Decent Article by Sherrod Blakely

[Beat LA]

That doesn't sound like a borderline star to me.  It's not that he isn't talented, but I wonder if he's simply a product of Golden State's offensive philosophy, more than anything else.  Quite honestly, he sounds more like the Warriors' version of what George Hill was for the Spurs - a great system player.

Maybe, but that kind of player at PF, with the ability 4 or 5 positions in a pinch, is very valuable.

Now, I tend to agree with what you're saying though, which was my original point.  The guys Sherrod points out are nice players.  Definitely valuable.  But how good would they be taken out of the specific circumstances that has led to their success?  Would Draymond have turned into the player he is, with the high profile success he's had, if he weren't playing alongside Curry and Klay?

It'll be interesting to see how Demarre does this year now that he's left the team that built him up to the point where he could get a big contract.

No, I know - no problem .  I think Demarre Carroll is a lot like Danny Green - sure, he can shoot the 3 and defend, but guys like that typically aren't starters on title teams more than they are great 6th men, like Posey or Pietrus, for example.  Neither Green nor Carroll can even dribble, or step in and hit the midrange shot, which is why Miami was able to nullify Green in that 2013 series.  Once they started running him off the line, they made him have to be a basketball player, and he wasn't able to do it.  I don't even think he can dribble with his left hand, quite honestly, and it really hurt the Spurs, because he couldn't make plays for others.  Draymond can do that because of his passing ability, but unlike Danny, no one is exactly rushing at his jumper . Of the three guys mentioned in the article, Middleton probably has the best chance to be successful on any number of teams, because he defends at the 2/3, can come off picks, but he can also score in the post, so I think he's more of a complete player.  I'm not familiar with his handle, though, but at least he can hit the midrange shot if the defense runs him off the line.  Am I making any sense, here?

[ssspence]

Can't really agree it's a good article. I get his point on Perry Jones -- not rocket science -- no risk, some upside.

But his arguement on the Cs taking chances in the draft is not based in historical fact. Ainge has taken a few cracks in the draft, but for the most part has drafted cautiously for 'assets', IMO. His risky picks were mostly based on value due to guys falling, like Gerald Green and and Rajon Rondo. Yet he missed on guys like Giannis and DeAndre. Bottom lines: taking cracks at the home run doesn't really line up to Danny all that well, and I'm not sure I really buy that with Rosier.

Then he makes a loose transition to signing Amir and trading for Lee, neither of whom is going to turn into Carroll or Middleton based on age or experience.

Sherrod is a writer they've tried to turn into an insider / TV personality. Yes, he's bad at both of the latter, but you don't need a degree from the Columbia J-school to know he's also weak at the former.

[Jonny CC]

Oh, so I say [dang] and it gets censored but you can use that type of profanity in the thread's title and nothing happens?

I agree.  I thought that was a bad word...like...I have to go take a "Sherrod".