eyriq wrote:pepe1991 wrote:eyriq wrote:
Edwards spent his first three years beside Towns (28), Gobert (32), Conley (36), Anderson (30), and McDaniels (23), so his growing pains were cushioned by a roster already built for playoff runs. Paolo carried Franz and Suggs, both 22, plus Black at 20 and Wendell at 25. One star grew inside a contender, the other lifted a college-aged group from 22 to 47 wins, which made a rookie-max an easy call.
No. Gobert didn't play with Edwards until Edwards 3rd year.
McDaniels was nba nobody until Edwards 3rd year ( bench player and part time starter before )
Conley didn't play with Edwards until Edwards 3rd year.
Slo Mo didn't play with Edwards until Edwards 3rd year.
Edwards won 46 games in second year with starting 5 of:
PG: Russell
SG: Pat Bew
SF: Edwards
PF: Vanderbilt
C: Towns
McDaniels started 31 games, Reid was rotation player but nothing special, Josh Okogie started 6 games, Beasley started some games, both Pat Bev and Russell got hurt, at some point Jordan McLaughlin was in rotation and started at PG 3 games.
Fair enough on the timelines, but the gap I’m pointing to is still there. Ant’s Year-2 lineup had a 26-year-old All-NBA Towns stretching the floor at 41 percent from three, a 25-year-old Russell taking primary-creation reps, and Pat Bev at 33 setting the table on defense and spacing. That group finished 8th in offense and 12th in three-point percentage. Paolo’s Year-2 teammates were Franz and Suggs at 22, Black still a teenager, and Wendell at 24, and they dragged the 24th worst three-point rate while sitting 22nd in offense. Ant’s efficiency got to grow in a runway already paved; Paolo was laying asphalt while he drove. That context is why the Magic jumped from 22 to 47 wins and still ranked near the bottom offensively, and it is why the max made sense the moment Paolo was eligible.
Team who pays guy max contract for nothing but offense shouldn't be in position to be dead last offense in first place, because it signals that player isn't as good as you may think.
Wolves offense before 19 years old Edwards addition ( with Towns, Wiggins, Russell, Beasley ) =
107,6Wolves offense after adding 19 years old Edwards, losing Wiggins =
109,3Wolves offense in second year = 113,8 (7th best, in context that would be Banchero's first year )
That is impact you expect from star offensive player after he gains some footing.
I find it silly talking in positive fashion about bums like Pat Bev or Russell. Especially because we all knew Magic spacing / No PG problems for years. But if you want to suck up for Jett Weltman, than you can't lay up book of excuses for Banchero in same breath. Because one contradicts other. Nothing stopped Weltman from making more logical roster around Banchero in past but- Jeff Weltman.
Current "changes" happened both:
- at least year too late
- costed x10 more than it would cost if they happened on time and in times when Magic asset was salary cap
But no, we had to watch clown show of Cole, Fultz, Suggs and Black pretending to be play makers of future until Weltman's a**didn't catch heat ( not that Bane is really solving everything but at least can shoot ... never mind paying for him Luka Dončić- level- haul and how that will age ).
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon