I'm a DJJ guy, so I'm pushing back against some of the comments being made.
1 The money was NOT the issue with DJJ - the contracts were only $1M apart, an amount the Mavs had available. I believe the Mavs probably offered him as much as LAC did, and DJJ just didn't want to be here - the negotiating with him to make sure he knew he was going to be a vital part of the team was not good.
2 I don't think Nico wanted to get rid of DJJ at all, but rather he just blundered in getting him signed. Naji was just a backup plan, just in case.
3 Naji is nowhere near the same level of defender. Naji is solid, but DJJ can be a total disruptor because of his athletic gifts that are off the charts (7' wingspan, 46" vertical). I don't know how to quantify it, but I believe DJJ is far quicker and more agile covering the court.
4 Naji is really not a superior shooter, he's just a different style. Naji scores in more versatile ways. But DJJ has a TS of 60, Naji 59. And on the important ability to shoot 3s, DJJ is actually superior - this season DJJ about 37 (career 33), Naji about 31 (career 31).
I would much rather have DJJ, and think LAC got the much better player at close to the same salary. I would have eagerly swapped Naji for DJJ at any time. In the summer I would swap Naji for DJJ all day long (and hope LAC would want something different and look favorably on Naji and his less-expensive contract).
1 The money was NOT the issue with DJJ - the contracts were only $1M apart, an amount the Mavs had available. I believe the Mavs probably offered him as much as LAC did, and DJJ just didn't want to be here - the negotiating with him to make sure he knew he was going to be a vital part of the team was not good.
2 I don't think Nico wanted to get rid of DJJ at all, but rather he just blundered in getting him signed. Naji was just a backup plan, just in case.
3 Naji is nowhere near the same level of defender. Naji is solid, but DJJ can be a total disruptor because of his athletic gifts that are off the charts (7' wingspan, 46" vertical). I don't know how to quantify it, but I believe DJJ is far quicker and more agile covering the court.
4 Naji is really not a superior shooter, he's just a different style. Naji scores in more versatile ways. But DJJ has a TS of 60, Naji 59. And on the important ability to shoot 3s, DJJ is actually superior - this season DJJ about 37 (career 33), Naji about 31 (career 31).
I would much rather have DJJ, and think LAC got the much better player at close to the same salary. I would have eagerly swapped Naji for DJJ at any time. In the summer I would swap Naji for DJJ all day long (and hope LAC would want something different and look favorably on Naji and his less-expensive contract).
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