doclinkin wrote:gtn130 wrote:More importantly, if we look at player salaries (via free agency) as a rough proxy for how they're valued by GMs, then everyone arguing TB > Lopez is making a fundamentally contrarian argument that cuts against conventional wisdom. My position is unquestionably in line with conventional wisdom, and Wizards fans on this board are the ones firing off hot takes.
Cool. Conventional wisdom. The barber shop test. Are you going to get laughed out of the bar if you try to argue TB13 is better than x-player. Fair. He has no track record yet and hasn’t earned the respect. Literally ‘earned’ when it comes to his contract.
You can hold that position until he proves himself instead of projecting into the future. Reasonable to do. I will say though if you’re in a fantasy league, you’d be Smart to snatch him up late, since he is undervalued right now, and will probably produce at a high rate compared to his fantasy draft position.
For about the 1000th time, I don't ever judge "better player" in some metaphysical or final sense. Like asking how much "goodness" is there in two players? Which one has more "goodness" in him?
What I have said & will repeat here is that in his 11 year career, Brook Lopez has never had a single year -- not one -- anywhere near as good as the year Thomas Bryant had in 2018-19.
Now, if someone wants to suggest that Bryant's year was a fluke -- please do so. That would be exactly like me suggesting that we can *know* he'll be as good or better this year. Either of these would be a statement of opinion & no more. But, of course, if he does, then there's more reason to expect that to continue. & if he doesn't, well, that too provides information.
When we get to the last years of a player's career, or when it's over of course, then we can say how "good" he was -- we know what he did over the long haul & can compare it to averages & to other players in the recent or long-term past of the league. In the case of Brook Lopez, we are getting to that point. He's basically been a solid NBA journeyman.