End of Season Player Grades
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 6:37 pm
Giddey A
He improved his 3-point shot and established himself as a building block. His defense is still a concern, but pretty much everything else is promising. The only question is how much are we going to pay him? I hope we don't bid against ourselves like we did with Vuc and Pat. Let him hit RFA and let the market determine his value.
Coby B+
Had a very bad first half of the season, and a very great second half of the season. He's a very good scorer, but still streaky, inconsistent, and relatively easy to negate when the games matter. He's become more than just a shooter, but I still don't think he's a top 2 option on a good team. I think we shoud explore selling high on him this offseason to avoid the conundrum of having to pay him next offseason. If we can get a decent young player with potential and a 1st round pick, do we pull the trigger?
Huerter A-
He was viewed as pretty much cooked, but then after a rough start with the Bulls he filled the role of a shooter just about perfectly. Everything you expect from that type of role, he fills it. His defense is a concern, but he's a solid role player.
Matas A
He barely played early in the season, but when he got his chance he made the most of it. The biggest question mark was his shooting, and he managed to get his 3-point percentage up to league average on good volume (6.3 attempts per 36). He flashed high level skills with his ballhandling, shot creation, athleticism, etc. Most importantly he has that "it" factor. He could be the team's best player in a year or two.
Vuc B+
He had a great offensive season, the best year of his career efficiency wise. If you had told me he'd shoot 40% from 3 after his shooting struggles in the past I would have thought you were crazy. If only he wasn't atrocious on defense. Given his age, lack of defense/mobility, and the fact that he's a poor fit defensively next to the guys we're likely to build around (Giddey/Coby), we really need to move him. Trade him for whatever we can get, rather than letting him walk, or even worse, re-signing him. He can definitely help a defensive oriented contending team that can cover his weaknesses.
Collins B
Solid, versatile back up big. He's very overpaid, but he's a solid role player.
Smith B-
Pretty much the same as Collins, except with a better contract and more perimeter oriented. If we trade Vuc, the combination of Collins and Smith should be able to hold down the C spot for a year until we find a long term solution.
Jones A-
Really impressive true PG. We're so guard heavy that I'm not sure it makes sense to keep him, but he's a quality starting PG. He's probably going to get paid by some other team, deservedly so.
Pat F
What is there to say? We all know. He's one of, if not the, worst rotation players in the league. No one is going to trade for him. If we can get someone to take him off our hands, we need to jump on it. Otherwise, maybe give him the first half of next season to turn it around so we can dump him. If he doesn't, just bench him and/or explore just eating that contract and waive him. He's taking up valuable minutes that could go to either more effective players or young players with better upsides.
Terry C+
He can kind of shoot now, which opens up everything for him. I've always kind of liked him, but he's still no more than like a 8th or 9th man at best. If he can keep improving his shot and if he can slow down and play smarter he could become a solid bench player. If not, he'll stay as he is, a fringe rotation player. He might be worth retaining if he'll take a minimum or near minimum contract when that time comes.
Phillips C-
He needs to develop a consistent 3-point shot. His defense has never matched his reputation coming out of college. He's very athletic, but I feel like he rarely utilizes it. Has zero creation ability. We'll probably have to choose between him and Terry at some point. I lean towards Terry, but neither are worth worrying about.
THT C+
He's basically a volume chucker. He was actually kind of effective in that role. He's very athletic for how fat he is. Imagine if he was in shape. His basketball IQ is atrocious. Not worth worrying about. Could bring him back on a minimum or let him walk, doesn't really matter.
Ayo C+
His inconsistent jumpshot holds him back from being a great role player. He's great in transition going downhill and he's a solid defender. Hopefully he comes back well from that injury and can get his shot back to where it was. It might be worth shopping him around.
Lonzo A
The fact that he played at all is why he gets this grade. He still doesn't play enough and hopefully he gets his shot back in time. Other than that, he makes a huge impact on the game and contributes to winning more than most players.
Carter F
I can't believe I liked this signing when it happened. He probably has no value, so he's probably stuck for another season riding the bench.
He improved his 3-point shot and established himself as a building block. His defense is still a concern, but pretty much everything else is promising. The only question is how much are we going to pay him? I hope we don't bid against ourselves like we did with Vuc and Pat. Let him hit RFA and let the market determine his value.
Coby B+
Had a very bad first half of the season, and a very great second half of the season. He's a very good scorer, but still streaky, inconsistent, and relatively easy to negate when the games matter. He's become more than just a shooter, but I still don't think he's a top 2 option on a good team. I think we shoud explore selling high on him this offseason to avoid the conundrum of having to pay him next offseason. If we can get a decent young player with potential and a 1st round pick, do we pull the trigger?
Huerter A-
He was viewed as pretty much cooked, but then after a rough start with the Bulls he filled the role of a shooter just about perfectly. Everything you expect from that type of role, he fills it. His defense is a concern, but he's a solid role player.
Matas A
He barely played early in the season, but when he got his chance he made the most of it. The biggest question mark was his shooting, and he managed to get his 3-point percentage up to league average on good volume (6.3 attempts per 36). He flashed high level skills with his ballhandling, shot creation, athleticism, etc. Most importantly he has that "it" factor. He could be the team's best player in a year or two.
Vuc B+
He had a great offensive season, the best year of his career efficiency wise. If you had told me he'd shoot 40% from 3 after his shooting struggles in the past I would have thought you were crazy. If only he wasn't atrocious on defense. Given his age, lack of defense/mobility, and the fact that he's a poor fit defensively next to the guys we're likely to build around (Giddey/Coby), we really need to move him. Trade him for whatever we can get, rather than letting him walk, or even worse, re-signing him. He can definitely help a defensive oriented contending team that can cover his weaknesses.
Collins B
Solid, versatile back up big. He's very overpaid, but he's a solid role player.
Smith B-
Pretty much the same as Collins, except with a better contract and more perimeter oriented. If we trade Vuc, the combination of Collins and Smith should be able to hold down the C spot for a year until we find a long term solution.
Jones A-
Really impressive true PG. We're so guard heavy that I'm not sure it makes sense to keep him, but he's a quality starting PG. He's probably going to get paid by some other team, deservedly so.
Pat F
What is there to say? We all know. He's one of, if not the, worst rotation players in the league. No one is going to trade for him. If we can get someone to take him off our hands, we need to jump on it. Otherwise, maybe give him the first half of next season to turn it around so we can dump him. If he doesn't, just bench him and/or explore just eating that contract and waive him. He's taking up valuable minutes that could go to either more effective players or young players with better upsides.
Terry C+
He can kind of shoot now, which opens up everything for him. I've always kind of liked him, but he's still no more than like a 8th or 9th man at best. If he can keep improving his shot and if he can slow down and play smarter he could become a solid bench player. If not, he'll stay as he is, a fringe rotation player. He might be worth retaining if he'll take a minimum or near minimum contract when that time comes.
Phillips C-
He needs to develop a consistent 3-point shot. His defense has never matched his reputation coming out of college. He's very athletic, but I feel like he rarely utilizes it. Has zero creation ability. We'll probably have to choose between him and Terry at some point. I lean towards Terry, but neither are worth worrying about.
THT C+
He's basically a volume chucker. He was actually kind of effective in that role. He's very athletic for how fat he is. Imagine if he was in shape. His basketball IQ is atrocious. Not worth worrying about. Could bring him back on a minimum or let him walk, doesn't really matter.
Ayo C+
His inconsistent jumpshot holds him back from being a great role player. He's great in transition going downhill and he's a solid defender. Hopefully he comes back well from that injury and can get his shot back to where it was. It might be worth shopping him around.
Lonzo A
The fact that he played at all is why he gets this grade. He still doesn't play enough and hopefully he gets his shot back in time. Other than that, he makes a huge impact on the game and contributes to winning more than most players.
Carter F
I can't believe I liked this signing when it happened. He probably has no value, so he's probably stuck for another season riding the bench.