BRUNSON BURNER: to NYK for 4yrs/$104M (no SnT) | NYK docked 2025 2nd for tampering

[mvossman]

Not at all. I never said those things were guarantees or that it would be easy. Still, I think the result forecasting doom is clouded vision. Dinwiddie will be 18 months beyond his surgery, with a full offseason to further acclimate to his team/system & benefit from the medical staff. Totally different players but he is fully capable of giving you 16/4. If that needs to be the primary ball handler off the bench, so be it. We didn't have THJ after the new year. If he's here, there's another 15ppg guy. They already added a guy that is going to land between 18-22ppg in Wood. There are quality, affordable guards other than Dragic. As for Green, I told folks when he was hot that his growth was not worthy but that he would be a zero factor in the playoffs. He's entering Year 3 now. The jump usually starts happening, for prospects like him, in Year 3. I'm not suggesting he leaps into the starting lineup or becomes a member of the closing 5. To think he could become an viable option as the third wing or become a real threat in the passing game is completely reasonable. After tasting some success and now knowing he has a staff that will reward him, I expect a significant step forward from him.(to know I'm on the level here, I lost my mind when they passed on Bey to take him).

I don't want JB gone. We are absolutely a better team with him than without. Still, to look at the four players I mentioned, know that we still have a TPE for a day or so, know that FA hasn't opened & that's when things really get going, see the tradeable contracts and think a guy like Nico, who has shown so much in less than a year, can't find a way to keep this team going is folly. That's what I am saying. All this panic is basically the result of the last decade Nelson gave us. Nelson is gone. Nico ain't Nelson.

I'm not spreading doom and gloom, but the fact is whatever they do to improve the team if Brunson walks, the team wont be as good as if Brunson was still here.  There is no positive to Brunson leaving.  It does not help them make moves to address him missing.  He is a very good player and losing a very good player on a team is going to be a hit.  If he stays, then the question is how much better we can be.  If he walks, the question is can we get back to as good as we were this season.