Your top priority off-season (with a constraint)

[Roy H.]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

[boscel33]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

I think he'd be fine.  He was a legit top 3 prospect going into his lone year at NC, just didn't have enough talent around him to keep him there.  He's 6'3", so he has decent size.  As a Rookie, he averaged 12.9PPG and 4.1APG, he's got that up to 18.0PPG and 5.8APG.  Would we need his points, maybe not, therefore, maybe he's not scoring as much, but his playmaking is what I think we're lacking.  An added benefit, he's a decent rebounder!

[footey]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

I think he'd be fine.  He was a legit top 3 prospect going into his lone year at NC, just didn't have enough talent around him to keep him there.  He's 6'3", so he has decent size.  As a Rookie, he averaged 12.9PPG and 4.1APG, he's got that up to 18.0PPG and 5.8APG.  Would we need his points, maybe not, therefore, maybe he's not scoring as much, but his playmaking is what I think we're lacking.  An added benefit, he's a decent rebounder!

Maxey would have been better fit for us than Anthony, and he was available as well. 

[Roy H.]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

I think he'd be fine.  He was a legit top 3 prospect going into his lone year at NC, just didn't have enough talent around him to keep him there.  He's 6'3", so he has decent size.  As a Rookie, he averaged 12.9PPG and 4.1APG, he's got that up to 18.0PPG and 5.8APG.  Would we need his points, maybe not, therefore, maybe he's not scoring as much, but his playmaking is what I think we're lacking.  An added benefit, he's a decent rebounder!

Maxey would have been better fit for us than Anthony, and he was available as well.

Maxey is the guy I predicted that we'd take, although my personal preference was Nesmith.

[todd_days_41]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

I think he'd be fine.  He was a legit top 3 prospect going into his lone year at NC, just didn't have enough talent around him to keep him there.  He's 6'3", so he has decent size.  As a Rookie, he averaged 12.9PPG and 4.1APG, he's got that up to 18.0PPG and 5.8APG.  Would we need his points, maybe not, therefore, maybe he's not scoring as much, but his playmaking is what I think we're lacking.  An added benefit, he's a decent rebounder!

Maxey would have been better fit for us than Anthony, and he was available as well.

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

[Atzar]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

I think he'd be fine.  He was a legit top 3 prospect going into his lone year at NC, just didn't have enough talent around him to keep him there.  He's 6'3", so he has decent size.  As a Rookie, he averaged 12.9PPG and 4.1APG, he's got that up to 18.0PPG and 5.8APG.  Would we need his points, maybe not, therefore, maybe he's not scoring as much, but his playmaking is what I think we're lacking.  An added benefit, he's a decent rebounder!

Maxey would have been better fit for us than Anthony, and he was available as well.

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

[bogg]

My biggest priority would be moving Smart.  You can’t pay a very good (but no longer great) defensive player $19 million per season.  Those guys are routinely available on rookie / minimum deals.

Hopefully, in conjunction with that trade or otherwise, we can bring in a solid PG.  We also need to move Tatum back to PF.

Smart isn't just a defensive specialist. He's also a reliable PnR ball handler. This is a very useful combo which makes him a 2-way player. How many defensive-minded guards can you name who are reliable facilitators out of the PnR?

People keep arguing we should trade Smart cause we need better ball movement, yet Smart is arguably our best passer! Unless we swap him for a PnR magician, I highly doubt we'd see a considerable improvement. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree we need better ball movement. We could have a use for a pass-first player, but he doesn't have to be a PG. The way I see it, we'd be better off with a Point Forward. For instance, I'd love us to go after Ryan Anderson or Joe Ingles. To put it another way, we need a Hayward replacement. If we acquire such a player, Ime will hopefully stop using the 2-big lineup.

All that said, we agree on 2 things:
1. Smart's contract may become an issue going forward.
2. Tatum is at his best when playing at PF.

Yea, the difference between Smart and the Josh Okogies of the world is that Smart's ball handling and playmaking make him a mild to moderate positive on offense in addition to the defense. Unless there's a real all-star/foundational point guard available out there (and it doesn't look like that's the case), you'll likely get much better return on finding another starting-quality swingman (time isn't on Al's side, obviously, and Grant should be a bench option) sometime in the next six months while also banking on Tatum rediscovering his shot.

I'm of the opinion that Malcolm Brogdon and some supporting cast shooters will go a lot further next year than, say, a Smart-for-Conley trade will.

[Roy H.]

I've been spouting for two drafts, a PG.

We took Nesmith when Cole Anthony was right there, unfortunately, the 2019 draft with Romeo didn't have many PG's, but we did actually have Ty Jerome for a nano second (Carsen Edwards we barely knew ya!).

I'm curious, how do you think Anthony would look on a playoff team?

I think he'd be fine.  He was a legit top 3 prospect going into his lone year at NC, just didn't have enough talent around him to keep him there.  He's 6'3", so he has decent size.  As a Rookie, he averaged 12.9PPG and 4.1APG, he's got that up to 18.0PPG and 5.8APG.  Would we need his points, maybe not, therefore, maybe he's not scoring as much, but his playmaking is what I think we're lacking.  An added benefit, he's a decent rebounder!

Maxey would have been better fit for us than Anthony, and he was available as well.

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

What's wrong with Saddiq Bey?  His efficiency has taken a step back in his sophomore season, but he's a decent player. 

[Atzar]

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

What's wrong with Saddiq Bey?

Poor shooting percentages, below average defense, doesn't do anything else of note aside from inefficient scoring. 

Look, maybe you get the kid on a team that isn't the Pistons and he looks better.  Still... I'm not sweating over not picking Bey when we had the chance. 

[PhoSita]

I think we are fine at PG.  Smart and Schroder are fine.  There are better PGs around but I just don't see this as a weakness.  If we had a good PF though, that would be improving upon Al Horford and Grant Williams.  Our biggest need is a PF or more broadly, a skilled big.  We start Horford and RWill and then our first "big" off the bench is GWill.  That is where our biggest need is.

Offensive Efficiency - 17th
Assists per possession - 20th
Turnovers per possession - 18th

I think PG is a pretty big need


Look at the top 10 teams in offensive efficiency

Utah - Conley / Mitchell
Atlanta - Trae Young
Miami - Lowry / Butler
Phoenix - CP3
Brooklyn - Harden
Chicago - Lonzo
Charlotte - LaMelo
Milwaukee - Giannis / Holiday
Philly - Maxey / Curry
Memphis - Morant


The only odd team out here is Philly. Maxey /Curry is not a great playmaking combo. But I think that's an exception that makes the rule -- Philly has Embiid drawing attention inside.  Embiid is averaging about the same number of assists as each of the guards.


Upgrading the shooting around Tatum and Brown would help, too, no doubt.  But I think the Celts' current backcourt just isn't good enough.

Schroder holds the ball too long, kind does his own thing more than operate within the offense, and is not actually a very accurate passer.  Smart is a decent passer, but his inability to consistently shoot makes it hard for him to really break a defense down.  Not to mention that he's not really speedy enough to beat most guys off the dribble.  If he's penetrating, he's usually finishing with a floater or trying to draw contact.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Depends on if we win the championship or not ...

This season is not over yet.

[todd_days_41]

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

What's wrong with Saddiq Bey?

Poor shooting percentages, below average defense, doesn't do anything else of note aside from inefficient scoring. 

Look, maybe you get the kid on a team that isn't the Pistons and he looks better.  Still... I'm not sweating over not picking Bey when we had the chance.

Is he an actual NBA player?

I'd have rather taken Maxey or Anthony, but even Bey would have been a better pick.

[Atzar]

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

What's wrong with Saddiq Bey?

Poor shooting percentages, below average defense, doesn't do anything else of note aside from inefficient scoring. 

Look, maybe you get the kid on a team that isn't the Pistons and he looks better.  Still... I'm not sweating over not picking Bey when we had the chance.

Is he an actual NBA player?

I'd have rather taken Maxey or Anthony, but even Bey would have been a better pick.

I don't know, man. 

When people are fretting over the Nesmith pick and bringing up mediocre players as alternatives we "should have drafted instead", it doesn't make me think we missed.  Just makes me think that was a weak draft in that 14-20 range in terms of win-now options. 

I admittedly don't like playing the hindsight draft game in the first place, but if I'm going to play it, I at least want to think mournfully about cases like the Olynyk/Giannis pick.  That one is fun to regret, at least.  But Cole Anthony?  Tyrese Maxey?  Saddiq Bey?  None of these guys interest me any, sorry.  Have they shown more than Nesmith?  Sure.  They still aren't particularly good.

[Roy H.]

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

What's wrong with Saddiq Bey?

Poor shooting percentages, below average defense, doesn't do anything else of note aside from inefficient scoring. 

Look, maybe you get the kid on a team that isn't the Pistons and he looks better.  Still... I'm not sweating over not picking Bey when we had the chance.

I think you're too hard on him.  As a rookie, he was plenty efficient.  .530 eFG%, .567% TS%, 38.0% 3PT%

We don't have a single wing or guard who beats each of those percentages those year.  Josh Richardson is the only wing / guard on the team exceeding even *one* of those categories:  39.8% 3PT%, and he's shooting about half as many 3PTs as Bey did last year.

But Cole Anthony?  Tyrese Maxey?  Saddiq Bey?  None of these guys interest me any, sorry.  Have they shown more than Nesmith?  Sure.  They still aren't particularly good.

Thoughts on Bey and Anthony aside...  Maxey is good.

[footey]

I think that's hard to say for certain, but not really critical. The point is: they'd both be major upgrades over our current situation. And if the Cs were gonna take a wing, they should have taken Bey.

Bey?  Bey isn't good though.

Do you mean Bane?

What's wrong with Saddiq Bey?

Poor shooting percentages, below average defense, doesn't do anything else of note aside from inefficient scoring. 

Look, maybe you get the kid on a team that isn't the Pistons and he looks better.  Still... I'm not sweating over not picking Bey when we had the chance.

Is he an actual NBA player?

I'd have rather taken Maxey or Anthony, but even Bey would have been a better pick.

I don't know, man. 

When people are fretting over the Nesmith pick and bringing up mediocre players as alternatives we "should have drafted instead", it doesn't make me think we missed.  Just makes me think that was a weak draft in that 14-20 range in terms of win-now options. 

I admittedly don't like playing the hindsight draft game in the first place, but if I'm going to play it, I at least want to think mournfully about cases like the Olynyk/Giannis pick.  That one is fun to regret, at least.  But Cole Anthony?  Tyrese Maxey?  Saddiq Bey?  None of these guys interest me any, sorry.  Have they shown more than Nesmith?  Sure.  They still aren't particularly good.

Maxey is starting for a very good team, averaging nearly 17 PPG, shooting above 40% from 3, and dishing 4.5 assists and only 1.2 turnovers.  That's pretty darn good for a second year point guard. In fact, couldn't we really use a guy like that right now?