Peak basketball performance is not an across the board thing. It's a player to player thing, and Dame is on another level than the average Joe.
He's such a quiet kid. In some ways he reminds me of Dame, but in others he reminds me more of a Kawhi. Someone who is quiet and just does their job. Not an extrovert. I'm just hoping he's not an LMA. Quiet and constantly needing his ego stroked.
I hope a cool organic nickname develops for the kid, and I hope he deserves it. In the Kobe/Black Mamba vibe, I like Deadly Nightshade, but that would only come in time. I imagine if he busts, everyone here going to be calling him Shaedon Sharte.
I think risk factor is certainly a thing here. Would I trade Dame for the #1 pick in next years draft? Of course I would. Is there real risk to that? Yes, but it's a calculated risk where the probability favors a net-positive. In my opinion, building around Ant has a higher upside, but the probability is fairly strong the next 5 years is a net-negative. Overall, since I plan on being a fan of this team for decades, I want them to make moves that are likely to yield a net-postive outcome. It was the same reason I was hesitant to move on from Stotts: It seemed likely the outcome would be a net-negative. And so far, it has been.
