Recent Posts
I am reserving judgement on Simons. It is a problem in the playoffs if a core rotation player is weak defensively. But that doesn't mean he can't help the team. As to Lillard in place of Simons or in addition to Simons, I think one or the other and I would rather have Lillard for a couple of seasons at $6M per than Simons at 4 years and $125M or whatever he might get (that is about what Poole and Herro got). I can't see having both. If we are able to sign Lillard, then it makes it an easier decision to trade Simons (at the deadline).
But I am not ready to rule out either Lillard or Simons due to defense. Curry is not exactly an all defensive player. Neither is Mitchell or Brunson. There can be a place for players like this on very good teams, up to a point. If Sam Hauser can play sufficient defense, I see no reason that Simons can't (admittedly on smaller players).
I'd like to see him go to Europe to develop. He needs a lot of teaching. I don't think the G-League is the right place for him.
No offense, but this is just a bad take, as it totally ignores what summer league is about for Amari Williams compared to a guy like Charles Bassey.
Williams will be a on 2-way. It was decided when the Celtics drafted him this would be the case. So his summer league is not for showing off, but him working on the things the Celtics want him to get better at in game situations. Specifically this means getting him on the perimeter more on offense and defense.
Meanwhile a guy like Charles Bassey, for instance, is playing for a job and is trying to show the Celtics and other NBA teams what he can offer a team today. Bassey and his ilk are not being put in their worst situations, but asked to show what they can do best. So Bassey gets to stay near the rim as much as he needs. He?s doing great there, looks healthy for the first time in years, and I would like to sign him, but the Celtics are keeping him in his comfort zone so far.
Will Williams make it in the long run? Who knows, but the place for him is absolutely Maine so he can work on things the Celtics want him to work on. And those things undoubtedly include jumpers from the pick and pop and getting back defend to the rim after helping on the perimeter following a screen. But when he has had an opportunity to show his best self, he has made some pretty plays. He hit a cutter today that 95% of centers in the NBA couldn?t dream of finding.
My comment about preferring Amari to go to Europe than the G-League is because I don't think players develop well in the G-League. Europe is a better teaching ground.
He should go away for a few years. Like Anthony Parker did. And then try to come back if he shows growth. It will be a better path for him.
I am not impressed with the G-League in terms of developing players. Especially big men.
Amari looks too far away from being an NBA player to me. He needs more time. More coaching. More experience. I don't consider the G-League the best place for him to get that.
The G league has turned into a better development league then Europe because teams are investing in it. Are you saying the g league coaches are bad and can't develop players? Playing in the G league keeps players around their teams where they practice with both the big club and g league club. Your right that some European leagues have better competition but the rules are very different. It doesn't serve them well playing FIBA rules versus NBA. I think if you have a good organization they will make sure the coaching staff is implementing the same type of sets etc that the parent club is which means their development will be much better locally then overseas.
I don't see many players going down into the G-League and coming out much better. I am mistaken? Have there been more than I realize? Who are the success stories? How many of them are big men?
I haven't paid much attention to the G-League in recent years so maybe I am behind the times. Maybe it is better at developing players than it used to be.
Who are the big men who have developed down there in the last 5-7 years?
It used to be that you would get 2 types of big men in the G-League. The athletes with no skills. The skilled players with no athleticism. All they did by competing against one another was develop bad habits. Hardly any of them developed down there.
My initial point was just confusion as to why Simons doesn?t have more value than Jrue given that Jrue is 35 after a decline year with 3 years and 130+ million left on his contract.
More value = ??
Meaning trade value or on-court value?
2-way players are more valuable. Come playoff time those good offense, poor defense player will get hunted especially small guards. Players like Simons need to be 1st or 2nd option offensively to make up for their poor defense[/b] and the other 4 players need to good defenders.I remain a bit confused as to why Simons isn?t flat out considered more valuable than Jrue. Is it about the remaining time and money on their contracts? I?d rather Simons on an expiring than three more years of Jrue and 130M. But just for pure skill, Simons is a better player. That?s of course an opinion based on the belief that Jrue took a downturn in 2024-25 and I expect it to continue in the same direction in the coming years. Not only did he decline offensively but he wasn?t as effective defensively either. Obviously he?s still more talented than Simons defensively and in terms of leadership - but the 26 year old is a very good offensive guard. I didn?t see much of him over the years but the few games I saw him I thought he was pretty impressive. Though I have to admit that I?m more readily aware of offensive talent than defensive talent. He can shoot, pass, create. I?m surprised there isn?t a market for him now and will be more surprised if there isn?t one at the deadline. And I would not be surprised if some here won?t want to give him up when they picture adding JT to the existing lineup.
I?m wrong frequently so it won?t surprise me if I?m wrong again - but I expect Simons will look like a Jrue upgrade next year.
They remind me of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks.
Anfernee Simons = Jason Terry
Jrue Holiday = Jason Kidd
Jrue / Kidd being the ultimate glue guy / do all the little things in every phase of the game. A Simons / J Terry being a very talented offensive player / dodgy defender.
People can debate which guy was more valuable to the 2011 Mavs. I would go with Kidd myself but I believe most people would chose Jason Terry over Kidd. Terry was certainly the 2nd best scorer on the team behind Dirk.
Completely agree with this. With that said, do you want Damian Lillard on the team?
2-way players are more valuable. Come playoff time those good offense, poor defense player will get hunted especially small guards. Players like Simons need to be 1st or 2nd option offensively to make up for their poor defense[/b] and the other 4 players need to good defenders.I remain a bit confused as to why Simons isn?t flat out considered more valuable than Jrue. Is it about the remaining time and money on their contracts? I?d rather Simons on an expiring than three more years of Jrue and 130M. But just for pure skill, Simons is a better player. That?s of course an opinion based on the belief that Jrue took a downturn in 2024-25 and I expect it to continue in the same direction in the coming years. Not only did he decline offensively but he wasn?t as effective defensively either. Obviously he?s still more talented than Simons defensively and in terms of leadership - but the 26 year old is a very good offensive guard. I didn?t see much of him over the years but the few games I saw him I thought he was pretty impressive. Though I have to admit that I?m more readily aware of offensive talent than defensive talent. He can shoot, pass, create. I?m surprised there isn?t a market for him now and will be more surprised if there isn?t one at the deadline. And I would not be surprised if some here won?t want to give him up when they picture adding JT to the existing lineup.
I?m wrong frequently so it won?t surprise me if I?m wrong again - but I expect Simons will look like a Jrue upgrade next year.
They remind me of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks.
Anfernee Simons = Jason Terry
Jrue Holiday = Jason Kidd
Jrue / Kidd being the ultimate glue guy / do all the little things in every phase of the game. A Simons / J Terry being a very talented offensive player / dodgy defender.
People can debate which guy was more valuable to the 2011 Mavs. I would go with Kidd myself but I believe most people would chose Jason Terry over Kidd. Terry was certainly the 2nd best scorer on the team behind Dirk.