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A Closer Look at Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

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At this point in the draft, it's sort of hard to find "two way" players because most are already taken in the lottery. We almost have no one off our bench that can play defense. I agree with Keys that we need someone that can create to. That is why I like Rozier. But Hollis Jefferson had way more athleticism than I thought and his defensive versatility would be very useful.

The best two way player that could be left on the board would probably be Justin Anderson. He has his own set of limitations though, like any player.
 
Give me Justin Anderson, I need an two way player....Hollis remind me of a taller Alonzo Gee,
 
If RHJ could even shoot at a decent clip, he'd be a top 10 pick. He seems like a hard worker and at least with shooting, it's something a player can gradually develop (look at Tony Parker, LeBron, Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, and even MKG who's been making strides with Mark Price), rather than being limited by poor athleticism, size, court vision/basketball IQ (most of the time), which are things you generally can't improve.

I want this kid. This kind of upside usually isn't available at pick 24.
 
Thing I hate:

The bench needs somebody with strong penetration and ball handling skills badly. It is almost to the point where I don't care how elite a ranking kids get in other areas of the game if they can't dribble and pass.

I think you're right, but at what position? We've already got 4 guards who deserve significant playing time. And finding a 3 with great ball handling and penetration doesn't sound easy.

It's not that I disagree with your diagnosis. I'm just wondering how it would work.
 
Give me Justin Anderson, I need an two way player....Hollis remind me of a taller Alonzo Gee,

If there is one thing I can't stand about sports, its lazy ass player to player comparisons like these. They are not even remotely similar, but by all means, keep thinking that.

Thing I hate:

The bench needs somebody with strong penetration and ball handling skills badly. It is almost to the point where I don't care how elite a ranking kids get in other areas of the game if they can't dribble and pass.

But do we need to draft that player? I'm still heavily against drafting a PG with the 1st round pick. I honestly have a hard time seeing a rookie PG getting any significant run over Kyrie and Delly, so I guess I just don't see the point. But, there are quite a few shifty veteran bench PGs on the free agent market who you would think would jump at the chance to come compete for titles for the MLE and who you could trust right away and throw into the fire right away. I'd much rather find a young, athletic wing that could lower LBJ's minutes over the course of the next few years than draft a 3rd PG.

And with RHJ, you are getting what I think is the best slasher, physical/athletic traits, and perimeter defensive prospect in the draft. Gets to the FT line at a higher rate than practically all of this draft class, finishes around the rim at a high rate, rebounds very well for his position, has a decent handle (not by any means a strength, but enough to get him by with his athleticism), and plays with a huge motor.

You lock this guy in a gym with NBA shooting coaches from June until October and you see if you have found something special.
 
Thing I hate:

The bench needs somebody with strong penetration and ball handling skills badly. It is almost to the point where I don't care how elite a ranking kids get in other areas of the game if they can't dribble and pass.

Is this against RHJ or in favor of him? I thought he was supposed to be good at penetrating and passing?
 
I think you're right, but at what position? We've already got 4 guards who deserve significant playing time. And finding a 3 with great ball handling and penetration doesn't sound easy.

It's not that I disagree with your diagnosis. I'm just wondering how it would work.

Positional flexibility already exists on this roster. Let's call Irving a true point guard, even though he can play off the ball with the right combinations.

Delly, Smith, and Shumpert defend three positions. Sure Delly is best against guards and Smith is best against swing men, but they have flexibility. TT played most of the year as an undersized backup center who can guard small forwards on switches. LeBron is the ideal multi-positional chameleon.

So, you look for the skills. If the Cavaliers flip Haywood and the pick into three depth players who could be in a good rotation, coaches can figure out who rests and who plays throughout the season.

Maybe it looks like one bad contract big, one good contract combo guard, one drafted swingman. Maybe it's a bad contract swingman, a developing guard who can get in the lane, and a drafted big.

Either way, positional flexibility and get more dribble drive penetration on the bench. We have too many stand and shoot guys littering the end of the bench.
 
Is this against RHJ or in favor of him? I thought he was supposed to be good at penetrating and passing?

No, he supposedly has a high ceiling to learn those traits. He is more like James Johnson of the Raptors, who at 28 isnt going to develop those skills now. At least RHJ has youth on his side.

He is a multi-position defender who needs to become useful on the offensive side of the ball aside from hustle plays. He will be left alone and teams will dare him to shoot until that issue gets resolved.
 
If there is one thing I can't stand about sports, its lazy ass player to player comparisons like these. They are not even remotely similar, but by all means, keep thinking that.

@Bimbo I'm very curious on what is the major different between Gee and RHJ, they both play good def, both are high riser with suspect outside shots, I have seen Gee get to the rim , maybe not the best comparison but I did try to think of players similar to RHJ game......Honestly if Justin Anderson is there I take him all day over RHJ...
 
@cliffdawg

Issue here is I just don't see Anderson falling to the Cavs. I like him as well, but the fact that he has an NBA ready offensive skill (3 pt shooting) will push him up draft boards in comparison to RHJ. I have a feeling he will interview well and look better in individual workouts than a guy like RHJ, so he will rise up a few slots.

I think we are going to be left with the likes of RHJ (if teams ahead of us get scared off by his lack of a jumper while neglecting everything else he brings that is unteachable), RJ Hunter, Upshaw, Wood, Vaughn, Wright...and I'm not in favor of adding a SG who can't play SF in a spot or a PG (though I would make an exception for Delon Wright), so that leaves us with RHJ, Upshaw, Wood, Wright, or some foreign Cs who I would like to see get the nod.

As for the Gee comparison, RHJ is in another stratosphere physically/mentally/athletically/defensively coming out of college. There is a reason why Gee went undrafted while we are discussing this kid being a 1st round pick. He's more athletic on the floor than Gee is, longer, has much, much better defensive instincts and basketball player instincts in general...to me he is a middle class Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was a #2 pick. They both play relentlessly with a high motor, attack the glass, run the floor in transition and wreak havoc, draw a lot of fouls, and are prototypical perimeter defenders for the current NBA, but are huge ? marks with regards to offensive skills. And like we have seen with MKG, shooting can be taught and improved upon, and I don't think RHJ's jumper is a broke as MKG's was coming into the league.
 
He could be the next Kawhi.

He glides in transition the way Kawhi does. He finishes above the rim the way he does. Can guard 4 positions. Big thick frame and he could still add 10-15 more pounds.

Great wingspan. Great standing reach. Big hands. Athletic.

His jumper is broken. But I think it can be fixed.

The one thing I've learned this post season is that if we continue forward with both Kyrie and Kevin they need to surrounded by plus defenders. That and LeBron can't continue to kill himself with no real back up.

If he's there at 24 I take him. I'd actually would still acquire another vet wing with the Haywood contract along with it.
 
I just realized this game is at home. I foresee JR Smith getting hot from 3 with Shump knocking down two threes as well in the first half!
 
I hate WCS for staying in school... He would be perfect for this team.
 
Arizona fan here and I watched every college game he played. This kid is awesome. Super hard worker, super coachable (like all AZ guys), and does have some slashing ability. Tenacious defender, long, and very athletic. His shot improved quite a bit from freshman year to sophomore year. I'd love to take him, but I'm biased.
 
RHJ isn't in consideration, cant draft a player with no offense to come off the bench.
 

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