Too much overlap (3 star SFs).
Stars? Really? I just... I'm sorry, I don't see that in their current levels of play.
If anything, there's an air of entitlement at that position. All those guys expect to be starters and/or get big minutes, whether they deserve it or not (although you can make an argument in Jaylen's favor in that regard given his turnaround at the end of last season). That's why I hope we go into training camp with guys ready to compete for their roles. If Gordon shows up and he's ready to be the 2nd scoring option we need behind Kemba, you give it to him. But if Brad's boy still isn't ready and Tatum looks the part, give it to him. Likewise, if Tatum comes in doing his worst Kobe impression but Jaylen looks ready to take the leap, make him your guy. But if Jaylen is mentally AWOL to start the season again, then Smart should start over him. The way I see it, Kemba is the only surefire starter on this roster. Maybe even Kanter. Everyone else should have to earn it.
This is how I look at those guys:
Jaylen Brown = at his current level of play, is already able to be the 3rd best player on a title contender. He is a star. He doesn't get enough credit. His play warrants more attention than he gets.
Gordon Hayward = not ready to rule him out as a star yet. We'll see what he has to offer next year. If he is dud again like last year, then I'll write him off as a star. And those concerns I have with Tatum and Jaylen getting enough offensive opportunities will be out the door as well. But I am going to wait until a couple of months into the season before I make that call. For now, he is still a star. Based on his past level of performances rather than his current ones.
Jayson Tatum = he is a star in name more than play. You can see the way people talk about him. Kemba saying Tatum was a big reason why he joined the team. The way Kyrie Irving talked about Tatum. The way other league executives talk about Tatum. Tatum is a star. His play on the court isn't there yet but he is a star anyway because of what his future offers.
I said current level and you pointed out why Gordon is a star based on his past and Tatum is a star based on his future, lol. I'm not saying Tatum doesn't have potential. But I think he's a great prospect, not a star right now.
As far as Jaylen, I don't think he's shown he can be the 3rd best player on a championship team. Not consistently, anyway. That's a role that's been played by guys like Chris Bosh, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Love over the past few years. I don't see him on that level.
I know we all want these guys to be stars, but that doesn't mean they actually are.
What I am trying to say is --- it's not just current level of play that defines whether someone is a star or not. I agree with you, Hayward obviously wasn't last season and I don't think Tatum was either.
I do think Jaylen Brown was after his slow start. He just got lost in the mix of all that selfishness around him and didn't get enough attention for how well he was playing. Which happens a lot with Jaylen. He is quietly effective and often doesn't get the credit he deserves.
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To continue on with that ... You can't treat Tatum just as a prospect anymore. He has already transcended that role in the views of people around the league. That is important. How he is viewed is important. He is clearly considered a star around the league. He is considered it by his peers (like Kemba) and other execs around the league.
You can't then come back and treat him just like he is a prospect. He is beyond that now.
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Tatum has already accomplished so much (as has Jaylen) where he is on the cusp of stardom and room has to be created to make room for them in expanding roles. To allow them to continue to grow and develop. That has to be in-built into the team's plans moving forward.
If you don't do that, then development / progress of a player can stall.
You have to make room for young talent. To allow them to blossom.
Topic: Hint that Tatum may not be happy (Read 10030 times)