Upside

This is exactly why Perry Jones III almost dropped out of the first round. That being said this is also why Deandre Jordan did drop out of the first round. Took him a while to put it all together but has become one of the best defensive centers in the league.

This is exactly why Perry Jones III almost dropped out of the first round. That being said this is also why Deandre Jordan did drop out of the first round. Took him a while to put it all together but has become one of the best defensive centers in the league.

 Upside to me is getting a guy in a certain spot who when you look back should have been much higher.  His upside is well beyond what you paid.  This guy can be a lot better than he is today – thats upside.  Tony Wroten for the 76ers was picked up for nothing but is a guy with a lot of "upside" if he harnesses that athletic ability

 Upside to me is getting a guy in a certain spot who when you look back should have been much higher.  His upside is well beyond what you paid.  This guy can be a lot better than he is today – thats upside.  Tony Wroten for the 76ers was picked up for nothing but is a guy with a lot of "upside" if he harnesses that athletic ability

 Upside is a way of saying the skills aren’t there yet. The skills don’t match the height, length, athleticism etc.  But if the skills catch up, you’ve got a player

 Upside is a way of saying the skills aren’t there yet. The skills don’t match the height, length, athleticism etc.  But if the skills catch up, you’ve got a player

 Upside can also be having great foundational skills combined with adequate physical tools.  Jabari Parker maybe only an average run/jump athlete, but his foundation of ball-handling and shot making ability, combined with his above average court awareness makes him a high-upside prospect.  And Jordan Adams may be the worst athlete in the draft, but I would argue he has greater upside than guys like Jerami Grant and James Young, whose limits on offense may prevent them from being more than role players.

 Upside can also be having great foundational skills combined with adequate physical tools.  Jabari Parker maybe only an average run/jump athlete, but his foundation of ball-handling and shot making ability, combined with his above average court awareness makes him a high-upside prospect.  And Jordan Adams may be the worst athlete in the draft, but I would argue he has greater upside than guys like Jerami Grant and James Young, whose limits on offense may prevent them from being more than role players.

 upside = potential = how much better a player can get compared to their current level

 upside = potential = how much better a player can get compared to their current level

 so what’s Andrew Wiggins upside then? Aggression is one of your attributes to potential which I strongly agree with but Wiggins doesn’t show it that much. He started to at the end of the season but I’m not sure it’s in his mental makeup. Will he be like Harrison Barnes, a guy with all the talent in the world and great athleticism but doesn’t fulfill his potential because he doesn’t have that itch to be the best ever?

 so what’s Andrew Wiggins upside then? Aggression is one of your attributes to potential which I strongly agree with but Wiggins doesn’t show it that much. He started to at the end of the season but I’m not sure it’s in his mental makeup. Will he be like Harrison Barnes, a guy with all the talent in the world and great athleticism but doesn’t fulfill his potential because he doesn’t have that itch to be the best ever?

 Andre Drummond wasn’t exactly aggresive in college yet his upside seems to be paying off…

 Andre Drummond wasn’t exactly aggresive in college yet his upside seems to be paying off…

 Andre Drummond isnt expected to score 20-25 ppg as a career average like most people expect from Wiggins. If Drummond averages 12rpg and 2.5bpg I think the pick is justified. It was a good thing he dropped to 8th, it put less pressure on him to perform at a certain expected level and let him focus on learning everyday. 

 Andre Drummond isnt expected to score 20-25 ppg as a career average like most people expect from Wiggins. If Drummond averages 12rpg and 2.5bpg I think the pick is justified. It was a good thing he dropped to 8th, it put less pressure on him to perform at a certain expected level and let him focus on learning everyday. 

You are right the best players in the NBA aren’t the most athletic guys. Carmelo, Love, CP3, Harden aren’t elite athletes at their position and they are some of the greatest players in the NBA currently. (CP3, Melo, and Harden are deceptively quick and athletic though just not elite) The thing about athleticism though is that it makes the game easier for players to score, have more versatility, and defend easier. What I normally see is that some guys are phenomenal athletes but they have no skills whatsoever outside of jumping high or being extremely fast. Or you have guys who have a great skill level but they are sorely undersized for their position or they are below average athletes. Occasionally you have guys that come along that not only have supreme athleticism but have a good skill level for their position. Those guys are rare gems.

You are right the best players in the NBA aren’t the most athletic guys. Carmelo, Love, CP3, Harden aren’t elite athletes at their position and they are some of the greatest players in the NBA currently. (CP3, Melo, and Harden are deceptively quick and athletic though just not elite) The thing about athleticism though is that it makes the game easier for players to score, have more versatility, and defend easier. What I normally see is that some guys are phenomenal athletes but they have no skills whatsoever outside of jumping high or being extremely fast. Or you have guys who have a great skill level but they are sorely undersized for their position or they are below average athletes. Occasionally you have guys that come along that not only have supreme athleticism but have a good skill level for their position. Those guys are rare gems.