Rozier versus Smart

[NHHillbilly]

Terry Rozier agrees to four-year, $97 million extension with Charlotte Hornets, source says (ESPN story today)

I kind of think I like Smart more than Rozier. I think also that Smart is getting paid less because he stayed on the same team and his max extension could not be as large as Rozier's.

I do think it is a valid question whether or not Smart could be a starter on a championship team, but for team building I approve the Celtics keeping him as one of their better options and definitely think the team is better for keeping Smart rather than Rozier.

[bogg]

It was never "Rozier or Smart", it was Rozier or Kemba. They could have afforded Smart and Terry together just fine. Horford's currently taking up the salary slot that Terry would have been in. In that sense it's "Terry and a first or Horford".

[Vermont Green]

Smart should run away with this.

[droopdog7]

I would pay to have rozier NOT on this team

[Goldstar88]

Not a fan of Rozier. Contract made sense for Charlotte, though. It’s an overpay, but they keep A decent young player through his prime and it’s not like they ever had a shot at the top tier FA. I would much prefer Smart. Marcus is still getting overpaid; but not as badly as Rozier. Smart does more things and can guard 3 different positions. Plus he’s bigger than Rozier at 6’3”.

[NHHillbilly]

It was never "Rozier or Smart", it was Rozier or Kemba. They could have afforded Smart and Terry together just fine. Horford's currently taking up the salary slot that Terry would have been in. In that sense it's "Terry and a first or Horford".

That is why I put the choice of "both", Thanks for elaborating on a scenerio of "both".  But I would respond, that they could probably have traded Smart for Kemba and kept Rozier unless Charlotte really thinks Rozier was better.

[NHHillbilly]

Not a fan of Rozier. Contract made sense for Charlotte, though. It’s an overpay, but they keep A decent young player through his prime and it’s not like they ever had a shot at the top tier FA. I would much prefer Smart. Marcus is still getting overpaid; but not as badly as Rozier. Smart does more things and can guard 3 different positions. Plus he’s bigger than Rozier at 6’3”.

I think the situations are very similar as you pointed out. I could agree that Smart also is "a decent young player" kept "through his prime".
Also, you never know with guards: sometimes they just keep getting better. As a decrepit old Celtics fan, I remember that Paul Westphal was a Celtic as a young one: they traded him for an older and at the time little bit better Charlie Scott. And at the time Charlie Scott helped the Celtics win a championship. But Westphal went on to be a perennial all star.
Chauncy Billups is a more recent example of someone who took multiple years to reach his full potential. I think Smart still has possible upside.

[Moranis]

As I said in the other thread, I'd rather have Rozier.  I think he is better.  Neither is a great fit on the roster, but all things being equal, having Rozier as a 3rd scorer would also be more beneficial, especially with his shooting.

If we had Rozier, I'm sure we wouldn't have Schroder, but even still Rozier, Richardson, Brown, Tatum, and Horford strikes me as a better more cohesive unit and maybe we use the money that went to Schroder on an actual PF. 

[Roy H.]

Rozeir vs. Rosier, who ya got?

[sgrogan]

As I said in the other thread, I'd rather have Rozier.  I think he is better.  Neither is a great fit on the roster, but all things being equal, having Rozier as a 3rd scorer would also be more beneficial, especially with his shooting.

If we had Rozier, I'm sure we wouldn't have Schroder, but even still Rozier, Richardson, Brown, Tatum, and Horford strikes me as a better more cohesive unit and maybe we use the money that went to Schroder on an actual PF.

I would take Smart over Rozier, but if not Schroder's money has gone to Rozier.
Unless you are going further back in history.
I don't mind your proposed lineup though.
I think some of us soured on Rozier in his last season here. You have stipulated though Rozier in a starting role is different.
What about Rozier/Fournier?

[Who]

Smart period. Price does not figure into it. Smart is flat out better than Rozier. Smart is better $77mil and he is better at $97mil.

Rozier is the inferior player - why, mainly because of his limitations as a passer & playmaker as a lead guard. Also because his defense is middle of the pack which makes him hugely reliant on scoring output to influence games which he does well but not great (over-reliance on long range shooting, lack of easy hoops, makes him a streaky scorer).

[Roy H.]

Smart period. Price does not figure into it. Smart is flat out better than Rozier. Smart is better $77mil and he is better at $97mil.

Rozier is the inferior player - why, mainly because of his limitations as a passer & playmaker as a lead guard. Also because his defense is middle of the pack which makes him hugely reliant on scoring output to influence games which he does well but not great (over-reliance on long range shooting, lack of easy hoops, makes him a streaky scorer).

I basically agree.  I think Rozier can call his own number and can be a secondary play-maker, but Marcus is the better floor general.  He’s also a different level of defender.

Huge props to Rozier for becoming a good shooter, however.  He’s made huge strides.

[Jvalin]

Next poll should bring back to life the Sully vs Olynyk debate. Those were the days.

Joking aside, I'd rather have Smart at $77M. He's a unique player. Guys like Rozier are relatively easy to find. I mean, we just signed Schroder for the mini MLE. Not exactly the same player to Rozier, but close enough.

[Sophomore]

I would pay to have rozier NOT on this team

TP. Endorse.

[td450]

Smart period. Price does not figure into it. Smart is flat out better than Rozier. Smart is better $77mil and he is better at $97mil.

Rozier is the inferior player - why, mainly because of his limitations as a passer & playmaker as a lead guard. Also because his defense is middle of the pack which makes him hugely reliant on scoring output to influence games which he does well but not great (over-reliance on long range shooting, lack of easy hoops, makes him a streaky scorer).

Got to disagree here.

Rozier is a better player by a significant margin. Smart is somewhat better as a true point, but that advantage isn't helpful because he insists on imposing himself on the offense more than he should. Tatum and Brown can break the defense much more efficiently than Smart can. Smart slows down the offense. Rozier speeds it up,

Its been a while since Rozier ran anything here, and he typically played as a combo guard at Charlotte, but when he was most successful, he pushed the pace hard, and either created a quick advantage or gave up the ball. We should be a great running team. There were times when he over-pounded the rock like Smart does, and that wasn't effective. But given his evolution, it looks like he's dealt with his worst habits much more effectively than Marcus has.

This team needs pace, movement and support shooting way more than it needs a playmaking point, and Marcus just isn't good enough to make that work for a top team.

I don't even think he provides that much of defensive upgrade over Rozier. Marcus does most of his best work against bigger players in the lane. He's much more mediocre staying in front of talented point guards. He's just not quick enough. Rozier is actually better at that than he is.

Rozier is pretty well suited to playing a complementary role with Tatum and Brown. We should have kept him.