I could see a franchise that is tired in being in the lottery every fricken year so they might take a chance on CJ to add some veteran/leadership and swing for the playoffs. There is usually one or 2 teams every year that feel like this. Maybe some poor team will say hey it worked for the Suns, so let’s try.
I personally like it when I am given the opportunity to create a scenario that won't ever happen but also gives me a chance to complain that it didn't happen. (not knocking you, just the weird mindset that fans get when it comes to trade possibilities that are completely unrealistic)
How do we see things in players other teams and scouts don't see? I would think maybe it's more that we don't see what other teams and scouts see. It's their job to see things right?
His improvement defensively the last month has honestly been shocking. On the ball he's been far more disciplined in his technique. Had the bad habit that a lot of young players have of hopping in and out of his stance when he'd pressure the ball. You feel like your defending hard and with energy, but all you're doing is opening yourself up to get blown by or pick up fouls. Skilled handlers are too good sniffing out a frenetic/nervous defender and will catch you mid hop and and/or give you subtle fake to get you to switch your stance and attack that lead foot. He's been much more calm with his footwork and is now more prepared to show his hands and slide his feet + flip his hips, rather than being constantly out of position and having to drop his hands. Off the ball, he's making rotations more consistently and aggressively. At his size he's never going to be super disruptive, especially on those sinks from the corner on bigs, but he's been so much more attentive and aware playing two on the weakside as the wing defender on drives towards the baseline. Closes have been great too on scramble and x out situations. Even has had a couple really nice instances of recognizes a teammate is beaten on a closeout and pulling over to pick that drive up and force an extra pass. I know he's still super young, but even as an Ant optimistic I had gotten to the point of thinking that he wasn't ever going make it past being one of the worst defenders in the league (and for the season he still is) and maybe this is just a blip and he'll revert, but for now I think it's reasonable to think he can develop into simply a modest negative which if his offense continues to develop, will be huge for him moving forward.
