Tetlak wrote:Dan Z wrote:Tetlak wrote:
Nobody eats Matas' minutes.
This is a direct competitor to PATRICK WILLIAMS.
Noa is frankly too raw to see the floor.
PW hasn't been good, but how does burying him on the bench help this team? His value goes down even more?
I guess that would make him even more difficult to trade than it is now.
That would be ok if the team was a real contender and if Okoro had more potential (besides a solid 3&D player). But theyre not contenders and his potential is limited.
To me here's the history with motivating Pat:
- Drafted him high, gave him all the opportunity in the world to start and play. Didn't work.
- Stuck with him through injuries, rewarded him with a big extension (undeservedly). Didnt work.
- Benched him! This is still new, so too early to tell.
- Brought in a direct competitor in position and role
The way I see it, this is the last ditch effort to motivate Pat if we're gonna be "stuck" with him.
None of this will motivate Pat. He is who he is. He has been trying. He is from all reports a good person, and good teammate, with a decent work ethic. He just isn’t learning or developing. Hopefully he is lighter (including maybe less muscle) and quicker this year, and that helps him look at least like the guy he looked like as a rookie.
I always comped him to Barnes (never Kawhi) because, like Barnes, he is a bit stiff in his movement and athleticism despite being strong and straight line fast. But Barnes had showed way more in college, and Pat somehow has gone backwards rather than going forwards.
The chances of Pat developing into something significant are basically null at this point. But he might still return to looking like a competent 3&d forward / big wing. Which would make him, while still overpaid, not as terrible a contract.
