Around the League: 2022-23 Season 3.0

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Kawhi was just a role player with them as well and he really expanded his game.

Kawhi finished second in MVP voting at age 24. Mikal is 26.

Yeah, you definitely can't compare the two like that. Kawhi is on a different level...Top 5 player in the game when he's on. I think Bridges could make his way towards all star status though. I like him in Brooklyn, he'll get a chance to be the man for a little bit. Maybe his game will evolve. I thought Leonard was going to be good, but I never thought he'd be sinking teams with buzzer beaters in a game 7 playoff series. The time he spent learning from the older players on the Spurs team I think did him well.

[Kobblehead]

I don't think Bridges is very good at scoring off the dribble. Nor do I think he's a standout playmaker.

I think this is more like when Jerami Grant got to Detroit and became a 20 ppg scorer. Novel, but not significant. You aren't likely to do anything with him as a top scoring option.

[ankle420breaker]

The move was drafting Shai. Plenty of people here said it at the time. Not me. I didn't get it. But I remember there was plenty of call for it.

This. Plenty of mistakes were made, but not drafting Shai was the biggest miss.

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[mjkvol]

There are two ridiculous things going on at the moment. First, the idea that Bridges was considered to be more than an average role player at the time of the draft. And second, the idea that he's some kind of superstar now.

It would be great to have him. It would be great to have any wing that could play starters minutes. But the **** moaning is getting out of control. He's a role player.

Disagree on both counts. I don't remember Bridges being considered as anything more than a very solid player with NBA ready skills at a position of great need for most teams, a guy who could contribute from day one, and a mature winner type. Which is exactly why he was a perfect fit for a win-now team like the Sixers that desperately needed the skills he offered.

I've not heard anyone reasonably suggest that he's anything approaching a 'superstar', but that he's exactly what he is - an established, near all-star level player at a position of critical importance in today's game, which is a hell of a lot more than a 'role player'.

You're complaining of hyperbole while at the same time engaging in just that.

[mjkvol]

There are two ridiculous things going on at the moment. First, the idea that Bridges was considered to be more than an average role player at the time of the draft. And second, the idea that he's some kind of superstar now.

It would be great to have him. It would be great to have any wing that could play starters minutes. But the **** moaning is getting out of control. He's a role player.

IDK man, you may be right, but he also had some valuable growth in Phoenix. I truly believe that playing with Chris Paul on a team that went all the way to the Finals provided the same invaluable experience that Kawhi Leonard got during his early years with the Spurs. Kawhi was just a role player with them as well and he really expanded his game. Not saying that Bridges is on his level, but he's going to have the green light in Brooklyn and he did just score 45 points the other night. Role players I guess can do that from time to time, but I think he's more than that, and he was absolutely a big time miss with this franchise. We should have kept him.

Agree on all but any kind of Kawhi comp. You could see early in his time with the Spurs that Kahwi was special, even if few saw him exploding to superstar status. Bridges is one of those players who turned out pretty much exactly as he appeared he would as a prospect - a solid NBA starter who could fit into almost any lineup and contribute.

[Stanford]

I don't remember Bridges being considered as anything more than a very solid player with NBA ready skills

Exactly what I said.

I've not heard anyone reasonably suggest that he's anything approaching a 'superstar'

So don't piss and moan about role players.

[Bum Adebayo]

Bridges is the 75th best player in the NBA, that's exactly what a role player is, he's no star, and in fact he is a bit of a negative on offense, his calling card is his defense.

[Negrodamus]

He and OG Anunoby are guys that are excellent role players who appear to be "stars" on bad teams.

[Jailblazers7]

The Giannis injury last night was a bizarre accident. I’ll be curious to see how serious that is because it looked so awkward.

[mjkvol]

I don't remember Bridges being considered as anything more than a very solid player with NBA ready skills

Exactly what I said.

I've not heard anyone reasonably suggest that he's anything approaching a 'superstar'

So don't piss and moan about role players.

Who's pissing and moaning about role players? I only do when they're being paid superstar money.

Maybe my definition of role player is different than yours - IMO a guy who could start and contribute at a position of great need for most teams in the league is more than a role player.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I think Bridges is much better than just a role player. I definitely didn't mean to compare him Kawhi. I don't think that I did. What I did compare between the two was the invaluable experience they got during the early part of their careers. I think it made them better players because of it. We may end up saying the same thing about Maxey. That is all. Nobody is pissing and moaning. We're simply pointing out that it was a colossal mistake trading Bridges for Smith, was it not?

[spikeslovechild]

I don't think Bridges is very good at scoring off the dribble. Nor do I think he's a standout playmaker.

I think this is more like when Jerami Grant got to Detroit and became a 20 ppg scorer. Novel, but not significant. You aren't likely to do anything with him as a top-scoring option.

I mean sure but neither is Klay. If he is going to be able to hit 40 percent of his 3's and shoot on volume he is going to be a star even though it won't be as a creator either for himself or others.

He is just too valuable as a switchable wing on defense to not be.

[SixthStreet]

Klay is not a star. He is just the most perfect role player ever for this era of basketball. Give him his own team and he's Brad Beal.

[76ciology]

Jarett Culver is a FA, is he worth someone to develop in the GLeague?

[76ciology]

Joshua Primo is also a FA.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Joshua Primo is also a FA.

I think he's already shown the league everything he's got to offer. No thanks.

[Jailblazers7]

Klay is not a star. He is just the most perfect role player ever for this era of basketball. Give him his own team and he's Brad Beal.

Klay is basically Reggie Miller with elite defense. At his peak, he was absolutely a star who sacrificed some production for winning imo.

[Jailblazers7]

Jarett Culver is a FA, is he worth someone to develop in the GLeague?

If Memphis couldn’t develop him then we have absolutely no hope lol

[Kobblehead]

Jarett Culver is a FA, is he worth someone to develop in the GLeague?

Personally, I wouldn't invest the time. 3 different NBA teams in his first 4 seasons and they all said "no thanks" means there's probably some intangible things there in addition to his lack of skill.

[Kobblehead]

Klay is going on 7 straight seasons of dropping 20 or more ppg. Would have been NINE if he didn't miss two entire years to injury during this stretch. Hard to call someone with that insane production a role player. He's a star. He's a hall of famer.