If you pick anyone above George at 9, you're probably sucking down some homer sauce for the wrong person something fierce. He might be the best player in that entire draft.
Reality is hard. George is more productive than anyone other than Cousins (piece of garbage on a bad team) and Monroe (good player on a bad team) with the time that he's been given. I'm also not sure if I've seen another player lower on substance and higher on hype and style than Wall, he's been nothing but hot garbage (on the worst team in the NBA). Hayward and George are comparable players, but Hayward has pedestrian athleticism and length while George is bigger, longer, faster, and more consistent. Do you get your goggles at Fanzzzzzzzzzzzz?
I would go with George right now. I do believe that Hayward will turn out to be the better player for the Jazz, but not necessarily the better player. Hayward has the skills that the Jazz need going forward. I have hope that he will turn into the player that has "heart" and "toughness" when the Jazz need it. I don't see Hayward as being a star, but I do like him.
I am not so sure that George will keep up his amazing shooting. Eventually his athleticism will decline and I hope that he will have improved in other areas. If he doesn't then at that point everyone will be on the Hayward>George bandwagon.
Heres the way i see it, NUMBERICA:
If you there was a trade, and Paul George was sent to the Wizards in exchange for Wall being sent to the Pacers, how well would each player play??
I would think that the Wizards would get even worse, and George's stats would seriously lower. On the other hand, John Wall's assist numbers would go up, his shooting would go up, and he'd likely become quite a good point guard. Its always important to look at context; the Pacers are a very solid team this year. The same cannot be said about Wall's, Cousins's, or Monroe's teams. Im sure George would be produce very similarly to the three aforementioned players if he was on their respective teams.
As far as the Hayward vs George comparisons, it is much too early to say. Remember, Chris Paul grew much quicker than DWill did. However, 4 years after the draft, I would have considered Dwill as the better player. Same consideration should be taken with George and Hayward. We don't know how both of the players will pan out with even having them play 10 games into their scond season. It is much too early to judge.
PS: Labelling a player as consistent based off of a <10 game sample from the start of their second season is a bit ridiculous. He sure as hell wasn't consistent last year either, unless 29.7% from 3point range is what you like from a shooting guard.
Well gentlemen, the 2nd season has come to a close. Lets compare stats now:
1) Gordon Hayward: 30.4 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 45.6 FG%, 34.6 3P%, 83.2 FT%, 3.1 APG, 3.5 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG.
2) Paul George: 29.7 MPG, 12.1 PPG, 44.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 80.2 FT%, 2.4 APG, 5.6 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.6 SPG.
Each half of their seasons was quite mirrored. Pre-AllStar break, George was shooting 4.01% from 3. He fell down to 36.1% rom three, after the AllStar break. Conversely, Gordon Hayward was averaging an abysmal 24.6% from three before the AllStar Beak, but brought it up to 42.2% from 3.
I am impressed with how good Hayward's stats ended up being in his second season- especially seeing how poorly he started. He shot at a better percentage from the field (though not by much), assisted better, shot free throws more accurately (also shot an average of 3 free throws a game, in comparison to 2.2 from Paul George) and blocked/scored similarly. George seems to have obvious edges in Rebounding and Steals, although scoring and blocking seems to be a wash at this point in their careers. At this point, I see Hayward as a better penetrator, foul-drawer, and assister, whereas Paul seems to be the better rebounder, and steals-garnerer. I won't put much stock in shooting percentages, seeing as their career numbers are more or less indifferentiable.
So there you have it folks!! After two seasons, and it is still hard to decide who the better player between them, is. I personally choose Hayward, as I have all season long.
