02-11-2026, 10:38 AM
(02-11-2026, 10:17 AM)Smitty Wrote: I get the point. I just disagree with it. I think a player like PJW is a fit with Flagg. His level of play currently? No. The player he's been throughout most of his career? Yes.
He's a role player, playing outside of his role this season. If he were putting up counting stats similar to last year (mostly his shooting splits), we wouldn't even be having this conversation. If he was back in his proper role offensively, not being asked to create offense, I think he'd look similar to last year even with the ankle injury. He's shown to be a versatile, impact defender that can change games. He's proven that he's a plus outside shooter on above average attempts per game.
Of course, if any of the better players on the team are playing poorly, they're not going to be a fit with anyone. If Max has a season where he shoots 30% from 3PT next year, he's not an ideal fit. If Naji has a 38% 3PT season next year, he will be an excellent fit with Coop.
The question is, what type of player is ideal next to Flagg? We've all kind of touched on it. But if you think there's a Wing out there that is a bigger/better more versatile defender than PJ, who can also shoot 35-36% from deep, on more than 5 attempts per game, for around MLE money, name him.
Gotcha, although I still think you’re wrong, because
a) you neglect the money aspect,
b) you underestimate the role part, and
c) you overestimate the pure on-court fit.
c) is maybe debatable, because most of the issue really comes down to spacing. If PJ were our fourth-best player, shot 42 percent from deep, and mostly played off ball, he might actually be perfect next to Flagg, especially if Coop also stayed efficient from outside.
But I’m not sure PJ can do that. If he shoots 38 percent, which he has done before, it might work, but it heavily depends on the rest of the team. Flagg’s ability to space the floor matters a lot here as well. Does he shoot 30 percent? 35? 40? That’s a huge difference. Then there’s Naji, who just plainly sucks from deep. Of course we could wish, that he suddenly becomes a sniper but yeah, we can not base our arguments on that. We also can not argue against Christie, assuming he falls of a cliff. Of course, both is possible but not likely. Christie got better every year, the others have proven to be inconsistent at best. That leaves very little wiggle room, and PJ would most likely have to be excellent himself to make it work between the three, or even just two of them.
I can see how you could believe it works. I just don’t. As I said, this part is debatable because it depends on several variables.
But a) and b) are the real defeaters of your argument. PJ is simply too expensive to mostly bring the same skill set as your star player. The same will be true for Naji once he signs his next contract. They also want to play big minutes, and when they’re on the court, they demand the ball.
Of course, we could assume that PJ and Naji suddenly become snipers and also stop commanding the ball so much, but recent history suggests otherwise. At least to me, their iso-heavy play has more to do with their ego and self-perception as go-to guys than with them just filling a role. With Naji, this is especially obvious. He attacks the rim and finishes excellently, but he rarely looks to pass. That might work in the regular season at home against the Pelicans, but once efficiency drops, playoffs, big moments, is that really the kind of offense you want?
PJ, to a lesser extent, is guilty of the same thing. He calls for his isos and dribbles the ball, often off his foot.
You can make the argument, which you essentially are making, that they played outside their ideal role because the team and coaches needed them to. But my money is on this being who they are as players and as personalities. They both see themselves as leaders and as two of the team’s best players. That might be true right now, but they should not be the case on a contending team. And you should not a) pay them as if they were.
Agree to disagree, I guess.