Everything Precious Achiuwa

[DanH]

Feeling annoying this morning so going to put some super small sample early returns from this season here.

Precious' on-court net rating with each player (listed in order of minutes played):
Fred +23
Gary +10
Pascal +17
OG +29
Koloko -19
Banton -42
Barnes -7
Flynn -15
Boucher +4
Thad -42
Khem -48

We should stop playing Precious at PF, it seems. Generally has had a lot of struggle with the bench but killed it with the various starters, Barnes excepted (who plays in most of those bench groups). Shocking.

Will be interesting to watch to see if that trend continues.

Another trend related to the discussion:

On-off court differential net rating by player, in order of minutes played:
Fred +42
Gary -17
Pascal +8
OG +40
Precious +14
Barnes +13
Koloko -18
Banton -44
Thad -53
Flynn -17
Boucher +4
Khem +25
Juancho -56

Good news is in his one game Boucher seemed to stabilize the bench a bit. One of those top 6 guys in minutes doesn't seem to fit with the rest...

Again, interesting to keep an eye on. Wonder how long it would need to go on before the team starts to consider a change.

[Primer]

His feet are great on D. He has a knack for funneling guys away from the basket just enough then contests nicely.

Still not sure about his mental strength when it counts. Always thought hes the guy thatll miss a gimme in a crucial playoff game. Hopefully his two missed ft’s late in the last elimination game wasnt a harbinger of things to come

but ya what a pleasant surprise

The mental strength is a concern until you remember he is 22 years old and 6 years out from entering his prime. He also hasn't gotten to start a full season yet. He's very primed for a blowout season this year now that's he's got stability and minutes plus a system he excels at.

[Primer]

I feel like Precious could quickly become the 3rd core player, behind Scottie & Pascal. IMO, those are the 3 guys off-limits in any KD trade.

It's amazing to me. The whole we lost Lowry for nothing argument is dead in the water to the point where we probably won that trade.

[DanH]

His feet are great on D. He has a knack for funneling guys away from the basket just enough then contests nicely.

Still not sure about his mental strength when it counts. Always thought hes the guy thatll miss a gimme in a crucial playoff game. Hopefully his two missed ft’s late in the last elimination game wasnt a harbinger of things to come

but ya what a pleasant surprise

Well, in the short term at least, the Raptors likely decide to close small anyway with Gary as supersub playing with the other starters at the end of games. So we have time before needing to worry about his endgame upside.

[Yuri Gagarin]

His feet are great on D. He has a knack for funneling guys away from the basket just enough then contests nicely.

Still not sure about his mental strength when it counts. Always thought hes the guy thatll miss a gimme in a crucial playoff game. Hopefully his two missed ft’s late in the last elimination game wasnt a harbinger of things to come

but ya what a pleasant surprise

[Hotshot]

I feel like Precious could quickly become the 3rd core player, behind Scottie & Pascal. IMO, those are the 3 guys off-limits in any KD trade.

Precious is no longer just a throw-in talent.

Wouldn't surprise me if Precious by next season passes Miles Turner as being the better player.

You can't get rid of a much needed and rare asset like that.

[golden]

For the we need a center crowd, who you targeting that does a better job than Precious?

I feel like Precious could quickly become the 3rd core player, behind Scottie & Pascal. IMO, those are the 3 guys off-limits in any KD trade.

[DanH]

For the we need a center crowd, who you targeting that does a better job than Precious?

DFG% doesn't tell much of a story, but his impact stats are incredibly impressive on the defensive end as well and he was part of some incredibly successful lineups even early in the season when he was struggling particularly hard on the offensive end and the defence wasn't as polished.

I think the we need a C argument was much stronger leading into the trade deadline last year than it is right now. Sure looks like barring a star level C trade, easiest to just bet on Precious for now.

[Kagemusha]

For the we need a center crowd, who you targeting that does a better job than Precious?

I'm for acquiring a decent backup big before.
Then we drafted Koloko so we're now set there.

[Primer]

For the we need a center crowd, who you targeting that does a better job than Precious?

[Kagemusha]

But in this case, they are obviously correct. Precious and Gary will be fighting it out for most improved player.

Scottie is taking your message personally.

[Puffer]

Everyone was down on Precious and his lack of finishing ability at the beginning of the season. I kept putting him in the starting lineups in my game threads, because I thought he was the best 5 we had, and he needed the playing time. Yes, he wasn't finishing (Fred's lob passes were horrible btw), but he was playing well outside of that. It's funny how fairweather guys can be on RR.

I think we still have to be patient with him, he's still going to have growing pains going forward. This is only his second year getting serious, meaningful playing time. He has all the skills though.

I think we still have to be patient with him, he's still going to have growing pains going forward. This is only his second year getting serious, meaningful playing time. He has all the skills though.[/QUOTE]

Too late! Precious is the guy this year that everyone is putting their high hopes on. RR goes through this every year or so, when some new player is going to turn from a caterpillar into a butterfly. But in this case, they are obviously correct. Precious and Gary will be fighting it out for most improved player.

[DanH]

Yeah, Precious making a leap is fantastic. But no one was throwing the only return from the Lowry SnT away, the proposals were trying to add an established starting quality C.

[Primer]

You've been in this forum long enough so you know the people that constantly makes dumb trade ideas. They know who they are lol.

Man we're only ragging on you because you brought it up.

I seriously do not recall a single trade proposal of Precious for a scrub, and it seems like you can't either now that we pressed you on it.

I like Precious more than Poeltl and Turner, but neither of those guys are scrubs.

[The Great One]

So basically people mentioned Jakob and Turner... neither of whom are scrubs. Who are you calling out then?

And you would still trade Precious for Jakob, today? I wouldn't.

You've been in this forum long enough so you know the people that constantly makes dumb trade ideas. They know who they are lol.