Season Grades
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:49 am
Here are my personal grades. Yours?
DeMarcus Cousins – A-. Huge. One of the bright spots. When we gave him that extension last summer it could have went in one of two directions. Fortunately it has went in the right one and it looks as though the franchise could have IMO a potential top 5-7 player for many years. Can’t move this grade up until we see him continuing to improve on D (which he has this year), calm down the techs and maybe get in better condition
Rudy Gay – A-. Went from a guy with huge question marks to one of the top 5 SFs in the game in Sacramento. Seems like a good guy off the floor as well. Needs to cut down the turnovers. I’d like him to stay but can he continue at this pace? I really think he can continue his evolvement into one of the best veteran wings in the league
Isaiah Thomas – A-. I’m just a fan. Made MIP strides this year and it is hard to take lightly a guard who can put up 20+/6+ on reasonable efficiency. Personally I think I saw his defense take a stride from the 1/3 point to the last stretch of the season, and he appeared to deal with screens better by better anticipating them and nimbly using his speed. Needs to obviously work on the defense and floor awareness and I would like to see him back next year regardless if he comes off the bench (I also believe no one will pay him too much more than 6.5 or so)
Ben McLemore – C-. He’s a good kid who from what we hear has a great work ethic, but a year ago after the draft many thought he was the talent of the draft and had a chance at the R.O.Y… Was atrocious starting for most of the year but it wasn’t his fault he was thrust into that role. Did show more down the stretch of the season (which isn’t saying much), but the fact remains I don’t know whether or not he will be a quality starting calibure player in this league as of now, and based on expectations before the season it is a letdown.
Jason Thompson – C. In and out of the starting lineup, the consummate do a bit of everything standard big. Its hard for me to hate on JT because his effort never seems to be lacking. Some complained about his team defense. Although his contract is considered a negative I think he is actually serviceable as a backup big.
Marcus Thornton – D-. Went from a guy who we thought could be serviceable as a starting 2 to being atrocious on the floor and a rumored to be malcontent off of it.
Derrick Williams – C-. I don’t like low-motored guys. I sooner like guys with no talent who put it on the floor than the inverse. Showed glimpses when he started at the 3 before the Gay trade. While many of us wanted him to get a look at the starting 4 it doesn’t look like Malone trusts him there. I wouldn’t mind dumping him this summer but if he sticks around hopefully he shows why PDA first sought out his services.
Ray McCallum – A-. I’m a fan. Good all around good-sized guard who looks to be a solid rotational player for the next 10 years. Showed good flashes starting at times. Plays D, plays smart and doesn’t turn the rock over. I think he could be the best second rounder of the 2013 draft and shows that our brain trust can sniff out talent.
Reggie Evans – B. Can’t hate on a guy who leaves it on the floor. Whether or not he should be starting is obviously debatable, but good vet on and off the floor who doesn’t mind being here from the comments he has made to the media.
Quincy Acy – C+. I like him. Younger version of the aforementioned Evans. Some say he is a little small to be providing a strong interior presence and seemed to lose confidence when replaced in the rotation, which isn’t his fault. I think he’s a good young piece that can be solid in the future and definitely a keeper on his current contract.
Travis Outlaw – C-. I personally just don’t care for him although he did show more down the stretch of the season to make us hope he will be a solid rotational player next year if he is not dumped.
Carl Landry – Inc. Out of respect for an injured player who has been through a lot I won’t say too much but I didn’t see the angle for signing him in the first place and he is now the biggest contractual constraint on the roster.
Malone – B-. The record remains the same from the Smart era although other factors may be at play for that, including a tougher conference. I think we have to give him more than this year with so many different parts, but the fanbase won’t be as tolerant if the Wins don’t start increasing next season.
PDA – B+. The draft of Ben/Ray looks decent, as Ray looks strong as a 2nd pick and Ben was consensus pick. Gay was huge, and gave this teams its 2nd star. The Williams trade looked above average when it happened. Quincy was an underlooked piece in the Gay trade and the Cuz extension was strong. I personally don’t hold him accountable for the Landry signing which I personally believe was influenced strongly by the ex-warrior contingent (Malone, Vivek etc.)
DeMarcus Cousins – A-. Huge. One of the bright spots. When we gave him that extension last summer it could have went in one of two directions. Fortunately it has went in the right one and it looks as though the franchise could have IMO a potential top 5-7 player for many years. Can’t move this grade up until we see him continuing to improve on D (which he has this year), calm down the techs and maybe get in better condition
Rudy Gay – A-. Went from a guy with huge question marks to one of the top 5 SFs in the game in Sacramento. Seems like a good guy off the floor as well. Needs to cut down the turnovers. I’d like him to stay but can he continue at this pace? I really think he can continue his evolvement into one of the best veteran wings in the league
Isaiah Thomas – A-. I’m just a fan. Made MIP strides this year and it is hard to take lightly a guard who can put up 20+/6+ on reasonable efficiency. Personally I think I saw his defense take a stride from the 1/3 point to the last stretch of the season, and he appeared to deal with screens better by better anticipating them and nimbly using his speed. Needs to obviously work on the defense and floor awareness and I would like to see him back next year regardless if he comes off the bench (I also believe no one will pay him too much more than 6.5 or so)
Ben McLemore – C-. He’s a good kid who from what we hear has a great work ethic, but a year ago after the draft many thought he was the talent of the draft and had a chance at the R.O.Y… Was atrocious starting for most of the year but it wasn’t his fault he was thrust into that role. Did show more down the stretch of the season (which isn’t saying much), but the fact remains I don’t know whether or not he will be a quality starting calibure player in this league as of now, and based on expectations before the season it is a letdown.
Jason Thompson – C. In and out of the starting lineup, the consummate do a bit of everything standard big. Its hard for me to hate on JT because his effort never seems to be lacking. Some complained about his team defense. Although his contract is considered a negative I think he is actually serviceable as a backup big.
Marcus Thornton – D-. Went from a guy who we thought could be serviceable as a starting 2 to being atrocious on the floor and a rumored to be malcontent off of it.
Derrick Williams – C-. I don’t like low-motored guys. I sooner like guys with no talent who put it on the floor than the inverse. Showed glimpses when he started at the 3 before the Gay trade. While many of us wanted him to get a look at the starting 4 it doesn’t look like Malone trusts him there. I wouldn’t mind dumping him this summer but if he sticks around hopefully he shows why PDA first sought out his services.
Ray McCallum – A-. I’m a fan. Good all around good-sized guard who looks to be a solid rotational player for the next 10 years. Showed good flashes starting at times. Plays D, plays smart and doesn’t turn the rock over. I think he could be the best second rounder of the 2013 draft and shows that our brain trust can sniff out talent.
Reggie Evans – B. Can’t hate on a guy who leaves it on the floor. Whether or not he should be starting is obviously debatable, but good vet on and off the floor who doesn’t mind being here from the comments he has made to the media.
Quincy Acy – C+. I like him. Younger version of the aforementioned Evans. Some say he is a little small to be providing a strong interior presence and seemed to lose confidence when replaced in the rotation, which isn’t his fault. I think he’s a good young piece that can be solid in the future and definitely a keeper on his current contract.
Travis Outlaw – C-. I personally just don’t care for him although he did show more down the stretch of the season to make us hope he will be a solid rotational player next year if he is not dumped.
Carl Landry – Inc. Out of respect for an injured player who has been through a lot I won’t say too much but I didn’t see the angle for signing him in the first place and he is now the biggest contractual constraint on the roster.
Malone – B-. The record remains the same from the Smart era although other factors may be at play for that, including a tougher conference. I think we have to give him more than this year with so many different parts, but the fanbase won’t be as tolerant if the Wins don’t start increasing next season.
PDA – B+. The draft of Ben/Ray looks decent, as Ray looks strong as a 2nd pick and Ben was consensus pick. Gay was huge, and gave this teams its 2nd star. The Williams trade looked above average when it happened. Quincy was an underlooked piece in the Gay trade and the Cuz extension was strong. I personally don’t hold him accountable for the Landry signing which I personally believe was influenced strongly by the ex-warrior contingent (Malone, Vivek etc.)