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Max Christie Discussion: Struggling

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by JSM, Jun 23, 2022.

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JSM, Jun 23, 2022

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JSM, Jun 23, 2022

#42

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going for a project instead of someone who will be NBA ready soon makes me think it's going to be rebuild time after this next season

432J, Jun 23, 2022

#43
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sirronstuff said: ↑

Looks like a super slow release that will get swatted 50% of the time. Without watching very many more boring highlights of just three-pointers, I would say he’s headed to the G league for development, and we are likely not to see him for one or two years. He’s 19. It is what it is. A future asset.
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also noticed the slow release

Khmrp, Jun 23, 2022

#44

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The real question is: does he have a wife?

ZenMaster, Jun 23, 2022

#45

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ZenMaster said: ↑

The real question is: does he have a wife?
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Is this in reference to Doug being a b**** a**?

KareemtheGreat33, Jun 23, 2022

#46

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I wouldn't put it quite as strongly, but it certainly is the right name.

We, in general, have a mediocre history with wives...

ZenMaster, Jun 23, 2022

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“We”?

LTLakerFan, Jun 24, 2022

#48

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Getting Christie at 35 after he finished ranked No. 34 in the CBS Sports Top 100 makes this a decent value, but the fit and landing spot is a question. The former five-star recruit has good positional size and a good shooting stroke but developmentally he's not quite ready to be a rotational player in the NBA – much less for a contender in the Lakers. Grade: B-

@CBS

From what I read, I think Lidell would have made a ton of sense.
Weird we went after a project when we need so much depth. But the scouting department earned the benefit of the doubt

pika1708, Jun 24, 2022

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LTLakerFan said: ↑

“We”?
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You whippersnapper... we, the Lakers.

ZenMaster, Jun 24, 2022

#50
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432J said: ↑

going for a project instead of someone who will be NBA ready soon makes me think it's going to be rebuild time after this next season
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i'm not sure i agree. there aren't a lot of guys taken in the 2nd round who can play right away for a good team, which is why i find the draft commentary about "what's a contender doing drafting a project?" sort of silly. as rob said, we need to develop players. every team needs to be doing it all the time.

probably the most interesting thing was that the scouts were unified on christie being the pick. rob didn't have to say that.

i think the landry shamet comparison makes sense given the size and abilities, and i like that christie's defense is mentioned as a positive. shamet + defense is a useful nba player.

i'm less enthused about our UDFAs. pippen and shareef don't look like nba players to me, and i didn't like anything i saw from swider aside from the shot. it's hard to make it in the league if that's all you have (see novak, steve).

abeer3, Jun 24, 2022

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He is prolly as bad as DOUG !

Johgnyb77, Jun 24, 2022

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If he becomes a free agent after an All NBA level performance, it will save a lot of time when we say max Christie

KareemtheGreat33, Jun 24, 2022

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Max Christie parked himself in front of a backdrop displaying the logo of the league he’d always dreamt of joining, surrounded by reporters, there to answer questions about how he reached this decision and why it was best for him.

It was May in Chicago, and Christie was in attendance for the NBA Combine. He had recently announced he’d remain in the 2022 NBA Draft and begin his pro career, after declaring a month earlier. It was surprising to some, seeing Christie leave after just one year of college basketball, but if you know Christie, it’s who he is. He’s confident — not cocky. He’s very matter-of-fact about his game and what he feels he brings to the table. When you combine those traits with a five-star pedigree and a skill set that fits what the NBA, it’s not hard to deduce how Christie got here.

“I think it’s just betting on myself, being confident in myself and the preparation that I put into this game,” Christie told reporters at the combine. “I think that’s just all it really is, just having confidence in myself and knowing that I feel like I’m ready for this level and able to contribute whenever that time comes.”

A native of Rolling Meadows, Ill., Christie had his fair share of programs pursuing him as a high school prospect. Duke, Villanova, Florida, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, Baylor and Virginia, among others. However, it was Michigan State that ultimately secured a commitment from the 20th ranked player in the 2021 class.

Christie arrived at Michigan State with a ton of promise and hype regarding his ability to contribute immediately. In a lot of ways, he was everything the team needed. An excellent shooter with size and a high basketball IQ, Christie was brought in to provide instant offense. Even before the season began, it was clear he would be counted on in ways that aren’t typical of freshmen at Michigan State.

“Max is 6-5, he’s got size, he can shoot the ball,” Izzo told The Athletic last September. “He’s really, really impressed me defensively. He’s a lot better player defensively than he was, I think, in high school, and he’s gotten a lot stronger. I think he’s taken a good game and made it even better — or a great game and made it even better. He’s exciting because he’s just a great kid, great student, he’s got all the intangibles.”

At times early in the season, Christie looked like the player he was billed as. One of the best shooters on the team, he had the green light to pull up from just about anywhere. Michigan State was 12-1 when he scored 10 or more points. He was a better-than-advertised defender, often guarding the opposing team’s best scorer. And he did it all while averaging north of 30 minutes per game as a freshman.

However, Christie regressed as the year went on. He shot just 34 percent (45 of 129) over the final two months of the season, averaging 7.9 points per game during that stretch. He couldn’t get his shot to fall with much consistency despite good looks. Michigan State worked to put the ball in his hands more, but Christie didn’t always look comfortable in that role. It became apparent that Christie still had work to do. He looked like he hit a freshman wall.

Despite his ups and downs, Michigan State’s coaching staff believed in Christie’s game and the player he could become with the right offseason, prior to his announcement. Another year in the system, more time in the weight room and natural growth could’ve provided the formula that took Christie’s game from solid contributor to an All-Big Ten caliber — perhaps cementing his stock as a potential lottery pick in 2023. We saw it happen in the Big Ten this past year. Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray and Johnny Davis all benefitted from strong sophomore seasons, and each were selected among the top ten picks.

The tools were there for that kind of turnaround with Christie, too. Instead, he declared for the draft and remained in it, choosing to turn pro now and bet himself.

“I know this has been a lifelong dream for Max and I am excited for him as he takes the next step and continues the process and journey to becoming an NBA player,” Izzo said of Christie when he announced he was staying in the draft. “We appreciate all the hard work and dedication he gave to Michigan State basketball this season and wish him nothing but the best.”

When it comes to Christie and his development, the Los Angeles Lakers must be patient. This isn’t a near-finished product we’re talking about, ready to take the league by storm. He’ll need to continue to add muscle and strength. His ballhandling must improve, along with his shot selection. His defense was better than expected at Michigan State, but the NBA will present a different challenge. He’ll need to be ready for it.

Still, Christie’s potential role in the NBA is easy to see, and the Lakers are getting some value at pick No. 35. If Christie might’ve been a lottery pick with another year in school, it means there are NBA skills that could be harnessed in the right setting.

Christie possesses good size, measuring in at 6-5 3/4 (with shoes) at the combine, with a 6-9 wingspan. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be an effective player, and he should benefit from the spacing the NBA provides. Though he only shot 31.7 percent from deep in college, it’s not indicative of where he ultimately might end up. His stroke is consistent, and the potential is there to become a threat from behind the arc.

By all accounts, Christie is a high-character person and a tireless worker. There’s a reason he was a five-star prospect out of high school, and there’s a reason he believes he’s ready for the next level. Not next year, but right now.

The Lakers are banking on those skills translating.
Click to expand...

JSM, Jun 24, 2022

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Guys named Christie are soft ! He should buy LeBron a huge present for drafting him .

I look forward to him practicing his crazy half court circus 3 pointers and bricking him .

Johgnyb77, Jun 24, 2022

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JSM, Jun 24, 2022

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LeBron is gonna ruin this team before he walks out next yr !!!

Johgnyb77, Jun 24, 2022

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pika1708 said: ↑

Getting Christie at 35 after he finished ranked No. 34 in the CBS Sports Top 100 makes this a decent value, but the fit and landing spot is a question. The former five-star recruit has good positional size and a good shooting stroke but developmentally he's not quite ready to be a rotational player in the NBA – much less for a contender in the Lakers. Grade: B-

@CBS

From what I read, I think Lidell would have made a ton of sense.
Weird we went after a project when we need so much depth. But the scouting department earned the benefit of the doubt
Click to expand...

another skinny guy who thinks he can shoot just cuz Steph and clay did it ! Copycat league is getting old

Johgnyb77, Jun 24, 2022

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With limited means to improve their team this offseason, the Lakers used their most reliable roster-building tool over the past decade: the draft.

The Lakers got younger while improving their 3-point shooting and defensive versatility through the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, selecting 19-year-old wing Max Christie with the 35th pick, before signing undrafted rookies Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider to two-way contracts, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Bill Oram reported. Shareef O’Neal, son of Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal, also agreed to play in the NBA Summer League with the Lakers, sources confirmed to Charania.

Christie is the headline addition — a 3-and-D prospect the Lakers were willing to purchase a draft pick to acquire.

The Lakers, who began the day without a pick, acquired the 35th pick from the Orlando Magic in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick (the better of either the Lakers’ or Washington Wizards’) and cash considerations on Thursday morning. The Athletic reported earlier in the week that the Lakers were looking to purchase a second-round pick.

Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said the Lakers strategically identified the top of the second round as the area of the draft into which the team wanted to trade. The talks with the Magic, who also had the No. 1 and No. 32 picks, started about a week ago. The Lakers pinpointed about 35 players they were confident in drafting and felt that securing a top-35 pick was essentially locking in a first-round talent for them.

Christie, a 6-foot-6 wing out of Michigan State, was the highest remaining prospect on the Lakers’ draft board, league sources told The Athletic.

The Lakers had hoped Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard, the No. 31 pick, would fall to them at No. 35, sources said. Kendall Brown, the No. 48 pick, was also in consideration for Los Angeles at No. 35. The Lakers considered purchasing another second-round pick to draft Brown, sources said.

Pelinka said Christie was the consensus pick for the Lakers’ scouts and front office, which is rare on draft night. Christie stood out in his interview with Pelinka, Joey Buss, Jesse Buss and Kurt Rambis at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Christie didn’t work out for the Lakers and said it was “a little bit of a surprise” that they picked him.

Christie ranked No. 27 on The Athletic’s draft expert Sam Vecenie’s final 2022 Big Board and was projected as the No. 31 pick. The Lakers are high on his long-term potential while acknowledging he’s a ways away from reaching his lofty ceiling.

“We really think he’s a guy that if he would’ve chosen to go back to school, you’re talking about a guy that could’ve easily been in the top 20, top 15 of next year’s draft,” Pelinka said on a video conference call with local reporters. “So to be able to get a player like that and develop him with the 35th pick is rare, and we’re really proud.”

Christie is different from most recent Lakers non-lottery draft picks in that he’s something of a project. (Talen Horton-Tucker is another recent exception.) Christie is only 190 pounds and needs to get much stronger to handle the physicality of the NBA game on both ends. Most of Christie’s current limitations stem from his weight and lack of strength.

That said, Christie projects as an NBA shooter, first and foremost. He didn’t shoot 3s well as a freshman (31.7 percent), but his form, mechanics and pre-college numbers suggest that was an anomaly.

Christie said he’s hungry to show he’s a better shooter than he was last season.

“I think the biggest thing is my ability to make shots and shoot the 3,” Christie said on a conference call with local reporters. “I don’t think that was displayed very well at Michigan State. I think having a little bit of a reset coming into the NBA now, I think I’ll be able to display that at a better level.”

Christie was a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American who was a projected first-round pick entering his freshman season at Michigan State. He struggled by those standards, especially from distance, but he still earned All-Freshman honors in the Big Ten.

He shot 38 percent on corner 3s, which are the exact type of high-percentage looks he’ll get in a LeBron James-led offense. Christie has a high release point that allows him to shoot over defenders when coming off screens and against closeouts.

His ability to shoot off movement, particularly in the midrange area, can be a valuable wrinkle in the Lakers’ offense. He’s an expert at using screens and his own footwork to create separation from his defender. He has good balance and control planting and rising off pindowns.

With time in the Lakers’ player development system, one of the best in the league, Christie could eventually make significant strides.

“I think Phil Handy and Chris Jent, in particular, those two guys are gonna do a tremendous job with a guy like Max Christie,” Pelinka said. “Just get his shot release to be a little bit quicker and more consistent, but I think long term he’s got all the tools to be a really good shooter.”

Christie has quite the bag offensively. He can hit one-dribble pull-ups, side-steps, floaters in the lane and contested turnaround jumpers. He knows how to read defenses and defenders, then how to counter their approach.

At the same time, Christie is a slow-twitch athlete who can struggle to get to the rim and finish while there. As Vecenie noted, Christie only attempted one shot at the rim per game in half-court situations and made just 40.9 percent of those attempts, both abysmal marks. He also shot just 42.9 percent on 2-pointers and rarely gets to the free-throw line (4.0 attempts per 100 possessions).

His lack of strength and explosion make it difficult for him to finish through contact. He can be pushed around on both sides of the ball. He can expose the ball at the rim as he compensates for his lack of athleticism, making himself a target to have his shot blocked or altered. His lack of leg strength also likely played a part in his shooting struggles, especially later in the season.

Christie is a high-IQ player who rarely turns the ball over. He has the potential to develop into a secondary ballhandler and playmaker, though he didn’t show much of that skill set at Michigan State. More likely than not, though, he’ll primarily be a catch-and-shoot threat who can both spot up and come off screens.

The most encouraging element of his game, at least in the short term, is on the defensive end, where Christie’s 6-foot-9 wingspan and 8-foot-7 standing reach help him defend multiple positions. He uses his length well to contest shots and crowd passing angles. He has quick feet, navigating opponent screens almost as well as he does his own on the other end. He competes hard and is unafraid to put his body on the line physically.

Christie’s lack of weight and strength hurts him on drives, when he can be bulldozed by opponents charging to the rim. He gives up too many straight-line drives. His shooting confidence and overall toughness are also question marks for NBA scouts.

“He’s gotta get stronger, and he knows that,” Pelinka said. “It’s something that we’ve talked about with him. He’s gotta get out here early and start to put in the work with our Lakers’ strength staff. I think he’s got the ability to move his feet, probably guard three positions. He’s got long arms.

“You can kind of project forward what you think a kid’s build will be, and he’s got a great frame on him and he likes the weight room. That’s a question we asked him. So I hate to put a timeline on it — I can’t really predict how someone’s gonna grow and fill out. But he’s got a great frame, a great basketball set of skills, and I think he’ll develop quickly.”

Christie, an Arlington Heights, Ill., native who was born just a few months before James was drafted No. 1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, is entering the ultimate fish bowl in Los Angeles. He said he has yet to fully grasp that he’s joining a roster with James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

“I definitely thought about it,” Christie said. “I don’t know if it’s completely processed within my mind the magnitude of what you just said. But it’s definitely crossed my mind a couple of times.”

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, a Michigan State alum who was the No. 35 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, shouted out his fellow second-round Spartan.

I actually didn’t see the tweet,” Christie said. “But now that I’m hearing about it, that’s really cool. Props to Draymond for that. But, yeah, obviously, he was the 35th pick as well, so it’s really cool to see him shout me out and tweet at me like that.”

The Lakers desperately need players who can space the floor, move without the ball and defend multiple positions around James and Davis. Christie theoretically checks all of the boxes. The fit is obvious.

His development is going to require patience as he grows stronger, improves as a shooter and acclimates to the NBA game. The Lakers view him as a key part of their budding young core of role players, including Austin Reaves, Stanley Johnson, Horton-Tucker and Wenyen Gabriel. Christie is another high-character prospect who’s a notoriously hard worker.

“I think the wrong thing to do in the draft is to just say, ‘We need to get this guy who can play for us right now,'” Pelinka said. “That’s when you can make big mistakes. We wanted to take the player that we thought could help our team in the current present time but really develop into something special. And we think Max Christie has that DNA.”

The Lakers’ scouting department, led by assistant general manager Jesse Buss, has proven to be one of the best in the league over the past decade. The team has an impressive draft history over the past decade, especially so in the late first/early second portion of the draft. Some of their recent picks in that range: Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant. All six of those players have become starters or key rotation players in the NBA. The scouting department has earned the benefit of the doubt with any prospect they deem worthy of being a Laker. It doesn’t have many misses.

Last season, the Lakers didn’t even have a pick and still ended up with a rotation player in Austin Reaves. They also identified Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk late in the 2018 NBA Draft, Horton-Tucker late in the 2019 NBA Draft and signed Alex Caruso out of the G League in 2017.

In contrast to Christie, Pippen (21) and Swider (23) are older and offer more NBA-ready skill sets. Pippen is a “tenacious, defensive-minded kid that is going to compete every night he plays,” Pelinka said. Pippen Jr. impressed the Lakers in Chicago and in his draft workout for them with his energy and competitiveness. He was No. 88 on Vecenie’s top 100 Big Board.

Swider is a sniper who can “really fly off screens and bend the defense,” according to Pelinka. The Lakers believe he has the potential to become an elite shooter. He wasn’t ranked on Vecenie’s top 100 Big Board.

It’s worth noting that the Lakers are often aggressive switching up their two-way contracts and are not afraid to replace a player if they think they found a better prospect or fit.

Pippen Jr., Swider and even O’Neal will get their chances to prove they belong in the league at Las Vegas Summer League in a couple of weeks. But the Lakers will ultimately be judged by how Christie grows and develops over the next few seasons.

Considering Los Angeles’ stellar late-pick draft track record, it wouldn’t be surprising if Christie becomes a rotation player next season. In the right lineups and scheme, he can probably hold his own defensively against bench units. If his shot progresses, he has the potential to be one of the team’s best shooters.

In some ways, there are surface-level parallels between him and Reaves’ NBA readiness. Christie is longer and skinnier, with much better shooting and scoring potential (and worse defense and ballhandling/playmaking). Reaves was essentially ready from Day 1.

The safest bet is that Christie takes a season or two to develop before cracking the rotation.

At a minimum, Christie is a first-round talent who will be on a team-friendly deal as a second-round pick. If the Lakers end up dealing Westbrook, before the season or by the trade deadline, Christie could be an attractive sweetener to entice a trade partner.

At a maximum, Christie becomes an above-average 3-point shooter with a crafty mid-range game, excelling off pindowns and floppy actions (similar to those used by J.J. Redick in his heyday), and defending multiple positions with his long arms and bulked-up frame. That type of player can start or play a pivotal role off the bench.

The Lakers’ draft night was a success insofar as they acquired a player with the most coveted role-player skill set in the league. Even if Christie doesn’t contribute next season, trading up into the second round and taking a swing on a 19-year-old with his talent and pedigree is a shrewd investment.

“We project him as a guy that has the talent to be a starter in the NBA,” Pelinka said, “and we’re going to put in the work to put him on that path.”
Click to expand...

Good read.

We wanted Nembhard, but he didn't slip. And also thought about trading for a second 2nd rounder to get Kendall Brown (over Walker?)

JSM, Jun 24, 2022

#59

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Remember the days when GS was absolute trash and came nowhere near sniffing a title and we were the face of the league? Oh how times have changed ! Never in a million yrs I thought those chumps will be better than us !

Johgnyb77, Jun 24, 2022

#60

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