joshleip22 (5 posts)  9/19/2012 7:47 AM

I am down to a painful decision to keep either Brandon Knight or Isaiah Thomas in a keeper league. I'm projecting Thomas to be the more solid player this year, as indicated by his ADP, but what about the long view? Any thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Melo (21 posts)  9/19/2012 10:39 AM

Isiah Thomas is the much safer choice.

dasein (658 posts)  9/19/2012 2:40 PM

I'd say long term Knight is the much safer choice. Isiah might be better in week 1. He might also loose the starting job by week 10. Knight is safely locked in with the starting job in detroit for another year or 2. It's just a matter of wheather he progresses, and there's no reason to think he won't. 

On the otherhand, we just don't know if Knight will be a fantasy star and if you think you're got a chance to win your league this year it might be worth chucking him back and rolling the dice on Isiah for this year. That really depends on your league and keeper settings. 

thebarnes (37 posts)  9/19/2012 9:38 PM

I dont think there is any question or doubt that the pick is Brandon Knight.

He is completely unchallenged in minutes or role and will be looked at as a core leader along with Monroe - and there isn’t to much else on that roster to stop him having high usage. Thomas on the other hand has to contend with not only Aaron Brooks who may be bad or maybe as good as only two years ago in Houston when he started and scored 20 ppg but also Tyreke Evans whether directly taking minutes or wanting to handle the ball will always have an impact. You also have some 'high attention' players that need the ball a lot in their hands or just have high usage - it’s a terrible mix. Marcus Thornton, Tyreke Evans, Aaron Brooks, Demarcus Cousins all fit this category, all need their shots and all are relatively ineffective with the ball out of their hands too much. That leads me to my next point on Thomas’ situation - chemistry. All of these guys can get disgruntled easily and we have already seen it with all of them, couple that with the maloofs having no money and uncertainty in staying ins Sacramento and it also has the ability to destabilise the locker room and performance. Right now I see Evans, Cousins, Thornton getting their way from the coach more than Thomas. I haven’t even mentioned some other guys in here like like rookie Thomas Robinson who whilst is a blue collar rebounder, seems to also take a lot of shots both in college and also summer league.

Brandon Knight has none of the above to contend with and talent  wise I think is better than Thomas anyway. He has no barrier to success now or in the future and is a lottery pick. He already has a good 3 point shot and scoring mentality and rebounds ok from a PG position, whilst he isnt the playmaker Thomas is right now that’s sure to develop. I have also heard nothing but glowing praise of Knight in the offseason and how he’s a leader and been working really hard where as theres been nothing on Thomas or his situation in the lineup.

Not just for this season but for the future I am taking Knight every day of the week and I don’t even think it’s close.

Hailfire4 (520 posts)  9/19/2012 11:04 PM

I totally agree with TheBarnes and his take. I will add that Jimmer Fredette is also in the mix and may be the preferred long term PG for the team. IT is just surrounded by challengers. Detroit only has 4 guards in total. Stuckey, Brandon Knight, Will Bynum, Kim English is it for the depth. Daye who knows the poor guy is just biding time in Detroit.

dcentury (16 posts)  9/19/2012 11:31 PM

jimmer fredette will never be a long term pg anywhere in the league, and i would put any amount of money on that statement.

thebarnes (37 posts)  9/19/2012 11:51 PM

Maybe but I do agree Jimmer will still get some minutes in the back court rotation...and he also needs the ball to be effective so its a valid point. They overpaid to get jimmer a year ago to much fanfare, they wont completely give up on him this season and not likley even next season. Even if he plays 5 min PG p/game in a crowded back court thats a factor.

redhopeful (89 posts)  9/20/2012 12:38 AM

Real issue here is how likely are one of these guys to be a keeper beyond next season? Ie. how large of a league, how many keepers, etc. If the league doesn't play more like a dynasty, then your choice should be Thomas. He is projected to have the better season so you'd be getting more bang for the buck out of him for the upcoming season.

thebarnes (37 posts)  9/20/2012 1:17 AM

Everything I said I believe for future (Dynasty) AND next season. I dont think there is any way Thomas is a better play than Knight.

joshleip22 (5 posts)  9/20/2012 10:42 AM

Thanks to everyone, this discussion has been very helpful to me. It's a 12 team league, 14 man rosters, we keep 6. I have gone with the traditional Punt FT% build. My keepers are

Al Jefferson

Josh Smith

Dwight Howard

Rajon Rondo

Pau Gasol

Knight/Thomas

You can see the huge drop off in talent after my first five keepers. But this was the medecine I had to take in order to trade for Josh Smith and Rondo the other day. I am going to rip the bandage off and go with Knight, hoping he can make strides in his development. Thomas looked a much more refined player to me last year, but I can't argue with the rationale that Knight's path to high usage is much clearer. Also, I need to load up on three point shooting and scoring so I figure, if nowhere else, Knight has the edge in these departments. 

Again, thanks!