The Front Row

Wow, I'd bet you a few dollars that this comparison entered my thoughts before it entered yours.:) It struck me last winter.

Differences:

I never liked CM because of his utter ruthlessness on the court - just a total lowlife on the court imo. I realize this differs from consensus. Sully, conversely, has a soul.

CM was more of a pick and pop contributor on offense, or maybe I'm just remembering his later years as he certainly did score lots of points by doing nothing more than locking up very low position on the block as well.

Neither can or could jump but both rebound well.

Sully already has greater long-range. CM had better mid range.

What strikes me at their biggest similarity - the one that led me to the comparison - is that both of them get lots of ft attempts. (With CM, I always felt that lots of them in Utah were bogus, but that's another matter)
They both carry wide frames and they both seem to understand how to turn their shoulders and arms into defenders to generate contact on field goals attempts.

It will be interesting to see if JS develops CM's pick n pop game with a solid 15-footer when he plays in the nba.

I think Sully, from the neck up - basketball IQ - is way high. I like how he draws out double teams away from the key to create 4 on 3 situations, just for starters.

....I don't consider Sully to be any sort of lock as an nba all-star simply because he lacks athleticism and hasn't yet shown a
midrange game. In the pros, he will get doubled more quickly and aggressively. Can he adjust to it? Can he get as low in the block as did CM for entry passes ? On the flip side, for sure, I'd like to see him, Irving and Thompson together, but is he a "lock"? Worst case imo is that he will be a solid asset for many years but I'm unconvinced that he'll dominate. (the Cavs are a legit .500 team right now, imo, so I see very little hope that he will wear the wine and gold anyway - we will see).