Let's talk SGs that will show up to camp.

There is no question that Brandon will start at the 2. There is talk that he may play some PG, but it is questionable how good of an idea that is and until it happens we have every reason to believe he'll get most of his minutes at the 2.

Wesley Matthews is clearly being paid to be the new backup SG. I'm excited to see what he can do. I think he'll be a clear upgrade at the position. There is a chance that he is a product of the Utah system, but his shooting and defensive skills should translate to any system. He's young enough to continue to develop his game. He should get the lion's share of the backup minutes at SG.

Jerryd played well enough in his opportunities at SG last season. He certainly got more run there than anybody expected due to Brandon's injuries and Rudy's ineffectiveness. While JB's offensive skills allow him to be reasonably effective at SG, every move the team has made since drafting JB has pointed to the team's desire that he earn his minutes at PG. I think that is a smart move. He will always struggle to defend bigger SGs and has a tougher time getting his shots off over taller non-PGs. Despite his limitations, Bayless certainly looks to be the guy who would get minutes in the case of injury or foul trouble to Roy or WM.

Which leads me to the real point of this post... Where does Elliott Williams fit on this team? The obvious answer is that he likely won't have a role this season, but there has to be some longer-term plan for him or why did we draft him? Does he fit on this team looking to the future? How do we help him develop so we are not looking at another Rudy situation in a couple of years where he has talent, but no real trade value or role on this team? It seems like Williams believes he has PG skills, but I haven't read much that suggests to me that the team or the "so-called experts" believe that to be in his NBA future. There has been a lot of talk that a non-traditional PG could fit well with Brandon Roy. Somebody who could defend the PG position and play off the ball on offense. It will be interesting to see if Elliott could fill that role for this team.

We have 3 rookies for 2010-11. We are in an enviable position of not really needing any significant contribution from any of them to reach the team's goals this season. It is interesting that the guy drafted in the 2nd round has received a lot more attention from BEdgers than the guy drafted with our 1st round pick. No doubt that is because we have seen Armon play since he was drafted. It also because we see a role for Armon. Unless more moves are made that change the PG position or he is sent to D-league, he will be the 3rd string PG. He'll get spot minutes this year and with an aging veteran starting PG have a chance to earn a more significant future role on the team. Babbitt looks to be the 3rd string SF and should get spot minutes with more opportunity as injuries and/or foul trouble create a larger role for him. Babbitt has one problem that Armon doesn't have which is that both players in front of him are either expected to have a long-term role on this team (Batum) or have a long-term contract (Matthews).

Elliott is buried on the depth chart even more than Babbitt. Nobody in front of Babbitt is a 2-time all-star and the indisputable team leader. Let's assume that the team makes JB earn his minutes at PG. That puts Elliott as the #3 SG. Can he climb from that role unless WM flops or Roy's injuries become a recurring dilemma? Should we give him an opportunity to see how he plays with Roy and defends the point? Seems like that might be the best way to give him an opportunity to have a real role with this team.

I thought I would attach a Youtube of Elliott playing against Kansas last season. He hits a big shot and misses a big shot in the last minute of the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcIJI4f5xbg

Who thinks Elliott is going to find a role on this team?