Marcus Paige

I could see his ceiling in the NBA as Goran Dragic type player. Dragic starts but he plays for Phoenix and probably wouldn’t start on 25 of the teams in the league. He best fits as a combo guard off the bench. Paige isn’t super athletic or a great playmaker but if he has improved his shot as evidence by the 6 3’s he hit against Richmond and the 32 points he put up against the defending champs he certainly could have an NBA future.

I could see his ceiling in the NBA as Goran Dragic type player. Dragic starts but he plays for Phoenix and probably wouldn’t start on 25 of the teams in the league. He best fits as a combo guard off the bench. Paige isn’t super athletic or a great playmaker but if he has improved his shot as evidence by the 6 3’s he hit against Richmond and the 32 points he put up against the defending champs he certainly could have an NBA future.

 As a UNC fan I underestimated him a lot coming into this season.  Did not think he had a scorer’s mentality.  

Will have to improve defense, and continue to get stronger.  He looked like Steph Curry today.  I like the Dragic comparison and could see him having a similar impact.  

If/when McDonald and Hairston get back, that will be a load for other teams to guard and teams won’t be able to pack in on UNC.  

 As a UNC fan I underestimated him a lot coming into this season.  Did not think he had a scorer’s mentality.  

Will have to improve defense, and continue to get stronger.  He looked like Steph Curry today.  I like the Dragic comparison and could see him having a similar impact.  

If/when McDonald and Hairston get back, that will be a load for other teams to guard and teams won’t be able to pack in on UNC.  

 Paige is not just a scorer.  I think he’s been scoring as much as he has because he’s on fire from the field and his team needs him to score that much. In HS he was more of a well-rounded PG, who could run his ball club, distribute or score. Very smart kid, but his thin frame and lack of elite quickness wasn’t an attractive package for an NBA prospect.  He’s always had the mind, skill and intangibles though.

IDK about the Dragic comp because Goran is much bigger, stronger and more athletic than Paige.  He might not look like it, but Goran is pretty beastly for a PG and really plays with a physical edge.  He’s got good enough size for a PG (or combo) that he can defend NBA SGs full time, which is what he’s doing now. I can’t see Paige doing the same.

Paige has put on weight (almost 20lbs since he’s been at UNC), but he’s still thin.  He’s not super quick either, but has a nasty handle and he’s excellent at changing speeds.  I think he can be a good PnR PG at the next level because he plays at the correct pace, he has a high IQ and he’s a threat to shoot if the defender goes under.

 Because of his skill and brains I think he has starter upside. He’ll probably always be thin but at least he has good length for a PG.

 Paige is not just a scorer.  I think he’s been scoring as much as he has because he’s on fire from the field and his team needs him to score that much. In HS he was more of a well-rounded PG, who could run his ball club, distribute or score. Very smart kid, but his thin frame and lack of elite quickness wasn’t an attractive package for an NBA prospect.  He’s always had the mind, skill and intangibles though.

IDK about the Dragic comp because Goran is much bigger, stronger and more athletic than Paige.  He might not look like it, but Goran is pretty beastly for a PG and really plays with a physical edge.  He’s got good enough size for a PG (or combo) that he can defend NBA SGs full time, which is what he’s doing now. I can’t see Paige doing the same.

Paige has put on weight (almost 20lbs since he’s been at UNC), but he’s still thin.  He’s not super quick either, but has a nasty handle and he’s excellent at changing speeds.  I think he can be a good PnR PG at the next level because he plays at the correct pace, he has a high IQ and he’s a threat to shoot if the defender goes under.

 Because of his skill and brains I think he has starter upside. He’ll probably always be thin but at least he has good length for a PG.

 @ncballer

I am not sure why you didnt think he had a scorers mentality after watching him last year.  he certainly wasnt shy about jacking up shots.  so much so that he made a lot of bad decisions last year.  Roy Williams didnt use that lineup right.  he started Paige and Strickland all year but gave Paige the primary ballhandling duties when in the lineup with Strickland.  I dont have a problem with that but he didnt set his teammates up as much as he hunted his shot.

Strickland was a excellent ballhandler and had the best A2T ratio IIRC at nearly 3-1 (it was between him and Cook).  If anything, Strickland shouldve been the primary ballhandler due to his experience, especially because he wasnt a great shooter and Paige shouldve set up at the 2 more.  if you remember whenever this happened, Paige was more successful, Strickland was more successful, and the team was more successful.  Paige was able to get his shots in the flow and Strickland wasnt forced to take many bad jumpshots.

 He just needs to improve his ballhandling (decision making) and PG skills.  like Siggy said, he has the skills and the IQ to do it.  he must get stronger, but I doubt he will ever have the mentality to be a physical PG.  He shies away from contact.  That’s why the Dragic comparisons arent really good but I see what you are saying.  He is like a less athletic higher IQ version of Jennings.

 @ncballer

I am not sure why you didnt think he had a scorers mentality after watching him last year.  he certainly wasnt shy about jacking up shots.  so much so that he made a lot of bad decisions last year.  Roy Williams didnt use that lineup right.  he started Paige and Strickland all year but gave Paige the primary ballhandling duties when in the lineup with Strickland.  I dont have a problem with that but he didnt set his teammates up as much as he hunted his shot.

Strickland was a excellent ballhandler and had the best A2T ratio IIRC at nearly 3-1 (it was between him and Cook).  If anything, Strickland shouldve been the primary ballhandler due to his experience, especially because he wasnt a great shooter and Paige shouldve set up at the 2 more.  if you remember whenever this happened, Paige was more successful, Strickland was more successful, and the team was more successful.  Paige was able to get his shots in the flow and Strickland wasnt forced to take many bad jumpshots.

 He just needs to improve his ballhandling (decision making) and PG skills.  like Siggy said, he has the skills and the IQ to do it.  he must get stronger, but I doubt he will ever have the mentality to be a physical PG.  He shies away from contact.  That’s why the Dragic comparisons arent really good but I see what you are saying.  He is like a less athletic higher IQ version of Jennings.