Geaux_Hawks wrote:Whole Truth wrote:Jamaaliver wrote:
No one is building a huge trade package around a 12 ppg scorer.
An extended BI is headlining the trade but Hawks fans will find out quickly Herb is the best player & value in this trade, including BI. His defense, versatility & spacing will best Murray's fit & it won't be close.
Non will take my word & his numbers won't back it up but you'd find out real quick how true it is.
I don't think anyone is questioning Herb Jones and his defensive impact. The hiccup is BI's potential max contract. Herb Jones doesn't do enough in other areas of the court to suggest it's worth maxing BI so we could have Herb as well. Herb is just the definition of a 3&D wing. His game is absolutely 1:1 when it comes to being that. He's the kind of player the Hawks would value in a starting lineup with Trae.
Now if you told me BI would settle much closer to $35M AAV, then it might be a much more palatable deal to consider. I'd still look to hold onto the #1 pick, but you'd have me strongly considering including it in a deal. BI at $50M/year just ain't it.
Herb's IQ & feel for the game is exceptional. He does all the little things that contributes to winning. the ultimate 3D glue player that every Championship team needs. He's a 12 ppg player, simply because he played with 4 players that can put up 20-30pts on any given night in Jonas, Zion, BI, CJ. No other reason, he's capable of more. Those 12 points came on 7 APG, 14% usage. A couple driving layups, a few corner 3's. Herb was actually a more consistent & reliable threat from 3 than Murphy this past season as you know with percentages some players are hot & cold. Murray averaged his 22 points on 18 APG & a 25% usage rate to a team & Young's detriment. Murray's usage rate, lowered Youngs usage from 35% to 30. His lowest, since his rookie year.
Herb is more than capable of putting up more points if you need him to & he will do it efficiently as he's not a ball hog or shot happy player. These are traits I value over raw points on high usage & attempts. Especially if you have a star that's best in higher usage.
Lets talk about Murray's usage, fit & why the move didn't pan out. Defensive versatility, outside the PG position Murray losses his defensive value. 25% usage rate & 18 APG, led to Youngs lowest usage rate since his rookie season where Hawks fans talk about Young by himself carrying the team to a top 10 offense with no secondary star... That's because without a second star, Young was averaging closer to 35% usage than 30, where his offensive production has to out weight his defense for him to be an impactful player.
Herbs trade value. Here's the underlying fact of this trade & 12ppg player. Hawks paid 3 draft picks + for Murray's offense & defense to compliment Young & it failed for the reasons I stated above. Where Herb's defense & defensive versatility had 4 offensive starters in NO's top 6 in defensive rating. Herb would single handedly carry the Hawks defense to respectability, while fitting seamless on that end with Young because of his versatility. Offensively, his low usage rate & meager 12ppg also allow Young to return to being on ball more, closer to his 35% usage rate. As I stated above, Herb plays within the offense & doesn't force. He's not a ball hog or shot happy player. All that to say, I know how you could have spent those draft picks much better, with far better results.
Isn't that the point of trading value, to get better. Herb by himself transforms your team for the better. He's not a player any NO's fans want to trade. As Hawks don't want to trade #1. Understandable that Hawks want to keep the potential/risk of the #1 but from NO's side, Herb's proven value is going nowhere without it.
