Do you think Trae can be the number one option on a championship team?

[marco102]

I remember when Trae first went on his run last season there was a debate if Trae could be the number one option on a championship team.  With his performance this season has he changed anyones mind that doubted him or do you still feel he's best served as an excellent number 2 option ala AD.

I personally think he can be a solid number one, but with less ball dominance and more off ball movement.  His catch and shoot percentages this season are amazing.

Edited January 5, 2020 by marco102

[NBASupes]

Yes and No. He can be your best offensive player but he can't be your best overall player. Cam or DeAndre needs to be better than him for us to really win a title.

[NBASupes]

It's likely impossible to find a better offensive player for us than Trae. He has a chance to be the GOAT offensively 

[marco102]

2 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Yes and No. He can be your best offensive player but he can't be your best overall player. Cam or DeAndre needs to be better than him for us to really win a title.

I guess I should clarify. Number 1 option to me means best offensive player.  You put the ball in their hands at the end of game seven of the finals to make a play or get a shot up.

Edited January 5, 2020 by marco102

[EazyRoc]

Simply put...Yes.

Hes got the mindset for it and is getting the reps right now. He’s going to be even harder to defend once he learns how/gets more opportunities to play off the ball. 

[hawkman]

If Curry was/is the number one option for the Warriors, then Trae can certainly be one as well. He makes scoring 30 look easy. I still feel like there's some untapped offensive potential there if he moves more without the ball in his hands. It would give him more spot up opportunities.

[REHawksFan]

I'm making the assumption that Trae - as a year 2 player - still has a good bit of growth to come. So yes, I think on his current trajectory he can certainly be the Alpha on a title team. The real key is getting the right players around him. 

[Spud2nique]

Yes indeed. 
 

Isiah

Nash

Stockton (well him and Malone)

A strong 1A would be appreciated though  

55 minutes ago, marco102 said:

I guess I should clarify. Number 1 option to me means best offensive player.  You put the ball in their hands at the end of game seven of the finals to make a play or get a shot up.

Still yes  

[Thomas]

A good and much needed thread. Believe Trae is definitely the Alpha that can lead a team to any height. Lets see how our/his cast today and in the near future fair.

[NBASupes]

Just now, marco102 said:

I guess I should clarify. Number 1 option to me means best offensive player.  You put the ball in their hands at the end of the game seven of the finals to make a play or get a shot up.

Yeah. He can do that. 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

If you don't put very good talent around Trae, it forces him to go into Allen Iverson mode, because he KNOWS that if anyone on the team can create offense, it's him.

If you DO put very good talent around Trae, he becomes an Isiah Thomas type PG that can score AND facilitate at a high level.  I despised Zeke, but his talent and heart was undeniable.  When he wanted to, he could easily take over a game.

So yes, the Hawks can definitely win a chip if Trae is their best player.

Trae falls in love with his long jumper at times, even when it isn't falling.  If the talent around him becomes much better, you'll see his assist numbers rise to the point where he may be content with being a 24 ppg - 11 assist guy, instead of a 30 ppg - 8 assist guy. 

From a total point creation standpoint, it may be little difference, but the distribution of points could.  And that could be the difference between winning a championship and not reaching the Finals because he has to do too much.

Edited January 6, 2020 by TheNorthCydeRises

[JTB]

2 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Yes and No. He can be your best offensive player but he can't be your best overall player. Cam or DeAndre needs to be better than him for us to really win a title.

Pretty much answered it in my opinion. Only thing I will say to clarify the “Cam or De’Andre need to be better then Trae for us to really win a title”...

 

.I definitely say yes that’s true either will need to be better than Trae OVERALL not necessarily better than him offensively cause like you said Traes offense ability has a chance of being historic and quite honestly I believe Cam could be considered the better player than trae one day cause of defense ability but not one soul on this team has the high ceiling offensive potential of Trae...but I know you know that 

Edited January 6, 2020 by JTB

[JTB]

2 hours ago, NBASupes said:

It's likely impossible to find a better offensive player for us than Trae. He has a chance to be the GOAT offensively 

Missed this before I made a comment on your first post lol...my bad 

[terrell]

2 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Yes and No. He can be your best offensive player but he can't be your best overall player. Cam or DeAndre needs to be better than him for us to really win a title.

Cam or De'Andre? Not gonna happen. lol. 

Edited January 6, 2020 by terrell

[JTB]

Just now, terrell said:

Cam or De'Andre? Not gonna happen. lol. 

How do you know?

[terrell]

1 minute ago, JTB said:

How do you know?

I cant see it. But Ive been wrong before. Trae is just too good..And those guys just dont have Traes mentality..

Edited January 6, 2020 by terrell

[JTB]

1 hour ago, terrell said:

I cant see it. But Ive been wrong before. Trae is just too good..And those guys just dont have Traes mentality..

Well hunter was never going to be that kind of scorer but watching Cam even when he messes up on a possession you see the high upside he has been labeled with! I can’t wait until he puts it all together! 

And hey its just rookie year for those two so they definitely deserve more time. You never know what is to come with any of these young players these days it’s hard to judge honestly unlike back then. For example....

I never thought kelly oubre would ever even get close to avg 15 pts per game and last season in his 5th year of his career he avg 15 or 16 pts per game and today he’s avg 18 pts per game in his sixth season so far.

i remember when budcox drafted him and then traded him draft night, I was so relieved and I could have cared less he got traded which was ultimately for hardaway jr if I recall it correctly. Anyways oubre just wasn’t a type of player I really liked deep down inside  or thought would amount to anything (I guess similar to how you see Cam)...to me oubre only showed to be a energetic guy who MAY give you 10pts per game on his best season ....but just like you I’ve been wrong before & I actually like oubre now and he’s grown into a pretty decent player overall.

 

you just never know ....at least with cam I can see a lot of green once he gets it all down.

[NBASupes]

2 hours ago, JTB said:

How do you know?

He doesn't, which is why I didn't bother to respond initially. 

2 hours ago, terrell said:

I cant see it. But Ive been wrong before. Trae is just too good..And those guys just dont have Traes mentality..

I can. For both players as well. Their end of the season development will be critical. Especially Cam's. How he uses his strengths and weaknesses could make him the best player in the league one day but it will take A LOT of work but the talent, body, and potential is there. 

As for Hunter, he needs help in terms of Trae and guys around him. His adjustment should be easier but his potential might not be someone who could be better or as good as Trae but how he adjusts is critical. His swing skill is volume shooting, when he becomes an elite volume shooter, he could be a special two way wing who can score from three levels with volume and efficiency. He could be special. For him, it's all about shooting, conditioning, personnel around him, role, development of skills, and coaching. 

Both can be top 10-20 NBA players in three seasons, and just as easily, both can be players in three years who aren't top 100. Development of two way wings takes time, it's not easy. 

When you look at Cam's and DeAndre's numbers, you realize both are averaging more per36 PPG than Joe Johnson and Joe played decent mins as a rookie. People want things instantly but guys who defend and score take more time than guys who mainly just do one of those things. The more responsibility and ability, the longer it will take to cook. Great Gumbo takes 7-8 hours to make. Below average gumbo doesn't take much time at all. 

[Sothron]

Yes, I do think he can. We need much better talent around him to achieve that.

[JayBirdHawk]

And don't see why not. He's already shown he's not afraid of the spotlight. 

To be championship contender though, just luke the other star it needs talent around him,  he need guys with similar mental makeup even if not his actual skill level. 

Nothing scares the kid. He has that 'it'