Let me tell you this about Tatum.... If we draft him I think he becomes our most talented player. Think about it.... the two guys on our roster with potential to be stars are Buddy and Skal. For sake of argument let's refer to them as our most talented guys. Look what Buddy and Skal did in freshman seasons relative to Tatum:
- Buddy (8 PPG 39% FGs 15 PER)
- Skal (6 PPG 3 RPG 18 PER)
- Tatum (17 PPG 7 RPG 2 APG 21 PER)
Where Tatum comes into consideration is if the first 4 players of the draft are in any order:
It is reasonable conclusion at this point Fox is who the Kings want. If Fox is not there at #5, currently around 50% odds, coin flip basically, Kings are left with a decision between Tatum and Isaac. No way is Dennis Smith Jr a consideration here. Too damaged, too much defensive liability. Between now and draft day one of the most prominent questions for fans and front office....Who do you want as your new SF
assuming Fox goes Top 4:
Tatum or Isaac?
Tatum has polish, length, footwork and touch. Isaac has even better length, fast twitch fibers and "bounciness" that Tatum sort of lacks. What I like about both guys is they can create space. Tatum is better but Isaac uses a jab step to get his man to back off. As an aside, you know this is something about Malachi. Malachi projects as 10 PPG next season because he has an effective jab step to get free on his shot or set up the drive.
If you exclusively look at needs of our team, the pick has to be TATUM. The Kings need to target and define their prominent scorers. Buddy and Skal project as 16-20 PPG scorers. Tatum would form a trio of guys who can give you 20 PPG on any night. Tatum could be a 25 PPG scorer in our league. If you take Isaac, there could be a scoring void on the team as Skal and Buddy develop and if Isaac develops as a utility specialist and combo forward.
One the other hand with Isaac you have a versatile defender and a guy who can switch a lot and provide imposing weak side help. Thats an awesome skill to have to go with Willie, Skal and Temple! These are the variables that are front office has to be debating. Isaac has simultaneously more risk AND upside. Tatum has less risk AND less defensive potential.
One reason to take Isaac is hope Ntlinka is around at #10. Then you have makings of a great defensive team with length at every position (when you play Temple at SG)! You can go Tatum then Frank and cover bases offensively and defensively. I am not going to declare definitively the Kings should Tatum over Isaac or vice versa. I don't have the data to make that assertion. I do think Fox goes over both if available. And I trust the front office to do their due diligence and confidently conclude one player over the other.
If I had to put on my prediction hat, subject to change over the next 4 weeks, I think we would take Tatum over Isaac if Fox is off the board. I think the differential in potential on offense favoring Tatum is greater that the differential in potential on defense favoring Isaac. That may be confusing to some but it makes sense to me.