Who's Currently the Best Wolverine in the NBA?
This is so cool because I really have no idea who it is. I don't think we've ever had this many good players in the NBA all at the same time.
Jordan Poole is tearing it up right now, but you've also got Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Franz Wagner in the discussion. Moe Wagner and Isaiah Livers have had their moments, You've got Trey Burke out there. And Iggy, Chaundee, Stauskas, Zavier.
Who's the best Michigan player in the NBA? I'll go with Caris right now, but when they're all done, Franz or Poole might end up being the greatest.
I would argue RIGHT NOW, it is Jordan Poole. He has been playing like a superstar during crunch time for about a month.
What John Beilein accomplished with Michigan basketball is truly incredible.
It makes you wonder if stars matter all that much. John Beilein rarely recruit a 5 star player and yet he has sent many kids to the NBA and they are becoming good pros too.
Is the star system supposed to project future as a College or NBA player? I had thought that it was for college. I think it does make a difference, especially in the last decade where the NBA game has evolved to be a totally different game then what is played in college.
I believe stars have on pro potential baked in for basketball. I remember reading articles about how Hunter would have been #1 overall potentially but since his game didn't match NBA profile he was ranked much lower.
I believe stars have on pro potential baked in for basketball. I remember reading articles about how Hunter would have been #1 overall potentially but since his game didn't match NBA profile he was ranked much lower.
Stars in basketball matter a lot less than stars in football because of the NFL draft-eligible definition. The high 5-stars in basketball either bust or stay 1 year and leave for the draft. 5 stars in football have to stay 3+ years.
I don't watch much NBA so that's entirely possible, but would Caris look just as good playing for the Warriors?
No, I don't think so. He would have to adapt his play style significantly. Caris is talented, but is not a great shooter and tends to play more of a methodical, isolation-oriented style. He adapted in Cleveland but as we saw in the play in wasn't particularly effective.
Poole can do a lot of stuff in isolation and on ball but constantly moves and makes quick decisions too, and is a better shooter with more range than Caris.
Earlier this season, I might have said Caris would have been better if asked to be the number 1 perimeter option than Poole. I've changed my mind though. And it's not just a product of Steph and Klay as he has often been asked to carry the offense with them off the floor and has been magnificent on the biggest stage.
That's such a good point about Beilein.
Right now? Jordan Poole.
Honestly this isn't even a contest. Poole by a mile
Yes. Give it another year or two and Franz will be right there with him or surpass him.
They're going to be tough to compare. Franz is already a better defender than Poole will ever be and should get at least a couple of first team All Defense selections in his career.
But Poole's offensive ceiling is true star level. Such a complete game and he has turned into a very creative passer too. He looks like a potential number 1 option on a championship team (if he isn't already) and Franz just doesn't have that ceiling. And ultimately, offense takes the day. Both should be the best Michigan pro's since Webber.
Easily Poole.
Duncan struggled this year and is now at the end of the rotation. Franz could be someday but I don't think he'll ever come close to Poole on offense. Levert and Hardaway always battle injuries and I don't think either ever played like Poole is now.
The answer is Poole but:
Robinson's struggles are relative - he still shot 37% from 3 on a very high number of shots. He has seen a dip in form compared to last season but some of that is because he is given absolutely no room to shoot, ever. Every team knows what a weapon he is and as the Heat have very little shooting aside from him (as they don't play Strus and him together much) he is constantly hounded. He is likely going to get traded at some point and if he lands on a team with any complimentary shooting he is going to make that team very happy.
Poole and it isn't really close. LeVert at his peak was keeping a 9 seed close in a play-in game. He's regressed since then due to the cancer diagnosis. Robinson had his moments in the Heat's run, but he too has regressed. Poole is scoring 30 every other game. He's on a bit of a heater, but his peaks are higher than any other. The test will be the consistency. As hard as it is to do what he's doing, the true stars are graded on how consistently they perform at the highest level.
Wagner has potential, but being a good player on a last place team is a few steps away from performing in the playoffs on a contender.
Is this a joke or a trick question?
Shades of the game winner to put us in the Sweet 16. Same quick release and leg kick.
Agree it's Poole but this raises an interesting tangential question. I had the impression that Beilein left Michigan because he was tired of kids leaving early. Non-stop recruiting probably also a factor. But if Poole's decision to leave early was any part of the reason Beilein left for the NBA, that decision has been validated big time. Bottom line, I wish Beilein would've stayed and accepted the changing dynamics in college basketball. But I understand why he left.
I thought of that yesterday also. What a strange way for Beilein to effectively put the end of his head coaching career in motion.
It's Poole. He went 31, 8 and 9 in the Western Conference Semi's. Already in this playoff alone, he's been good enough that they could bring Steph Curry off the bench and have no care, and then basically force himself into a 3 guard lineup with Steph and Klay (Sorry Kevan Looney).
The shine is a bit off of Caris. Context is key. When Caris was an obscure player on the Nets he had the ability to find his way. When he was a role player filling in, he was unknown by most general fans and was able to surprise people. Then he transition to the best (highest paid) player on a team and was expected to perform like it, he is a high usage, low distribution, streaky player, who finds himself injured a decent amount (some things obviously completely out of his control). But now on Cleveland he's kind of in a weird spot. It's clear this is Darius Garland's team. He's truly come into his own this year. Then the dual bigs of Allen and Mobley are a really difficult matchup for most teams in a "small" NBA. Caris has had flashes of great. But he's also a ball stopper at times. His shot has been inconsistent.
So, like i said. Context is key. When Caris wasn't expected to be great, he could be great in spots. And he was great at filling a role. When he was expected to be great, he wasnt. My hope is he'll go back to being a guy who can be an active, long defender, handle the ball (but not run the offense), and knock down some shots. I think he can have a Jamal Crawford like career still if he can stay healthy. (Big if given the data sample)
Timmy is on the downside of his career. I think the hope is he can rebound from his injury. I'd like for him to stick with Dallas and find room on the team being a very good supporting player to Luka.
Duncan has taken a step back. His defense has always been an issue, so when the shooting isn't going he can't be a hole on defense, and not contributing on offense. The hope is that he can step it up, and earn his minutes back. I'm rooting for him.
Trey and Nik are end of bench guys at this point in their careers. But good for them. Keep gettin' the checks.
Zavier, Chaundee, Iggy, Livers, Teske are all young. I don't think anyone is expecting great things, but staying in the league is a big deal. DJ Wilson too hopefully for him.
Then there's Franz.
To me the only guy who could challenge Poole for Supreme Wolverine Cager in 2022/23 is Franz Wagner. He's an all-rookie performer. He's big, athletic, a stopper, he can slash, finish and shooting is coming (maybe already here). Honestly he was the steal of the draft for Orlando, as they got him with their SECOND first-round draft pick and he's easily outplayed Suggs (their first first-rounder) this season.
I think Isaiah and Chaundee both could be good role players for a long time. Good defenders with solid athleticism who can knock down threes
Chris is not better than Jordan Poole. I feel it's Poole, and quite easily.
The Splash Brothers wanna play in the Poole now. That is how good Jordan is now!
I agree with others that it's Poole, hands down.
As for best collection, the mid/late 90s had Glen Rice, C-Webb, Juwan, Jalen, Terry Mills, Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor, and probably some others I'm missing. Skip ahead to 2000-01 season, and you get Jamal Crawford, too.
one of my favs during that time was Loy Vaught. As a high schooler, snuck into IM building an played a pickup game with him and his friends. Really nice guy and excellent career with the Clippers. Great rebounder and solid mid range jumper.
Is this like a "which planet in the solar system is best for supporting life" kind of question?
I think Franz has the highest upside of those players, Poole is playing the best right now and Caris and Timmy have had the best careers thus far. I like Poole a lot but we've all being paying attention to his highs in the playoffs but he's also had some struggles - 6/20 (including 2/9 from 3) in games 4 and 5 against Denver with a 13:4 Assist:TO margin and -12 while on the floor. He's been in a great situation at GSW and is playing much better this year but he's still a defensive liability.
That said, it's great to see all of these guys playing and succeeding.
Poole by a wide margin. Franz can compete with him soon though IMO.
I don’t disagree with folks picking Poole but I don’t agree that it’s not close.
People are forgetting how good Levert is when healthy. He’s not the pure shooter Poole is but he’s a dangerous playmaker in his own right and more versatile defensively. He averaged 20 and 9 in the playoffs 2 years ago so it’s not like he’s incapable of doing it at the highest level.
Hardaway is also in the “injured so people are forgetting him right now” camp. He’s never gone off like Poole is doing now but he also is a better defender.
Hardaway and Poole are similar in how they are both streaky. Timmy can go through stretches when he can't miss. Poole seems to be more consistent and is in a better system
Agree about Caris. Just came back from injury again, with a new team. Hopefully with a full offseason can make a run at an all star invite
🤷♂️
I think Poole has surpassed Caris. Caris is a nice fit for a lot of teams as a bench creator, but his efficiency is lacking. Poole has been at 58+ TS the last two seasons.
And while playing on Golden State helps, these playoffs have been illuminating. For much of the playoffs, Poole has been the best offensive player on a team that includes Klay Thompson and Steph Curry (not going to say best overall because Draymond has been a savant on D).
The burst and ballhandling is so much better than it was at Michigan, and he has adopted the crazy passing and quick decision-making with constant ball movement that is a trademark of the Steve Kerr offense.
I'd probably go THJ and LeVert (in that order) next. THJ has been a key contributor to a good team in Dallas, and his defense has picked up again. He was always miscast in NY as a number 1 or 2 perimeter option. Playing off ball and off of Luka has helped him do what he does best.
Franz is very quickly ascending and at this point I'd put him over Duncan Robinson because of his all-rounded play. The defense, playmaking, and ability to attack the rim have been as advertised at Michigan, and he has flashed more as a creator (including some stepback threes, more advanced dribble moves) than we saw in Ann Arbor. This rookie class is stacked, but there are years where his season may have been good enough to win Rookie of the Year. I could see him reaching the level of a guy like Andrei Kirilenko/make a couple of All Star games.
Lastly, can't understate what Duncan Robinson does for Miami. He's had the most playoff success (though I expect Jordan Poole to leave these playoffs with a ring and if he keeps this up maybe a Finals MVP) and should have a long career as an elite, big movement shooter.
So I'd probably agree with the assessment that Poole and Wagner have the highest ceilings, with Poole getting a slight nod just because of the offensive ceiling. He looks the part of a future perennial 25+ PPG scorer and he's in the perfect offense. I expect Wagner to make a couple of All Star games and first team All Defense teams though.