Originally Posted by
gumbomoop
I really like Amile, because [1] he's blessed with a sort of unusual game, about which I have posted several times, [2] it's possible that Andre will redshirt, in which case Duke could sure use that [talented] 10th guy, [3] he can play some right away as a combo 3/4, mostly, but not only, as a backup for Alex, and [4] he should develop into a solid-to-excellent player for the following 3, at least 2, years.
I have nothing against Tony Parker. I've had little to say about him, perhaps unsettled a little by things he's been quoted as having said, but mostly because I'm high on Marshall's humor, attitude, and serious potential [maybe in that order]. In short, I'm fine with Tony's decision, as it means Marshall is sure to get some PT.
Having posted in some detail above in this thread how I think Amile would fit in, PT-and-position-wise, it seems wise to consider briefly the [surely unlikely] possibility that Amile will matriculate elsewhere, breaking my poor heart in the process. Should Amile not choose Duke, K and co. will cope better than I, approximately as follows [pre-ACC]:
PG - Cook (24), Thornton (16)
SG/wing - Curry (30), Sulaimon (10)
SF/wing - Murphy (26), Sulaimon (7), Thornton (5), Hairston (2)
PF - Kelly (28), Hairston (12)
C - MP2 (28), MP3 (9), Hairston (3)
Now, these position designations are neither precisely precise, nor very important, and not merely because "K doesn't play positions." Rather, Duke will not be blessed with absolutely perfect-fit players at each, maybe even most, positions next season, which means it's conceivable, if barely, that K will not get #5 next April.
My guess at PT/mpg above implies that several players will - ok, must - be used "flexibly." Thornton, for example, because he's not yet a consistent 3-bomber, but because he's a bulldog, will probably get a little, but not a lot of, time guarding much bigger SFs. Sulaimon is probably a "classic SG," but will also need to guard a bigger player for a few, not lots of, minutes. Even then, however, on O, Rasheed would be playing about the same as when playing SG, as he's a wing, for God's sake.
Absent Amile - remember him? - Hairston might have to be the most flexible of all, particularly in limited situations where he just has to defend a little, not a lot, at the SF.
Most important, the position designations above are imprecise because Seth, whom I have listed as playing zero mpg at PG, might actually function sometimes, a little, not a lot, as de facto PG. Thornton is listed as PG, but evidence thus far suggests he'd function quite differently at that spot than Cook. [This isn't a revelation, right?] When Rasheed is on the floor with Alex and Tyler, it might well be that he guards the opposing PG, allowing Tyler to play where he's shown to be effective, off the ball. But for those few, not lots of, minutes, I guess I'd still "list" Tyler as the PG and Rasheed as the SG. For the few, but not lots of, minutes when Josh and Ryan are the bigs, who's the 4 and who's the 5? It doesn't matter, designation-wise. And whereas Mason is listed as the 5, I'd assume we might see a few, not lots of, times in which he moves out 45 degrees, to pass into Ryan in the post. I know, I know, we all want Mason mostly to develop more smoothness and go-to moves down low. IMO, there's no contradiction between such a plan and his developing some handle and entry-passing, as a PF, into his brother, or into Ryan, who can, and should, score down low a few times per game.
Amile, you should come to Duke. The fans here, especially on EK, are simply more informed, sensible, sweet-tempered, creative, and insightful than anywhere else in the US of A. As you will discover, when you read the responses to this post.