Not talking about starting Shae at 3. It's becoming glaringly obvious that he needs to play his natural position at the 2. But rather, I'm talking about starting two of them and bringing the third off the bench. People might be framing this idea of having three of these guys as clogging the rotation. Instead, I think of it as an advantage, especially because of how unique each guy's skillset is. I don't see this pressing need to make a decision on Ant vs Scoot, or Ant vs Sharpe in the coming future. As long as either Ant or Scoot can buy in to coming off the bench for 35 mpg, this rotation can coexist.
Yes, I think that will be the case. I think Brogdon is gone by the deadline and Scoot will be coming off the bench for the foreseeable future, unless he just starts going insane and lighting the net on fire.
At some point they need to decide between Ant and Scoot, but they have at least 3 seasons before that happens. So I don’t think it’s an issue.
why? manu had a HOF career coming off the bench. the only time Harden ever went to the finals is when he came off the bench. as long as they all get paid and get minutes while closing games, does it matter?
No, I don’t think so, only because I don’t think that will be smart. There were already so many debates about Scoot, Ant, and Shae in the beginning of the season, that many said to trade Ant for whatever we can get. We were actually lucky that the situation worked out that it became clear that there wasn’t much of a debate between Ant and Scoot once the season started. When Ant and Scoot are up for extension, Ant will also be up for extension, and we will not be getting him for that price tag again. I suspect a new extension in two years for Ant will be between $40-45m for 4 years, if not more. So is it smart to commit that much salary to three guards? The answer remains no. But when Scoot is up for extension, how much is Ant going to be worth on the open market? He’ll be what, 26? He’s going to be a top 10 scorer in the league for close to the next decade after that point. So I expect a huge return, and by then, hopefully some forward we draft like Castle steps up in the playmaking department and we repeat the cycle.
I actually think the time to decide should happen by the end of next season. By then, Scoot will have a two season sample size on his prospects as a franchise PG, and Ant will have a two year sample size on being the man. I think Ant’s value will be at his absolute highest at that point, and the only reason to not trade him is if there are still doubts that Scoot can become that guy.
Are we gonna do this again? You'd think after 10+ years..... I mean sure if all 3 are HoF talents then yes we can and should keep them all. Otherwise, maximize your assets so you can build a roster that makes more sense.
you are missing the key differentiator here now vs the previous iteration: variation in skillset. Scoot and Shae appear to project like plus defenders. Ant is one of the best off the dribble 3pt shooters in the league. Scoot appears like he will be pass-first, and eventually proficient in the midrange.. Shae looks like he is most efficient off the ball. there isn't too much redundancy in their abilities, unlike Dame/CJ who both had similar strengths/weaknesses.
I imagine that might be what Portland is planning because Portland can't seem to learn the lesson that's been obvious for 10 years: a team won't succeed when all of the major talent, and usage, is in the back court. A contending team needs a significant 2-way talent at wing unless it has a generational talent at C, like Jokic Portland will need to choose between Ant or Scoot....assuming Scoot actually has the upside so many projected. Clearly, Sharpe is not only the SGOTF, he's the SG now
It takes time for a high quality 3 guard rotation to develop. But it is worth a try. The Pistons won 2 rings with the 3 guard rotation, 89 & 90. Believe the year prior, they were conference champs.
This season will be the season where Scoot is learning like last season was for Shae. If Scoot comes into his own I think you have to trade him or Ant. I don't think in four seasons we can be paying three guards the max, super max or even two of them that much and one just under it. We need our best talent distributed throughout our lineup.
Manu accepted his role. That was part of what made Manu great, find 3 AS players in the NBA today willing to come off the bench for the good of the team. Scoot is eventually not going to be okay with coming off the bench, and Ant won’t be willing to come off the bench. This is a good situation to be in. We all think Scoot can be special, and Ant is improving his trade value with every game. Don’t overthink the idea of having to choose one over the other. If Ant fetches a lotto talent on his rookie deal + 2 1sts or more eventually, take the deal and don’t look back.
It has to be Ant. Scoot isn't a shooting guard. Not at all. It's not his game. He's a pure point guard. Simons can play both guard spots.
why can't ant and shae start, with scoot off the bench? needless to say, and this is my main point in this thread: this is a strength that we need to all consider as such, and not a potential roadblock to success. teams would kill for a 3 guard rotation like this one.
