Closer look at: Shabazz Muhammad

[Thunder]

It seems like in the NBA today, having 3 players who can go ISO and get you buckets is ideal. Bron/Wade/Bosh, Durant/Westbrook/Harden, KG/Pierce/Allen, Kobe/Gasol/Bynum...right now I believe we can put the ball in Irving's hand and say "go get us 20 points" and he can. I think we'll be able to say the same for Waiters by next year. Shabazz would complete the trio, but if Waiters can become an elite permimeter scorer I'd love to have a scoring big man instead.

 

[The Process God]

It seems like in the NBA today, having 3 players who can go ISO and get you buckets is ideal. Bron/Wade/Bosh, Durant/Westbrook/Harden, KG/Pierce/Allen, Kobe/Gasol/Bynum...right now I believe we can put the ball in Irving's hand and say "go get us 20 points" and he can. I think we'll be able to say the same for Waiters by next year. Shabazz would complete the trio, but if Waiters can become an elite permimeter scorer I'd love to have a scoring big man instead.

But OKC's three best players were a PG, SG, and SF. If we wanna follow the OKC model, we must draft a SF! :chuckles:

But seriously, if Shabazz is the best player available, you take the fucker and run with it. I'd love to have him on this team.

 

[ajz20]

Irving, Waiters, Muhammad would make a very very enjoyable team to watch. Still would love to get a big in this draft by trading assets including our Heat and Lakers pick.
I think the Cavs would love to get a Plumlee at the 13-17 range just like they got Zeller. My ultimate dream is to get Muhammad in the top 2 and get a hold of the Raptors pick by trading Andy and land either Len or Adams. If we keep Andy, and get Muhammad, I would really like us to go into FA so we can be contenders before Andy;s contract expires. I counted 6-8 players that we should replace do not have contracts for next year.

 

[Thunder]

I know every year we talk about trading up and getting 2 lotto picks, and we usually have the assets, but this year I feel like we really can. I feel like there are a few teams in the lottery who are tired of being stuck there and might want a vet to get over the hump (Varejao) and would be willing to give up a lotto. Varejao+late first and maybe even a second rounder should net us a top 7 pick in a deep draft.

 

[Snarly]

I know every year we talk about trading up and getting 2 lotto picks, and we usually have the assets, but this year I feel like we really can. I feel like there are a few teams in the lottery who are tired of being stuck there and might want a vet to get over the hump (Varejao) and would be willing to give up a lotto. Varejao+late first and maybe even a second rounder should net us a top 7 pick in a deep draft.

I agree and I hope It happens.... Just think we would have at least 5 top 8 picks and already a promising mid round steal In Zeller. So Thompson, Irving, Waiters, Zeller, (draft pick), and (draft pick) Then trade or fill the bench as best you can with vets. I am excited going forward.... Just we need this tank out there one last time we can get through this season and really start rooting for the play offs next year for sure!

 

[DanRosenberg]

Perimeter defense needs>>>>>>perimeter scoring needs

We are losing games because of our defense. The only solid defenders on our team are TT (yes, he's a good defender for a 2nd year big man, stop hating on him) and Andy.

Defense wins championships, period. It's how Dallas beat the Heat.

If Muhammad doesn't project to be an above-NBA-average perimeter defender, I don't want him. I'd rather have a 4 that can score from the block.

 

[Mdog1]

Perimeter defense needs>>>>>>perimeter scoring needs

We are losing games because of our defense. The only solid defenders on our team are TT (yes, he's a good defender for a 2nd year big man, stop hating on him) and Andy.

Defense wins championships, period. It's how Dallas beat the Heat.

If Muhammad doesn't project to be an above-NBA-average perimeter defender, I don't want him. I'd rather have a 4 that can score from the block.

That's been my biggest worry about him as a SF. I don't know if he can hang defensively. That a big man that can block shots is much easier to come by than a star SF is. Look at the current SF's in the NBA. There's only two of them that are worth their contracts, possibly three if you want to include Deng.

 

[The Process God]

That's been my biggest worry about him as a SF. I don't know if he can hang defensively. That a big man that can block shots is much easier to come by than a star SF is. Look at the current SF's in the NBA. There's only two of them that are worth their contracts, possibly three if you want to include Deng.

Shabazz is a good defender that bothers guys with his tenacity, length, and athleticism. He works hard on that end of the floor. If it's any consolation, he's the same height and weight as Alonzo (who plays SF), but he has a bigger wingspan and standing reach. He's also got the frame to put on more weight as well, allowing him to go up into the 230s pretty easily if need be. I'm confident in his ability to be a defender at the 3. Also, his wingspan and standing reach also almost exactly match MKG's if that's any consolation.

 

[MGMT]

Shabazz is a good defender that bothers guys with his tenacity, length, and athleticism. He works hard on that end of the floor. If it's any consolation, he's the same height and weight as Alonzo (who plays SF), but he has a bigger wingspan and standing reach. He's also got the frame to put on more weight as well, allowing him to go up into the 230s pretty easily if need be. I'm confident in his ability to be a defender at the 3. Also, his wingspan and standing reach also almost exactly match MKG's if that's any consolation.

 

[The Process God]

Damn right. I'm excited for this guy.

 

[Rimage]

Shabazz could easily play the starting 2 for us next year. He would be a great target for Kyrie because of his athleticism and ability to get everywhere on the court without the ball, Kyrie would simply have to find him. Dion is a perfect guard off the bench. He has scoring and passing abilities and he plays with a lot of energy and aggressiveness.

I know the 3 is a need for us. I'm hoping the offseason will bring us a FA (eh-hem Josh Smith) that can handle that position and we can just take the BPA this draft.

 

[Kizzle]

Perimeter defense needs>>>>>>perimeter scoring needs

We are losing games because of our defense. The only solid defenders on our team are TT (yes, he's a good defender for a 2nd year big man, stop hating on him) and Andy.

Defense wins championships, period. It's how Dallas beat the Heat.

If Muhammad doesn't project to be an above-NBA-average perimeter defender, I don't want him. I'd rather have a 4 that can score from the block.

Wait a minute...

lol Naw im not going to be that douche. I get what youre saying......But I disagree. If Shabazz meets expectations, then he will become a superstar......and you dont pass up a superstar. You can teach D, or as a player if you put in effort you can be a good defender. But You cant teach being a superstar.


Im not sayng Shabazz will be a superstar but you dont pass one up just because he doesnt project to be an above average NBA defender

 

[The Process God]

Shabazz could easily play the starting 2 for us next year. He would be a great target for Kyrie because of his athleticism and ability to get everywhere on the court without the ball, Kyrie would simply have to find him. Dion is a perfect guard off the bench. He has scoring and passing abilities and he plays with a lot of energy and aggressiveness.

I know the 3 is a need for us. I'm hoping the offseason will bring us a FA (eh-hem Josh Smith) that can handle that position and we can just take the BPA this draft.

Shabazz is a 3.

 

[The Process God]

I posted this in the 2013 NBA Draft thread, but I thought it would also serve well if posted here:

I just found something really neat on draftexpress.com. This puts together the average measurements from the NBA combine of every small forward ever drafted since the 2009 draft.

Average height (w/o shoes): 6' 6.53"
Shabazz's height (w/o shoes): 6'4.5"

Average weight: 217 lbs
Shabazz's weight: 225 lbs

Average wingspan: 6' 10.7"
Shabazz's wingspan: 6'11.25"

Average standing reach: 8' 8.3"
Shabazz's standing reach: 8'8"

Shabazz comes below the average in height (which doesn't really matter compared to these next measurements), but he comes out on top in average weight and wingspan, being 8 lbs heavier than the average small forward in addition to having at least a half-inch advantage in wingspan compared to the average small forward, and he's only .3" lower in standing reach than the average small forward. By these indications, he's actually slightly above average overall in size and really being deficient in the one measurement that doesn't matter as much as the others, height.

Case proven. He has the size for the 3.

Combine that with his above-average athleticism, he will be able to hold his own if not have a physical advantage against most 3s.

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Shabazz Muhammad is a 2 at the next level.

He's been playing out of shape and overweight and he's been relying more on his jumper than anything through UCLA's early season. His athleticism while overweight has been average for NCAA standards, and below average for NBA standards.

As conference play kicks in and as McLemore keeps getting shine at Kansas for playing and delivering like we expected Shabazz to be doing, I fully expect Shabazz to kick it into gear. They said that he lost/is losing 20lbs to get into playing shape... sounds more like Waiters coming off Summer League than a guy who is looking to adjust to a heavier weight so he can be a horribly undersized 3 with average athleticism.

His style of play is more grounded, like a Harden type of 2 guard without the same level of playmaking.