Imagine me becoming the voice of reason on TA.
The guy simply doesn't think the game. He can help us as a lockdown defender - on occasion, when he can keep his feet on the floor. From that standpoint, he's a useful piece. But for the folks on this board who've contended that basketball intelligence doesn't matter, evaluate his play today objectively, then look me in the eyes again and tell me hoop smarts don't matter. They make a HUGE difference, to the point that they elevated a player with very ordinary physical skills to iconic status. That player was Larry Bird.
The problem is Tony with the basketball. I've been cringing for four years when he handles the ball, and I'm still cringing. He frankly shouldn't be allowed to attempt a jump shot, and every careening lurch to the basket is "oh, no" time.
He's a role player, period, a ninth or 10th man. Nothing more. Not ever. He's not a star, despite the frequent attempts on this board to portray him as such. He's simply not basketball-intelligent enough to be a star.
As for the bench, I agree. It isn't very good, despite the attempts recently to twist numbers to make that so. We will not repeat with this bench. Mark that down. We can't match up with size, we have literally no scoring off the bench and when Tony's mind is elsewhere, it doesn't defend that well, either. Danny's got to make at least a couple of significant additions, or we won't get past Cleveland.
Danny's summer doesn't look so hot now, does it?