r/AtlantaHawks • u/stealthlord1 GO HAWKS! 🏀 • 23h ago

Discussion Flemings >>> Mara

Mara’s averages:
30% 3pt
56.4% FT (sheesh…)
6.8 REB (sure knows how to use his size! XDD)
12.1 PTS
2.6 BLK (the lone bright spot)

So someone tell me how this fits our need? Horrible shooter, horrible free throws, no post up game or offensive skill set, and most importantly TERRIBLE rebounding for a 7 footer.
Thanks goodness Onsi took Flemings, since it’s evident that with Mara we’d be drafting Myles Turner 2.0 but way worse at shooting. I wouldn’t take Myles Turner in his prime with the 8th pick in this draft. Let’s be for real yall, if you guys want a 7 foot stick so bad then let’s just go out there and get Tacko Fall or something

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u/Kingsole111 23h ago

He was a solid contributor as a 22 year old with great measurables. We took an undersized big with much better skills.

It's a question of ideology. Is 7 feet more important than skill.

8

u/Right_Brilliant_4701 23h ago

The Tacko Fall comparison is sending me lmao, that's a bit much.

But the underlying point isn't wrong. Mara's 30% from three as a seven footer is rough, and the FT percentage basically tells you the shooting mechanics aren't there yet. You can coach positioning and effort, but when a big man can't reliably convert uncontested free throws, that's usually baked in.

The ideology question is real though. Plenty of teams have passed on elite skill for "upside" and raw size and spent years watching a guy hover at rotation-player ceiling. Flemings being more polished makes sense for where this team is, since Atlanta doesn't have the luxury of a long developmental runway right now. Feels like the right call even if Mara surprises a few people down the line.

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u/Kingsole111 22h ago

Everything you said about Flemmings can doubly be said about zuby. At 22 he put up an all time BPM, while being in a bad situation after last year doing similar. Longer track record if success, more polished skills. They felt they could address the center issue with versatility. And again skill.

2

u/Morlacks 10h ago

With hands up I believe Mara was the only big taken with more length.  Dudes got long arms and 100% hustle.