and1GS wrote:It's really hard to say. I think Nico has shown fantastic glimpses of what he could be. Obviously it will take time for him to get consistent with 'higher risk' passes, playmaking and shooting, but you at least see a lot of effort on defense and a real innate ability to control the game as a PG should. Doesn't terminate his dribble and tries to run the offense rather than masquerading as a SG at the 1.
That said, I don't think he's at a point yet where you could reasonably say he's a definite #2 PG on a playoff team - who's better than random 1 year options in FA. I don't see a clear minimum salary improvement over him, but I'd prefer we swap him in while making a cut in the offseason - like declining Mulder's QO.
Mulder has a non-guaranteed min contract next season which doesn't become guaranteed until January. Smiley and Lee are both non-guaranteed also, though both have partial guarantees in July. I could see any or all of the 3 being let go in the summer. As for Nico, he's a RFA with a 2-way (50k guaranteed) as a QO. They could bring him back as a 2-way again. Unless, of course, he gets an offer sheet which I don't see happening.
I would give the spot to JTA, then make decisions on the three non-guarantees this summer. I can't see Mulder coming back at the least and maybe not the other two, depending on who they can pick up.
Edit: Smiley becomes fully guaranteed 7/6/21 for $1.7M.