Scase wrote:PPG matching Jimmy means absolutely nothing, Jimmy is a different tier of player and is a true #1 option. He has always turned it up when needed, but I wouldn't compare them either. Bam is a much better comparison, and honestly if you were to replace Bam with RJ, they definitely do not have the same level of success. Bam is way more efficient and puts up better numbers overall while playing WAY better defence.
The wagner comparison is also not a bad one, but again, that team is where they are because of defence, you replace him with RJ and they don't do as well. Same thing with Cleveland.
You can live with a sub-optimal 2nd option if you have really good defence to back it up, and even then, I don't see ORL getting too far unless Paolo takes another step. CLE has pretty much already shown to not be working out considering Mitchell is looking to get out.
I'm not saying a team will be bad with RJ as a second option, but rather it dramatically limits their ceiling, 1st/2nd round exit at best. Unless your first option is top tier, you can't have "ok" second options. And as much as I love Scottie, I don't see him being a top tier offensive option.
This is why I see RJ as a stop gap until something better comes along, no hate on him, it's just a limitation as a player. I would happily be proven wrong and see him pull out a 3pt shot and/or a real solid middy in the next year or two, I just think that is an unrealistic expectation.
A lot of Butler's value is in his defense as a two-way player. And he also brings it in the playoffs, although he's had quite a few poor offensive series. Ideally, he's a #2 on O, not a true #1. But I wasn't arguing for RJ to usurp Butler in the pecking order as a #1 anyways.
In this situation, we're adding RJ to Miami, not replacing Bam. And Bam is supposed to be more efficient, he's a big man and he gets a lot of shots in the paint created for him. His efficiency has been fairly average this season (57.4 TS%). Barrett's 61 TS% on the Raps, though we're assuming he can keep this up.
Again, adding RJ to Orlando, not replacing Wagner.
Essentially the point is that there is no clear cut #2 or #3. If you have 3 decent scorers + defense + good role players, your team can still have top 5 seed potential in the league. Butler/RJ/Bam, Banchero/Wagner/RJ, RJ/Mitchell/Garland. These teams all are capable of adding RJ by swapping out bad contracts or capspace without giving up much on the court and they all get better (again assuming RJ doesn't revert to taking bad shots).
Having RJ on your team doesn't limit your ceiling. Poor management of contract sizes will limit it. If you give borderline stars or high level role players $40+ M each, that's gonna seriously hamper your ceiling, which is where we were heading with FVV/Siakam/OG.