They traded for McGee to get a pick from Denver. They waived him almost immediately. So they actually didn't want the "malcontent bad paradigm for their other players" actually around their other players. They picked Thomas Robinson (3.7 million) off the waivers to get above the salary floor (they were 3.5 million off). These moves allowed them to gain picks and meet the minimum salary requirements. Does that answer why they got McGee and Robinson? To your next point, I agree with you that it is not about the wins for them. In the horrible East, however, a Lawson can actually move the needle. Also I disagree that a good point guard is necessary for big men development. In game, I think a good point guard can help a big man excel (see D. Jordan), but it's the training staff/coaches/good veteran influence (so not Lawson) that helps improve a big man. Who were the point guards for Hakeem, Yao, Moses, Shaq, Robinson, Chamberlain? A good point guard can help in game but doesn't necessarily help development, which is kind of the opposite of what you want to happen if you are Philly.
Clutchfans pictures some perfect guard than can score at will & defend to pop out of nowhere that'll be asking for less than 10m per year.
You know everybody is always hating on bballholic, but IMO he has the qualities a great (or at least memorable) poster needs. Just like a great artist (so I've been told as I know nothing about art), a great poster requires passion and a point of view above all else. Just because his point of view is different than yours (as it should be), it doesn't mean you need to make it all personal.
Sure it's a risk but tell me please to who can Philly sale their capspace anymore for a premium price? It takes 10 millions to get a first rounder and that's without taking into account Portland which will even lower the price. It doesn't have to be SUCH a good point guard as Lawson that they need but they need a playmaking one to develop them. And I totally disagree that it's all coaches and training staff. It's ON COURT development. And the right kind. They need someone to feed their guys in the post and noone in their roster has the abillity to do that. Their guard rotation is an utter joke. You NEED vets to offset the development of your youth. I'm not going to debate this Hinkie philosophy here, but go see plenty of interviews of PLAYERS who keep telling that the impact of one player to the other and what players LEARN from each other can't be understated. And if Philly doesn't do something it will show soon. So regardless if they get Lawson or not they need a pointguard that has playmaking skills. And it's not probable but not dismissable the possibility that they get Lawson since the upside can be great. Rehab while help develop their youngsters. I think it won't be good for them, but I won't put it past Hinkie to do it. He doesn't care one bit about chemistry. MCW and Noel had been fighting all year last year in the lockeroom even came to blows and they did nothing about that at the time, if they didn't get a high lottery pick MCW would still be there. Embiid has been lazy and skipping rehab all the time instead partying all over the city and Hinkie hasn't reigned him much in. I don't trust Hinkie to value chemistry at all.
Lawson's locker room issues offset any on court value he brings to trade valuation, as if this dui was needed for people to understand that but denver isn't and wasn't ever getting much for him.
Somehow I think the rumours of his character issues are greatly exaggerated. We never heard of anything like that when Denver was still a playoff team, he was perceived as one of the better PGs in the league, and you can't be a good pg if you have really bad character flaws! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/TheJosephSim">@TheJosephSim</a> he was the nicest guy in the world to me. I am really surprised people are attacking his character this much</p>— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) <a href="https://twitter.com/bballbreakdown/status/621188522012073988">July 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
We have a fans good team when healthy. A damn good team. But we aren't better than g state and maybe a healthy Cleveland, unless dmo takes another leap up this year. Lawson might not make us better than these teams but there is a chance. If he bought into what we are doing I don't see how it could make us worse. 12 million is a lot but he has a lot of talent to go with it and is a bargain. The drinking might have something to with his situation right now and I'd hope he would clean his act up and have Dwight smashing down lob after lob while garden takes a breather and then when harden is back in the game we have two guys driving and kicking out to each other and hot Trevor
How can you exaggerate a DUI? I know a lot of alcoholics who are not unpleasant to interact with. It's still an incredibly poor decision.
Once again to the people above and the people that will be commenting below. Stop thinking we can get a dream point guard. All of you people would rather take Llull over Lawson which baffles me. (Yes I know Llull isn't coming)
Exactly. I know a few alcoholics that are also the 'nicest guys in the world'. But they are still alcoholics.
Agreed, Lawson's game does not complement Hardens. At best, he would be instant offense off the bench. His size and lack of defense would be huge detriment to the defense first culture the Rockets are building. Now add in his off court distractions and Lawson becomes even less attractive.
