Signed By Indiana - The Jeremy Lamb Thread

[yosemiteben]

It's like pulling teeth.

Do you think we should try to add a two way wing? Will that help our team?

Feels like you are being weirdly defensive about this.

It’s not like pulling teeth. I’m giving you detailed answers with numbers to back up my statements each time. You just dismiss it because it’s not within the agenda you’re trying to push lol.

I think wing depth right now is the strength of the team but could be utilized better. #CliffordMustGo

Adding a two-way wing should be about the 5th thing on our priority list behind trying to find a player that could supplant Kemba as a #1 option (which would be difficult without a top 3 pick or max cap space), a backup PG, a insurance policy for Cody’s injury proneness, and getting rid of Dwight or Batum’s contract.

Fair take, though I have to chuckle at the"agenda" of having a two way wing that can spread the floor. I'm pretty much teeing you up to say "you're right, and Lamb can be that guy," but instead you seem to be embracing the argument that having a SF that won't attempt threes and can't create against locked down defenses is not a major reason why we have struggled to close out games.

We aren't replacing Kemba as a #1 option so not sure why that's on your priority list. If we do all the other priority items you listed are irrelevant because we're tanking anyway. I agree with backup PG, but we already have our Cody insurance on the roster.

I would say solving the issue of our falling apart down the stretch is 100% dependent on separating Dwight and MKG on the floor, and for me making sure that doesn't happen is tied for top priority with backup PG. If that just means playing Lamb down the stretch, I'm good with that, but that gets me closer to thinking it might be time to move on from MKG. But I'm 100% done with kid gloving MKG. Having a 3&D wing next to Kemba and Batum would be a massive help IMO.

[catch20two]

Fair take, though I have to chuckle at the"agenda" of having a two way wing that can spread the floor. I'm pretty much teeing you up to say "you're right, and Lamb can be that guy," but instead you seem to be embracing the argument that having a SF that won't attempt threes and can't create against locked down defenses is not a major reason why we have struggled to close out games.

The reason why I didn’t bite that bait is because when I think about two-way wings I think of players like Klay, Kawhi, and Butler. I’m not thinking of 3&D wings like Courtney Lee who is a good defender with limited offense. When I think of what Lamb could be for us I think of him being the DeRozan to Kemba’s Lowry. Much alike Derozan I don’t think Lamb’s defense will ever be above average but his offense can more than make up for it because on that end of the floor he is.

We aren't replacing Kemba as a #1 option so not sure why that's on your priority list. If we do all the other priority items you listed are irrelevant because we're tanking anyway. I agree with backup PG, but we already have our Cody insurance on the roster.

We could find a diamond in the ruff or develop a player in-house into replacing Kemba as a #1 option. Not to compare Kemba to Kawhi or Butler but I’ve seen these guys go from afterthoughts as #4 options offensively on their roster into the go-to guy on their respective teams. Oladipo is another example of taking a player that was limited by circumstances and maximizing his output in a new environment. That’s what I mean by replacing Kemba as a #1 option. And like I said it’s unlikely but it’s something we should be focusing on if we want to be more than 1st round of the playoffs exit material. If we don’t have another player averaging 20 points alongside Kemba it’ll be difficult to take us serious as contenders.

I would say solving the issue of our falling apart down the stretch is 100% dependent on separating Dwight and MKG on the floor, and for me making sure that doesn't happen is tied for top priority with backup PG. If that just means playing Lamb down the stretch, I'm good with that, but that gets me closer to thinking it might be time to move on from MKG. But I'm 100% done with kid gloving MKG. Having a 3&D wing next to Kemba and Batum would be a massive help IMO.

Dwight with MKG can successfully co-exist and we’ve had enough positive results from them being on the floor together this season that I don’t understand why you consider that a focal point beyond conjecture. The two-man lineup of Dwight-MKG has fared better than Dwight-Batum this season both offensively and defensively.

However I do agree with kid gloving MKG to a certain extent because it baffles me that he refuse to or haven’t added a 3pt shot to his skill set after 6 years in the NBA. We’ve seen plenty of players that had more questionable jumpers than him coming into the league add it over time.

As much as backup PG is a top priority I think we’ve been overthinking it by thinking we need to add a tall defensive-minded backup PG to offset Kemba. That’s all fine and dandy if we could find the quintessential guy but more importantly we need to find a guy that can hold his own on the court by being able to give enough on one side of the floor to justify his lack thereof on the other. If said backup PG was good on both sides of the ball then he wouldn’t be considered a backup.

[316Hornets]

Lamb is 6'5" with a 7'1" wingspan. That is crazy long arms to guard wings. This is a contract year for Lamb and he's going to be looking for an opportunity. If he doesn't have it here, Charlotte should trade him to a team that will utilize his skills. It's pretty bad when he sits behind 2 inferior players in Batum and MKG.

[316Hornets]

Lamb should win most improved this year. I put my money on him becoming a capable starter. What has he done that is so repulsive to so many fans here? Is it because we didn't draft him? Shouldn't that be a good thing?

[yosemiteben]

What has he done that is so repulsive to so many fans here?

What exactly are you referring to?

[LofJ]

What has he done that is so repulsive to so many fans here?

What exactly are you referring to?

I have no idea. Other than Kemba and maybe Cody, Lamb is the least criticized player on this roster. Unlike quite a few guys on this team he's worth his contract.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

People keep talking about trading him. First it was he would be easy to move to avoid the tax. Now it's about trading him for future assets since he's obviously not going to be resigned.

I'm not a huge Lamb fan, but it doesn't surprise me that the folks who are find the board to be a bit unfriendly. Anyway my personal take is that some folks here horrendously undervalue him.

[catch20two]

Lamb might average 20ppg if he starts and play 32 minutes per game next season. He’s fully capable of doing it. He just hasn’t had the opportunity to.

[yosemiteben]

I'm not a huge Lamb fan, but it doesn't surprise me that the folks who are find the board to be a bit unfriendly.

A bit unfriendly is pretty far from repulsive though. I don't think anyone hates Lamb, or that he's been criticized anywhere close to guys like Beli or MCW.

[catch20two]

I'm not a huge Lamb fan, but it doesn't surprise me that the folks who are find the board to be a bit unfriendly.

A bit unfriendly is pretty far from repulsive though. I don't think anyone hates Lamb, or that he's been criticized anywhere close to guys like Beli or MCW.

Those guys were rightfully criticized. Lamb has played above average basketball each of his 3 seasons in Charlotte based on PER and net ratings yet has received inconsistent to limited minutes.

[316Hornets]

It's not about criticizing, it's about not giving him his due. If there is any player that is a model of what Cliff created, it's Jeremy Lamb. He's not a guy that excels at any one thing, but he is a fast twitch guy in body and mind; most dudes on the court can not keep up with him. I don't know why he has never been the focal point of the offense for any long period of time. It's like there was some hire up telling Cliff to play the high paying guys. It's sickening how much we've invested into some of our guys and the results in return; but Lamb is one of the lone bright spots. Whatever decision group MJ has formed, he seriously needs to reconsider. Look at what happened with Anthony Bennett. Teams strike out with top picks and they let them go. MKG had some serious issues last season and it really makes this thing a lot bigger than it actually is. He isn't performing; he isn't developing his game to fit in today's high scoring NBA. Lamb should have gotten a majority of the minutes Clifford selfishly gave our star draft pick.

[Lwcasu]

It's a tragedy that Lamb didn't start last season. The #1 reason we need to drop the MKG experiment is it takes away from development. One of the players it takes away development from is Jeremy Lamb. Lamb's upside is a really good player in this league. Not an all-star today, but probably would have been an all-star at different times in NBA history, i.e, when there was a huge drought of SGs in the league (going back to the late 2000s when Brandon Roy was considered the #2 SG after Kobe).

It would be hard to find another team in the league where MKG would start, and maybe even as hard to find another team in the league he'd get 20 minutes per game. Guys on this board are way too partial towards him.

[yosemiteben]

I'm not a huge Lamb fan, but it doesn't surprise me that the folks who are find the board to be a bit unfriendly.

A bit unfriendly is pretty far from repulsive though. I don't think anyone hates Lamb, or that he's been criticized anywhere close to guys like Beli or MCW.

Those guys were rightfully criticized. Lamb has played above average basketball each of his 3 seasons in Charlotte based on PER and net ratings yet has received inconsistent to limited minutes.

No one consider him repulsive though.

[driveandkick]

I don't follow the cap like y'all do. Would we realistically be able to give Kemba and Lamb extensions in the same offseason? Obviously Kemba's is gonna be huge, and I bet Lamb will be looking for at least something like 4/40, right?

[316Hornets]

A bit unfriendly is pretty far from repulsive though. I don't think anyone hates Lamb, or that he's been criticized anywhere close to guys like Beli or MCW.

Those guys were rightfully criticized. Lamb has played above average basketball each of his 3 seasons in Charlotte based on PER and net ratings yet has received inconsistent to limited minutes.

No one consider him repulsive though.

You are getting caught up in the word.

[HornetJail]

It's a tragedy that Lamb didn't start last season. The #1 reason we need to drop the MKG experiment is it takes away from development. One of the players it takes away development from is Jeremy Lamb. Lamb's upside is a really good player in this league. Not an all-star today, but probably would have been an all-star at different times in NBA history, i.e, when there was a huge drought of SGs in the league (going back to the late 2000s when Brandon Roy was considered the #2 SG after Kobe).

It would be hard to find another team in the league where MKG would start, and maybe even as hard to find another team in the league he'd get 20 minutes per game. Guys on this board are way too partial towards him.

I... what?

Look... I like Lamb as much as the next guy but there is no era in modern NBA history (from the intro of the 3-point line onwards) where Jeremy **** Lamb is an all-star in any conference. The guy is a nice option to have, but will never be the #1 guy on a non-tanking team. Just no.

The "worst" all-star I can even think of from that era would be Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, or Mo Williams- all three of whom thoroughly outclass Lamb without question

[316Hornets]

It's a tragedy that Lamb didn't start last season. The #1 reason we need to drop the MKG experiment is it takes away from development. One of the players it takes away development from is Jeremy Lamb. Lamb's upside is a really good player in this league. Not an all-star today, but probably would have been an all-star at different times in NBA history, i.e, when there was a huge drought of SGs in the league (going back to the late 2000s when Brandon Roy was considered the #2 SG after Kobe).

It would be hard to find another team in the league where MKG would start, and maybe even as hard to find another team in the league he'd get 20 minutes per game. Guys on this board are way too partial towards him.

I... what?

Look... I like Lamb as much as the next guy but there is no era in modern NBA history (from the intro of the 3-point line onwards) where Jeremy **** Lamb is an all-star in any conference. The guy is a nice option to have, but will never be the #1 guy on a non-tanking team. Just no.

The "worst" all-star I can even think of from that era would be Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, or Mo Williams- all three of whom thoroughly outclass Lamb without question

Lamb is 26 years old. Lots of players have broke out that late into their career. He's never had an opportunity for Charlotte except for a brief time until we rushed Batum back to throw up some duds. A good coach could help Lamb get to the next level. I'm not going to lie and say he doesn't look like crap some games; so he has to work on his focus and bring it every night. If he can do that, he'd be a valuable asset for us this season.

[HornetJail]

It's a tragedy that Lamb didn't start last season. The #1 reason we need to drop the MKG experiment is it takes away from development. One of the players it takes away development from is Jeremy Lamb. Lamb's upside is a really good player in this league. Not an all-star today, but probably would have been an all-star at different times in NBA history, i.e, when there was a huge drought of SGs in the league (going back to the late 2000s when Brandon Roy was considered the #2 SG after Kobe).

It would be hard to find another team in the league where MKG would start, and maybe even as hard to find another team in the league he'd get 20 minutes per game. Guys on this board are way too partial towards him.

I... what?

Look... I like Lamb as much as the next guy but there is no era in modern NBA history (from the intro of the 3-point line onwards) where Jeremy **** Lamb is an all-star in any conference. The guy is a nice option to have, but will never be the #1 guy on a non-tanking team. Just no.

The "worst" all-star I can even think of from that era would be Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, or Mo Williams- all three of whom thoroughly outclass Lamb without question

Lamb is 26 years old. Lots of players have broke out that late into their career. He's never had an opportunity for Charlotte except for a brief time until we rushed Batum back to throw up some duds. A good coach could help Lamb get to the next level. I'm not going to lie and say he doesn't look like crap some games; so he has to work on his focus and bring it every night. If he can do that, he'd be a valuable asset for us this season.

Replace Lamb with MKG and the number 26 with the number 24, and you have a more convincing argument. Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't you called MKG a lost cause that we should salary dump?

[316Hornets]

I... what?

Look... I like Lamb as much as the next guy but there is no era in modern NBA history (from the intro of the 3-point line onwards) where Jeremy **** Lamb is an all-star in any conference. The guy is a nice option to have, but will never be the #1 guy on a non-tanking team. Just no.

The "worst" all-star I can even think of from that era would be Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, or Mo Williams- all three of whom thoroughly outclass Lamb without question

Lamb is 26 years old. Lots of players have broke out that late into their career. He's never had an opportunity for Charlotte except for a brief time until we rushed Batum back to throw up some duds. A good coach could help Lamb get to the next level. I'm not going to lie and say he doesn't look like crap some games; so he has to work on his focus and bring it every night. If he can do that, he'd be a valuable asset for us this season.

Replace Lamb with MKG and the number 26 with the number 24, and you have a more convincing argument. Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't you called MKG a lost cause that we should salary dump?

This is hilarious. MKG is the opposite. He's been given every opportunity imaginable and not shown much of anything. Dude can't even shoot 3s as a wing in today's NBA.

[Lwcasu]

It's a tragedy that Lamb didn't start last season. The #1 reason we need to drop the MKG experiment is it takes away from development. One of the players it takes away development from is Jeremy Lamb. Lamb's upside is a really good player in this league. Not an all-star today, but probably would have been an all-star at different times in NBA history, i.e, when there was a huge drought of SGs in the league (going back to the late 2000s when Brandon Roy was considered the #2 SG after Kobe).

It would be hard to find another team in the league where MKG would start, and maybe even as hard to find another team in the league he'd get 20 minutes per game. Guys on this board are way too partial towards him.

I... what?

Look... I like Lamb as much as the next guy but there is no era in modern NBA history (from the intro of the 3-point line onwards) where Jeremy **** Lamb is an all-star in any conference. The guy is a nice option to have, but will never be the #1 guy on a non-tanking team. Just no.

The "worst" all-star I can even think of from that era would be Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, or Mo Williams- all three of whom thoroughly outclass Lamb without question

Sure he could have. Look at his per 36 #s. The problem is he doesn't get the opportunity to develop. 2010 was particularly weak in SG talent. That is why Brandon Roy was #3 behind Kobe and Wade. McGrady was declining, Carter was on his way down too. Neither of those guys made the all star team. Your SGs who made the all-star where Kobe, Roy, Joe Johnson, Wade, and Iverson. Iverson got in on purely popularity as he sucked then. Allen and Ginobili were added to that list in 2011.

That's part of the tragedy with Lamb. His per 36 are very close to a guy like Ginobili, but Ginobili was on a good team. Anyways, my argument still stands, Lamb is held back by MKG, and MKG needs to go. By far he needs to be the first guy to go, as he just wouldn't get meaningful minutes on any of the other team in the NBA.