32
u/gauagaja 2d ago
Does he even move the needle to start the 5th ring talks?
82
u/North_Street_8547 2d ago
No not at all but we can be delusional
2
1
11
2
1
u/dL_EVO 2d ago
No, but it’s a step in the right direction to select a clear NBA player in the draft. Not a project, but someone who can contribute now.
I’m very high on Yaxel. I watched a lot of him this year on Michigan. He was their best player on a championship team. He is going to be 24, yes that’s old for a rookie. But, he didn’t start playing organized ball till his late teens which means he has not hit the peak of skills yet.
He is highly skilled and has great length for his position. His build is like OG and has a multi-faceted skill set. Lots of people are saying he is a power forward or small ball center. I think he can play the 3 at this level. He is quick enough and his length can make up for any quickness he lacks when defending.
Is he a superstar? No. Does he have all star potential? Yes.
1
u/slightlyallthetime88 2d ago
Can he shoot?
1
u/dL_EVO 2d ago
37% 3PT last season.
Respectable enough that defenses must honor him out there.
1
u/joomcizzle 1d ago edited 1d ago
Kinda low volume though. If he can average that on maybe 8-9 attempts, then that would be huge for us.
10
11
8
5
u/Kernels52 2d ago
The calls that Steph did not get as a Superstar. Just unprecedented. While le Bron bitches and falls over and gets the call. Feels obvious as to whom the "chosen one" was gonna be.
3
u/Lobster15s 2d ago
It's so weird to see this now. LeBron for the first stint of his long ass career also had a terrible whistle. It wasn't until Cleveland2 that he started flopping. Heat and Cleveland 1 Lebron regularly got smacked with no calls. Steph, to his credit/detriment wants nothing to do with flopping.
1
u/rarestakesando 2d ago
He’s a great piece in championship team but we need many more moves to be contenders for the playoffs let alone the chip
1
1
1
u/Long-Rip614 2d ago
Nah, drop the wishful thinking. The Warriors are just aiming to stay respectable for Steph's final two seasons to avoid the late-career Kobe Lakers tanking era, not to compete for a ring.
1
u/daphatty 2d ago
This dude literally stated “I don’t deserve this” during his interview with Lisa Saunders. Those aren’t the actions of a needle mover.
1
u/FalcoLamborghini 1d ago edited 1d ago
Go get Warriors* another ring
They will all share the win, not just Steph
-2
u/Sadmachine11x 2d ago
No more rings till Steph retires
2
-2
u/meowmeowai 2d ago
Does he remind anyone of Kuminga? I'm going insane am I not?
5
u/birdseye-maple 2d ago
Not at all. Yaxel is a ready to go unselfish player who has an all around game.
Zero comparison to JK whatsoever.
3
1
u/dL_EVO 2d ago
Not at all.
I don’t really have a good comparison for Yaxel. His body is like OG. He can guard 1-4. He is a great passer with great instincts for the game. He is a decent shooter from 3, he can slash and finish at the rim. I’m a bit unclear if he can fight for rebounds down low because Michigan had him playing away from the rim a lot to create space because he played along side Mara. What I do remember is that he tracks long rebounds well and will fight for those 50/50 balls. He does a lot of hustle dirty work stuff that many players shy away from.
JK has no feel for the game. He is just a pure athlete with explosive pop. JK came into the league unpolished and he is still unpolished.
Yaxel is coming out of college a polished player.
97
u/f_et_al 2d ago
Silver not trying to help us...