Toronto is my guess for Murray’s next team. He can take Michael Porter with him, please.
MPJs season has been a conundrum. On the one hand, he has made huge leaps as a playmaker (truly) and in learning out to move himself to underneath the basket to score with ease when the shot isn’t falling. He also has gotten worlds better at driving around closeouts– something the announcers of opposing teams have cited with regularity. His one on one D has also been solod.
On the other hand, he has looked stiffer than in recent years which amplifies his lack of IQ on team defense. And his shot has gone from incredibly reliable to all over the place in its streakiness.
Right before the all-star break everything seemed to be coming together for him and then he tweaked the hammy with likely played a role in the shot struggling. I’d put $ on it effecting his drop foot and altering the elevation he is used to getting.
He has talked a lot about the fact that doctors have told him there is a window after which his effectiveness may rapidly decline. The question is whether we are beginning to see the athletic decline take place or if it really is a matter of Malone not knowing how to weaponize him better. Or if it is that he needs to be playing PF to be most effective.
Either way, if he has a solid postseason, it not only helps our playoff chances, it also makes his contract a lot easier to move off of. There are only 2 years left on it and under the new CBA 40m isn’t the end of the world if a team wants to gamble on a change of scenery unleashing him.
Either way, the teams problem is that Booth spent a ton of assets to snag draft picks. And while he seems to be a solid scout, it was never worth the attempt to develop guys quickly during Jokic's peak instead of spending those assets on 2nd draft guys and capitalizing on ring chasers.
Meanwhile, all reports are that Malone was intentionally sabotaging those draft picks because he was pissed we weren't signing vets and Booth wasn't signing vets in an attempt to force Malone to develop the picks.
Just a fucking disaster in team building. However, the good thing is that, even if they aren't ready, players like Watson & Strawther should have some value and a savvy GM should be able to maneuver them into pieces that fit better around a contender.
Pickett has played well once Malone was told he had to play. If we had a competent backup & and elite 3 point shooter off the bench instead of Westbrook, that alone would be enough to make a huge difference presuming Mal and AG are healthy. Of note, neither were this year.
The Clippers are very good and extremely dangerous with a healthy Kawhi. If the Nuggets get out of round 1 and have a deep series with OKC, Adeleman will have gone blow for blow with two of the best coaches in the league.
That's gotta be what we hope for. Because having the coach figured out would be huge considering all the re-treads are as flawed as Malone. Either way, I'll be pissed if we go with a novice GM even if the track record is solid between Massai and TC.
