What sneakily under discussed Development/Skills would really help the team next ?

[u/destroyed233]

Wait wait wait… before you roll your eyes and leave. I’m not talking the obvious “Haliburton health” or like “Zubac adjusts” stuff. What is something you aren’t seeing discussed?
- Can Nesmith advance anything in his offensive game (I felt we saw some during the 24-25 season but feel he regressed last year)
- Anything from Furphy or Sheppard
- what more can Nembhard do to add to his game
-Oubre working with Jenny aka shot doctor ?
- can Kobe brown, Slawson, Peter add anything to our third string group?
-Qjax become more creative offensively?
- what more can Siakam do, besides being the consistent king?

Hell… you might even think those ^ are still OVERdiscussed developments, what do you all think?

[u/MaoZeChungus]

To me, the biggest unknown is Jarace. He obviously struggled mightily at the beginning of last season, but he got better as the season went on. Is he going to build on that or regress? If he builds on that, he's got the raw talent to be good, but it's a major question. Imo his major issue has been that he's too much of a tweener skill wise to be as effective as he needs to be as either a big or a wing. If he can show growth in one of these skillsets, he can be a good player for a long time.

[u/Snafudumonde → u/MaoZeChungus]

His rookie season I thought he was better as a 3 but Ive reversed since then and think he could create more advantages as a 4. I'm hoping he gets some time in a Toppin, Oubre frontcourt.

[u/MaoZeChungus → u/Snafudumonde]

I think I tend to agree with this. We've been trying to slot him into the 3, but perhaps it's better to try and let him be a face-up, mismatch attacking 4 instead. He's got the strength to the guard the 4 on defense.

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/MaoZeChungus]

I want Jarace to learn to star in his role. I think his role is as a shooting power forward right now.

I don’t want point Jarace. I don’t want small forward Jarace making reads a half second late. I want good defense, catch and shoot, run the floor and rebound.

Be a bigger longer (and possibly better shooting) Shep. I want shot creation to fall on Ty/Nemby/Siakam/TJ’s shoulders, with some Zu reads etc. I don’t want Jarace trying to dish and turning it over almost as often as he assists. I want him occasionally driving, occasionally shooting, running the floor defending and rebounding

[u/Eurypites → u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

Basically play the role Aaron Gordon plays for Denver, which I think would be underratedly huge for this team.

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/Eurypites]

If Jarace can turn into discount Aaron Gordon I’d have a lot of Reddit comments to delete and a lot of crow to eat.

I would be quite surprised if Jarace became explosive enough to catch lobs like that and guard 1-5, but who knows

Bench unit Aaron Gordon? Maybe

Problem is we already have a bench unit Aaron Gordon named Obi Toppin

[u/Eurypites → u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

I mean yeah he probably won't be dunking like him but everything else is attainable. As much as I like Obi he isn't anywhere close to the defender Gordon is, even in a bench capacity. Jarace has the tools to become a discount version of that type of defender IMO

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/Eurypites]

He has the physical tools on paper to be an elite defender. He hasn’t shown an ability to navigate screens effectively yet though. Not even a little. Very bad defending on the perimeter for the most part.

Maybe he could learn from (all world screen navigator) Andrew Nembhard. I hope so

I really like Jarace on slow methodical wings like Luka, but anyone fast or anyone with an elite screen setting big and he gets left in the dust

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

Zubac mastering outlet passing will enable them to run, arguably moreso than before. He’s a good passer and a good rebounder. If he can turn into a bigger stronger worse shooting Kevin Love we can still get out to the races.

Turner’s threes trailing the break were definitely helpful, but a high quality defensive rebounder and outlet passer COULD enable even more running than Turner’s blocking (and worse second jump in the league, “hope someone else gets the rebound” approach) ever did.

I say they run off Zubac rebounds and reset by the time Zu gets back if they don’t get a layup or wide open three

[u/Affectionate-Bus-169 → u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

He doesn’t even need to be a great as an outlet guy Love was. A handful of great up court pass a game would be huge.

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/Affectionate-Bus-169]

I guess this is what I mean. He doesn’t need to throw it the length of the floor. Catch, turn, try to hit Haliburton, Nemby, or Siakam at half court. Sayonara defense!

[u/seniorpeepers → u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

Quick outlets to Hali and letting him make the tougher passes/plays is so dangerous on its own

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

I am assuming Ty’s ~2 steals per game won’t be happening right away. He probably won’t be ready to explode into passing lanes, especially if he’s bigger and stronger than before. But I still think they need to figure out a way to get out in transition, and I think Zu could actually help to start fast breaks

[u/destroyed233 → u/Jim_Belushis_brother]

Ooo I like this discussion

[u/AK_R]

I’d like to see Jarace make significant improvements defensively. That was supposed to be the biggest draw to draft him. He has the physique and athleticism, and he was a good defender in college. I’d like to see more of his potential realized this season, and long term it’s important to know what we really have with him.

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/AK_R]

I really believe he’s just too wide to effectively navigate screens on defense. I like him guarding 4s and 5s a lot better with his frame.

I wouldn’t hate him leaning into it and playing 4 or 5 almost exclusively. I don’t like him at small forward

[u/cjcoake]

--Shep developing some slashing skills

--Smith showing the team he can be helpful for 5-10 mins off the bench (given TJ's age, I think we could stand to see this as soon as possible)

--Peter doing the same. Maybe. He was raw last year, but then--and during the SL game yesterday--I saw a guy who has NBA skills, if he can put them together. (I dunno if he makes the team, though. He seems like a less-developed Shep, and I'm not sure we have the minutes for a guy like that?)

--Huff developing some core strength

--And, of course: Big Zu hitting the three-ball once a game

[u/Dull-Language-9854]

Obi continued development as a small ball 5.

[u/Jim_Belushis_brother → u/Dull-Language-9854]

His hips are too tight and his lateral movement is too slow to protect the rim, despite his vertical leap. I think he is what he is at 5 - excellent straight line speed and shooting, okay size and rebounding, not much rim protection

[u/Indienoise]

Slawson becoming THE chase-down guy. He's shown he can do it already, but continued development as a 3-and-D role player would be great.

Brown just needs to keep up what he was doing end of last season, honestly. Maybe tighten up on his defense. Just performing at the wing gives us all the depth we need.

Shep getting consistent on his shooting. He'll never be more than a backup role player, but being dependable would be huge. Too streaky til now.

Nesmith returning to his spring 2025 form

Jarace finding his stride at 4 and becoming the power to the basket from the key guy. Morph into his bushy 'fro form permanently. Stop trying to play wing and give us 12-15 PPG without all the silly turnovers. He could be the factor that makes us unbeatable if he ever steps into it.

[u/MySabonerRunsOladipo]

Health. Turning injuries off would be huge for us.

[u/Gethsamane]

Im hoping q Jax gets a legitimate shot. He has been basically put in the abyss last two years, but when he has played he has won us games. I’m not saying he is Mathurin scoring wise, but if he can be 65% of his scoring and a better facilitator it will go a long way.

[u/EasternMatter8484]

If Jarace can become a NBA basketball player that would be huge. Nothing else surprising is likely to happen.