(05-31-2024, 05:30 PM)mvossman Wrote: I don't think its common for a young really good offensive player to be interested in moving into a situation where he will be third fiddle and coming off the bench and might be able to crack the starting lineup after two years. Some vets who have been around the block might think like that, but very few of the young guys do. Those players need to look at their long term value too. I'm sure they saw how Brunson value exploded once he got out from under Luka shadow. I think you are asking/assuming a lot for them to be ok to come here and play from the bench.
Dorian is a single example of a player greatly improving their three point shooting. How many have tried and failed. I don't think the odds are in Vanderbilts favor. They are different type players anyways. A big part of Dorian's offensive game was the 3 (he just wasn't very good at it). He took 5 threes per 36 right out of the gate. In 6 seasons Vanderbilt hasn't taken much more than one 3 per 36.
I think we need to be real careful with assuming/expecting players to improve in areas just because we have seen it happen before. Dorian improving is three is not likely to mean Vanderbilt will, just like PJ playing much better defense here is not likely to turn Simons into a decent defender.
It may not be common but that doesn't mean it can't happen. Most young guys don't want to come off the bench because it will affect their salary or they lose minutes. In Simons case he already has his contract and he would not get less minutes. And like I said Simon shares the same agent as Luka so I am sure he would know at all times his value to the Mavs
Moreover, our very own Jason Terry was a starter in Atlanta and Dallas and then came off the bench to win an NBA championship. Manu Ginobili (a hall of famer)came off the bench to win a championship. There have been many people through out history that were successful players as starters that then came off the bench to win championship. Only players with big ego's (Carmelo, Iverson) recently have resisted or been angry when asked to take a bench role.
Moreover DFS wasn't shooting 5 threes out the gate, he wasn't even shooting 5 shoots total. It wasn't until DFS was 27y.o that he was shooting 5 threes a game. Moreover the three wasn't a big part of DFS game coming the league (at 23 y.o) it was by design that they forced him into shooting more threes.
Also, DFS isn't the only player that increased his three point shooting as they got older. Maxi was shooting .311 from 3 at 26 y.o taking less than 2 a game. Only when he was 27 y.o did he start making them at league average of .35 at three a game.