tmorgan wrote:axeman23 wrote:tmorgan wrote:Not to mention, “reuniting” Harper and Bailey isn’t exactly the best idea anyway. It’s like reuniting oil and water.
As someone who didn't watch a second of college ball this year, what do you mean? Personality clash? Or game redundancy?
I only watched a few Rutgers games (vs UM and MSU), but i don’t care how crap the rest of the roster was, if you have two freshman that are top 5 picks, there’s absolutely no way you should suck that bad. Harper didn’t pass much, and Bailey just didn’t pass at all. Your-turn-my-turn offense definitely doesn’t need to be reunited in the pros.
As I’ve stated elsewhere, I’m less than impressed with Harper as the #2 pick, and Bailey is a huge risk wherever he’s selected. Both obviously have talent, but made either made no effort to play winning basketball (Bailey) or just weren’t very good at it (Harper).
This is a tangent but I thought your post was worth responding to.
I'm actually a huge Harper supporter -- I think he's just one of those guys for whom the game seems to slow down, and his skills will catch up quickly -- but this is a fair take on these two. They both have a lot to prove after showing little development as freshmen. In a stronger draft their Rutgers season hurts their stock.
My defense of Harper is twofold: one, I just agree with those who say he'll flourish in a more talented environment with capable teammates; two, I think his inability to elevate Rutgers or look the part of a leader was due to him trying to do too much rather than not having a leadership mindset in him -- and if this latter seems like a distinction without a difference, my point is that while it may have hurt his college team to go helio all the time against defenses focused on stopping him, it reflects a willingness to take charge and responsibility. I think the humility that needs to complement that mindset will come from playing with and against guys who are better than he is. Or, if it doesn't, maybe he busts. I believe in him, though.
As for the trade, Fox makes no sense for Philly, and San Antonio wouldn't ship him so soon after making a blockbuster deal to bring him in. The soonest they'd move him is after he's locked into an extension and agrees to a list of destinations -- this way they recoup value and he is happy. But the more likely scenario is both sides are glad he's in San Antonio and he's in their long-term plans.