Also, I appreciate that Bagley is showing more than he did against the Suns, so we don’t have to outright attack his play on the game threads, but he is not showing #2 stuff currently. You can go on random NBA threads and not have him discussed in ROY or the top many rookies in opening action.
It’s still not acceptable
We have a lot of good things going on. Giles is picking up a lot of the slack as well, but let’s call a spade a spade. Bagley is not showing out to an acceptable tune of a #2 which makes discussion of alternatives like Luka more palpable
No it doesnt. Maybe if you want to push an agenda sure, but it really doesnt.
With the exception of Ayton, all of the bigs have shown flashes of what they are capable of as well as dropping clunkers. JJJ has probably been the most consistent so if you had a beef it would be there.
Dallas is playing Luka as a PF. Which means if we drafted him he would be fighting Giles and Belly right now for those minutes. Luka is playing PF so they can hide him on defense because of his athleticism issues. which are quite glaring at the moment. Luka went to the best possible place of any top 10 team drafting. He will have DeAndre Jordan covering for him.
Now let's delve a little deeper into this argument. Adding Luka to the Kings as a no defense playing, unathletic wing. Sure he can make plays with the ball in his hand but our PG is a speedster and best with the ball in his hands and NOT a catch and shoot player, our SG is either Buddy or Bogie (or an undersized Yogi) also best with the ball, our SF is TBA and Luka would absolutely KILL us at that position (oh, LeBron and KD are in the West you say?), and our Center is Willie who Lord only knows where his head is at half the time but rest be assured it wouldn't be covering Lukas backside.
The smarter play is having both Giles and Belly man that spot, Willie and an uber athletic Bagley who has shown a propensity for blocking shots at the rim, man the C spot, and let Bogie, Fox, Yogi and Buddy (and Mason) act as your playmakers.
The only thing that team needs is a solid SF which Luka ain't. Luka DOES NOT FIT on this team and I'm glad our front office recognized it. The Mavs can Haves him. He wont win jack squat. Book that.
Luka is not some transcendental talent that people are making him out to be. He isnt going to change the game. I would argue that Lonzo Ball is going to be a better player. Luka is an oversized and slower Ricky Rubio with a better jump shot. I feel like we have a whole bunch of Aileen Voisons on the board pissed we passed over Rubio once again, but this time they are males (one could argue about Aileen tho...). My best guess is they were wishing Lukas mom would be hanging around the Galleria.
Luka is going to be a decent ball player. He will make flashy plays, a highlight or 2 each month. What he wont be is a player that takes his team to the next level. If anybody on that Mavs team does it will be DSJ who I was OK with drafting over Fox (I still wanted Fox tho). Luka is at max 18pts, 6 rebs 6 asst 1 st .8 blk. Bagley is at most 25 pts, 11 rebs 2.5 asst 1.5 st 1.5 blk with better rim protection. The Kings went for potential and watching Bagley play they bet right. Bagleys physical tools and work ethic are too much to pass up. Plus Luka needs to lose weight and gain athleticism (,not an easy feat) where Bagley has to gain strength without sacrificing athleticism (easy to accomplish).
Gimme Bagley. All day. Twice on Tuesday. That my friend is calling a spade a spade.
