Texas Chuck wrote:jbk1234 wrote:
There really aren't that many good young PGs in the NBA, especially if you remove forwards who run their teams offenses and undersized 2 guards from the definition of PG. His defense is solid, he shoots from 3 well on high volume, and he's a good secondary facilitator or sixth man. He can plug in well on teams where their 2 guards or forwards are the primary ball handlers (perhaps Ingram this season). He just shouldn't be the player tasked with breaking down the defense and forcing a rotation.
You aren't describing a PG though. You are just describing a small player who can defend some PG's. Lebron, Luka, Harden are all PG's and have been PG's. Them being big doesn't change that. PatBev was the shooting guard next to Harden who was there to defend PG's for him. He also made MLE money or less. Derek Fisher, same guy.
They paid him lead PG money and need him to be a real PG. I'm skeptical he is that. Which as you say is totally fine if he's on a roster where the team has bigger players who do that. He'd have been fine in the Jrue role in Boston or taking the KCP spot in Denver or whatever. He's a Suggs like player with less defense but a bit more consistent offense. Orlando has struggled because their forwards are much like Barnes/BI, simply not good enough(yet maybe). Same issue is staring Toronto dead in the face. Would be Phoenix too.
Random note I heard on a recent pod- Orlando hasn't had a top 20 offense in over a decade. Wild. That's just wild. Will be interesting to see if the all-in on Bane changes that. I'm skeptical.
Assuming for the sake of discussion, that there's no difference between a point forward and point guard, only Luka still qualifies as young. In addition to the Raptors and Barnes, OKC hoped Giddey would be that guy as well. They're not easy to find. Cade was the last one who panned out and Luka before him.
That type of hit rate means the vast majority of teams need to rely on more traditionally sized PGs, or have the offensive creation come from other positions entirely. The Celtics successfully pulled that off. The Magic are trying. I see teams building that way, in addition to older PGs getting paid well on the back nine of their careers, as evidence that aren't a bunch of good young PGs out there. It's evidence of scarcity. As was the now defunct trend of playing undersized 2 guards at the point.
