He reminds me a bit of Horry. Solid size and length for a big, a sweet outside shot, and makes all the winning plays down the stretch. He's a little more mobile than I remember Rob being with the ball in his hands, but a similar feel about them. I don't know that he can play SF. Honestly, I'd rather he play PF anyway because it gives us a mis-match. I'm very eager to see if Kuzma and Randle/Nance can play at the same time. If you can run a small-ball lineup with Ball/Pope/Ingram/Kuzma/Nance or Randle you're talking about a C-/D+ version of what Golden State runs which is still very dangerous. Any one of those players can grab the ball and push themselves up the floor either all the way to the rim or at least get the ball over quickly. They can (should be able) to switch nearly everything defensively and get into the passing lanes. It'd be a work in progress obviously since that entire team is 25 or under, but that's the sort of versatility we're looking for. Kuzma has absolutely played his way into regular season minutes, there's just no denying that anymore. Just for fun, here's Kuzma in Summer League vs. his contemporary forwards: 27th pick: Kuzma: 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks, 48.4 FG%, 31.3 minutes 3rd pick: Tatum: 17.7 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 42.2 FG%, 32 minutes 4th pick: Jo. Jackson: 17.4 points, 9.2 boards, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 1 block, 42.5 FG%, 35 minutes 6th pick: Isaac: n/a 7th pick: Markannen: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1.7 blocks, 29.3 FG%, 32.7 minutes 10th pick: Z. Collins: 6.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 2.0 blocks, 26.1 FG%, 23.3 minutes 15th pick: Ju. Jackson: 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, 37.9 FG%, 32.3 minutes 17th pick: DJ Wilson: 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.4 blocks, 38.3 FG%, 25.2 minutes 18th pick: Leaf: n/a 19th pick:J. Collins: 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 59.3 FG%, 23 minutes 20th pick: Giles: n/a 24th pick: Lydon: 2.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, 20 FG%, 24.2 minutes 26th pick: Swanigan: 14.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks, 43.6 FG%, 30.1 minutes Obviously this is Summer League and some of these guys do things better than Kuzma that'll translate to the NBA game a little easier. Tatum averages less points on a worse percentage because he is an isolation player and is more capable of creating for himself than Kuz. I just think this is the most fair way to judge Kuzma (and the FO) as of this second since there's not much else to compare to. Kuzma was a steal, no doubt about that. I have no idea what Denver was thinking taking Lydon, genuinely I don't. I had Lydon as a second round pick maybe because he's not an NBA athlete at all.
Kuz seems like a better passer/defender than Rashard was, and Lewis didn't have those post moves either.
PF position is a bit crowded with the current roster given Deng is better at 4. If he wants minutes, he needs to play at 3.
lewis was bigger, and i think more athletic as a young player. better shooter, and i remember him having the ability to post smaller players, too. but the shooting was different for sure. i can't come up with a kuzma comp. he's not the athlete horry was, and he has more ball skills than horry ever did. but not odom skills, nor does he rebound like odom did (he was really good on the boards).
PF position is a bit crowded with the current roster given Deng is better at 4. If he wants minutes, he needs to play at 3. That doesn't look like a problem from where I'm sitting and watching. And per the S S & R article above he has one of these ..... love it!!
i think he'll need to defend the sf position most nights, so that's where i'd be playing him initially. he'll have to get stronger if he wants to be a full-time 4 (i.e., defend opposing pfs). plus, we need to defensive rebound if we're going to run.
i've said it a couple times, but boris diaw when he was with the suns comes to mind. smart player, decent outside shot, great passer, can play in the post, decent defender.
suns diaw was a poor shooter and had more bulk (even then, pre-all-pastry diet). higher hoop iq and better ballhandler and passer. worse shooter; he didn't really develop any sort of shot until SA. dantoni played him at center because he couldn't shoot the three well enough.
Watch the lakers deal Randle with the emergence of Kuzma. Id totally get the move if they want him and lonzo starting and playing together come game 1.
why do we need to accomdate Deng? he sucks and can kick rocks. Just cause hes the highest paid player doesn't mean he gets minutes, dude better come back in shape and play up to par otherwise he can keep his sorry arse on the bench
Kuzma leap frogged him at PF.. Deng has to be be better than Brewer overall if he wants minutes cause if not look for Brewer/Kuzma as our F's. Im praying Luol gives us some shades of Swaggy when we all wanted him out and last year actually played like a player that used all his talent finally. Hoping Luol had a nice honeymoon and is ready to get to work. Been trying to get a reaction out of that bastard on twitter but no dice lol. It's a lame that most athletes/people on TV only respond if you say something negative. Gotten some love doe.
Lol. I dont think it happens.. But if someone offers us a deal we cant refuse with Deng as part of the packaged.. Im not gonna be shocked is all im saying. I rather not personally cause im already envisioning Randle sliding to C for small ball and watch him and Kuzma together with Lonzo on the court. :JuliusPumped 1:
I wouldn't jump ship immediately. Randle is the starting PF. But he might be traded by the trade deadline. Who knows. He is serviceable at PF, IMO. The Heat knew that, he played at 4. We better utilize all the assets we have. Who knows, he might bounce back, becomes a tradable asset by the deadline.
