Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DL2RimRocker]

Actually Nico signed Naji Marshall as the DJJ upgrade. Naji got slotted into the contract that would have gone to DJJ. They just didn't want to keep him at the price the Clippers paid is my understanding.

I think Naji is a better fit overall. He's a great defender but he's also a playmaker and shooter. DJJ was just a great defender. His shooting has been improving. But, he's not to the level of Naji.

Agree...I think Nico has made it very clear that he fantasizes about having a roster full of 2-way players and Naji fits the bill in a supporting role.

He probably saw in DJJ on the offensive side as he did with Luka on the defensive side. Personally, I don't think Nico had a problem with Luka's conditioning from an offensive perspective, but probably didn't feel Luka had the dedication to become the defensive player he needed to be to be a legit superstar player. It seems to me Nico had similar frustrations as the Rockets FO had with Harden and his lack of commitment to defense and the game overall. I can't disagree with Nico on that philosophy because to win championships you can't have a couple of offensive players who play no defense (Luka/Kyrie) and then have to compensate with a couple of defensive players who give you next to nothing offensively (Maxi/DJJ). It makes it too easy for a team full of 2-way players (Boston) to shut down your offense. I do embrace Nico's philosophy on that account.

However, Nico was still a damn idiot for dumping him in a similar fashion as he did Maxi getting what I consider to be about 60% in return.