Kerr's Love Affair with Podz

[EvanZ]

The team construction is the problem, not a second year guy who looks like a keeper long term.

[vvoland]

The team construction is the problem, not a second year guy who looks like a keeper long term.

It was cobbled together midseason, I have high hopes for next year. Dunleavy the GM has been the opposite of Dunleavy the player. Let's hope he continues to hit doubles.

[cpower]

The team construction is the problem, not a second year guy who looks like a keeper long term.

It was cobbled together midseason, I have high hopes for next year. Dunleavy the GM has been the opposite of Dunleavy the player. Let's hope he continues to hit doubles.

couple of things:
1. putting everything on JK and Podz to be the next star
2. Melton early injury
3. SlowMo not a good fit

if we get a more reliable player than Melton and flip JK then we will be ok. Just unfortunately everything was on the wrong side for us this year

[DonaldSanders]

Does everyone forget Podz is actually the youngest guy on the team? JK, Moody, Post, all older. Not even a 2-way guy was younger. Everyone seems to want to give young guys time to develop except Podz, probably because so much about him already looks mature minus his shooting.

I still think he's a bit miscast, probably a big minute 6th man type guy on a championship roster who can sometimes finish games, but we have a hole in our roster at SG that was never filled when Melton went out.

Obviously everyone is hoping his shooting comes around but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt going into year 3.

[Onus]

Damn Podz had wrist surgery. We really were falling apart and it included the young guys as well. Crazy

[EvanZ]

No wonder nobody could shoot! lol

[Jester_]

damn... I think the final play-in chase really took everyone out

and that houston series going 7 didn't help

[Jester_]

The team construction is the problem, not a second year guy who looks like a keeper long term.

It was cobbled together midseason, I have high hopes for next year. Dunleavy the GM has been the opposite of Dunleavy the player. Let's hope he continues to hit doubles.

agreed. if steph doesn't go down, we have a 7 game dogfight with OKC and we win a title

1 or 2 shrewd moves this summer, and then strong minutes management during the year, and I feel good about our chances next year

[HiRez]

damn... I think the final play-in chase really took everyone out

and that houston series going 7 didn't help

Yep, the inability to secure a playoff spot (and avoid the play-in) early was the "original sin" if you will. And they certainly had chances. The couple games at the end, yes, but really anywhere earlier in the season where they lost very winnable games to horrible teams because they didn't show up to play. Just 1 or 2 of those could have avoided it. Then the physical series with the Rockets and the inability to win (again, a very winnable) game 5 to close out the series early and rest everyone. Jimmy definitely needed rest after the injury and never got it, and Steph's MIN G1 injury was likely directly related to going 7 against Houston.

The lesson is, especially if you're going to have an older team, you cannot take regular-season games for granted and have to run your players into the ground trying to fix it at the end of the season. If you're floating around the 3rd seed or something, sure, you could make a call to let up a little, rest guys in the RS, and slip a slot or two in the standings, but for an old, fringe playoff team, you can't do that.

[floppymoose]

Podz is a keeper but not a star. Hes a good 5th man for a contender. That he wont be more than that isnt a problem, or a reason to move him. The main thing he needs is better young teammates.

[vvoland]

Podz is a keeper but not a star. Hes a good 5th man for a contender. That he wont be more than that isnt a problem, or a reason to move him. The main thing he needs is better young teammates.

It is if he's valued as more than that. 5th man is as about "league average" as it gets. I agree with your assessment of podz and if we can get a legit starter back, I'd do it all day, and twice on Sunday.

[floppymoose]

Well sure. I mean, anyone is tradable if someone wants to give you something better. Steph for Haliburton? SOLD!

[vvoland]

Well sure. I mean, anyone is tradable if someone wants to give you something better. Steph for Haliburton? SOLD!

I wouldn't do that if I'm GSW or Indy so not sure what that strawman is trying to say. Not to say either of those teams even has the thought, much less the conversation.

Here's an example. If I can use podz as the centerpiece of a trade for Malik Monk, I would be ecstatic. I don't think podz will ever be as good as monk is today and I think there are a number of FOs that disagree with me.

The whole point of trades is both parties have different values. "better" is in the eye of the beholder; that's where the top FOs make their money. Their version of 'better' is actually better.

[ILOVEIT]

Pod drives me nutz. But he IS a winner. He plays smart, rugged. PLEASE can he develop a jump shot that doesn't disappear!!!! lol

[vvoland]

Pod drives me nutz. But he IS a winner. He plays smart, rugged. PLEASE can he develop a jump shot that doesn't disappear!!!! lol

That's the 64 thousand dollar question. Or in Podz's case, the 264 Million dollar question. Same goes for JK.

[HiRez]

Pod drives me nutz. But he IS a winner. He plays smart, rugged. PLEASE can he develop a jump shot that doesn't disappear!!!! lol

This guy shot 44% from 3 in college on 6 attempts per game (the equivalent of 7 for NBA game length), that's not a tiny sample. And he's shot 38% and 37% from 3 in 2 years in the NBA. On the other hand, he shot 77% from the free-throw line over that period, which is quite mediocre (bad, even) for someone profiling as a pure shooter out of college. The inconsistency from 3 is somewhat expected at his age, but the poor free-throwing as well as blowing open layups in concerning.

But I'm still inclined to hold onto Podz unless we need him for a big trade, despite some real frustrations and skepticism about his ceiling. For one thing he's versatile, which is why I suspect why Kerr likes him so much. With our lack of any kind of backup guard depth, we kind of need him. Spencer is a nice story but is after all a fringe NBA talent at best, Moody and GP2 often play SF or even PF in Kerr's system and they aren't ball-handlers. Hield is just a gunner. Podz isn't the best shooter, or PG/ball-handler, or certainly defender, but he does some of all that. And he's just one of those guys that annoy the other team (albeit along with occasionally his own team), always need that.

Another thing I like about Podz is he's fearless, rarely timid or passive, a frequent criticism of Kuminga and at times, Moody.

If he's still scuffling after another season, I'd probably cut bait, but for now we can use him. Still think he was an outstanding pick at #19.

[Jax_23]

Podz is the Warrior version of Jake Moody (49ers kicker).

Endless leash no matter what, delusionally overrated, and a front office mind-scratchingly in-love with them for whatever reason.

Podz is a 7th or 8th man off the bench at best. He actually hurts team chemistry because the rest of team and coaches have to pretend he's a starter and a core member of the team. He's replaceable af.

[AirP.]

Read on Twitter

[Onus]

Read on Twitter

Really sucks for him since he’ll be rehabbing all summer rather than working on his game.

[AirP.]

Here's a little more info from a tweet. He was dealing with this since midseason.

Read on Twitter