OK searched again, as must have done a s****y job the first time when all I noticed was in college he broke his thumb in a pre-season practice and missed 7 games. But this time I found that as a 9th grade freshman he broke his tibia bone which is a large sucker of course. But doctors after the surgery said he should be OK in like 3 months. But after he was cleared to go he waited an extra month to be safe and then went out in a "showcase game" and promptly had a hairline fracture of the same bone. So missed his entire freshman HS season. Two injuries same bone, but still he had played on it with his level of athleticism for 4 seasons no more problems by draft night. https://theathletic.com/2852311/202...d-that-it-factor-and-now-everyone-can-see-it/
I agree that the Tatum/Fox thing is way worse, but they’re still separate issues. I just can’t agree that it wasn’t important because it’s a mid-first. You can still find gems and long career players in the mid-first, every draft pick matters to a degree, whether it’s finding a useful player or future trade chip. And if pick 17 isn’t that important, then don’t get cute, “gamble” on the most talented player available in Whitmore, because it’s a toss up anyway right? I agree nobody drafts 100%, but this one fell into our lap and we messed it up, I’ll need to see a lot from JHS to ever make me feel different.
That's a good question; relative to where they drafted him at 17? Anthony Brown was a bust, but he was like pick 33 in the second round.
crittenton was 18th pick, iirc. similar profile to jhs, without the high character part... tbh, i thought he had a lot of potential his rookie year... anyway, yes, if whitmore ends up being what he was projected to be, this will be a bad one. but if he ends up being either injured or an off-court problem, and jhs ends up being a backup-quality pg two years from now, it's a win. again, i wanted us to draft whitmore when i saw him fall, and podziemski was my pre-draft target (assuming wallace didn't slip, which he didn't). jhs didn't look great on film to me ahead of the draft, and he hasn't looked great in his limited nba minutes. i just don't think that immediately after year one is the right time to declare closure on where guys are going to be.
Forgot about him. Yeah, time will tell. Some prospects take a little bit of time to develop; seems like a good kid. hope the best for him. i just don't think it will be in a lakers jersey for very long, IMO.
it is curious to hear Rob overruled on that pick. Hopefully he proves to be a Mensa on this, and JHS develops into a solid player. Our development program was horrible the last two years, but hopefully that changes. I'd be furious if I was ownership at our young talent not getting enough burn since the coach couldn't manage his rotations and roster effectively.
Absolutely. The reason you give your young guys during the season is you can "identify" a role for them using analytics and the eye test that put them in positions to succeed. When the PO's roll around, they know exactly what to go in there and do and they have the confidence that you're not going to yank them if they make a mistake because you trusted them during the regular season to develop that role. For instance, with Christie - he has the ability to spot up effectively, attack closeouts, on a compromised defense, etc. That should have garnered him a role during the season and by the time the playoff's game, you had a guy ready to contribute and rock that role. See Christian Braun, who's had his ups and downs, but his being developed correctly in Denver. Heck, he just hit a huge three the other night off a Jokic short roll pass to Murray I believe, and Braun for the three... But he's given the confidence to take that shot by the coaching staff.
the fact that we made him sit the bench vs get run in the G League was absurd. Once we was there, he made some noise and had a chance to develop. Terribly job by Ham on that.
Well he was injured for awhile so not able to play anywhere, and when healthy again before reinforcements to offset not having Gabe, he was end of bench insurance. But after those reinforcements with Spencer and Mays signed to the 2-way be probably could have gone down a little sooner. If we were home I think he played G-league then and still dressed with the varsity if no game conflict. On the road he stopped traveling to play G.
