07-31-2026, 03:23 PM
(07-31-2026, 02:54 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: He CAN shoot, and in fact was a FEATURED offensive player on a finals team as a 22 year-old, and a pretty big reason the series went to 7. If Haliburton doesn't go down, I think they win the series, and this dude was featured (off the bench, but still featured) in that offense. His percentages aren't special because he takes tough shots. He takes tough shots because he's talented and that's what teams ask him to do. He's not a ball hog, as some have claimed, any more than Jason Terry, Hardaway Jr or any of the other people who have been vilified around here for being the player talented enough to be featured, but not quite skilled enough to play that role at a star level. And, he's only 24, so I still have hope - NAY - near belief, that the star or near-star level of efficiency is potentially there in time if he lands in the right spot with the right coach on this next, pivotal contract.
Also, he CAN play defense. In fact, I have a load of Clippers' fan friends who were over the moon with his defensive chops and how much better he was in that area than advertised, particularly when it comes to on-ball defense. I think it's fair to point out that his defense has been inconsistent, but he's actually been quite impactful on defense at times.
He's got the size the Mavs seem to covet. He's athletic. He's young, up and coming. He's confident and about to come into his own as a pro, imo, if AGAIN, he lands in the right spot. And, it has been stated so many times by so many people that the Mavericks offered Gafford for him at the trade deadline that I'm content to accept this as common knowledge fact, basically.
There are elements of my campaign that are a bit, it's true, but I assure you the motivation behind launching it is not. I really think this guy represents a near-ground-floor investment in the future similar to the swings they're taking with any of the drafted players, Aldama, Sasser, Biberovic or Risacher. I think he'd fit the tone of this Mavericks summer nicely, and most importantly, I think he brings something to the table this team will badly need ON THE COURT. In the end, much depends on the contract. I obviously don't like him at $25 million AAV for three years, but at the MLE I think it's a steal, and would probably feel good about it anywhere between the MLE and Dan's $19 million AAV suggestion.
You are comparing him to players that took high volume three point shots and made them at a good percentage. He does neither. He takes less threes than PJ (and at a worse percentage). His three point shot profile does not look that difficult. Most of his shots are open or wide open. He does take shots off the dribble but at 29% I'm not sure that's a good thing.
His teams are consistently better on defense when he is off the court. There may be some context I am missing there, but it has been consistent throughout his career. To me he seems like a classic case of a player with a lot of talent but doesn't translate to positive on court impact. The history of those kind of players turning it around is not good.
If he ends up on this roster (especially at that cost) May will have to do a better job than Rick in getting more out of him. Seems like a tall order.