The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Isaiah Taylor
PG - 6’3, 170lbs - 23 years old - 2 years of experience
From the fringes of the NBA last year, Taylor was signed after training camp and ended up playing 1,167 minutes. This is plenty enough of a sample size to be able to establish his NBA credentials. And the evidence seems to suggest that he is going back to the fringes.
Taylor had some moments. A quick guard, he used that speed to get out in transition (even if few ran with him), and could at times get to the rim in the half court. He was a solid if not hugely incisive passer from the perimeter and when on the drive, and made few errors as a lead guard.
However, while he made few errors, he had limitations too. The most obvious is the jump shot - it has never been good, it still isn’t, and development of this skill is key to developing his career. But Taylor also struggled to finish at the rim when contested, and although he wisely almost completely eschewed the mid-range areas, doing so made him pretty defendable. No need to hedge; just drop back, contain, and he’ll probably pass it off to the wings.
It certainly hurt Taylor that he played on a poor team with a very disjointed rotation around him, on a roster with a lot of turnover and injuries/late-season benchings. This was not an environment for an inexperienced point guard to thrive in. And he had some moments defensively. That said, what aspect of the NBA game can or will he thrive in? He is quick, but to what effect? A lot of other guards out there are quick, too, and Taylor did not separate himself from the field, even with good opportunity.
Player Plan: Unguaranteed minimum salary contract for next season. Early guarantee date, so the wait-and-see approach will not work. Would waive.
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PG - 6’3, 170lbs - 23 years old - 2 years of experience
From the fringes of the NBA last year, Taylor was signed after training camp and ended up playing 1,167 minutes. This is plenty enough of a sample size to be able to establish his NBA credentials. And the evidence seems to suggest that he is going back to the fringes.
Taylor had some moments. A quick guard, he used that speed to get out in transition (even if few ran with him), and could at times get to the rim in the half court. He was a solid if not hugely incisive passer from the perimeter and when on the drive, and made few errors as a lead guard.
However, while he made few errors, he had limitations too. The most obvious is the jump shot - it has never been good, it still isn’t, and development of this skill is key to developing his career. But Taylor also struggled to finish at the rim when contested, and although he wisely almost completely eschewed the mid-range areas, doing so made him pretty defendable. No need to hedge; just drop back, contain, and he’ll probably pass it off to the wings.
It certainly hurt Taylor that he played on a poor team with a very disjointed rotation around him, on a roster with a lot of turnover and injuries/late-season benchings. This was not an environment for an inexperienced point guard to thrive in. And he had some moments defensively. That said, what aspect of the NBA game can or will he thrive in? He is quick, but to what effect? A lot of other guards out there are quick, too, and Taylor did not separate himself from the field, even with good opportunity.
Player Plan: Unguaranteed minimum salary contract for next season. Early guarantee date, so the wait-and-see approach will not work. Would waive.
