minimus wrote:Note30 wrote:minimus wrote:
Well if keeping Towns is about disregarding possible financial implications, then why not do this for Dame? If we are indeed in win-now mode, why not try to win with Dame? Yes, Dame is not a good defender, but neither is Towns. Yes, Dame has been dealing with injuries through whole his career, but so has been Towns as well. Dame age is concerning, but there is a legitimate chance that Gobert-Anderson-MCD-Edwards-Dame lineup will have much more balance and chemistry that Gobert-Towns-MCD-Edwards-Conley lineup.
Cite reasons 1&2. He doesn't want to be anywhere other than Miami. His team has never performed as well as promised with another star guard on the floor. Lastly, hiding Towns on a 4 is much easier than trying to also guard the opposing teams usual best player or second best (typically a PG). I rather hide Towns on Looney or Green than Dame on Steph. Or on Aaron Gordon than Dame on Murray.
Don't get me wrong I love Dame, but he's not the answer here.
1) NBA as organization has clearly spoken about Dame and Harden situation. Do players still have leverage? Yes, but not as much as they think. I believe NBA tries to avoid another Butler drama
2) starting from 2012-13 Dame had eight consecutive playoff appearances. His team has always been competitive when he is plays. Maybe he has been underachieving for superstar standards, but he is competitor
3) I believe that you can live with Dame as starting PG and you won't get destroyed in defense. DLo played the best offense two seasons ago, and was not complete disaster last season with Rudy. You can workaround Dame defense, especially with Gobert, Anderson, MCD, NAW and Edwards.
The biggest gain if we trade Towns for Same is offense. Dame has clear role: he is both elite slasher and shooter, he also earns a lot of FTs and can play both as primary and secondary playmaker. Having guy like him means Gobert and Anderson won't be asked to create their offense, Gobert especially will benefit a lot from improved spacing and dynamic three point shooting. It is just clear and "simple" offense around Dame and Edwards playing 1-2 punch, where Gobert is again a highly productive screener, rim runner, rebounder and rim protector. Anderson is a swiss army knife in offense and defense, MCD is a third option in offense and our best defender. No more pecking order and coaching zig zags.
Towns current role is very unclear to me. Can he postup? Yes, but is not physical enough and he is prone to pickup offensive fouls. Can he set screens on perimeter? Yes, but he tends to set moving screens. Can he shoot three point shots? Yes, but teams uses mobile forwards on him to take away open threes, and he also often kicks his legs trying to earn free throws, but instead gets offensive fouls. Can he pass? Yes, but his fancy sling passes or over shoulder passes are always more risky rather than efficient simple passes.
Dame has experience, Dame is proven. I don't like his contract and age. But this guy wants to be in MIA which speaks a lot of his motivation. He is not flawless player, but before Conley we didn't have a ballhandler with such talent and experience. Once again: two years ago this team ran like a headless chicken, because there was no experienced ballhandler. Beverley came here and it was immediately evident how important he was as secondary ballhandler (had best season in his career in terms of passing), Conley came here and showed how important a PG who can shoot and pass can be for this team.
Okay you convinced me. I still have reservations about his fit next to Ant.
