There are five point guards I’d rather have than Trae Young for the present and future. That’s it. Five dudes…all of whom are likely to end up in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. I believe Trae will join them there one day as well.
Those five dudes are: Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker.
After a triple-double against the Nets on Saturday and a double-double against the Pelicans on Sunday, Trae is averaging 18.3 points and 7.8 assists with 129 three-pointers made this season. Those rookie numbers are as good or better than all-time greats like Magic, Isiah, Paul, Curry, Westbrook, Kidd, etc. Don’t bother comparing Trae’s rookie numbers to Stockton, Nash or Payton because they didn’t get full minutes early on.
I cross referenced every point guard in the league versus Trae in terms of ownership for present and future, and here are the top 10 who missed the cut (in no particular order).
Eric Bledsoe: At age 29, he is solid as a rock, averaging 16-5-5, but he’s never made an All-Star team and he shoots 31% on threes.
Kyle Lowry: At 32 years old, Lowry is an established All-Star because he’s #2 in assists at 9.1 per game, but he’s a playoff choke artist on a bulbous contract.
Ben Simmons: In terms of athleticism and size, there’s no comparison. However, I need my point guard to bang threes. Simmons has never hit one in the NBA. And he’s a 59 percent foul shooter.
D’Angelo Russell: I was a fan of his at Ohio State and I’m a fan of his as a Net. Russell is a Most Improved candidate with a line of 20-4-7 on a playoff team. It’s close, but Trae’s range and vision win out here.
John Wall: At 28…on one of the worst contracts in the NBA...with a double chin…at 30 percent on threes…AND coming off Achilles surgery…this is a no-brainer.
Jamal Murray: He’s rocking a stat line of 18-4-5 and hitting 37 percent on threes for a contender in the West at age 22 and I’m a big fan. It’s close, but Trae’s X-ray court vision is the deciding factor.
Chris Paul: First-ballot Hall of Famer, no doubt. But he’s an injury-prone 33-year-old on a terrible contract and he’s dropped from a 20-10 guy to a 16-8 guy.
DeAaron Fox: This is a tougher debate than Simmons, Murray, or Russell. I love DeAaron Fox. He’s bigger than Trae, faster than Trae, and a better finisher at the rim than Trae. But Trae projects as a better 3-point shooter and Trae is already top 5 in assists as a rookie. Trae’s accuracy and instincts as a playmaker are elite.
Mike Conley: Everyone loves the 31-year-old grinder who plays hard every night, and he’s averaging 20-3-6 this season. That said, his contract is out-of-control crazy and he’s never made an All-Star team.
Collin Sexton: Remember, this was a healthy debate entering the 2018 draft. I still like Sexton, who is averaging 15-3-3 for the Cavs and hitting an impressive 39 percent on threes. Thing is, Trae projects as 20-10 guy in most seasons whereas Collin will be a 20-5-5 guy. Again, the passing is the main difference.
