I agree that technically it's better for a team when a player is good right away and then continues to marginally improve. But I'm tempted to say that—assuming he receives the same amount of playing time and reaches the same heights by the end of season 4 regardless of his performance—it's better for a player's confidence, vibe, popularity, and narrative to ramp up towards the end of his first season and then steadily over the course of seasons 2 & 3. It's just so much more frustrating to watch a good player appear to stagnate than to watch an okay player continue to consistently add tools to his arsenal. Nothing worse than wasted potential.
P.s. You'd asked for mailbag questions a month or two ago. Not sure if all of the questions are still relevant, but it would be great to get your POV on them at some point. Do you still plan to post your replies to those?
I would say Dick is much more likely to start at the 2 than Agbaji or Brown, both for fit and developmental reasons. Agbaji with the other four would be a spacing disaster, while Brown isn't sticking around past February.
Yeah, should have discussed him more (i.e. at all) -- I had forgotten that he did start playing before the Raptors went into tank mode. I just don't have any sort of read on his role or ability at this point. But he's obviously going to have a place in the rotation.
I really enjoyed the piece, Tom! Barnes is in an interesting spot on his journey to evolve into a true franchise player due to his lack of shooting in today's NBA.
I don't think they could ever get him, but Lauri Markkanen would be the ideal co-star with Barnes.
He stretches the floor, cuts exceptionally well, and doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective.
These are all things that amplify Barnes's games, and Barnes would amplify Markkanen's strengths.
In another attempt to put the Bulls owners out of their misery and get Zach LaVine'd contract out of their payroll, how about Bruce Brown straight up, no draft assets? Or, given the Bulls ability to deal for pennies on a dollar, should they wait for Miami's Duncan Robinson and whoever is the fifth or sixth big in the Heat rotation?
I agree that technically it's better for a team when a player is good right away and then continues to marginally improve. But I'm tempted to say that—assuming he receives the same amount of playing time and reaches the same heights by the end of season 4 regardless of his performance—it's better for a player's confidence, vibe, popularity, and narrative to ramp up towards the end of his first season and then steadily over the course of seasons 2 & 3. It's just so much more frustrating to watch a good player appear to stagnate than to watch an okay player continue to consistently add tools to his arsenal. Nothing worse than wasted potential.
P.s. You'd asked for mailbag questions a month or two ago. Not sure if all of the questions are still relevant, but it would be great to get your POV on them at some point. Do you still plan to post your replies to those?
I would say Dick is much more likely to start at the 2 than Agbaji or Brown, both for fit and developmental reasons. Agbaji with the other four would be a spacing disaster, while Brown isn't sticking around past February.
Interesting. I think Brown would be in the mix because you need to trade him. Part of it may depend on whether they want to be a play-in team or not.
Yeah but even at Denver he was a sixth man, right? I'd think anyone in the market for him would be looking to fill a similar slot.
Fair but a sixth man for the NBA champs vs. sixth man for a play-in team is different.
Hey Tom: why no mention of Gradey Dick in deep dive Raptors rotation analysis?
Yeah, should have discussed him more (i.e. at all) -- I had forgotten that he did start playing before the Raptors went into tank mode. I just don't have any sort of read on his role or ability at this point. But he's obviously going to have a place in the rotation.
I really enjoyed the piece, Tom! Barnes is in an interesting spot on his journey to evolve into a true franchise player due to his lack of shooting in today's NBA.
I don't think they could ever get him, but Lauri Markkanen would be the ideal co-star with Barnes.
He stretches the floor, cuts exceptionally well, and doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective.
These are all things that amplify Barnes's games, and Barnes would amplify Markkanen's strengths.
In another attempt to put the Bulls owners out of their misery and get Zach LaVine'd contract out of their payroll, how about Bruce Brown straight up, no draft assets? Or, given the Bulls ability to deal for pennies on a dollar, should they wait for Miami's Duncan Robinson and whoever is the fifth or sixth big in the Heat rotation?