Who will be the starting point guard on opening night?

[Tremendous Upside]

If I am Ainge, I am hoping to drive up value in THT and Sexton so I can trade one of them at the deadline.

How do you "drive up" the value of someone who's a borderline NBA player (THT) though? I mean, if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.

Making matters worse is that fact that the more THT plays in an on-ball role, the more inefficient he gets. That's not exactly a recipe for driving up his value, as we saw from last season. He had zero market after dominating the ball and putting up some gaudy counting stats. Teams know what he is.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

How do you "drive up" the value of someone who's a borderline NBA player (THT) though? I mean, if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.

Making matters worse is that fact that the more THT plays in an on-ball role, the more inefficient he gets. That's not exactly a recipe for driving up his value, as we saw from last season. He had zero market after dominating the ball and putting up some gaudy counting stats. Teams know what he is.

Just like teams knew who Lauri Maarkanen was last year, right? Come on.... players improve all the time in the league. Especially ones that are just 22 years old like THT. Last year, at the beginning of the year, it was painful to watch him. But throughout the year, he improved dramatically imho. His efficiency wasn't amazing, but he started to learn when and where he could get his shots. I can easily see his expiring contract being attractive if he demonstrates he can be a plus value player for a playoff team.

 

[jumpin bean]

without a trade, Sexton and THT run point Dunn goes 3rd

 

[NUMBERICA]

How do you "drive up" the value of someone who's a borderline NBA player (THT) though? I mean, if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.

Interesting and relevant point. Since Sexton and Clarkson already have much stronger reputations than THT and THT might be worth retaining and developing on account of his age and obvious on-ball talent, it would probably make more sense to juice Sexton and Clarkson's numbers and trade them while their value is peaked to clear some of the logjam.

For my part, I think the most best thing the backcourt can do this season is to eventually do some weeding and allow Keyonte to get some sunlight.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Interesting and relevant point. Since Sexton and Clarkson already have much stronger reputations than THT and THT might be worth retaining and developing on account of his age and obvious on-ball talent, it would probably make more sense to juice Sexton and Clarkson's numbers and trade them while their value is peaked to clear some of the logjam.

For my part, I think the most best thing the backcourt can do this season is to eventually do some weeding and allow Keyonte to get some sunlight.

You can't really "juice" Sexton's numbers. The dude put up 24 ppg his 3rd year in the NBA. His reputation is what it is at this point and will take a season of him being a starter on a winner to actually change it.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

You can't really "juice" Sexton's numbers. The dude put up 24 ppg his 3rd year in the NBA. His reputation is what it is at this point and will take a season of him being a starter on a winner to actually change it.

I disagree… he does that with some efficiency and on a decent team and he gets juiced real good. Right now he’s a guy that put up volume on a team that won like 20 games and he did it on average/below average efficiency. He goes from good stats on a bad team guy to great stats on a winning team.

Just to calibrate… I’d say his value is like expiring salary and some decent second round picks right now. I think he becomes worth a first pretty quick as a starter with good numbers on a .500-ish team.

 

[416Klawzz]

Then I dont think we need an inefficient chucker that doesnt play defense on the team anymore. When our only other scorer was Donovan then we really needed him off the bench, but that isnt the case anymore and he will lose lots of games for us keeping other more efficient scorers without touches and allow the other team lots of baskets. He needs to adjust his game, but I think he can. He did it for the first quarter of the season or so last year before reverting back to his old style when pretty much our entire roster was out or traded.

Thank goodness you are not the coach or management because they think otherwise of Clarkson and so do I. You probably like useless stiffs like Gobert and Niang and Royce

 

[416Klawzz]

The problem with JC is that he plays the most athletic position in the league and isn't getting any quicker or more explosive (which he's never been anyway).

In the coming years, he'll have to rely even more on various tricks and, frankly, flopping to get his shot off or get to the stripe against physically superior defenders. That kind of stuff usually means stopping the ball, lots of dribbling and upfakes, searching for contact.... while the rest of the players watch. Not the way we're going to want to play with this personnel.

It's not a question of Clarkson wanting to change his game. He has to.

He has tricks many many tricks you don't need to worry about it

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I disagree… he does that with some efficiency and on a decent team and he gets juiced real good. Right now he’s a guy that put up volume on a team that won like 20 games and he did it on average/below average efficiency. He goes from good stats on a bad team guy to great stats on a winning team.

Just to calibrate… I’d say his value is like expiring salary and some decent second round picks right now. I think he becomes worth a first pretty quick as a starter with good numbers on a .500-ish team.

You disagree by just saying what I said in more detail?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Here's the issue to me: you start Sexton and you're taking a risk because if you lose, you are going to perpetuate the narrative (even if he wasn't the reason). You bring him off the bench and just focus mostly on his strengths and you have a better chance at winning games, which is what ultimately boost his stock the most

 

[FrenchJazzFa]

What make me worry starting Sexton and JC is the lack of passing ability. We have seen it last season, we start very well because Mike was conducting the game. Not sure Sexton and JC are able to provide 5-7 assists per game without TO the ball too much.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Here's the issue to me: you start Sexton and you're taking a risk because if you lose, you are going to perpetuate the narrative (even if he wasn't the reason). You bring him off the bench and just focus mostly on his strengths and you have a better chance at winning games, which is what ultimately boost his stock the most

I need to clarify that my point about juicing Sexton's value wouldn't be contingent on him starting. Mostly just being sure he's getting enough minutes.

Still like Dunn/JC as starters with Dunn as a placeholder and hope that Key pops. But it's basically impossible to get all the combo guards meaningful minutes so hopefully there's an early-season trade that clears out the logjam a bit.

 

[George W]

This feels right but I kind of hate the approach. For the opportunities he has taken to yield something they will need to be maximized. I can't see how Collins role is WAY better here (as of right now) and the weird logjam of combo guards (which could be complicated with a Herro acquisition) isn't ideal for increasing their trade value or maybe stumbling on something that becomes awesome.

Complete hindsight... but I would rather have gotten Brown and had a roster that made more sense and assets you aren't as tied into if they don't work out.

Brown is fool's gold. Walk away from the ledge, JC will be a revelation for this squad.

- George

 

[George W]

Our roster is more or less as follows:
Starters:

PG: Dunn
SG: Clarkson
SF: Markkanen
PF: Collins
C: Kessler

Bench:
PG: Sexton
SG: Agbaji
SF: Fontecchio
PF: Hendricks
C: Olynyk

3rd Line:

PG: George
SG: THT
SF: Sensabaugh
PF: Samanic
C: Yurtseven
2-Way: Juzang.
--

Dynamics that will likely play out:
- Sexton or Clarkson being sent out as KG explodes. I'm guessing it's Sexton.
- Fontecchio getting outplayed by some of the other wings on this roster
- THT gets DNPs.
Curious to see Agbaji's next steps, and to see what we have with Sensabaugh and Hendricks. It'll be a fun season -- but our guard play isn't bad.

- George

 

[FrenchJazzFa]

I still think they may be some move before season start. This roster pretty good to compete for 6-10 spot.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Bingo. We shouldnt think the roster build through what works best with a classic slow paced set action offense.

Bulk of our assists last season came naturally through easy read ball movement and thats obviously the way Hardy wants them to play. For that, off ball activity, awareness and IQ is much more important than playmaking or passing skills.

Defense is the real key as you said. Pretty much agree with your assesment on that. Also wanna add that we should be a great rebounding team next year as well. One of KOs bigger flaws was his poor boxouts. Collins does that really well.

I do recall assists coming east for whoever was playing PG last year.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

The problem with JC is that he plays the most athletic position in the league and isn't getting any quicker or more explosive (which he's never been anyway).

In the coming years, he'll have to rely even more on various tricks and, frankly, flopping to get his shot off or get to the stripe against physically superior defenders. That kind of stuff usually means stopping the ball, lots of dribbling and upfakes, searching for contact.... while the rest of the players watch. Not the way we're going to want to play with this personnel.

It's not a question of Clarkson wanting to change his game. He has to.

Not sure WTH you’re talking about. He’s never relied on athleticism, but when you’re as crafty as JC you don’t need athleticism, and he’s as crafty as they come.

 

[fishonjazz]

His form doesn’t even look that bad to me. He just seems to lack touch.

I agree about his form. Thing is, if his shot looked horrible and went in a lot then i would be fine with that. I love good looking form for a player but if it doesnt go in then it doesnt really matter. And its not like it was a 1 year funk of bad shooting.

His four years in the league from 3: 30%, 28%, 26%, 28%

 

[NAOS_pt2]

Just like teams knew who Lauri Maarkanen was last year, right? Come on.... players improve all the time in the league. Especially ones that are just 22 years old like THT. Last year, at the beginning of the year, it was painful to watch him. But throughout the year, he improved dramatically imho. His efficiency wasn't amazing, but he started to learn when and where he could get his shots. I can easily see his expiring contract being attractive if he demonstrates he can be a plus value player for a playoff team.

So what kind of asset is a team giving up for THT, midseason, when he'll be a UFA at the end of the season? And how much greater is that asset versus the one we could get right now?





ok... so.... Why would anyone let this issue configure the way they are balancing the roster and envisioning playing time?

 

[NAOS_pt2]

Not sure WTH you’re talking about. He’s never relied on athleticism, but when you’re as crafty as JC you don’t need athleticism, and he’s as crafty as they come.

He has always leveraged his speed with the ball in his hands. If that's not "athleticism" then I don't know what is. He's crafty, too, and his game should age well, but let's not get twisted.