Would it be fair to say we have no idea but the players do?
My hopes are largely pinned on Bogdan’s comments because my perception of him is he isn’t prone to hyperbole. If Giles were marginal versus looking very good, I’m guessing Bogdan would stay quiet on the topic. You know him better than I. Is this a correct assessment?
Bogdan is not going to not pump up his team mate when he is asked a question about that team mate.
There is no doubt that based on his high school play, Giles is a genuine franchise level talent in the modern NBA. Whether he can overcome years of missed development at probably the most crutial time in player's career, that is something that will remain unanswered for a couple of years. If the answer to that question is yes, then you just might have your franchise level big on your hands but that is far from a given.
Based on his high school film, Giles is everything WCS could be but is not interested in becoming. An excellent rebounder, rim protector and someone who can switch on pick and roll and contain smaller players. Offensively, he also showed more than WCS did at any point.
In the modern NBA, WCS could, if he really wanted to, be a prototype of a modern NBA center. Excellent athlete, great length, can guard ANYONE and protect the rim......i.e. a defensive beast, runs the floor better than many guards, can put the ball on the floor, decent passer and he could be a great rebounder. He does not appear to be interested in getting the foundation of his game down pat before he expands his offensive game. If he can pride himself on becoming the best defender in the league and actually fight fo the rebounds like his life depended on it, that becomes his staple and opens up his offensive game. However he is more interested on becoming an alpha dog which he will never be.
I see WCS and Skal and I see MASSIVE difference in attitude. Skal will try his backside off, he will try to defend (but make dumb mistakes), he will fight for every rebound (but he is not strong enough to hold his position and get a hold of those boards that he goes for), he will try o play perimeter D and try and provide weak side shot blocking. I might be completely off the mark here but I can see Skal being a better player in 3-4 years time than WCS will be because the kid wants to work on the areas that coaches want him to work on. WCS seems to beat to his own drum.