04-29-2021, 07:34 AM
(04-28-2021, 11:35 PM)Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo Wrote:
And if he really is a PG, wouldn't that push Jalen a notch down the Totem pole?
I can understand Lavine and Derozan taking away minutes from JB, because like it or not, JB knows the two are way ahead of him. And of course being taller wings, they can play with Luka and JB on a 3 guard lineup. The same is true with Lonzo to some extent. Ball is a tall PG the same as Luka, but both can play as wings.
Graham will directly be competing with JB. Pencil him as a JR replacement, but he will eat away from JB's minutes if he is good as people say. So is he a JB replacement eventually?
So, yesterday was Devonte Graham day.
There are publications (and there were TDL rumors) that think he will be the odd man out between Ball, Rozier and Graham. I'm not sure why they wouldn't keep all three. Graham has a $2mm cap hold, so he doesn't keep them from doing other business in free agency. Compare that to Monk's $13mm cap hold. If someone is going to go, it is probably Monk or Rozier (via trade).
To your point, is Graham that much better than Brunson? Better...yes. But how much? By some measures, the difference isn't that great. Is he the best fit in a three guard rotation with Luka and JB? I'm not sure I want to pay $15mm to find out (and send Brunson packing a year from now in unrestricted free agency). If Brunson is goint to embrace his role as third guard, I agree that the second guard has to be clearly better than him.