We also understand who our coach is. I have full confidence that if we had a good coach (and coaching staff) we'd be probably 5-7 wins better than we currently are with a loaded home schedule to go. But, such is life and there's nothing we can do at this moment to change that. So, when do we fully transition into youth mode (as well as acknowledging Kobe's farewell)? Out of this current roster, who do you want to see more of? Do we go to the D-League to try to find hidden gems on 10 day contracts during the second half of the season? What about Michael Frazier, Johnathon Holmes and Robert Upshaw --Three players that were with us in training camp but were released so we could make room for players like Brandon Bass/Roy Hibbert/Metta World Peace/Robert Sacre/Ryan Kelly?
Here are the four players that should be playing 30+ minutes a game from here on out. Whether they come off the bench or not. Try them in different combinations and different positions. Play them together if you have to. GET IT DONE:
Jordan Clarkson (32+)
D'Angelo Russell (32+)
Julius Randle (32+)
Larry Nance (25+)
You slide in Bryant to that mix playing 28-32 MPG and you can build while also acknowledging one of the greatest players to ever don the purple and gold. I also think Lou Williams should be kept because he's not a circus clown like some players on our team and he could be a consistent player for us going forward for years to come. He plays basketball the right way. He takes some tough shots at times but he also moves the ball and draws fouls. Good worker and good attitude. Low maintenance. I also don't think he minds playing on a bad team (in Los Angeles) and being a mentor to our young guards in Clarkson and Russell -- as long as he's getting minutes.
Also important is combinations and trying guys like Nance and Randle in different positions. In today's day and age, Randle can easily slide into the C spot for stretches. Draymond Green started at C in an NBA Finals series. Today's day and age it can easily be done. Byron Scott has talked about playing Nance/Randle together at the SF/PF positions. That also needs to be experimented with and a priority going forward.
We also have too many of the same types of players in the back court, which was a worry of mine coming in. Clarkson, Russell, Lou Williams -- If that is your 3 man guard rotation, and each of Clarkson and Russell get 30+ minutes and you want Lou Williams getting 25+ minutes, we're going to HAVE to go extremely small in some stretches during games, especially if we bring a guy like Michael Frazier on board.
Players that should see a significant role (20-25+ MPG):
Anthony Brown: Currently and for the past year or so while watching college basketball, I haven't thought much of him. I have a real big problem with players who are labelled as "shooters" but can't put up either a) good percentages or b) be a threat that an opposing team would game plan for. Anthony Brown falls into both of those categories. To add to that: Outside of shooting he does nothing of offensive value. Doesn't drive to the basket, doesn't have any significant athleticism, not a good ball handler, and his body isn't developed. He's pretty much like a young Trevor Ariza without the athleticism/finishing ability. And that's not a good player. Getting him minutes to see if he has anything of value is important. With that said, it's important we don't give him a consistent 20+ minutes a game. Byron Scott always talks about changing things up for 10-15 games at a time. He should be a significant minute guy in one of those 10-15 game stretches. I would like to see him play WITH Kobe Bryant and Russell at times. Maybe playing off of a guy who gets double teams (Kobe) or is a good passer (Russell, Randle) would help him. By the way, I posted something in the game thread. I'll repost it here.
Anthony Brown College Statistics:
Year 1: 41.7% FG, 35.3% 3PT
Year 2: 39.6% FG, 35.0% 3PT
Year 3: 20% FG, 33% 3PT (4 GP)
Year 4: 47.5% FG, 45.3% 3PT
Year 5: 43.1% FG, 44.1% 3PT
Mystery Player (In SEC):
Year 1: 44.6% FG, 46.8% 3PT
Year 2: 45.9% FG, 44.5% 3PT
Year 3: 42.7% FG, 38% 3PT (Missed handful of games due to ankle injury that plagued him all season)
Player: Michael Frazier, SG/PG, Florida
By the way, his conference totals for 3PT % --- 53.6% 3PT, 41.6% 3PT, 45.1% 3PT -- Also played in deep runs in NCAA Tournaments, hit big shots.
Tarik Black: Showed good things last year when he got some starts and consistent minutes off the bench. It should be the same thing after the trade deadline this year. We're wasting his potential progress from one season to the next by having him sit on the bench or play in the D-League. Needs to play in NBA competition.
Ryan Kelly: I've somewhat softened my stance on him thanks to Slava. Last night I would have been completely happy if we released him. Wouldn't have cared how much money we owe him this year. Now, I'm willing to give him a rotation spot but if he doesn't make 40% of his three pointers from this day forward to the end of the season, good riddance. Slava, his production is YOUR A**.
LOL.The Veterans:
Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass: If only we had a playoff calibre team, I think these guys would make somewhat of sense to keep around. I love Brandon Bass and I really hate that he has to play for this team at this moment. He should be your first big off the bench, spot starter, however, our coaching staff has failed to even do that. He also plays at a position (PF) where we have young players in Randle and Nance taking up every minute. There's no spot on this team for Bass. I would love to keep him around going forward, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. We should try like heck to get anything of value for these two players by the trade deadline. If we can't, release them as soon as the deadline passes and let them sign onto a team where they can contribute. If they're okay with the losing and lack of minutes to young players, then I would be more than happy to keep them on this team going into the future at manageable contracts. Hibbert is getting worse and worse as the season goes on. Where's the player we saw in pre-season (against starting competition) who averaged almost a double double?
Nick Young: Has to go, some way. Hope to god we can find a trade and bamboozle some other team. I doubt it. We have to get to get him off this team, pronto. His shooting percentages have come back to normal Nick Young fashion and he continues to take horrendous shots. He's actually making an effort defensively these days at times, but last night was just horrendous offensively and defensively. Refuses to give any effort when he's getting screened, refuses to hustle baseline to baseline chasing shooters... it was just an absolute joke. Can we stretch him? I would honestly consider doing that. If we can't, nail him to the bench or send him home the rest of the season. Use only when necessary.
MWP: I like him as a last guy on the roster and tutoring and being a mentor to the kids. He's done an excellent job and he's never pouted or cried about his minutes once. When he does get in the game, he can be pretty good in spurts.
Marcelo Huertas, Robert Sacre -- Good bye. These two should be waived as soon as the deadline passes and no one takes them. Get rid of them as fast as you can. In the meantime, don't play them a single second.
Lineups We Should Use Going Forward:
PG: D'Angelo Russell [35]/ Clarkson [13]
SG: Jordan Clarkson [20] / Lou Williams [28]
SF: Kobe Bryant [30] / Anthony Brown [12] / Nance Jr [6] / MWP
PF: Julius Randle [25] / Nance Jr [23] /
C: Roy Hibbert [25] / Tarik Black [15] / Randle [8]
PG: D'Angelo Russell [35] / Clarkson [13]
SG: Kobe Bryant [15]/ Clarkson [18] / Lou Williams [15]
SF: Anthony Brown [15]/ Kobe Bryant [15]/ Nance Jr [18] / MWP
PF: Julius Randle [30] / Kelly [12]/ Nance Jr [6]
C: Tarik Black [25]/ Brandon Bass [23]/ Hibbert
PG: D'Angelo Russell [35]/ Clarkson [13]
SG: Jordan Clarkson [20] / Lou Williams [28] / Michael Frazier
SF: Kobe Bryant [30] / Nance Jr [28]/ MWP
PF: Julius Randle [30] / Ryan Kelly [14] / Nance Jr [4]
C: Tarik Black [25] / Robert Upshaw [23] /
^^^ This would be my hope for a lineup after the trade deadline. Also, finding a way to get Frazier involved playing with and without Kobe. Whether that takes sitting Lou Williams for a couple games or when Kobe does not play, maybe we have to go super small and play Russell/Clarkson/Frazier/Randle/Black. That can be done in today's NBA.
What is your hope going forward the rest of the season? What would you like to see?
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