TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

What I am emphatically saying is that CP3 was shut down and neutralized. Which he was. Many factors led to that, the main one being is age. Paul is a fine point guard and one of the best set up guys of all time. But the Mavs took away his ability to run the offense. Ayton isn't a guy to create his own shot so he was also neutralized with that one move. 




But we're not asking him to be a franchise foundation player. Just a supplementary one to our current franchise foundation. Ayton's skillset covers many of Luka's deficiencies. And his offensive game can work around a guy that will take 25 shots a game. 

FWIW: Ayton in the Pelican series prior to the Mavs 20.5ppg/9.8rpg/1.2bpg on 70% FG shooting in 35 minutes.

Both can be true.  Yes, CP3 looked horrible.  Our longer defenders made him look overdue for retirement.  Yes, Ayton should have destroyed us, but was neutralized.  We had absolutely no one to defend him, went small, and unlike OKC, made him ineffective.

Um, have you looked at his contract?  You don't consider THAT to be a franchise player contract?

This is 2023.  Ayton isn't exactly a dinosaur, but certainly is dinosaur-ish.  We need bigs who can switch and guard the perimeter.

Ayton's defense?  The Suns are tied with the Mavs at 11th in team defense.  Ayton's defensive win shares ranks him 220th in the league.  Wood's ranked 184th.  You want Ayton to be the anchor of the defense?    Anchor is the right word for Ayton.