[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Let’s say you are starting an expansion team from scratch and need to pick one guy to build around. Both of these guys are available (I know they wouldn’t actually be in real life but let’s just pretend). Let’s assume that whoever you chose would sign and commit to a full 5 year max deal. Who are you choosing and why?

  

[Sewok15Participant]

 Giannis. He is a year and a half younger and has more upside to reach. Davis will still get better as he just turned 25 but I think he is closer to his ceiling now. 

I also would prefer to have somebody who will handle the ball on the perimeter to start my team. Players who have the ball in their hands more on offense probably effect winning slightly more than big guys at this point in time. 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Very close one, I agree that AD at the moment is the slightly better player at the moment but also Giannis might have more upside to come. Given that AD had a few injury issues in his earlier years and Giannis has a lot of versatility I would just side with him.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

We assume that Giannis will get better(And I believe he will too) BUT that’s not a guarantee and Davis is just so much better than him right now, He can pass/rebound/defend/shoot…Yes Giannis can improve his shooting at this point AD does everything better than Greek Freak

Both player are very good players, both have ALL Time potential BUT Davis is a far and away better player Today and will be for the forseeable future, although I’m worried about his health longterm

There’s no wrong answer here, just picking AD to start my Team with

 

 

  

[OhCanada-Participant]

 AD has no holes in his game. He is a top 3 defensive player in the league, best offensive big man and gets double digit rebounds. He also has formed a winning mentality and closes out tough games, and hasnt ever played a subpar playoff game. Giannis still seems to put up empty stats at times is slightly less effecient shooting, more foul and turnover prone and is not the leader AD however thats not to take anything away from him he is still a great option and is also younger.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Davis’s game is pretty complete but there are still some areas he could improve on. He has never been a high volume 3 point shooter. He clearly has the stroke and the range but for some reason he still just seems more comfortable a step or two inside the line. I’d like to see him eliminate some of those long 2s for 3s. While he is probably the best finisher in the league, he has never really been much of a playmaker. He averaged 2.3 assists last season, which was the highest of his career. Guys like Duncan and Garnett routinely averaged 5-6 apg in their prime. I think that’s the next evolution in his development, to become a guy that really makes his teammates better. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Dont mean to seem rude but I respectfully disagree. Duncan never averaged 4 assists per game. He stayed around 2.5 to 3.5. Also Davis did cut back on his long midrange shots last year. He went from 23% of his shots being long mid in 16-17 to 16% in 17-18 (basketball reference). Although your defenitely right he shot that long 2 poorly last year and needs to continue working on his long range game he seems to be doing a good job of developing that.

I think part of the reason why we didnt see him taking too many 3’s would be because he was playing with bigs like Mirotic and Cousins who lived on the perimeter last year. He operated more down low for spacing. He defenitely also makes his teammates better just by being on the floor. Offensively he is a constant lob threat and still has to be gaurded on the perimeter as well which opens up tons of lanes for Holiday. Defensively he defenitely makes his teammates way better, he did win defensive player of the year.

 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 Who would’ve thought this would even be a question when Davis was drafted? Even crazier, no one would’ve expected many if not most would answer Giannis at this stage. Id go as far as to say he is a consistent 3 pointer from being the best player in the league. 

[MkadozaParticipant]

 IDK, if Giannis has a consistant three pointer, is he better than Lebron or Durant, I really dont think so. Both are better defenders and better shooters by a pretty significant margin right now. And Giannis will NEVER be the shooter that KD is. So, with AD being the 3rd best player in the league, do you think increasing a 3pt% by 5% really makes Giannis better than KD, Lebron, and AD? IDK, but personally I dont think so.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I agree with you he still wouldnt be as good as the players you mentioned. Not until I see him rack up wins and have that closers mentality. But as of right now guys dont even gaurd him consistently on the perimeter they just dare him to take that 3 then close in on him if they see him put two hands on the ball. If you had to gaurd Giannis for the 3pt shot, man thats so scary I dont even wanna think about it.

[CoachWyersParticipant]

 Giannis younger and less of an injury risk.  Plus ideal for the positionless basketball craze.

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

 Why? Because I think a Giannis is an anomaly,  a different breed,  we never seen anyone like him before, that tall and athletic with that playing style and skillset. He is more taller than davis yet faster and bouncier probably more powerful and tenacious. We’ve seen KG before and his playing style is like KG.  Although his way ahead in terms of shooting since he shoots more 3 pointers.  But to me Giannis is more of a wierd player.  You have to stop him but you cannot stop him.  He cannot shoot the lights out but still you cannot stop he.  He doesn’t need anyome to give him the ballto his spot., davis do,  plus he more durable

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 AD all day…better defensive player and he has a better jumper. Imagine if AD was in the Eastern Confrence…

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

You would obviously love to have either of these guys and there is no wrong answer here. Davis is older and the slightly more accomplished player at this point. He has a slightly more defined game and skill set at this stage, whereas Giannis is still kind of learning who he is and how to put his immense physical gifts to use. Davis is already one of the best defenders in the nba, whereas Giannis could be in theory but hasn’t quite gotten there yet. I could certainly understand the argument for Davis.

However, I’m going with Giannis here. It all comes down to upside to me. While I’m not suggesting Davis has reached his peak or won’t improve, we already have a pretty good idea who he will be as a player. He’ll always be someone who is at least somewhat dependent on others to generate offense for him. He’ll always be a guy who is more comfortable in the paint than defending in space. Giannis has the potential to be the type of player whom the league has never seen before. A guy that can literally play all 5 positions on both offense and defense. His upside is like Anthony Davis, if Davis had pg skills and elite playmaking ability as well. It’s crazy to think this guy just put up 27-10-5 last season and still seems like he’s just scratching the surface of what he could ultimately be. As amazing a player as Davis is and will be, it’d just be extremely difficult for me to go against that. 

 

[MkadozaParticipant]

I’m kinda surprised by home many people would take Giannis over AD.

Davis has a better jump shot from all over the court, better defending at every level, on ball, weakside, switching and post, a better idea of what he needs to improve, and less to improve. Hes better in clutch moments BY FAR, and literally carried the Pels much farther than was expected, while Giannis came up short.

Also, the injury risk for AD is WAY overblown.ADs played 75 games the past two years and has developed his body into something freaky.

People talk about how unique Giannis’s skillset is. Lebron can do everything Giannis does, but better. Simmons plays almost the exact same way, but younger. No one can can do what AD does in the league. When Cousins went down, AD was putting up 35, 15, 4, 2 and 4 almost nightly. AND the team played better. 

Much like I wouldnt have taken the upside of KD over Bron, give me the proven better player, whos only a year or so older. AD is literally the reincarnation of Hakeem. Best big in the league for the next 8 years. I can find wings. How many players can you get that average 30 pts, 13 reb, 3 ast, 2 stls and 3 blks? And shoot 55% fg, 35% 3pt and 85% ft? Just one.

In todays game, where shooting is more emphasized, I would rather have an unguardable center who can shoot over a freakish wing who cant. 

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 AD. If Giannis doesn’t develop a jumper, he’s already reached his ceiling.

[Author]

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