01-18-2021, 02:09 PM
(01-18-2021, 01:41 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: No, not at all. I was very against him before that draft. I got on board (like a good fan) afterwards, but I was skeptical beforehand.Uh yes. DSJ only played heavy minutes, when our intentions were to suck/we had no other choice left. It also afforded DFS a window, with the minutes needed to develop into a legit NBA player, that he probably would have never seen otherwise.
Still, I DID think he showed enough here to encourage us. People were saying with a straight face back then that he was a franchise building block. Some even thought he could be the best player on a good team.
The second Luka started being Luka, the pecking order became clear, but by that point, I felt DSJ had shown enough to where SOMEONE would want him, and I assumed he'd make it in the NBA as a rotation player, at least.
I think it's bananas that he has completely lost any toehold he had in such a short time. I find it truly fascinating. Is there ANY doubt now that Carlisle is much better with young talent than advertised? Like, do we actually think DSJ would be unable to get into games if he were still here?
If the team is in WIN NOW-mode Carlisle will always trust the veteran more than the young player. Iwundu has been as bad as Green, yet he gets the starts and majority of minutes. Furthermore neither being atrocious offensively has given 23 year old Tyler Bey any look.
I think it´s a combination of the Mavs being real sh*t at drafting and Carlisle favouring veterans over rookies, therefore restricting their actual and necessary NBA minutes for development. Of course there are always circumstances, where he has no choice, due to overall franchise direction or the leverage the draft position grants a rookie. It makes a difference whether you are taken 4th or 24th. You can´t just ignore a 4th pick, even if he might suck as much as the 24th pick.