When are we going to start criticizing Rafael Stone?

On this we agree. Hopefully, the coach evaluation is already under way. As far as a vet Pg and moving KPJ around I am all for that as well. Only problem is I don’t know who that pg might be and what you have to give up to get him. If I could get a vet PG like Conley for a reasonable price I’d do it tomorrow, but what is that price? Gordon, Kmart, Tate won’t do it in my opinion. KJM, Tate, 2024 Brooklyn pick? Would that do it? I’d certainly entertain it if it would. Just think these vet pg acquisitions are more easily said than done.

 

Why would Conley do this at age 35 and babysit inexperienced youngsters?

He is not Gordon who has been stuck here for years now.

I do not see him re-signing any contract here unless he is overpaid massively.
(Fertitta hopefully learned not to do that)

 

All fair points and I’m not arguing that as assets, Stone got more than he gave up for them, but as culture setting leaders on a young rebuilding team? I just think it came at a cost. I think he held onto Wood too long and I definitely think they were wrong to build the team around KPJ. I think they cost us more than the price we payed; I think they had a negative affect on the team and other players’ development. I just don’t think those are the kind of guys you want to start your rebuild with…as well as an injured Oladipo

 

He is under team control. It’s not up to him.

 

I don't need him to resign. He has no choice via trade and he's a professional who has always been seen as a great character guy with great locker room presence who will try his best regardless of the position he was traded to.

Besides, he's 35. He probably has the self awareness realize he's soon about to go to that "mentor" role rather than being ant major contributor to a team that has rings as their aspiration

 

He has only one year left and he is hardly winning it by himself.

If we are talking this through, then why not copy the Jazz this year.

You got to have a Beasley, a Markkanen type, a Conley, and couple Vanderbilts and Sextons, Clarksons.

The real deal would be to have 2-3 'core veterans' who can be here for 2-3 years till the young stars can fly.

I would also jump on the international players bandwagon because those are hot commodities.

 

This has nothing... absolutely nothing to do with winning. This has everything to do with not wanting every player.om the roster being developing talent trying to find their place in the NBA causing mass confusion and stagnating development. Out of any team in the league, this team needs a "coach on the court" a la CP3 which is the best case scenario type of player this team needs.

 

If you are going for band aids, then go for those that are bigger and could stay here for 2-3 years.

 

This is some NBA2K game thinking that one or two players can fix a mess of a franchise.

Nope.

You can only do it if you start brainstorming from scratch what they have done wrong.

That has to start from installing a watchdog over Stone, a new assistant GM who pressurizes Stone.

A good interview session with veteran NBA coaches.

New ideas.

 

This ain't about band aids. It's about structure to best foster a development culture.

Adding a couple of wins isn't what I care about. I just want a god damn competent experienced guard to do things like redirect players and reorganize the offense when the initial action isn't working so they don't just fall back to AAU freestyle basketball.

 

I have no problem with Conley for one year or two but the initiative has to start from management down to the coaching staff and players.

Nobody should be excused and everyone should be evaluated after the season.

It has been a big problem after the Harden years when some guys just did whatever they wanted.

I especially did not like the aggressiveness of certain players during breaks or at the sidelines.

 

EG is 34 .... what makes Conley any different in some "self aware mentor role".

 

I honestly think EG isn't going to help a contender much at this point. He's just not in the shape and form he was when he was a important player on winning teams. Hence why now Rocket fans are content that we probably are going to get a second round pick at best while most likely just letting him go in a buyout.

 

I posted this in the EG trade thread just a few minutes ago - (in response to an article stating the Rockets want an unprotected #1 for EG)

While we agree that on that .... that didn't answer my question - Why is Conley going to accept this mentor role when EG doesn't, and they are similar in age / situation.

 

1. I think Conley is more of a professional than EG

2. EG as a vet role model even when checked in is not that helpful. His game is has a lot of tunnel vision. He isn't the type to direct traffic in a half court offense to get young players in the correct positions. Conley even if "checked out" is playing pg and he's not going to plummet his value by playing incompetently. A competent Conley is still a major help to development.

3. We are trading for him. He has no choice.

 

I looked at every roster for someone that could come in this year at PG and help us develop better. The only two that may be available and fit the bill would be Conley and Caruso. Either would be ideal, but Conley may be too expensive especially since you’d be dealing with Ainge. Caruso could probably be had for KJM and the Milwaukee pick, but he is 3 years at 9M/year which I don’t know if Stone will want.

 

That is my thinking that this is all on purpose and that Stone is forcing Silas to fail.

DD

 

Tanking is on purpose. Forcing Silas to fail, lol. Silas is fine doing this all on his own. The rotations are most certainly up to Silas and not running the offense through Sengun is obviously his decision.

 

Ah. That makes sense to me. Thank you for the clarification.

Let's just dump KPJ then and put Josh Christopher in his role.