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Trey Lyles: Bound for Stardom?

Batman

Batman

Well-Known Member
I was one of those who, though I had to be up at 5:30 am, stayed up till 1:15 just so that I could watch the Jazz game. And though I was dead tired at work the next day, I can honestly say it was worth it. Anyway, for the first time, I watched Lyles play (don't watch college bball.) and started to get excited about his skill set.
David Locke had obviously been a Lyles guy since his draft breakdown and on Wednesday, his faith in Lyles was on further display. While on 1280 the zone, Locke said that Lyles is incredible skilled and that he's the first playmaking 4 (From the Draymond Green ilk), that is full sized. Emphasis on the FULL SIZED. he also said that all the things people were concerned about, Lyles' athleticism or rebounding is not a concern. Locke said, "He's fine." Lastly Locke said that Lyles could end up being a special talent in this league. Very interesting take. I'm curious to hear, is anyone as high on the 19 year old Lyles as Locke?
Also, If Lyles becomes very good, like a top 45 player in the league, will we be able to keep Lyles Favors and Gobert? It will be interesting to see what happens there.
 
I don't think lyles will be very good until he becomes a good outside shooter.

If that happens then he could be very good
 
Locke drew a wiener on the screen in a podcast. He admitted to stealing ideas from the guy he stole ideas from. He is a moron.

In spite of Locke, Lyles has a chance to be good. Time will tell.
 
Batman said:
I was one of those who, though I had to be up at 5:30 am, stayed up till 1:15 just so that I could watch the Jazz game. And though I was dead tired at work the next day, I can honestly say it was worth it. Anyway, for the first time, I watched Lyles play (don't watch college bball.) and started to get excited about his skill set.
David Locke had obviously been a Lyles guy since his draft breakdown and on Wednesday, his faith in Lyles was on further display. While on 1280 the zone, Locke said that Lyles is incredible skilled and that he's the first playmaking 4 (From the Draymond Green ilk), that is full sized. Emphasis on the FULL SIZED. he also said that all the things people were concerned about, Lyles' athleticism or rebounding is not a concern. Locke said, "He's fine." Lastly Locke said that Lyles could end up being a special talent in this league. Very interesting take. I'm curious to hear, is anyone as high on the 19 year old Lyles as Locke?
Also, If Lyles becomes very good, like a top 45 player in the league, will we be able to keep Lyles Favors and Gobert? It will be interesting to see what happens there.
Click to expand...

I don't see how anything has changed since I watched Lyles in college. He has a good smooth post game but he isn't strong enough to establish good position on most NBA PF's. He is able to attack guards who switch on him. His lack of strength affects his post D and rebounding.

He can handle the ball well, with his head up and that leads to some good passing. He seems to be a heady player that can find shots with pump fakes and ball movement. His jumper looks smooth and good but doesn't go in very often.

So the long term outlook is that he should be able to gain strength-- the key is will his jumper become consistent. And will it become consistent at the 3 point line.

On the flip side I don't have a good feel for his defensive potential. Personally I would rather have Gobert and Favors but we are at least 4 years from making a decision.
 
I agree with you, fish. He had one really special play in particular the other night, where he head-faked his defender at the top of the key, drove the lane, spun around a second defender, and laid it in over whomever was at the rim. It was spectacular; he's got incredible potential.

...but...

If he doesn't develop a consistent outside jumper, plays like that will be the stuff of preseason. That, and he looks pretty lost on defense at this point. Considering the sample size, though, and his age and apparent basketball IQ, I'm really optimistic the Jazz coaching staff is going to bring out that potential, plus some.
 
Qman said:
I don't see how anything has changed since I watched Lyles in college. He has a good smooth post game but he isn't strong enough to establish good position on most NBA PF's. He is able to attack guards who switch on him. His lack of strength affects his post D and rebounding.

He can handle the ball well, with his head up and that leads to some good passing. He seems to be a heady player that can find shots with pump fakes and ball movement. His jumper looks smooth and good but doesn't go in very often.

So the long term outlook is that he should be able to gain strength-- the key is will his jumper become consistent. And will it become consistent at the 3 point line.

On the flip side I don't have a good feel for his defensive potential. Personally I would rather have Gobert and Favors but we are at least 4 years from making a decision.
Click to expand...

olden_undercover said:
I agree with you, fish. He had one really special play in particular the other night, where he head-faked his defender at the top of the key, drove the lane, spun around a second defender, and laid it in over whomever was at the rim. It was spectacular; he's got incredible potential.

...but...

If he doesn't develop a consistent outside jumper, plays like that will be the stuff of preseason. That, and he looks pretty lost on defense at this point. Considering the sample size, though, and his age and apparent basketball IQ, I'm really optimistic the Jazz coaching staff is going to bring out that potential, plus some.
Click to expand...
Good posts.
He is what he is. A late lottery talent that is extremely young and didn't get featured all that much in college.
I don't think anyone really has any idea how good he will or won't be.
 
It was only a preseason game but...Lyles did lead the team in both defensive rebounds and total rebounds at 6 and 8 in 26 minutes of play.
 
I think Lyles is a well rounded player but not to the level of a star. He also has nothing elite to his game to take that path to stardom. I don't see him becoming a star probably not even a starter but he should be a solid NBA player. Harrison Barnes level sounds about right.
 
He has the skills to where anything can happen. Hayward has proven that being good at everything is an elite skill if you continue to progress all the aspects of your game year to year.

Being weak is part of being 19 years old. He has a nice frame, strength will come.
 
I think it depends on his defense and how aggressive he can play. I think his jumper will be solid and he's physically gifted.
 
The beauty of Bird Rights, the CBA, and the upcoming salary cap explosion is that small-to-mid market teams will be able to hold onto a young nucleus that's homegrown. Even if Lyles explodes, keeping him and Gobert will be possible. Might have to dip into the Luxury Tax to do it, but I think the Millers would be willing if a deep playoff run was imminent.

Pre-draft, I thought Lyles would rise to the 6-8 mark and we wouldn't have a crack at him. He's incredibly skilled for his size. I thought he was a steal and still do.
 
zyzz said:
Yeah I can't believe people bit on his pump fakes every time 25 feet from the basket lol
Click to expand...

They still bite on Booker's though... most of these guys don't check the stats before they close out. They read scouting reports, but in the heat of the moment they are likely thinking that's my guy and he's threatening to score on me. It's just like the DWade pump fake. He gets fouled on it all the time and guys know he isn't a great shooter... has been getting the call for years now.

His handle and passing will make his face up game good with or without a great jumper. If he becomes garbage shooter that will change, but I think he is currently good enough to pose a threat.

People have mentioned he's 19 and needs to get stronger... this is true, but he will get better just by being more comfortable out there. He's probably not comfortable really going into somebody's body at this point. Brandon Bass is a grown *** man and he will go through many guys.

I'm encouraged by what I've seen the GTime comp is about right. Good at many things... master or none, but makes everything else around him work better. I don't know if he has Gordon's drive or work ethic though.
 
He needs to work on strength and toughness in a big way, but there's real upside. He gets in the lane and gets over the rim quite easily, and he's really just a kid. The thing that already stands out about him to me is his court awareness, IQ and decision making. He makes reads and makes the right play at game speed. The ball doesn't stop. Then he's got the body control to make a play and get his defender out of position. He has some of the same 'intangibles' that Gordon Hayward has, and that gives him a lot to build on. He also has the ability to pull up from 10 feet and hit a running floater, which is a skill move for a guy that size.

Yeah, he needs to stop throwing the same fake-then-drive move, which will stop working when teams scout him, but he's got a nice face-up game developing in the mold of a Carlos Boozer. Plus, compared to Boozer, Lyles has more length, better body control, and he plays defense. He could become a 20/10 player or something awfully close to it within a few years, if he gets featured in the offense.

He's not the first versatile PF with size though. Locke is exaggerating a bit there. I mean, KG, Bosh and now Blake Griffin all have pretty complete games with some shooting range.
 
I loved him before the draft when everyone was on full hate mode with Lyles. I had no idea who he was then two weeks before the draft I did some scouting. What made me like him was that he played sf at Kentucky guarding smaller guys on the perimeter and was a natural ball handler and a fluid athlete. Felt then he could be a matchup nightmare no matter who guards him. U can ply small ball without going small and he has potential to neutralize opponents small ball lineups. Our lineup options were already going to be nightmareish for teens to defend now add a guy that can adapt to any lineup. Wow!!

This is what made me like him, and now he's showing to be skilled in all these attributes.

Bottom line... Lyles is going to be good. People are harping on his defense, strength, and shot. Relax. Dude is 19. He has a great build, strength is guaranteed. The shot will be at least respectable. He may never be a wiz defensively, but his time as a sf at Kentucky, guarding on the perimeter will make him a useful defender none the less at the next level. As a 19 yr old he just needs time.
 
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