Q: Ira, Bam Adebayo could take a few lessons from Karl-Anthony Towns and the way he took control against the Pacers. That’s what gets you All-NBA. – Darin.
A: But what about the commentary about Karl-Anthony Towns going into his big Game 3 performance for the Knicks against the Pacers, namely his defensive deficiencies in the series’ first two games making him unplayable at times? Would the preference be that any player excel on both ends? Sure. But how many big men check both of those boxes (and stay healthy, which puts Joel Embiid somewhat out of that conversation)? Bam Adebayo remains elite on the defensive end, arguably as elite on that end as Towns is on the offensive end. Bam doesn’t need to necessarily be elite on the offensive end, but rather merely a consistent contributor. A+ on one end and B+ on the other makes you a special, almost unique, NBA big man.
Q: Pat Riley always builds around multiple stars, but in ten years could only land one. Heat culture is kind of backfiring on the Heat, because front offices know Heat players play best in the Heat system, so Heat players have less value. I’m not saying they have to do a tank-a-thon rebuild. But when you have Adam Simon, who has a knack for drafting guys who should be drafted 10 spots higher. Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and probably even Kel’el Ware, would all be top five picks if you redid their draft. So why not make a trade or trades to get some more picks? – Jim, Ocala.
A: First, it’s not as if Terry Rozier or Dunan Robinson are getting you picks. Those are players whose negative contracts mean adding some type of sweeteners. So you’re talking about taking draft picks already made (Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware) and recycling them for other draft picks. And how much better would you expect those picks to be than those players, themselves? Or you could trade Tyler Herro and/or Bam Adebayo for picks, but then what exactly is your talent base? The compromise would be to not trade the future picks you already hold (which is a pick in every upcoming draft except the one when a pick has to be sent to Charlotte from the Rozier deal).
Q: DeMar DeRozan? – Robert.
A: Sure, if the Kings simply are looking to move off money. In that case, no issue with offering up the single year remaining on the contracts of Terry Rozier (almost an identical salary match) or Duncan Robinson. But if sweeteners are required, likely not anything more than Jaime Jaquez Jr. But with DeRozan only partially guaranteed for the second remaining year, at $10 million, salary likely won’t be a motivating factor for the Kings.