Jalen Bluntson wrote:Clyde_Style wrote:Jalen Bluntson wrote:
Both players came to a losing situation and helped turn it around. Stat didn't have luxury of Dolan staying away during his tenure. Fair to note that Stat came at the end of his career and faded rapidly. Draghing the franchise down. Randle came on his way up and helped get the team to the playoffs. He did that on far less salary as well.
I hated Randle for all the basic logical reasons but, I admit to going overboard with it. I know you agree he turned it around in the end. I won't call either player a hero to your point but, they did help resurrect a pathetic franchise and make us relevant again. This time we have competent people making the decisions and no Dolan lunacy interference. Onwards and upwards!! LFGK!
I simply do not believe that narrative. I think they were both making personally beneficial decisions that rewarded them financially and I do not see them as saviors in any way whatsoever. The idea that it takes courage to come to a franchise down at its heels is a storyline I do not subscribe to. That's fine if people feel this to be the case. It just doesn't fly with me.
I did think Randle last season was the second best regular season version of him we saw, because he played legit defense in the bubble year. He was at his best on offense last season because he committed to bully ball. He is one of the best players in the league at that specifically. So he was good last season, but he played no defense so its a half-hearted compliment at best.
We could have made it work with him this season so I was OK with him being here though I had no interest in him getting a big extension so I really did want him traded to avoid that outcome.
I was one of the only people who genuinely believed KAT was the game plan for two years running and it happened. I was not super gung ho on KAT as Randle's replacement and more of a fatalist who expected it to be happen eventually. And it did happen.
Now that KAT is here I consider him an upgrade in every way and for that I am glad. I think he will give us a more cohesive and dynamic offense and I expect he will give effort on defense whatever his flaws may be. My thesis recently has been having two of the best D wings in the league allows KAT to contribute effectively as a man and help defender without requiring him to be a paint enforcer. Sometimes it will leave us exposed, but overall I think it will result in a superior defense and lots and lots of forced shots and turnovers.
Randle for KAT was a good result.
Narrative? I stated facts. It's not a narrative that both players came to very bad situation and helped turn it around. Obviously of the two, Stat got a gross amount of money but, we went from losing forever to the playoffs and the team achieved some short term success. Undermined by terrible decision making.
Randle came on a fair contract to a team that had nothing. Just more facts. Not a narrative. He helped the team make the playoffs 3 of his five seasons here. Then he was traded for KAT. He was a big part of our turnaround and made this trade possible. Helping the future of the team.
I am not building a statue or selling a fairy tale how they saved the franchise. Just noting that they both came to a trash team that MANY players turned down for a long time. The team improved with them and they helped turn things around. Randle doing more for the good of the team than Stat could ever dream of.
As I said, everyone is entitled to their take on it. You don't see me telling you that you're wrong for feeling that way, do you?
I merely said I don't subscribe to the theme they are special for coming to a downtrodden team. I don't believe they deserve any special commendation for it. That's my take on it. They are not fighting words.
RIP mags
