That's a take that has no proof behind it. We'll see how much Jones can contribute. I like the guy, it may be a slight overpay but we don't know what the market was like for him. We also don't know if Millsap and Ibaka are even in play at the MLE, it sure would be a drastic pay cut for both even if they are getting old. Lets see how things shake out before we declare that we "missed the mark".
It seems like everyone forgets Trent started at 3 for us in the playoffs. Covington was brought here to be the 4. He hasn't played SF in the last 2 years. Collins and Nurk are not good together, you can't play 2 bigs at the same time unless one is named AD. Dame CJ Trent Covington Nurk Bench will be Simons, Hood at 3, Jones at 4, and either Kanter/Collins at 5 depending on health and matchups. Hopefully we add a PG with the BAE. Little, Elleby, and others are still development guys.
He was taken off the court on a stretcher with a neck injury in the Pacers series. Maybe that was why he didn't see a lot of PT after that in the playoffs?
that’d certainly make sense. hopefully he bounces back better than a former blazer from recent history that left the court on a stretcher after a neck injury.
These guys were expecting him to get better with his natural talent. I thought they were wrong because his 3 pt % stayed even, but he did improve 100 points on 2 pt % which probably meant he got smarter and his ft % improved 160 points to a respectable .772, so maybe there is hope. "Otherworldly as a leaper and dunker. Consistently plays high above the rim, helping him log impressive field goal percentages. Has an impressive 7-foot wingspan, aiding him in finishing over bigger opponents and blocking shots. Shows impressive potential as a defender. Also a lefty. Rail-thin and can get pushed around in the paint. Highly foul-prone, and must develop better timing on 'D' (while beefing up his lanky frame). Not yet a reliable shooter (either from the arc or from the charity stripe). Needs to keep working on his entire game and frame to get the most from his elite athletic ability. Long Range Potential: High-flying, long wing prospect with intriguing potential."
Unfortunately unless we severely cut CJ's playing time we will still have major problems on the perimeter. When it comes to perimeter D the old adage (and I don't like using those) is true, you really are only as strong as your weakest link and CJ is a very weak link. We have an opportunity to have a fantastic, lock down defense but it would take playing Gary, Jones, and a hopefully healthy Hood a lot more minutes than I project being available based on CJ's past PT. Even though CJ is making an ungodly amount of money, if Stotts could see the light and use him like LouWill our defense would be absolutely elite. The good news is that we now have the personnel to lock opposing teams down when we need to. That's a luxury we just haven't had for a long while.
That would be their best spread the court set of forwards though a 6'6.25 209lb PF & a 6'7.25 208lb SF would be among the smallest pairings in the league. Now combine that with their undersized backcourt... STOMP