Give us more Draymond to Wiggins! Loved what the trade did to open up Green as a PG! Best version of Green since Durant arrived. Also finally hopefully seeing Steph not have to try to make a new ball hog feel good is the real light at the end of the tunnel!
Yeah, I have Thoughts on a bunch of the players we let go and the ones we still have.
I think it's kind of silly to give Wiggins a grade but not Steph.
I think a C for Draymond is harsh, but fair. Think of it this way: with D'Angelo and Draymond, plus average-ish role players like WCS, Burks, & GRIII, the team was still one of the worst in the league. Two max-contact all-stars should really get you more. At a minimum, you'd like not to lose to the Knicks. It really showed that both of them are more one-dimensional than we thought. We saw stretches this season of Russell splashing bombs from 30 feet when you just know he's on fire, and likewise games where Draymond is just everywhere shutting down the other team's best player and the next guy too, but even when we did it wasn't always enough for the team to win.
In Draymond's case, playing alongside Steph unlocks a lot of his offensive game. In Russell's case, even his offense was streaky, contributing to the team's #1 cause of losing games: long scoring droughts seemingly every game. They don't complement each other and the overall greenness of the rest of the team certainly contributed too.
Compared with how irritated and disengaged he has looked at times over the last few years, though, Draymond has been pretty mellow this season despite all the losing. So, as a leader, he's showed more patience and maturity than every before and that's definitely a part of why people are looking forward to next season. Heck, even late this season is kind of exciting. So, Draymond has been slightly under expectations in terms of on-court production, but above expectations in leadership.
Looney has had a terrible season. There were about 2 games where he looked like the guy who we depended on these last couple years, and the rest has been ugly. I'm praying that the injuries that have contributed to that don't stretch into next season, because I really like him and it hurts to see him struggle like this.
Looking forward to the next articles in this series!
So Norvell and Pargo's 10-days have expired, and they haven't been offered another (yet).
Apparently, the dubs contacted Will Magnay, a 21-yd-old 6'10" Aussie F/C who went undrafted in 2018 but was the NBL most improved player this season, but they haven't offered him either yet (maybe a summer league invite later?). So 2 slots open still. Bender (imagine if we beat the Suns on the 29th with a Bender/Chriss frontcourt)?
I too am excited for the young guys. Let's just get it over with and admit Smiley is an A+
As far as these ratings, I won't argue with your reasons just maybe the ratings points. I would go higher with Draymond and lower for Wiggins- for pretty much the same reasons as you stated- Draymond has been incredible as a leader, on and off the court. He has been everything I could hope for from a veteran not used to losing and having his teammates replaced with a rag-tag group of neighborhood kids. This is his Sandlot movie. I give him an A.
Wiggins has been a huge bolt of excitement- coming from a stoic, unemotional bundle of limbs and legs. I think he will thrive in an environment of low expectations. With that said it is early, he has to unlearn as many things as he has to learn. It will be interesting to see how the past week of being around the coaches will help him fit in. He has the perfect demeanor to fit on this team. I am and have been very excited for his addition. I give him a B
DLo was a good sport, I feel he was put in a tough position, but I am glad he is in Minnesota. I wish him well, but man his play reminded me of pushing a shopping cart with one wheel dragging from a tangled hair ball. I am glad to be back to a free flowing offense.
Can't wait for your takes on the young fellas. Especially what you see in EP, Smiley, Chriss, and D.Lee for the long-term. Those are the most intriguing to me.
Poole could be really good or really bad, and I've maintained all along this entire year is just about seeing his work ethic and emotional resilience (as in, he's going to suck on court but will he be able to get over that, work hard, and take the Jimmy Butler path instead of the Jimmer Fredette Way of the Lonely Master).
Other than that, I'm sorry to see Spellman go. GRIII, too, because I think he could have fit relatively well (doesn't need the ball to score, the tools to be a plus-defender, etc.) as a 2nd-unit guy and partly because, well, it's hard not to love a guy who loves playing for your team. Homerism at its finest.
Give us more Draymond to Wiggins! Loved what the trade did to open up Green as a PG! Best version of Green since Durant arrived. Also finally hopefully seeing Steph not have to try to make a new ball hog feel good is the real light at the end of the tunnel!
Yeah, I have Thoughts on a bunch of the players we let go and the ones we still have.
I think it's kind of silly to give Wiggins a grade but not Steph.
I think a C for Draymond is harsh, but fair. Think of it this way: with D'Angelo and Draymond, plus average-ish role players like WCS, Burks, & GRIII, the team was still one of the worst in the league. Two max-contact all-stars should really get you more. At a minimum, you'd like not to lose to the Knicks. It really showed that both of them are more one-dimensional than we thought. We saw stretches this season of Russell splashing bombs from 30 feet when you just know he's on fire, and likewise games where Draymond is just everywhere shutting down the other team's best player and the next guy too, but even when we did it wasn't always enough for the team to win.
In Draymond's case, playing alongside Steph unlocks a lot of his offensive game. In Russell's case, even his offense was streaky, contributing to the team's #1 cause of losing games: long scoring droughts seemingly every game. They don't complement each other and the overall greenness of the rest of the team certainly contributed too.
Compared with how irritated and disengaged he has looked at times over the last few years, though, Draymond has been pretty mellow this season despite all the losing. So, as a leader, he's showed more patience and maturity than every before and that's definitely a part of why people are looking forward to next season. Heck, even late this season is kind of exciting. So, Draymond has been slightly under expectations in terms of on-court production, but above expectations in leadership.
Looney has had a terrible season. There were about 2 games where he looked like the guy who we depended on these last couple years, and the rest has been ugly. I'm praying that the injuries that have contributed to that don't stretch into next season, because I really like him and it hurts to see him struggle like this.
Looking forward to the next articles in this series!
So Norvell and Pargo's 10-days have expired, and they haven't been offered another (yet).
Apparently, the dubs contacted Will Magnay, a 21-yd-old 6'10" Aussie F/C who went undrafted in 2018 but was the NBL most improved player this season, but they haven't offered him either yet (maybe a summer league invite later?). So 2 slots open still. Bender (imagine if we beat the Suns on the 29th with a Bender/Chriss frontcourt)?
I too am excited for the young guys. Let's just get it over with and admit Smiley is an A+
As far as these ratings, I won't argue with your reasons just maybe the ratings points. I would go higher with Draymond and lower for Wiggins- for pretty much the same reasons as you stated- Draymond has been incredible as a leader, on and off the court. He has been everything I could hope for from a veteran not used to losing and having his teammates replaced with a rag-tag group of neighborhood kids. This is his Sandlot movie. I give him an A.
Wiggins has been a huge bolt of excitement- coming from a stoic, unemotional bundle of limbs and legs. I think he will thrive in an environment of low expectations. With that said it is early, he has to unlearn as many things as he has to learn. It will be interesting to see how the past week of being around the coaches will help him fit in. He has the perfect demeanor to fit on this team. I am and have been very excited for his addition. I give him a B
DLo was a good sport, I feel he was put in a tough position, but I am glad he is in Minnesota. I wish him well, but man his play reminded me of pushing a shopping cart with one wheel dragging from a tangled hair ball. I am glad to be back to a free flowing offense.
Can't wait for your takes on the young fellas. Especially what you see in EP, Smiley, Chriss, and D.Lee for the long-term. Those are the most intriguing to me.
Poole could be really good or really bad, and I've maintained all along this entire year is just about seeing his work ethic and emotional resilience (as in, he's going to suck on court but will he be able to get over that, work hard, and take the Jimmy Butler path instead of the Jimmer Fredette Way of the Lonely Master).
Other than that, I'm sorry to see Spellman go. GRIII, too, because I think he could have fit relatively well (doesn't need the ball to score, the tools to be a plus-defender, etc.) as a 2nd-unit guy and partly because, well, it's hard not to love a guy who loves playing for your team. Homerism at its finest.