Smart
I don't know, unless New Orleans can use all of its newly created cap space to land a premier F.A., I think the team should've stopped at dumping Okafor and Ariza. There's real value in having some hard working, starting caliber vets to mentor higher ceiling rookie-deal players. Witness the Wizards overcompensating for the last three seasons.
It's not even clear that Rivers is ready to man the point full time, he probably gets shook by Vasquez, who'll be focused on earning his second contract not bringing Austin along.
Vasquez will be fine as a starter. Frees up minutes for Rivers as a backup combo guard.
I don't know. I liked the Ryan Anderson signing, but I don't want him as one of my team captains.
You don't have to pay 5.5 million for veteran leadership. There are plenty of guys willing to work for the league minimum for just such a gig. Mike Bibby, Royal Ivey, that type of guy.
Sure, Jarrett Jack is better, but what is the point of expensive improvement on the fringes?
Wow [dang]ing Jack with faint praise. 16 points on 45% shooting, 6 assists, 4 rebounds? Do I even need to post Bibby and Ivey's combined totals?
There's a lot of fear among fans about landing in the supposed "no-man's land" of the late lottery, when in fact the most likely outcome for a terrible team? Staying terrible with or without a top 3 pick. Losing begets losing.
Those guys can replace Jack from a "veteran leader" persepective. If you can find stats for "best advice given to a younger player", I'd be glad to see it.
Scoring points on a bad team isn't all that impressive of a feat. I'd like to see my starting point guard average more assists . . . and lead us to a record better than worst in the conference. After all, losing begets losing, as you said, and that is all really Jack has ever done. Get decent numbers on lottery teams.
This is going to be his 5th team in 6 seasons. He is going to be a backup on a lottery team . . . again. He has played for multiple teams desperate for a point guard, and all of them have dumped him. This has to be more than 6 years of coincidences, right?
$5.5 million is too much for a guy who has never proven to make any team better. Looking at 82games.com, his +/- has been poor for every team he has been on. Getting 16-6 doesn't have much value if the guy you are guarding is getting 17-12.
I understand what you mean about building a culture of winning, but what does Jarrett Jack have to do with building a culture of winning?