I see what you're saying. I think of it a bit differently. There's much to be said for the mentoring our vets provided the team this season. And the organization has been working hard to show Hayward that they're serious about, and capable of, putting together a strong roster. Joe Johnson's flourishing here could also pay some dividends for future free agent signings. Dante and Lyles were given a lot of time this year to develop and they didn't quite get it done yet. Given Hayward's remarkable off-season development and the heart be showed this season I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to hang out on a team that's perpetually trying to develop young questionable talent at the expense of missing the playoffs again and again. And without the additions we probably miss the playoffs anyway, thereby giving NOBODY any playoff experience.
Why aren't they developing? No one has answered that question adequately yet.
Exum, with the exception of one year, has been healthy. Has he improved at all since the day he was drafted? In what way? He'll be entering his 4th year next year and has yet to contribute anything to this team. I get that he's not Westbrook but shouldn't he be giving us SOME production by now? Instead, he'll go weeks without playing and when he does, his role seems to be limited to standing in the corner of the court, staying away from any participation. Is that what Quin has designed? Or is Exum really that stupid/scared?
Lyles? He hasn't been injured yet hasn't gotten any playing time this year. Why? Why isn't he developing? Again, I'm not asking for Draymond Green here. But shouldn't he be giving us more production than Boris Diaw? Especially when you consider that we could've drafted Booker instead. Does Lyles have a poor work ethic? Bad attitude? Why can't he beat out Diaw?
Both of these players were lottery picks who aren't playing at all even when they play the two weakest positions on our team. This series would've been over a game or two ago if we had been getting ANY production from our 4 or backup PG/SG spots. To me, it's disappointing that neither of these players have become key parts of our team. But it's completely mind blowing that neither are even contributing to this team. Both are having as much effect on this series as the kettle corn salesman in the upper bowl.
Hayward, Gobert, Hill, and Johnson shouldn't have to do all of the scoring. Hood has become CJ Miles. Burks seems like he's checked out (or is he injured again)? Favors it appears has degenerative knees. We need contributions from Exum/Lyles folks. They were supposed to be key pieces perhaps even foundations for this rebuild. We shouldn't have to rely on Diaw or some Brazilian to play the roles that Exum/Lyles are unable/refuse to fill.