Billy Preston: Most likely the next LeBron James

[dark2332]

Every time i watch him i see the potential but i always come away disappointed and wanting to see more. He moves effortlessly but at the same time it looks like he's barely trying. Very interested in watching him develop at Canton this season.

You can clearly see that the mental side has a long way to go to catch up to the physical side. That’s what Canton’s for.

Physically, he can do it all on a court. Mentally, he’s challenged.

 

[TheISHT]

Getting him a little time to brush up in Canton before he's thrown out there is not going to kill him.

Well, he has a two way contract so he can play in Canton and play in half our NBA games as well. Why can’t he do both?

 

[chuck0609]

if he struggles in the d league then I doubt mgmt would call him up to the NBA
The kid was a 5 star recruit last year. He has tools. issue he has not played in 1.5 years at a high level and he was moved every year in High School and never had consistent coaching

yet he was still a 5 star recruit. The 2 way insures no one can poach him. Stash him down there and see how/if he develops. Low risk, high reward. very simple

Agreed. Treat this like his first year in college. Go to camp this year. Play his ass off in Canton.
This is a developmental guy. His contract denotes the same- stash him away and give him the time to acclimate and play.
If it works, you got an NBA talent. If not, you’ve lost nothing- just move on.

 

[inliner311]

Every time i watch him i see the potential but i always come away disappointed and wanting to see more. He moves effortlessly but at the same time it looks like he's barely trying. Very interested in watching him develop at Canton this season.

I feel like once he gets use to the length and height of the NBA combined with getting stronger, he will realize he doesn't have to settle for shots. He will realize he can still use his quickness, length, and height to his advantage.

You can see he isn't getting to his shots at times and is settling. He is fading away on mid range jumpers, that he could easily go up strong and shot over the top of defenders. Same goes for when he gets close to the rim, he doesn't take that extra step or two to get in for a layup.

I don't think we want to keep him in Canton too long though. Once he starts to get it down there, I would bring him up. The length and height just isn't the same in the G-league as in the NBA. We want to keep him progressing and at a point the G-league won't be a challenge for him.

 

[TitleTown]

Every time i watch him i see the potential but i always come away disappointed and wanting to see more. He moves effortlessly but at the same time it looks like he's barely trying. Very interested in watching him develop at Canton this season.

I think it's a confidence issue from playing so little. I think he's really afraid to make mistakes and not look like a team player.

Once he's one of the key featured players in Canton, I think he'll really start to find his footing and be more consistent with his effort and decision making.

At least, I hope that's what happens. We will see.

 

[PIP]

Every time i watch him i see the potential but i always come away disappointed and wanting to see more. He moves effortlessly but at the same time it looks like he's barely trying. Very interested in watching him develop at Canton this season.

Honestly reminds me of Tim Thomas...

I know some here know who he was as a player (surprised he’s not in that Big-3 actually?)

But he was drafted out of Villanova in 97 and was around the 7th or 8th pick... Got traded on draft night for Keith Van Horn who was #2...

Thomas was a legit 6’8” 225 and had all the athleticism in the world and could shoot from 3... Ridiculous length to lock up if he wanted on the perimeter as well..

Was much higher regarded in high school than Kobe and many believed the ceiling was higher for him...The Bulls even considered moving Pippen to Philly in a package for him during the summer of ‘97..

Dude had a decent/ok career but never really reached that full potential and wasted away a prototypical dominant freak of a body/athleticism...Just was lazy and didn’t have the desire for it...

If you took Preston’s body and skill set and took Sexton’s desire ?? Would have a beast...

 

[mrWalrus]

He's already signed a two year two-way deal.

I'm saying, don't be surprised when that's renegotiated.

 

[stowfan]

I'm saying, don't be surprised when that's renegotiated.

Again, as the Irish people say, "your lips to God's ear".

 

[SanduskyCav]

If the kid can play and live up to his talent then he can play..

Many suggested he could have been a lottery pick if he was in college ?

Who knows ? But I’m not slowly massaging this dude’s career into existence... If he’s talented and can play at the NBA level then he can play.... If he can’t ? Get lost!

Dude wasn’t drafted, was advised to not participate in 5 on 5 during the pre draft stuff— so I’m not gonna kiss his ass and slowly bring him along because obviously SOMETHING is not right here...

I throw him out there and if he plays well, he plays well and then we can proceed... If not ?? NEXT.... Cause mystery Billy Preston might not be worth it

I thought rumor was that he had a "handshake deal" with a certain team (most likely the Cavs) and that's why he didn't participate?

 

[CleveRocks]

He'll get minutes in Canton, bring him up to cover injuries, which will let him see the speed of the game, but he needs time on the floor

 

[Cavatt]

Honestly reminds me of Tim Thomas...

I know some here know who he was as a player (surprised he’s not in that Big-3 actually?)

But he was drafted out of Villanova in 97 and was around the 7th or 8th pick... Got traded on draft night for Keith Van Horn who was #2...

Thomas was a legit 6’8” 225 and had all the athleticism in the world and could shoot from 3... Ridiculous length to lock up if he wanted on the perimeter as well..

Was much higher regarded in high school than Kobe and many believed the ceiling was higher for him...The Bulls even considered moving Pippen to Philly in a package for him during the summer of ‘97..

Dude had a decent/ok career but never really reached that full potential and wasted away a prototypical dominant freak of a body/athleticism...Just was lazy and didn’t have the desire for it...

If you took Preston’s body and skill set and took Sexton’s desire ?? Would have a beast...

This is a good comparison. If he turns into Tim Thomas for us that is a win. Thomas was a "bust" due to expectations. If he ends up better than Tim Thomas that is a home run, my man.

 

[Lee]

Honestly reminds me of Tim Thomas...

I know some here know who he was as a player (surprised he’s not in that Big-3 actually?)

But he was drafted out of Villanova in 97 and was around the 7th or 8th pick... Got traded on draft night for Keith Van Horn who was #2...

Thomas was a legit 6’8” 225 and had all the athleticism in the world and could shoot from 3... Ridiculous length to lock up if he wanted on the perimeter as well..

Was much higher regarded in high school than Kobe and many believed the ceiling was higher for him...The Bulls even considered moving Pippen to Philly in a package for him during the summer of ‘97..

Dude had a decent/ok career but never really reached that full potential and wasted away a prototypical dominant freak of a body/athleticism...Just was lazy and didn’t have the desire for it...

If you took Preston’s body and skill set and took Sexton’s desire ?? Would have a beast...

Ah yes, Tim Thomas, the original Jeff Green.

PS, I will take a Tim Thomas as an undrafted rookie 10 times out of 10. Not so much as a top 10 pick om the lottery though.

 

[wremy]

I definitely think Preston has all the tools to be anything he wants to be in the NBA... He He needs to play as many games as you can in the D-League to get used to the competition level of even that late let alone the NBA...but his size and offensive skill set are huge pluses and he did pretty well on the glass... Honestly him bulking up some and being a stretch 4 would maximize his potential greatly

 

[Cavatt]

I definitely think Preston has all the tools to be anything he wants to be in the NBA... He He needs to play as many games as you can in the D-League to get used to the competition level of even that late let alone the NBA...but his size and offensive skill set are huge pluses and he did pretty well on the glass... Honestly him bulking up some and being a stretch 4 would maximize his potential greatly

His ball handling is not NBA caliber. NBA guys can poke it away. I think he is too upright so his dribble is really high. He should be very picky at points where he handles the ball. Same thing in the post, he is going to get the ball poked away a lot. He should focus on facing up in the post, shooting 3's, rebounding, and defense. If he can do those things, he will stick, and then can add whatever after that.

No dribbling in the post, no dribbling on the perimeter. Pushing the break after a rebound is ok, but he should get the ball ahead asap.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Difference in Preston vs Q Miller or PJ3?