1) Singleton is not AK. I keep hearing this idea that Singleton will be effectively replacing AK. No one is going to replace AK. Love him or not, AK is like no one else. While his work ethic leaves everything to be desired, the guy has/had talent just coming out of his ears and is/was insanely versatile (except for the one thing that could've made him incredible; his long-range shot). AK is deceptively good at handling the ball, facilitating the offense still or on the move, and naturally an incredible passer. His vision is that of a PG's. Once upon a time (and every once in a while still) he was a threat to rack up a 5x5 or quadruple-double. His feel and knowledge for the game on BOTH sides of the ball make him a simultaneously quiet and massive impact player. Singleton played really good defense in college and what else? I'm by no means advocating bringing AK back (another topic), but even if you're paying peanuts to Singleton, he's not AK. Cut the crap. Hell, besides that, AK was picked 24th. Not 12th.
2) Singleton's a big body that plays D. What else? He mysteriously is allergic to the rim (relative his physical attributes and lack of a shot) and isn't a factor in transition. He can hit a wide-open shot, but asking him to do anything else in that area and you're asking for a wasted possession. He's smart enough to know his limitations for the most part, but he doesn't stand apart in any way besides steals. This is a 3-year player, if there's something besides defense that he wants to show us, we should have started to see it by now.
3) Perimeter defense is not nearly as important as interior defense (you are responsible for your guy basically, not an entire team), and offensive shortcomings are immensely more difficult to mask and penalizing for a perimeter player (Ronnie Brewer, and he could finish and pass). Long story short, you have to be a factor offensively to be a perimeter player, and that starts with shooting. Singleton might improve, but what's to say any other prospect won't either?
4) Perimeter defenders aren't that special or hard to find. They are basically universally MLE or lower players (because they're not rare). A lottery pick is relatively rare in a draft and should be treated as such. It shouldn't be burnt on a player that, on paper, you can find ALL OVER the draft. Here are some names of perimeter defenders in this draft not named Chris Singleton that WILL be drafted after 12 or not drafted at all;
-Gilbert Brown
-David Lighty
-Justin Holiday
-Jimmy Butler
-Tobias Harris
-Tyler Honeycutt
To a man, I like all of these prospects at least as much as Singleton (and some A LOT more [Butler]). I want my perimeter players to defend as much as anyone, but you don't need to use lottery picks to find them. They are all over the draft every single year.
5) Players that I would take ahead of Singleton at 12 that could be there (not even close)
-Biyombo
-Hamilton
-Thompson
-Burks
-Thompson
If all of these guys are off the board, then players even better will be available.
Summary: The #12 pick historically isn't much better than the ones after it, but that doesn't mean it isn't a better opportunity than the ones after since the Jazz have the pick of the litter. Swing for the fences. You can find Singleton's in any given draft, if Jordan Hamilton becomes what we wished Miles HAD become and/or Biyombo becomes the second-coming of Ben Wallace, then it's going to be very hard to be happy with stronger Corey Brewer (thanks billyshelby).
2) Singleton's a big body that plays D. What else? He mysteriously is allergic to the rim (relative his physical attributes and lack of a shot) and isn't a factor in transition. He can hit a wide-open shot, but asking him to do anything else in that area and you're asking for a wasted possession. He's smart enough to know his limitations for the most part, but he doesn't stand apart in any way besides steals. This is a 3-year player, if there's something besides defense that he wants to show us, we should have started to see it by now.
3) Perimeter defense is not nearly as important as interior defense (you are responsible for your guy basically, not an entire team), and offensive shortcomings are immensely more difficult to mask and penalizing for a perimeter player (Ronnie Brewer, and he could finish and pass). Long story short, you have to be a factor offensively to be a perimeter player, and that starts with shooting. Singleton might improve, but what's to say any other prospect won't either?
4) Perimeter defenders aren't that special or hard to find. They are basically universally MLE or lower players (because they're not rare). A lottery pick is relatively rare in a draft and should be treated as such. It shouldn't be burnt on a player that, on paper, you can find ALL OVER the draft. Here are some names of perimeter defenders in this draft not named Chris Singleton that WILL be drafted after 12 or not drafted at all;
-Gilbert Brown
-David Lighty
-Justin Holiday
-Jimmy Butler
-Tobias Harris
-Tyler Honeycutt
To a man, I like all of these prospects at least as much as Singleton (and some A LOT more [Butler]). I want my perimeter players to defend as much as anyone, but you don't need to use lottery picks to find them. They are all over the draft every single year.
5) Players that I would take ahead of Singleton at 12 that could be there (not even close)
-Biyombo
-Hamilton
-Thompson
-Burks
-Thompson
If all of these guys are off the board, then players even better will be available.
Summary: The #12 pick historically isn't much better than the ones after it, but that doesn't mean it isn't a better opportunity than the ones after since the Jazz have the pick of the litter. Swing for the fences. You can find Singleton's in any given draft, if Jordan Hamilton becomes what we wished Miles HAD become and/or Biyombo becomes the second-coming of Ben Wallace, then it's going to be very hard to be happy with stronger Corey Brewer (thanks billyshelby).
