Welcome Nique Clifford
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
Caccia
Starter
Compare him to Malik Monk, who is only four years older, but already an eight-year veteran. The other reason is the shopworn "only draft a high ceiling" dictate, whereby guys who stay in college for four years are supposedly known quantities, and therefore have "limited upside potential."
I could tell you all the ways that point of view can be mistaken, but this is not the place. Scott Perry points to Clifford's "arc of improvement" over the past three years. There is no reason to assume that will not continue.
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reptilexcq2
Bench
Kings starters:
Carter
Lavine
Clifford
Murray
Sabonis
Now, we have defenders.
Carter
Lavine
Clifford
Murray
Sabonis
Now, we have defenders.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
24th pick in the draft isn’t starting it’s gonna be whoever we ship Monk for probably Barrett at this point
Caccia
Starter
Nice write-up on the draft and Nique Clifford:
https://sactownsports.com/56413/sacramento-kings-perry-nique-clifford-pick/
https://sactownsports.com/56413/sacramento-kings-perry-nique-clifford-pick/
Similar vein to Carter last year where I dont know if he's got a crazy ceiling, but his player archetype is what wins now in the NBA.
I’d really like to see these two grow together. Exact same age, both can defend and crazy rebounds for guards, both have good handles. I just want to see Carter emerge as a serious lead guard and life is good.
HndsmCelt
Hall of Famer
I think it’s more likely Clifford will be starting in Stockton at least for a bit
I think it's a bit naive to discount his age as a non factor here. Just simply google the success of players drafted in the last 20 years at each age range and you'll get a pretty good idea that the chances of NBA success drops off each year they age when drafted. Being drafted at the age of 23 has an even shorter list of successful NBA players. Brogdon is probably the most recent.
The odds of him being a Brogdon or Doug Christie level player are really low from a statistical standpoint. He was not a very good player when he was in the Pac 12 and he improved quite a bit when he went to the Mountain West conference. He had an age and experience advantage last year against nearly everyone that he played against. Also guard rebounding from smaller schools doesn't always translate to the NBA. See Justin James for that one.
I do like what I see from the eye test. He looks like a solid swiss army knife type player. I'm hoping that he's shining on tape because he's just a slow developer that just kept adding to his bag as each year went on. Hopefully it's not because he's just a solid G League level player playing against mostly non G League level guys. I personally think he has low odds of being a solid rotational player but my fingers will be crossed that he can become one.
The odds of him being a Brogdon or Doug Christie level player are really low from a statistical standpoint. He was not a very good player when he was in the Pac 12 and he improved quite a bit when he went to the Mountain West conference. He had an age and experience advantage last year against nearly everyone that he played against. Also guard rebounding from smaller schools doesn't always translate to the NBA. See Justin James for that one.
I do like what I see from the eye test. He looks like a solid swiss army knife type player. I'm hoping that he's shining on tape because he's just a slow developer that just kept adding to his bag as each year went on. Hopefully it's not because he's just a solid G League level player playing against mostly non G League level guys. I personally think he has low odds of being a solid rotational player but my fingers will be crossed that he can become one.
coolhandluke
Starter
reptilexcq2
Bench
DeRozen for Kuminga? Let's do it. We need to get younger and athletic.
BuddyBuckets
Prospect
If he is capable of playing SF, I really hope he gets mins day 1. Obviously he won't start, but there's a clear defined role for a backup SF day 1.
As one of the biggest doom and gloom posters on draft day I was pleasantly surprised yesterday.
We have this PTSD of logjams and not doing enough to balance rosters, which is still a real concern. There is also age and other factors. This is just one move, let's wait for other moves and decisions made by the new GM.
If he can defend AT ALL he is better than Monk, Lavine, and DDR. He turned down money, which is impressive and has been improving, which make sense based on word of his work ethic.
The pick was value, we got a 1st round pick without overpaying, and he might have some translatable skills like rebounding.
When I watch his game he seems tall for a guard and very unathletic, a very below-rim-type which is not what this team needs. However, when I watch, I see some Slo-Mo, a crafty, unathletic player that fits well defensively and in team concepts that doesn't kill you with speed or athleticism yet still finds ways to produce.
We have this PTSD of logjams and not doing enough to balance rosters, which is still a real concern. There is also age and other factors. This is just one move, let's wait for other moves and decisions made by the new GM.
If he can defend AT ALL he is better than Monk, Lavine, and DDR. He turned down money, which is impressive and has been improving, which make sense based on word of his work ethic.
The pick was value, we got a 1st round pick without overpaying, and he might have some translatable skills like rebounding.
When I watch his game he seems tall for a guard and very unathletic, a very below-rim-type which is not what this team needs. However, when I watch, I see some Slo-Mo, a crafty, unathletic player that fits well defensively and in team concepts that doesn't kill you with speed or athleticism yet still finds ways to produce.
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iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Figured someone would snag it, Nets don’t need the pick.
I’m not too confident in the pool of players left given our roster. I’m curious if Broome falls, could be interesting
I’m not too confident in the pool of players left given our roster. I’m curious if Broome falls, could be interesting
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
That's the great thing about both, they had the metrics in college to be more.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I was digging deeper into more games, yeah, I don't think Clifford is a guard, he's a passing playmaking wing for sure. Maybe bordering on point forward? He's definitely more physical than he is quick. His offensive game is kind of like Kuzma without the ego and with a team first attitude. The Christie comparisons are worthy in some ways as a big playmaker.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I think he'll be able to guard some small ball PF's to be honest. Basically he's just very switchable. Colorado State switched a lot. He'll probably struggle keeping quicker players in front of him but his size will give him the chance to play off a little.
BuddyBuckets
Prospect
I hope so. I'm trying to think of this team over the next couple of years-
Sabonis
???
Keegan/Nique
Keon/Carter
???
Lots of versatility in that 2/3 spot. But badly need to address forward and pg.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Saw this posted on twitter. This is how you build a team from the back end out. With guys that can do everything to some extent. Nobody was watching because of how negative things were but again, the last stretch of the season Carter was like a +39 and was the only player in the + that played real minutes in the play in before the game was over. Impact players are a good bet.
He's athletic too, as we kind of forget how athletic young Doug was.
Overall, after a day of reading on him and a few videos, its a strong process pick in every sense. We sort of get the added benefit that we kind of KNOW when someone is actually a good pick or a good decision because everybody loves clowning the Kings at any juncture. I have yet to still find anyone with real negatives on him, outside of him being old and playing weaker comp. Basically no weakness in the stat profile.
