07-03-2024, 09:53 PM
(07-03-2024, 09:46 PM)Smitty Wrote: I agree with this post actually. The difference I think in my thinking is that you believe in Hardy a bit more than I do and that’s perfectly fine. BUT more importantly I see the games missed by LukaiExum being a real issue in the regular season and think another PG would get real playing time in ~40-50 games. I definitely don’t see Powell playing that many. As for the front court I don’t see it as dire because of Naji’s ability to play down and the development of Omax. Plus Luka and Klay being able to play some 4. PJ to play some 5 and so on.
Well, look at it this way, at PG: Can you envision them guaranteeing Hardy's contract, not trading him and NOT playing him AGAIN? I can't, personally, so I don't think they're in the business of putting up more road blocks to him making their pick successful. I think if you guys are right and he can't do it, he'll get shipped out at the deadline, but I'd bet a lot of money they'll give him the ball to start the season off - he was just getting minutes in the NBA Finals.
At the 4...I discussed this the other day a bit, but if you want to keep a POA defender on the floor a lot, and I bet they do, that means figuring out how to carve out big minutes for the trio of Exum, Grimes and then probably Marshall. When looking at that list, it seems to me that Thompson is essentially the backup 4 (or Luka, if you'd prefer), because when Marshall plays, he'll be defending on the perimeter. That's why it already seems so "smaller wing" heavy. Luka and Klay are going to take turns defending the slowest, least dangerous forward 90% of the time. It's the only way to make sense of the current roster, imo.