Yes but for the beers you had to name both and only both, think I’m safe. I’m fine with both trades, Hood walks this summer and maybe we hit the lotto with Skal, if not oh well. This all comes down to those expirings next year, if we don’t flip them for a BIG TIME upgrade somewhere in the starting lineup(Forward) than I ask to leave if I’m Dame.
Yeah I was in support of dumping Harkless for Skal. Turns out we only needed to trade Swanigan. The Hood trade gets a B from me. The Labissiere trade gets an A from me. Neil's "performance" at the deadline gets a D from me.
Why does the Skal deal get an "A"? Dumping Harkless for him was a good idea because of the lux tax implications. This was swapping a chamber pot for a spitoon.
Skal has considerable upside. Biggie has none. People would be more excited about this if it was done in the summer. Since it was done now, it’s kind of hard to separate from what Olshey should’ve been focused on. I don’t know what Sacramento’s thought process was here. Maybe Biggie reminds Vlade of the old days idk
I do enjoy the irony of this deal. One of the arguments you get from Olshey apologists is the classic "don't make trades just to make trades" argument. Guess what folks - Swanigan for Skal is the epitome of just that! It neither addresses the financial mess nor improves the team's odds of winning a play-off series. Olshey made the deal just to give his syncophants amunition for the claim that he really isn't sitting on his hands.
If they had any kind of track record developing big men this trade would be awesome. He'll definitely be in the league in 5 years unlike Swanigan so cross your fingers..
Some reports out of high school Eric Bossi, Rivals.com: "While I expect him to be really good in college, he's one of those prospects who we might not see what he's truly capable of on the college level. It's going to take a few years into a career in the NBA, assuming he makes it to the NBA. I love his skill level, the way he runs the floor, his hands, his shooting touch at legitimately college 3-point range. I think there is a lot of current skill and a lot of untapped potential there that really make him a terrific prospect." Evan Daniels, Scout.com: "I think he's the best long-term prospect. At 6-11, Skal has tremendous offensive potential. He has great hands. He's got very soft touch around the basket. He's comfortable on the block going over either shoulder. He can face up and make mid-range jump shots, and he's also able to step out and make collegiate 3-pointers. Then you throw in the fact that he's mobile and runs the floor with ease. He has potential on the defensive end. He has good but not great length but very good timing and is pretty quick off his feet. I think he's going to end up being a pretty good rim protector. At the Nike Hoop Summit, I thought he was aggressive, and he clearly added 12 pounds to his frame. He's going to continue to add weight once he gets to a college weight room. I really didn't second-guess this choice (as No. 1 for Scout)." Jerry Meyer, 247Sports.com: "At the end of the summer, he really took a step up with his game and started to become that player that everyone thought he had that potential to be. He has NBA length and NBA skill. He just needs to get physically stronger and physically tougher, but he's an extremely talented, lengthy player." Paul Biancardi, ESPN.com: "I've watched him for the last couple years, and every time I see him, I see growth, and growth not just in his measurables – height, weight, wing span – but growth in his game. He's becoming more assertive, more self-confident. He's a very talented offensive player for his size in terms of shooting ability, facing the basket, a low-post jump hook, and he's an extremely good passer. And he's a developing shot-blocker. He's not a great shot-blocker, but he's one that keeps getting better. He has a good IQ. But the great thing about Skal is his teachable spirit. He really absorbs what you tell him and wants to be coached and wants to be better." https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...15/05/09/super-five-skal-labissiere/27054767/
So was Cliff Alexander, Qyntel Woods, Bayless, Shavlik Randolph.... did you vomit yet or shall I continue?
When he had first arrived, Labissière spoke little English and required a French interpreter in all of his classes. After three to four months, he didn't need the help and became fluent.
I dunno, man. In a vacuum, these dudes would be tiny. Not sure how well they’d handle the NBA-size basketball and opponents. I’m glad these trades happened outside of a vacuum, IMO.
If he honestly believes Turner/Harkless/Leonard will have more trade value in 12 months because they are expiring contracts, then he is obviously out of touch with the facts.
Didn't you ask me once what my concrete goals for Olshey were? (it was one of my bad nights, so I am a little fuzzy on the details, sorry!) Anyway, I just (albeit somewhat grumpily) outlined 2 of them. First, I believe it is unrealistic to wait for a "blockbuster" that gets us from here to a title in one move. Making more modest moves that get a victory in a play-off series is (IMHO) a realistic and worthwhile goal. Second, he needed to get the team far enough under the lux tax threshold that the team had some flexibility in the off-season. If you can show me where the Swanigan for Skal trade serves either of those bench-marks, I will cheerfully admit I was wrong.
