Tyrus v Lamarcus, Did we make the right choice? Options

[Chicago Bulls Fr...]

Ok, Im calling it, a Tyrus v Lamarcus thread just for discussion. Do you think we still made the right choice with Tyrus? Or do you think we should have kept Lamarcus?

Right now Tyrus is averaging 4.6 ppg 3.4 rpg and 1.1 bpg

Right now Lamarcus is averaging 9.1 ppg 5.0 rpg and 1.2 bpg

It looks as though Lamarcus may have been the better choice by those stats but I beg to differ. Right now I would say Aldridge might help us a tad bit more than Tyrus could because of his low post scoring ability and his 6'10 frame but Tyrus ever since allstar break has definitely grown up and has shown signs of becoming the player I had invisioned later on in his career. In terms of blocking shots, Tyrus is among the top 5 in blocks per 48 minutes but his offensive game is not great right now. The only reason Lamarcus is averaging more points is because he is starting and playing considerably more minutes per game than Tyrus Thomas. In the future I see Tyrus blowing by Lamarcus Aldridge because he is the more physical of the two and if he can just get stronger he will be unstoppable with a low post game.

IMO Tyrus's cieling is around 20 ppg 12 rpg 3-4 bpg and 2 apg

Thats about what I'd say is his Maximum potential.

This is what I feel is like Aldridge's cieling. 21 ppg 10 rpg 2 bpg 3 apg

Pretty close but like I said, I think Tyrus can surpass him within 2-3 years, we won't even be having this discussion after both there careers are over.

But going back to the question, would you rather have Aldridge or Tyrus for the future?

[eddog2]

I don't think Tyrus has a shot at developing the kind of outside shot presence and threat that Marion has. If we're looking to the Suns and saying "highest possible ceiling", I think TT fits the Amare role a lot more than the Marion role.

I don't understand why 20 and 12 is not feasable for Tyrus as his max potential. Just because I threw this number out there doesnt mean he will average that throughout his career. Kevin Garnet is averaging 23 ppg and 13 rpg so I don't understand your point.

So now he's KG with twice as many blocks? Those projected numbers would put him as the leader for defensive player of the year (since he'd basically be leading the league in rebounds and blocks at those levels) as well as averaging 20 a game, which is a major stretch from his current production/talent level. Has he shown any indication of being THAT type of player yet, especially in the scoring department? I don't know how you can say that. The only guys who have been put up those kind of numbers in recent history are Shaq, Duncan, Robinson, Ewing and Olajuwon (notice all of them are also considerably bigger).

Garnett was light-years better, he averaged 10 and 6 in his first year out of high school. Tyrus had 2 years at LSU and is still not at that level yet. Tyrus has talent, but let's not get carried away here. I'd be pretty happy with 15 points, 9 boards, and 2 blocks, even that would be a huge step up...

He'll never be Hakeem but he doesn't have to be. He's a super freak. He'll be able to average 20 or more points at some point of his career b/c he is just so versatile and he'll get many of his shots on open looks or put backs. If he can learn to slash to the basket and a few post up moves it's definately feasible. The 12 boards per game is also likely at some point in his career. His rebounds per minute in college were the best in the nation. He just has to learn how to not commit the stupid fouls. If he does that he could easily become a 20ppg 12 board 3 block player. He won't put those numbers up every night but he can average those type of numbers.

What impresses me is that he is already starting to seriously improve his FT%. That will be crucial for him if he wants to become a 20+ point scorer b/c he's going to go to the line a lot. He's only shooting 59.4% for the year but over his last six games he's shooting 83% from the line. 69% if you include his last 12 games. I know that doesn't look like much but just watching him his form looks a lot better at the line. Maybe Skiles has been helping him with that.

He had a very solid 27pt 8reb 3blk 3stl (9-11FG 9-10ft) performance tonight.

As for all the talk about him not being as good a shooter as Marion, Marion didn't exactly come into the league and set it on fire from the field. He made only 4 of 22 3's his rookie year (18.2%) and only 25.6% (21 of 82) his soph year in the NBA. And Marion was 22 years old when he turned pro. Give Tyrus a break. He's raw. He's got another year to get to Marion's rookie status. As a rookie Marion averaged 10.2ppg, 6.5rpg, .8stls, 1blk on 47% shooting. Would Marion be as good as he is offensively if he didn't have Steve Nash setting him up? Tyrus already averages more blocks (1.1 in just 12 minutes) than Marion did his rookie year in 24.7minutes. It's obvious Marion is a better shooter and likely always will be but give Tyrus a few offseasons to determine if he will only be a more athletic/better hands version of Tyson.

Amare sucks. He's one of my least favorite players b/c he's so overhyped. If he didn't have Nash setting him up he wouldn't be half the player he is. He's not great defensively and all his points come from easy cuts to the basket or dunking over someone. Amare is better offensively but not defensively.

Tyrus will never be KG. KG can create his own shot at will and I don't think Tyrus will ever be that good. I think Tyrus can eventually average close to 20 points 12 rebounds and more blocks than KG. He can be like a more athletic Marcus Camby. In Camby's best year he averaged 12.8ppg, 11.9reb, 3.3 blks, & 1.4 steals. He did that while shooting only 46% and 71% from the line. I think Tyrus can do better than that with the amount of easy shots his athleticism gets him. Either way, I don't think 12 rpg will be leading the league anytime soon. Unless Dwight Howard gets hurt. Howard's only going to get better.