Not to quibble but Moultrie was a junior wasn't he? Zeller was a senior in that draft and I'd say he's carved out a role. And, I certainly wanted CJ McCollum more than I wanted the significantly younger and more potential filled Ben McLemore. Of course that was when I thought the Kings would resign Evans and CJ was a better fit, but I digress.
Yes, I definitely agree that a freshman or sophomore has more potential for growth than a senior, but I think sometimes people (not pointing at you in particular) go overboard in thinking that means a 22 or 23 year old won't continue to improve. And I think the perception is skewed a bit by the fact that very few guys with the talent to leave early stick around.
Outside of rare cases like Tim Duncan who would've been the #1 pick after his junior year and probably after his sophomore year too, guys leave school as soon as they think they have a chance to be drafted high enough. Going back to school is seen as a risk. Just look at Michael Finley who would have gone much higher had he come out as a junior. So while a guy like Brandon Ingram would probably be a much better player if he stayed another two years at Duke, he won't because he's already a top 2 draft pick and there's no reason to jeopardize that.
So if any of this rambling is making sense I guess what I'm getting at is that it isn't being a senior necessarily that leads to a lower upside etc but the fact that those players didn't have enough physical tools or and advanced enough game to allow them to leave early. Sometimes it's late bloomers (Scottie Pippen) and/or lightly recruited guys who don't get enough shine because they play for smaller schools against lesser competition which forces them to stay in school longer and prove themselves more/develop enough skills that they can be seen as NBA caliber guys.
I don't think Hield has star potential but I like that he's worked on his weaknesses and added to his game each year. I'd put money on him having a better pro career than the last two SGs drafted by the Kings.
Yes, I definitely agree that a freshman or sophomore has more potential for growth than a senior, but I think sometimes people (not pointing at you in particular) go overboard in thinking that means a 22 or 23 year old won't continue to improve. And I think the perception is skewed a bit by the fact that very few guys with the talent to leave early stick around.
Outside of rare cases like Tim Duncan who would've been the #1 pick after his junior year and probably after his sophomore year too, guys leave school as soon as they think they have a chance to be drafted high enough. Going back to school is seen as a risk. Just look at Michael Finley who would have gone much higher had he come out as a junior. So while a guy like Brandon Ingram would probably be a much better player if he stayed another two years at Duke, he won't because he's already a top 2 draft pick and there's no reason to jeopardize that.
So if any of this rambling is making sense I guess what I'm getting at is that it isn't being a senior necessarily that leads to a lower upside etc but the fact that those players didn't have enough physical tools or and advanced enough game to allow them to leave early. Sometimes it's late bloomers (Scottie Pippen) and/or lightly recruited guys who don't get enough shine because they play for smaller schools against lesser competition which forces them to stay in school longer and prove themselves more/develop enough skills that they can be seen as NBA caliber guys.
I don't think Hield has star potential but I like that he's worked on his weaknesses and added to his game each year. I'd put money on him having a better pro career than the last two SGs drafted by the Kings.
I agree with you on a lot of what you've said.
I personally think Hield has star potential. I think in a guards league today, he can dominate. I see his ceiling somewhere between McCollum and Harden. I think he can be a franchise player, but that's a huge amount of pressure to put on Hield.
Just like Grayson Allen, Hield has improved in almost every aspect of his game that was asked by scouts. Not a good enough ball handler? No problem Not good enough attacking? No problem. He's done it all. The only thing he can't change is his age. However, if he were 2 years younger, he'd probably be the #1 overall pick.
I think he will be better than Nik. Ben? It depends on which team we trade Ben to... Ben is all upside at this point.