07-22-2024, 03:44 PM
(07-22-2024, 03:39 PM)F Gump Wrote: I think that's a smart assessment. Until there's an injury (or a rest day) for Luka, Kyrie, or Klay, it's hard to see how Hardy or SD play much, given their abysmal play on defense.
In addition to your list, I think Exum is also in the mix for bench minutes, because his defense is good. He proved himself to be a 3-and-D ballhandler option last season. I think Maxi is also in that mix for bench minutes.
In practical terms, I think the basic rotation minutes are filled by:
GUARDS (Ball-handlers)(Offense Creators) - 2 positions, 96 mpg - Luka, Kyrie, Klay spilt about all of these (with any leftovers going to Exum or SD)
CENTER - defense, 48 mpg - 1 position - Gafford + Lively (with Powell or Maxi used for odd needs)
FORWARDS - defense primarily - 2 positions, 96 mpg - PJW, Maxi, Naji, Exum, Grimes
I think I'm probably the poster here most dismayed about this deal, because I firmly believe that 1) knowing Kidd, there's no way in hell SD gets less than 8th-highest total minutes over the season on the team unless he's incontrovertible and unrecoverable garbage in comparison to his prior stint here, and 2) that's going to slaughter our defense badly enough to engender fewer regular season wins as well as otherwise unnecessary playoff losses.