winforlose wrote:Domejandro wrote:I am getting progressively more distraught about Minnesota allowing Nickeil Alexander-Walker to walk.
We need TSJ to develop into NAW. That is why we drafted him. It may take a couple of years, but he has the potential.
While I like Terrence Shannon Jr., they are completely different types of player. NAW is a low-usage, efficient offensive player who is arguably the best screen navigator in the NBA. While TSJ has unique talent as an attacker/slasher (especially in transition), him developing into an even league-average defensive player is going to be a massive project. Another thing that people don't consider is that Terrence Shannon Jr. is less than two years younger than NAW. The idea that NAW was a fully developed project with no room for growth was a miscalculation, in my opinion.
NAW is averaging 20.1/3.4/3.7 on 46.2/37.6/85.9 splits through nineteen games. Even if he "comes back down to earth" to a degree, that is absurd offensive production for an excellent defensive player. Minnesota could have had him locked up on a four year, MLE deal (that is ~9% of the cap!), but instead punted that cap space on Mike Conley/Rob Dillingham (or Naz Reid). I think that mistake is the difference between being a real contender, and being the a middling squad. Minnesota has an opportunity to dig out of the hole with future moves, but even then, losing NAW is brutal for the team's depth. Not the end of the world, but it is a mistake worth acknowledging.