Re: 1/13 - 1/25 Games Discussion Thread
idk I just don't agree. Sure you don't want to be a non playoff team but not taking team, unless you're a team like the Pelicans who already have guys like Zion and Ingram + assets. This isn't a team that needs to tank to get guys, they have guys they need to teach them how to win not get them comfortable with only knowing how to lose and tank every single year. How do you tell 20 year olds to flip a switch and start winning because you tanked for another 19 year old if all they've ever known is to lose games to draft teenagers? The cycle can only go on for so long, you don't draft a guy like Zion to teach him how to lose. And you don't want him on rosters with no veteran presence either.
I like the Adams fit, I personally don't believe your center needs to space the floor and his ability to play out on the perimeter with screens, hand-offs, passing means he actually can space the floor he's just not a shooter. They can easily fabricate ways to get him out of the paint, OKC did it for years. To me their offense has looked a lot better when he's on the floor, guys coming off his screens are getting wide open looks they otherwise aren't getting because nobody else on their roster has that type of playstyle and IQ. I've only watched a few of their games, but the few I have I believe them to be better with him. Looking at their stats now I'm not at all surprised that he has the highest On-Off splits of any rotation player on their team.
Like I said, if all that comes from Bledsoe is guys behind him getting to watch how he defends then it's a win. They have no need for Bledsoe long term, he will eventually be traded. The first round picks won't be great picks, they don't need to be great picks. They already have 6-7 lottery guys all under 25 on the roster right. They are developing those guys. The picks are future trade pieces to upgrade the roster, pieces to trade to teams looking to trade back in a draft, or perhaps striking gold in a late round.
Whether or not they lost the trade doesn't matter. That only makes it a bad move in hindsight. Nobody knows how Hayes and NAW will develop this early. The point was they didn't need Hunter with Zion and Bi, they got players at positions and skill sets they did need, so at the time it wasn't a failed roster move. If they never develop then yeah bad trade in hindsight, but painting the picture of an incompetent front office because two players didn't reach potential isn't fair.
As for NAW, he is coming around already. He's scoring 20 per 36, has good combo guard skills, has already played well in the clutch for them, his time is coming. No reason they have to throw him to the wolves now and play him 40 minutes a night. There is nothing wrong with him learning from Bledsoe and JJ for now. You asked how does he fit in with so many guards but you already answered your own question when you said Bledsoe, Lonzo, JJ aren't in their long term plans.
Like I said, if all of this is still an issue 2-3 years from now then it's time to start making posts like yours. But thinking the roster is flawed right now because a bunch of 20-22 year olds haven't learned to mesh together yet is silly. Wayyy too premature. This is Zion's first full season, and first without a minutes restriction as well, there is no way to know what to expect to build around him yet. He hasn't even played half a seasons worth of games yet, has only played 14 games next to a true center.
idk I just don't agree. Sure you don't want to be a non playoff team but not taking team, unless you're a team like the Pelicans who already have guys like Zion and Ingram + assets. This isn't a team that needs to tank to get guys, they have guys they need to teach them how to win not get them comfortable with only knowing how to lose and tank every single year. How do you tell 20 year olds to flip a switch and start winning because you tanked for another 19 year old if all they've ever known is to lose games to draft teenagers? The cycle can only go on for so long, you don't draft a guy like Zion to teach him how to lose. And you don't want him on rosters with no veteran presence either.
I like the Adams fit, I personally don't believe your center needs to space the floor and his ability to play out on the perimeter with screens, hand-offs, passing means he actually can space the floor he's just not a shooter. They can easily fabricate ways to get him out of the paint, OKC did it for years. To me their offense has looked a lot better when he's on the floor, guys coming off his screens are getting wide open looks they otherwise aren't getting because nobody else on their roster has that type of playstyle and IQ. I've only watched a few of their games, but the few I have I believe them to be better with him. Looking at their stats now I'm not at all surprised that he has the highest On-Off splits of any rotation player on their team.
Like I said, if all that comes from Bledsoe is guys behind him getting to watch how he defends then it's a win. They have no need for Bledsoe long term, he will eventually be traded. The first round picks won't be great picks, they don't need to be great picks. They already have 6-7 lottery guys all under 25 on the roster right. They are developing those guys. The picks are future trade pieces to upgrade the roster, pieces to trade to teams looking to trade back in a draft, or perhaps striking gold in a late round.
Whether or not they lost the trade doesn't matter. That only makes it a bad move in hindsight. Nobody knows how Hayes and NAW will develop this early. The point was they didn't need Hunter with Zion and Bi, they got players at positions and skill sets they did need, so at the time it wasn't a failed roster move. If they never develop then yeah bad trade in hindsight, but painting the picture of an incompetent front office because two players didn't reach potential isn't fair.
As for NAW, he is coming around already. He's scoring 20 per 36, has good combo guard skills, has already played well in the clutch for them, his time is coming. No reason they have to throw him to the wolves now and play him 40 minutes a night. There is nothing wrong with him learning from Bledsoe and JJ for now. You asked how does he fit in with so many guards but you already answered your own question when you said Bledsoe, Lonzo, JJ aren't in their long term plans.
Like I said, if all of this is still an issue 2-3 years from now then it's time to start making posts like yours. But thinking the roster is flawed right now because a bunch of 20-22 year olds haven't learned to mesh together yet is silly. Wayyy too premature. This is Zion's first full season, and first without a minutes restriction as well, there is no way to know what to expect to build around him yet. He hasn't even played half a seasons worth of games yet, has only played 14 games next to a true center.
Comment