in his one year of college than Jones does so far this year. But since the offensive/defensive systems of LSU and Baylor are drastically different, we probably shouldn't look too much into that.
Physically they are similar. Jones, however, has much more bulk than Randolph did coming into the NBA. Besides that, I'd call everything else a draw.
Where Jones has an advantage is his basketball IQ. He plays smart, under control and very posied for a freshman -- at least compared to Randolph, who never understood the basics of tempo or poise. I'd also say that Jones is a better finisher, but I didn't see Randolph play in college enough to confirm that.
Overall, Jones is a great prospect and should make a fine NBA player. He's not as risky as Randolph was, but he isn't a sure-fire all-star either. Don't let some people on the site fool you, he isn't the next Kevin Durant. In fact, he's a bit overrated in my opinion.
Oh, and I think he'd be best suited to play power forward at the next level.
Perry Jones is thicker than Anthony Randolph was as a freshman.
The problem with Randolph is that the player he is in year three is the same as he was in year one. He could have been good, it is possible (though a long shot) that he will have a light bulb go off and still develop. By most accounts, Perry Jones has a great work ethic. Even if they enter the league at the same spot, he'll be a better prospect because his work ethic will make him more likely to reach his potential.
Yeah i read Perry has great work ethic when he is in practice and in the off season , thats why it baffles me that he doesn't have that same work ethic every game. As a Freshman soph and Jr in Hs he didnt have a jumper or much handles and was just a center but after working hard he now has the potential to be a small forward. You would think someone with that work ethic would have a better more consistant motor in the game
Thats not a good thing because when he gets to the NBA he will be on a team full of older guys. Thats one way you can tell a superstar, they don't just play the role of a follower on a older team. I think he will still be good but he doesn't have the leader quality(mind set) although he has the leader skill
Perry Jones is certainly a much higher touted prospect than Anthony Randolph was although the 2008 draft was much deeper than this year's draft. I agree that Jones has a much better basketball IQ and if Randolph could not crack a D'Antoni or Nellieball type roster that successfully both of which were made for a player of his type then does he really have an NBA future.
Maybe David Kahn does take him as he managed to get something out of Darko after the Knicks scrubbed him but Randolph could well be going the same way as Joe Alexander from the same draft.
If Perry Jones is more a deferal type player to senor colleagues in the NCAA, then is his likely NBA role as a good complimentary starter. He can stll be drafted high for example Jeff Green went 5th in 2007 and does a very good third string role behind Durant and Westbrook. Jones might be a good fit on a team like Sacramento where he could support Evans and Cousins for example.
clearly it's Perry Jones, Randolph never has shown a real skills in his game to hang up with in the professional game, his game always was off of a streetball player that with his athletic ability and size they were hoping it will translate to the NBA with alot of work, i personally never gave it much chance.
Perry Jones on the other hand show much more professional skills, way better understanding of the game and better way of proceeding the game. i think that Jones has shown that he is probably won't be a superstar but that he could be a super role and team player at SF position on a successful team, the bigger more athletic Tayshaun Prince comparison i think was on the money!!!
Perry still hasn't shown SF ability. He dribbles up court some times but against PF who don't pressure him. he hasn't shown much of a jumper. Just about all his points come from close to the basket. Right now he is clearly strickly a PF. His defense on wing players is well below average as well
Let's try real hard to ignore Randolph's struggle as a pro for this topic.
Coming out of college, which would you say were more NBA ready, Jones or Randolph? And which player has a higher ceiling as prospects coming in the NBA?