12-04-2021, 01:19 PM
(12-04-2021, 01:01 PM)embellisher Wrote: I did say and/or. I know a guy who does all of those things is George/Butler/Kawhi/Durant.But to upgrade DFS, you need a guy who has more offensive game than catch & shoot threes at ~36%.
Again, I don't disagree with your assessment of the player, necessarily, just the idea that finding someone better is easy. I assume that he's going to be very close to his recently normal percentage (37-40%) by season's end. If that's the case, and you mix in his defense, versatility, ability to play high-minutes with incessant energy, the apparent fact that he holds no illusions about his place on the team and is willing to do anything asked of him, etc...idk. I think he's one of the rarest animals in the sport, personally.
It seems like Kidd is asking him to handle and facilitate a bit more. Are we sure he can't add that to his game reliably, given time? I'm not sure, but I refuse to underestimate him. You can say there are similar players who shoot a good catch-and-shoot percentage but at a much higher volume, and that's valid, but I happen to believe that part of the reason he's prone to slow starts of season with his shooting is that he works during the off-season to subtly speed up his release.
I'm not saying you don't add a Paul George or a Kawhi if you get the chance, and if you have a star who plays DFS's position, then you're probably better off. But, I reject the idea that DFS is an after thought in the NBA. I think he'll have interest this summer, and what's more I think he's in the "defensive minded, long wing who can shoot" category that literally every team is scouring the Earth to find these days. He's going to continue to get better for years, just like Crowder has, for example. As long as the bidding doesn't get out of control for his next deal, I think he's a keeper.
I would move anyone in the right deal, if I was in charge. I just think DFS is the type of player we'd miss a lot once he was gone.