I think at this point in our roster building the age thing doesn't matter all that much. I think him being such a well rounded player out of the gate is actually an advantage because we don't have to wait super long for him to become a productive NBA player while he's on his cheap rookie contract.
There's an argument to made that having a 24-27 year old on a Rookie contract who's a contributor on a Championship contender could make sense for certain teams, I just don't think Spurs are one of them tbh. Our rotation is sort of already set 1-9 so an immediate contributor isn't really needed right now. Yaxel would eat into CB and Champ's minutes at the 4. I think they'll target a young player with more long-term upside who will be ready to step in and contribute in a couple years once we inevitably lose someone to Free Agency. That's just my hunch.
Sure, but this is the NBA. you need bodies to get through the season. I think Yaxel can definitely exist in any lineup with any of the guards + bigs with his versatility. I think the upside argument actually makes less sense when you consider that type of player would need a lot more minutes to grow to reach their ceiling (I also think Yaxels upside is way higher than you do, clearly). Barnes is definitely on his way out and Yaxel would be a day one upgrade defensively (Which is what the identity of this team is) and has great offensive upside with his feel of the game.
Again, I'm not arguing against Yaxel the player. I like him as a prospect. I was the first person to post about him in the Draft Prospects Thread way back in November, and I've posted about him several times since, including earlier this week. I've said he'd be a perfect fit for us as a 6'8 3&D archetype with elite length who could guard bigger wings and forwards for us, and I agree he could exist is any lineup we throw out there for this season. I've even talked about him not playing basketball until he was 16 years old which is why he's a late developer, and he'd be good insurance in case CB has a Sophomore slump next season and/or doesn't continue to develop like we think he will. But this isn't about what I want, it's about what I think MATFO will do. Carter Bryant and Champ are already occupying that PF spot and he would be eating into both of their minutes. I don't think they want that. And while being older could mean he's better to immediately contribute, he'll still be 24 years old at the start of next season which is ancient for a Rookie and thus, he's much closer to a finished product than a guy whose 19 is going to be. Being 5 years older is massive difference in terms of player development. That's why I think MATFO will go with a younger prospect with more long-term upside. I could be wrong, only time will tell. But that's my hunch right now. If Yaxel were the pick, I'd be just fine with it personally and I think he could really help us, especially on the defensive end, and especially if he's able to bring that 3PT% up to at least league average.
How much of your argument “against” drafting Lendeborg since he’d be eating into Champs or Bryant’s minutes is based on the re-signing of Barnes? I honestly believe they are re-signing Barnes even though I really hope they don’t. Well…what if they don’t? Champ is at about 28 minutes. He’d only need a few more minutes added if any. Bryant is at 10. How much more would he need? 10 more? 15? That’s a big jump but I’d be fine with that. KJ is at 23 I think he’s on target.
More like an ocean of salt.
Also, Barnes, Champ and CB are more tweeners than natural bigs, none can really bang. Shit even Wemby is more a KD style tweener, height but not mass. Having a few people that can actually bang downlow is not a bad thing. Right now that's really just Korn and KJ.
8 game win streak
Super super light stretch for sure and now have the 13th hardest remaining SOS including Orl 2x, Hou, GSW, Det, Box 2x, NYK, Cle 2x, Mia, that's 11 of their remaining 16.
We need to be realistic, they're going to be in the play-in anyway ever since Milwaukee's season went to shit, we just need for Toronto to hold above them and one of Philadelphia or Charlotte to surpass them. That would put them at 9 / 10 in the East, and they'd need to win 2 games (probably vs Charlotte / Philadelphia and Toronto / Orlando / Miami) to make the playoffs, if they don't they'll pick 14 or maybe even 13, we need to come to terms with that.
As I said many times, having no incentive to tank is +10 in the W column by itself, especially in the East.
bro.at this rate,They look like they can make top 6.
Heat and Magic are also on big W streaks.
