I'm not a huge DeRozan fan, but I also haven't seen enough from the young guys to believe that they would be able to put up points on a consistent basis yet.
Especially guys like Lonnie who seems like he could go off for 30 one night, then goes completely soft the next. You can't simply blame that all on DeMar.
Lonnie scored 49 in the two games he missed. Dejounte, White, Keldon have all had multiple 20+ point games. NONE of our youngsters are scoring to their potential, because DeMar dominates the ball. I’m ok with keeping DD on a reasonable contract, but don’t start thinking we’d be worse without him. We’d just have to spread the scoring around, and put the ball in Whites hands to close games.
Demar is a bridge player, and is providing invaluable output right now. You don’t develop young players without bets on the roster. The young guys are more likely to reach potential playing with vets and on compe ive teams.
I’d consider moving some vets at the deadline but this isn’t a video game where you can go full on youth movement. Also, any contracts that come in the door at the deadline will impact flexibility in free agency. Don’t underestimate S&T possibilities too in the off-season where bird rights can bring back picks from teams that have no space. Unfortunately a lot of teams are limited in ability to deal picks, and those picks come with cap holds if they’re 2021 ones.
Lonnie completely defers to DD. He scored 25 and 24 in back to back games when DD missed time. I think Lonnie would be better served coming off the bench so that DD isn’t on the floor with him.
None of the young guys have developed a goto signature move, magnified especially in the playoffs when every possession counts. Sure DJ can do the crossover and midrange, White may have a few tricks off his sleeves, but nothing like Derozan wilfully can score on any player. Until the Spurs have a player like that, a sure shot, Spurs need Demar as the goto guy more than Demar needs Spur. I’m sure will see suitors cone free agency, especially he has shown that he can and willing to shoot the 3’s.
Last edited by John B; 02-07-2021 at 11:52 AM.
That may be the case, but Lonnie needs to get out of this "pecking order" mentality. He's an NBA player in his third year and getting nearly 28 minutes a game.
If he wants to take charge, he needs to put that on himself. Deferring to DD is just another sign of him being passive.
DeMar actually seems to enjoy it when the young guys take charge. I don't think he has a "touches" complex like LMA. And guys like KJ and White and even Eubanks seem to understand that while Walker just keeps trying to fit in unless forced to do otherwise.
In a team missing just another key player to get to the championship, Heat, Bucks, Sixers, Demar could be that missing player. He can score 30 pts, 7 assist guy to back Giannis, or Embiid. Again he has shown he can hit and willing to take the 3’s. I think Spurs will not be able to match and will lose Demar come off season, unless Demar sees promise with our young guns to take him to another level. But next FA will be his last to get a big contract or a chance of getting a ring.
This is incredibly naive.
But is moving forward with DMDR a great option? The team does defer to him and, though a super cool dude, he is not consistent or a great leader, so what are the other players learning? White and Dejounte are entering their prime. Our “youth” is already getting older. It’s time to see what we have. And if we’re worse, then we continue to move forward.
DeMar's regular season advanced stats are extremely subpar for a star, but his playoff advanced stats are far worse. I just don't think he's a guy that will lead a team in the playoffs, where opposing coaching staffs & players have more time to focus & target him. I literally can't find another star (or even average player) with worse +/- on court or worse +/- on/off numbers, and I've spent much too much time looking....
https://www.basketball-reference.com...derozde01.html
They could very well be a lottery team, with him again, too...
I like Holmes. Who's JA?
Not him specifically, but obviously in general the lack of a go-to player is a glaring need going forward.
They've made their bed on that front though by going the route they have. Basically, either Johnson emerges as it or they'll need to luck into a big wing or big to shoulder that burden.
Collins is primarily a finisher, either via rim running or spotting up.
Similar core being the Young Suns who after the great bubble screwed the pooch by signing CP0.
Sure they're slightly above .500 but the control freak has to have the ball constantly. Stunting Young Uns growth big time.
Now there's talk of him joining fellow gots in Brooklyn.
If DD could get and stay in fascilitate mode I'd be down. He's not. Grandpa started the year out right by staying young and having DD facilitate. Now it looks like DD is the focus of the O again and who knows what will happen when pet LA returns.
Derozan? No. Excellent mid-range shooter (the best I've ever seen) with well-below average defense. Why has he decided to shoot 3's and be more of a facilitator this season? This is his 3rd year here. Do you think Pop wanted anything different from him? I still contend he's doing this for his own market value and still isn't a winner. Not a dawg. The Spurs would be fine without him or at least not that much worse.
Exactly. Anyone expecting big things from Lonnie will be waiting a LONG time. He's as inconsistent as Aldridge. You never know what he's going to give you on a nightly basis. He doesn't look confident and is sorely lacking in overall basketball skills. Footwork, how to rotate on defense, when to push the ball on offense, when to shoot. Just lost. That's when having a young roster really hurts.
They're learning quite a bit from him. None of the young players are nearly consistent enough to carry the team as needed game over game and may never be. Throwing them to the wolves isn't the answer, either. Without DDR this team's record is closer to Minnesota's.
Not even the best on this team (Aldridge). In recent memory, Jordan, Nowitzki, Paul come to mind.
the best option would be to sign with SA to a deal that could be traded. Next year the longer contract could bring a better return. But dDR probably doesn't want that if he can get a good deal this off season. This team will probably need to replace LMA more than DDR. SO letting DDR walk may be a fair option. I dont think we'll get a great big for DDR rental at the deadline.
We need him at the moment with only 1 other player (White) able to consistently able to create their own shot.
Jarrett Allen.
Kawhi, Kris, Booker, Curry, Durant, etc etc
I suppose this disagreement depends on one’s expectations. I would rather roll the dice without Demar and see what we have, and if our record is worse, then we get a higher draft pick. As for players learning from him, I can’t think of anything to point to that indicates that. He dominates the ball. Implodes too often. Loses his cool quite easily. Very mercurial. As for teaching skills, I would love if he could teach his amazing footwork, but I haven’t noticed that, either.
White needs to evolve as a primary this season. Relying on a restricted free agent signing with us is a bad plan. If derozan leaves we might have to rely in signing a scoring wing like Evan Fournier to be compe ive offensively. A volume 3 point scorer at the wing is the priority this offseason.
derozan get a lot of flack on this site but then again manu used to get hammered on this site also. that being said, it's clear he's easily the best offensive threat this team has and by that, i mean he is the only player that can get to the line consistently and can score in multiple ways. he'd be a solid addition to another contender. put derozan on the clippers and they jump up a notch. put him on the mavs or the nuggets and the same is true. he wouldn't be the star on any of these teams but he'd be a solid piece of the puzzle. whether or not he is worth what he will likely ask for next season is an entirely different matter. complicating things is that there really aren't too many FA options this summer that stand out. yes, john collins sounds nice but he's not exactly an offensive juggernaut. also, one has to consider that derozan has been willing to play here, something that many top tier FAs don't share in common. clearly, derozan could get paid somewhere else and will have suitors.
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