The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Trey Lyles
PF - 6’10, 234lbs - 22 years old - 3 years of experience
The trade that brought him here will have to be forgotten about. Doesn’t matter now. It’s happened. Irrespective of what Donovan Mitchell hereafter goes on to do, Lyles can still be judged on his own merits. And to judge him on said own merits reveals a break-out player that is pretty good at this NBA thing.
Starting with a jump shot that went from potential-laden to smooth as eggs in the course of one season, Lyles became a very valuable role-playing four man this season, particularly alongside Jokic, a player who could so often find him open in the half court or in transition. Also scoring from the mid- and low-post areas on occasion, Lyles recorded considerably improved numbers in all categories compared to his first two seasons, and although his face-up nature and perimeter assignments generally draw him away from the rebounding glass (especially on the offensive end), he would get back and do his bit there, too.
Defensively, the area in which Lyles had the most red flags, he did OK. Arguably better long term suited to guarding perimeter actions even if not the most fleet of foot, Lyles contested well around the basket, and generally makes the same sort of good reads on this end as he does offensively. Not having any one great physical advantage on that end caps his upside, but the results this season were not too terrible.
Considering Denver’s cluttered frontcourt, Lyles’s role next season looks to be as Millsap’s backup, or at least it will be if he is not benched for more two centre or two small forward units. Thereafter, who knows. But Lyles has taken Hernangomez’s place on the team, and has upside for more.
Player Plan: One year of rookie scale salary remaining. Extension eligible but it will be hard given the lack of ready space going forward, both financial and rotational. If he took like $7 million or something it would work, but he surely wouldn’t, in anticipation of eight figures next summer.
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PF - 6’10, 234lbs - 22 years old - 3 years of experience
The trade that brought him here will have to be forgotten about. Doesn’t matter now. It’s happened. Irrespective of what Donovan Mitchell hereafter goes on to do, Lyles can still be judged on his own merits. And to judge him on said own merits reveals a break-out player that is pretty good at this NBA thing.
Starting with a jump shot that went from potential-laden to smooth as eggs in the course of one season, Lyles became a very valuable role-playing four man this season, particularly alongside Jokic, a player who could so often find him open in the half court or in transition. Also scoring from the mid- and low-post areas on occasion, Lyles recorded considerably improved numbers in all categories compared to his first two seasons, and although his face-up nature and perimeter assignments generally draw him away from the rebounding glass (especially on the offensive end), he would get back and do his bit there, too.
Defensively, the area in which Lyles had the most red flags, he did OK. Arguably better long term suited to guarding perimeter actions even if not the most fleet of foot, Lyles contested well around the basket, and generally makes the same sort of good reads on this end as he does offensively. Not having any one great physical advantage on that end caps his upside, but the results this season were not too terrible.
Considering Denver’s cluttered frontcourt, Lyles’s role next season looks to be as Millsap’s backup, or at least it will be if he is not benched for more two centre or two small forward units. Thereafter, who knows. But Lyles has taken Hernangomez’s place on the team, and has upside for more.
Player Plan: One year of rookie scale salary remaining. Extension eligible but it will be hard given the lack of ready space going forward, both financial and rotational. If he took like $7 million or something it would work, but he surely wouldn’t, in anticipation of eight figures next summer.
