Very good game offensively, even finished a few right handed layups, which is definitely a progress this season compared to last.
@trodgers we should continue the discussion here. Why are you singling out Randle? He's got superior stats compared to any of our other kids. And none of them play defense.
Not really. He's the worst of our big three: BI, DAR, JR. He's also the least likely to make it to the next level, and he's the most advanced in his contract. But I've explained. He's plateaued. I think we have a good sense of who he is. Not a key piece for us.
I don't understand how you can conclude that he's plateaued when he's made huge progress in his weaknesses (right hand, control in paint, playmaking, midrange game, overall FG%). Meanwhile Russell and Clarkson have shown absolutely no progress at all.
No, Russell has made massive strides. Huge. Youge even. JC is what he is. I don't think he's tradeable. Randle has regressed as a rebounder and defender, so the off hand is nice and the playmaking is a pleasant surprise. But it gives me little hope.
His lack of growth in awareness in all other aspects of the game though is concerning. His defense has been lazy. One on one, he's usually slapping at the ball. He's almost always late on rotations, doesn't help the helper. Offensively, his screens are atrocious. I'm surprised he doesn't get called for offensive fouls almost every time with those handoffs where he turns into the defender, not to mention he's so eager to receive the ball that he's already cutting and the screen wasn't even effective. Also, when he doesn't have the ball in his hands, he's pretty much useless on the court. As compared to a Zubac or Nance who are constantly moving into spaces to be targets on offense. I don't question Randle's talent much, he has so much potential. But I'm not seeing him learn the intricacies of the game outside of his offense. Everywhere else, especially his effort level, is lacking.
You'd think that year of watching film would have helped. Maybe it actually did and he could have been even worse than what we see now, yikes.
For what it's worth, I know how it sounds to say that I want us to trade a 21 year old guy averaging 13/8/4. I'm now wondering whether we could package Randle and one of our albatrosses for Ibaka and something else. I'd be all over it. Or even Lou + Randle for Ibaka (and a pick? - either a 2nd rounder, or we add a second and they make theirs a first).
Dont make the mistakes OKC did. Let the kids develop. Focus needs to be on adding a superstar though.
The Magic want to move Ibaka in large part so they can move Aaron Gordon to his natural position of PF. So I don't know how much they'd value Randle.
I wonder why. He's (Gordon's) not a very good player, but I can see that that's something they might be interested in.
His game against the Knicks was better in a lot of those points, but still not great. I think Randle makes progress, it just comes incrementally because he's afraid to make mistakes. He's got that young person problem of caring too much when he fails. In his recent interview with Woj, he expressed how he's a perfectionist so when he does something imperfect he beats himself up about it. He talked about how he's still trying to play off the ball because growing up in the AAU circuit he never had to. Etc. etc. I'm not making excuses for him. It's his 2.7th year and he really needs to start making the necessary strides in order to reassert himself as a future stud. He's got the tools. Seeing the right hand more often is a good sign. I think his hand-slapping is misguided, but coached. He's not tall enough to challenge shots, so I think Luke and probably Metta have said he should focus on using his quickness to lead to steals. This is what he thought they meant maybe, who knows? I'd be fine with moving him for a proper star. If we could build a package around him and one of the other kids to bring back Butler or George or maaaaybe Cousins, I'd do it. Still, I always find it weird how quickly people move to throw dirt on this kid. Of all our young prospects, the only ones who are showing continuous, encouraging growth are Ingram and Zubac. The rest are becoming increasingly frustrating.
He can dunk it good lol.....Yea I dont understand the hype magic fans have for Gordon. His stats are very pedistrian and he's an even worse jump shooter than Randle IMO.
I wouldn't give up on Randle or say he's plateaued yet. Especially if you haven't given up on Russell yet. Even though Randle's older he's only been playing in the NBA for the same amount of time. As tada and I have both stated he's improved in his weaknesses, and even though the level of improvement in help D isn't great, he was SO atrocious at it last year in his first season of play, that he is actually a little better in that department even though it still sucks. Got to be patient with these young guns. I think both Randle and Russell will improve over time. That said, I would always still consider a trade if it makes us better. I think Ibaka could be a good trade for us just because he has the tools that fit our team better and that Julius is lacking - much better defense and a reliable outside shot.
No way I trade Julius for Ibaka though because Ibaka is expiring. Then you lose Julius and Ibaka walks, you have nothing. No chance.
