Cautiously optimistic about the trade. The good: Multi-level scorer great 3 point shooter age fits Dame's window high character guy No more minutes for Rodney 5.6 PER Hood Powell 17.65 PER, Gary 12.72, 13.77. PER is NOT the ultimate, but from a PER POV, it's a slam dunk. Powell's defense is supposed to be pretty good. It's GOT TO BE better than Hood/Gary. Along with more NAS minutes, defense should improve. The Bad: undersized (though our chances improve in the 6'4" and under league ) Is a UFA and will be asking for $16 to $20 mil PER. Helps the team in a place we didn't need help, which begs the question "are we going to get any help where we need help?" - e.g. defense, bigs. Not a PG. IMHO, this will kill Ant's career (because he'll be stuck as a PG). I'm sure others have more thoughts, but this is my immediate first take.
So ownership tells Olshey what moves to make and that he can't fire Stotts... an ownership group who is reported to be disconnected to the team since Paul Allen's death. I think for the first time in Neil's nine years he was told not to go into the luxury tax and I think that's as far as his guidance has gone. Neil is where the buck stops. The problem with ownership is that they don't care enough to fire these guys. So why should that make me listen to them?
The optimist insider me says: solide trade, we got better The pessimist inside me says: He can be a UFA, and we could lose him for nothing like Kanter, DJJ and Melo while Dames and CJ's extension kick in
Well, you are entitled to think that - and others are entitled to think that there is more behind the scenes that armchair board posters are not privy too. I guess that we are at an impasse.
I think my frustration with this was more that we didn't address any of our shortcomings. We needed a PG for the backup unit desperately, or depth/defense in the front court. This doesn't achieve any of that. It's essentially kicking the can down the road with Gary as the asset.
So much this. Again, Powell has some positives....but there were other much bigger areas to address. And someone Neil offered more for, was obtained for less....and is a Division rival. Ugh.
Unless CJ is being traded, we most likely traded Gary for a rental. I just don't get it. And the team isn't good enough for this to be a needle mover.
