Do What We Have to Do to Get Nerlens Noel. Biz is No Longer a Core Guy.

I don't care what we have to do to make it happen, but we need to get Nerlens Noel, and in the process I find Biz to be expendable. I wasn't a big fan of Biz prior to the draft, but when we slowly started to realize that's one of the guys we were targeting with 7 or 9, I started to buy into the defensive prowess and potential.

Sadly, after seeing him in extended action this season, I believe he won't be much better than he is now. I doubt he will ever average double-digit points, and I think his potential for growth in general is extremely limited. Yes, I know he is 20, but he isn't a natural basketball player. I remember hearing prior to the draft, that at best, Biz projected to be Ben Wallace... AT BEST. Well, I don't think he's Ben Wallace. I love his attitude, his work ethic, and his enthusiasm, but he just isn't a core guy.

SO, that being said, I truly believe Nerlens Noel is what we hoped Biz could be, so Biz is expendable. Noel also has great potential offensively, so that's who I am hitching my wagon too. I also think he will be a much better pro than even Anthony Davis.

Considering all of this, what do you think we can make happen with Biz? And do you think Noel is a realistic option? And do you agree or disagree with my general premise? Discuss.

my question is what makes you believe so much in nerlens noel?

i'll also step up for biz:

biz has played 105 games. he's scored double digits in 16 of those. he already averages 5 points a game for his career in 24 minutes a game. that's not too shabby now is it, especially when you consider how raw he is. it's also not that important when you consider how he might impact the game defensively.

he's only 20. guys like joakim noah and roy hibbert didn't start being the players they are until they were 23, 24 years old. no reason to think biz can't do the same. give him time.

biz is on a rookie deal, the best contract in the nba. it's perfect for seeing what you have with a guy like biz.

biz hasn't been playing basketball for very long. he's playing with dudes that have lived and breathed basketball their entire lives. i think a lot of biz's problems are mental. if he can relax on the court, if he can believe in and utilize the abilities he has, he can become a force. that comes with time. that needs to be drilled into him. it can be tough when you play with guys who make everything look so easy and natural (kemba walker). just give him time. if he can stop being so self-conscious, then i believe he will be awesome. just give him time, he's playing against the best players in the world and he's done a pretty good job so far, all things considered.

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Originally Posted by Proudiddy

I also think he(Noel) will be a much better pro than even Anthony Davis.

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With all due respect, this is kind of where you lost me. Davis blocked more shots, had a smoother offensive game, and rebounded pretty well if memory serves. And it was WINNING production as opposed to this year's bunch of underachieving clowns at UK...

It's not like I've watched every play this season, but I'm not ready to give up on Biz either.

Don't get me wrong guys... I'm not saying Biz is Alexis Ajinca, lol... Although I did call him being a bust from year one while others kept hanging on. Biz will be a serviceable player in the league, but I just don't see him growing much beyond what he already is. Defensively, he could grow a lot, but offense, he just doesn't seem to have "it." I can't tell you what "it" is and although I'm no expert, I've called it before on many, many players and I've been right.

But for every beautifully executed hook shot Biz makes, there's 3 more offensive basket interferences and 2 more traveling violations. I don't see him just growing out of that.

Noel has "it." He may be limited offensively as well, but he has the abilities to truly grow IMO. Defensively, he seems much better at what he does than Biz. Just my opinion, but I think I've seen enough of Biz to know he isn't going to miraculously grow into a 12 and 10 guy every night. Even if he did, we saw how awesome guys like Emkea Okafor were while putting up similar numbers here... I'm just saying, if we could pick up another true need through offering Biz as an asset, because I AM SURE there are other teams who would offer more than fair value for him, then I am all for doing it.

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Originally Posted by Proudiddy

Don't get me wrong guys... I'm not saying Biz is Alexis Ajinca, lol... Although I did call him being a bust from year one while others kept hanging on. Biz will be a serviceable player in the league, but I just don't see him growing much beyond what he already is. Defensively, he could grow a lot, but offense, he just doesn't seem to have "it." I can't tell you what "it" is and although I'm no expert, I've called it before on many, many players and I've been right.

But for every beautifully executed hook shot Biz makes, there's 3 more offensive basket interferences and 2 more traveling violations. I don't see him just growing out of that.

Noel has "it." He may be limited offensively as well, but he has the abilities to truly grow IMO. Defensively, he seems much better at what he does than Biz. Just my opinion, but I think I've seen enough of Biz to know he isn't going to miraculously grow into a 12 and 10 guy every night. Even if he did, we saw how awesome guys like Emkea Okafor were while putting up similar numbers here... I'm just saying, if we could pick up another true need through offering Biz as an asset, because I AM SURE there are other teams who would offer more than fair value for him, then I am all for doing it.

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Maybe you are getting at the fact that Biyombo has no sense of timing with the ball in his hands. I honestly think he gets a little nervous with the ball, because he knows he is poor in that area, and the whole league he plays against knows it. He grabs an offensive board, and you hold your breath waiting to see if he'll turn it over, travel, or simply release his shot at the wrong time causing a block. Definitely needs experience. Again, I think it all has to do with getting his timing down.

Also, I know he is considered to be strong, but on TV he looks all arms and legs, not like some immovable, bulky space eater. Seems like he can be knocked off balance with the ball in his hands, or he simply has below-average balance on his own.

Nothing wrong with Bizzy being a Ben Wallace prototype. Not sure any reasonable person expected him to score in double digites. But almost 8 rebounds a game and two blocks pre game is a good start for a "project "

I like Noel a lot and he is my first choice if we had the top pick in the draft. I don't think that means we have to get rid of Biz though. If Biz becomes the backup center that is alright. We are going to need a good backup center.

Noel won't be the starting center by the way. He is way to skinny and I don't know if he will ever put on weight given the way his frame looks. He moves his feet really well though, a perfect body type to guard stretch 4s in the NBA. I don't know if he will ever develop much of an offense either. He isn't to far ahead of Bis right now. His defense is incredible though. He had 12 blocks in the game I watched tonight.

I say we draft Noel, keep Bis and also draft two more center or PF prospects in the next two years while we have multiple picks. That will give us four irons in the fire and we can see who develops.

I think Biz has showed improvement offensively, his hook shot seems pretty soft and he absolutely pured a mid range jumper the other night with zero hesitation. It could have been luck but dang he looked confident shooting it!

I can see where you are coming from. The development, while there, is slow because as fans we want him to be a monster now and when you see Nerlens Noel throw 12 shots away against Ole Miss its hard not to get hype. I, however, am still on the McLemore/Shabazz train but as a true fan we could draft a chicken nugget and I would spin it in a positive light.

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Originally Posted by Proudiddy

Considering all of this, what do you think we can make happen with Biz? And do you think Noel is a realistic option? And do you agree or disagree with my general premise? Discuss.

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Well, I really like Noel too. But I have a problem with saying Biz is expendable. If we expend Biz, it better be for someone that can rebound and block shots like Biz or else Noel will look like Biz in that he'd be the only big playing any defense and look like he's on an island. Noel beside Mullens, Driftwood, Tyrus, Warrick, or Adrien is not going to look much better than Biz beside those guys. It would be like cutting off our left hand to play with our right, ideally I'd like both hands.