2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[StepBackJay]

Not sure about the salary cap implications but if it’s Hardaway vs DeRozen vs Conley that’s actually a tough decision for me. 

I go with Conley over Derozen for 2 simple reasons.

1. Conley is an excellent 3 point shooter as opposed to DeRozen and will enhance Luka while on the floor. 

2. The team is built around Luka and will most likely be filled with 3 point shooters. Conley can run a pick and roll inside-out offense when Luka sits. 

Also with Conley, Brunson could be traded for another asset. 

I also like DeRozen and think he’s a bucket getter. If you feel getting buckets and size is more important than 3 point shooting and running the offense than DeRozen becomes more of a higher option.

Conley will probably stay with Utah unless you ovepray him and he is kind of a stop-gap being as old as he is. I would rather have DeRozan who is younger (31 v 33) and isn't injured a lot like Conley. I agree that Conley's on-court fit is good but I think have 2 guys as talented as DMR and Luka would solve more problems than they create. DMR has such a high floor I think you could trade him pretty easily if the fit isn't there.

A lot of people bring up spacing issues with DMR because he doesn't shoot 3's but I think those concerns are over-stated. There are real space-problem players like a WCS player who you totally don't respect beyond 2 feet from the basket.

A guy like DMR attracts gravity, just like good shooters including much maligned KP who does stretch the floor. Luka himself creates a ton of gravity because you have 4/5 defenders needing to have eyes on him when he has the ball. Having a 2nd guy like DMR running around (hopefully he would move without the ball) could on paper cause a lot of havoc defensively. Luka doesn't do a lot of off-ball stuff but his defender will always stay home on him bc he is so dangerous as a shooter and playmaker.

I haven't watched DMR enough off-ball to know what he does but I imagine they would try to put him in advantageous positions to make the defense scramble.