Trade & FA 2023-24: Sexton On the Market? | ORL Likes Hartenstein?

[KillerLeft]

Plus minus. Eye test. The last series. So let's make Gafford expendable. "But I really like him, it's just a DJJ thing." That's what I am hearing repeatedly, and I'm not seeing any of it is a good reason.

I seriously think you are way too cavalier with your criteria for replacing a player that is very useful. I

There are WAY better options available, and the disclaimer about DJJ doesn't mitigate the fact you did pick, and bash on, Gafford as your proposed route because of plus minus, eye test (whatever very subjective thing that means), and total recency.

Gafford is still young. He is just now on his first few months with a decent team and learning how to play in this system. He makes plays all the time. His contract is reasonable. For equal or less dollars, he is offering WAY more than players like THJ and Green.

The eye test can be subjective, sure, but much more so when it’s coming from some than others.

The premise that started a few pages ago, and not by me, was that it might be beneficial to find a way besides dumping Hardaway to come up with the money to re-sign Jones. I’m not convinced that’s true, because it is clear that Hardaway is no longer wanted on this team, but that’s the thought exercise.

So, a simple question: between Green, Gafford and Jones, who would you be most OK with losing? I understand that there might be even a more creative way to get all accomplished, and I have a long track record of thinking that Jones’ price tag probably won’t be as crazy as people suspect it will be around here…but, he is far exceeding expectations and I’m starting to get a little worried. 

We don’t have to totally agree on where Gafford is as a player, because the sample size on that is pretty small. But even if you think he is the second best center in the league, you’d agree, I hope, that he has not been as impactful as Jones, correct? And, you'd agree that they have TWO centers, of which he is the lesser, I’m sure!

That’s all I’m saying, that if push came to shove, I’d much rather move the depth than the one, key player in Jones. 

What you call bashing him I call pointing out obvious flaws in his game. He doesn’t move his feet well in space, defensively. That, alone, is enough to sour me on him a little because that’s the only thing I really care about with centers. I also think he’s a pretty overrated rebounder. He is great on the offensive glass when he is playing well, and that’s nice, but I’d say he’s below average as a starting center on the defensive glass. He is also really bad at getting the ball on the short role and making effective decisions quickly (this is an area where he might improve, to be fair). None of that is meant to distract from the things he does well, which are energy and vertical spacing. I’m glad he’s on the team!