You cannot compare Ausar and Amen in a vacuum. Amen is asked to do way, way more than Ausar, as the Rockets don't have a PG like Cade Cunningham. They have VanVleet. Huge difference there. No plays are run for Ausar Thompson. He just does his thing. Playing insane defense, creating chaos, and making cuts to the basket, and on occasion, take the ball up the floor, and initiate the offense, so Cade isn't triple teamed bringing the ball up the floor.Slim Charless wrote:zeebneeb wrote:I can understand this viewpoint, but as a matter of fact, Ivey was on track to have a better shooting season from 3, then Booker ever has. 30 games, isn't a tiny sample size. Ivey was having a pretty good season, before clown show Anthony broke his leg. His ceiling is unknown, but his floor is high.tmorgan wrote:
If this is our management’s perspective — and I have no idea if it is or not — then Booker is definitely out of reach. It’s going to take one of Ausar or Duren. Sadly/happily, as our pick is finally conveying to MiN this year, our future picks are correctly viewed as minor assets in a trade for an All-Star level player. You don’t trade Booker for Ivey and a few picks in the back third of the first round.
If Phoenix accepted this. I’d hire a full security detail for Cade, because they’ll clearly be planning to assassinate him shortly thereafter.
I'm of the mind, that Ivey+picks is absolutely fine compensation, when you look at age. If Booker was 25/26, this would be a different conversation. Booker will turn 29 at the start of next season. Ivey just turned 23 17 days ago.
Ivey+picks+Filler of their choice. Sasser, Tek, whatever.
It'll take a few years, but I'd be willing to bet, that Ivey will hold his own as his career progresses.
I understand your viewpoint and I get it. BUT you're valuing him like he's Amen and for many different reasons (not all his fault) he has nowhere near the same value. We've seen Amen do it. We have not seen the same from Ausar. He's deal breaker for me...and that's all on a maybe. Maybe he can be his brother. Maybe better. Maybe worse.
FWIW, for me at least I think you guys would be high on his list as I know for a fact he's a Lions fan and spent grew up there for at least the early years. I imagine he watched alot of the Chuancy Pistons as a kid. All that being said, he's under contract for 4 more years and we won't giving him away for a guy who had half a year (almost) of production and then had the worst leg break since Paul George-which was like a decade ago. Not as the main piece anyways.
Ausar, is a generational defender. He does things, that almost seem impossible, and certainly are, for 99% of the league, which is insane to say. Thats what makes him so insanely valuable to the Pistons. He can just focus on that, and slowly bring along other parts of his game.
The Rockets need Amens production on offense. The Rockets need his playmaking. Any kind if action like that from Ausar on the Pistons, is gravy, although he does show flashes of the exact same play, that his twin does.
Value comes down to team needs, and Ausars value is crazy for the Pistons. I would never trade Ausar in a package, unless its for a sure-fire all-star level player to put next to Cade, thats under 27. Thats how hugh his value to what the Pistons are doing since Jan 1st. It cannot be overstated. (When Ausar was inserted into the starting lineup)
The team is 2nd in defensive rating since then.(109.5) Ausar is that important. For the season, they are 11th(112.1)
Booker, just isn't worth to the Pistons, what Ausar is.
