10-22-2024, 10:18 AM
(10-22-2024, 09:41 AM)mvossman Wrote: I'm not sure you should be throwing shade at other posters while continually comparing Hardy to better players. When it comes to player future projections, you seem to be the board optimist and Forrest is the pessimist.
I like the deal, especially with the team option, but it is possible for him to underperform it. If he continues to regress shooting, give up too many turnovers and play bad defense he could be a near unplayable negative on the court. I don't think that is going to happen, but it could. We have seen teams pay assets to get out from under contracts smaller than this with the new harsher CBA.
I was on the Jalen Johnson train before it had wheels, but the facts that he regressed from Year 1 to Year 2 as Forrest likes to point out, though the sample size for either player is ridiculously small anyway. It´s much easier (at age 22) to turn from a $6M into a $30M player with opportunity than a negative trade value. Hardy will get his opportunity this season.
Interestingly basketball reference has a 2024/2025 projection tool.
For Hardy assuming 24 MPG (which is slightly less than THJ) he comes out at 13.3 PPG 3.2 RPG 2.6 APG shooting 43/38/80. I´d say that is pretty fair considering his production so far and the fact that his minutes should increase.
This is not a Javale McGee situation.