I like Thanasis, more than most I guess. I don't think he's as raw as some are making him out to be. Good size for a wing, standout athlete, above average defender. To me, he's NBA-ready in these 3 categories already, certainly not ready to dominant but ready to compete and have an impact. Add to that a budding offensive game--he can slash, finish above the rim and I actually don't think his jumper's all that bad. I like his shooting form and with continued dedication and hard work, I think he actually has some promise as a jump-shooter. I dunno man--I like what I see offensively from TA, even though his DL numbers weren't up to par. The thing with Thanasis is we retain his rights if he goes to Europe (a pretty big plus as he wouldn't take up a roster spot on the 15-man). No such deal with Ndour. We can't 'stash' Ndour the way we can Thanasis (btw--anyone know how long we could continue to do this with Thanasis? Can't be indefinitely -- there's got to be a set amount of time before he becomes an UFA). Now who knows--did we promise Thanasis a roster spot or not? If we didn't (hard to picture the Zen Master promising anyone anything, esp. a low-level unproven player who needs work like this), then that's that.. If we did and renege, then this could get a little ugly--I could see Thanasis and his agent request/demand a trade then. I say you cross that bridge when the time comes--for now, Thanasis is ours an Ndour isn't--have some good flexibility with Thanasis too. Ndour therefore is the higher priority. Look at Brian Cashman and the Yankees -- same type of thing going on -- they just sent down Rob Refsnyder and chose to hold onto Brendan Ryan and Stephen Drew until after the trade deadline. This way, Cash keeps all of his players rather than releasing Ryan or Drew now to make room for Refsnyder. Not exactly the same scenario, I know, but I'd like to see Phil employ a similar philosophy here..
And I'm sorry fellas, I don't mean to be argumentative just for the sake of it--not my style at all--and I know most disagree with me here surprisingly, but I don't see what people are talking about with LT and Amundson AT ALL. These two are scrubs, plain and simple. Yeah, they hustle, are good locker room guys, good little soldiers etc., most scrubs/NBA hanger-ons are.. But come on man, seriously--is that enough to warrant a guaranteed NBA roster spot this early in the FA process over more promising players, on a team still in need of talent that also has no picks next year?? And I don't buy the continuity thing either -- what about Shved? This guy was on the team last year too & wasn't some scrub--he was a main rotation player for us that produced. He didn't deserve a spot on this roster based on merit and continuity, albeit for a nominal amount more when we could obviously use some more guard depth?? Quality guard depth wasn't more important than bringing back 2 practice players??? But LT and Amundson 'got' the triangle, huh? What, Shved didn't? Shved was the one initiating the plays in it. Excelling in it. What did Lou Amundson excel in exactly? The man shot 43% from the field playing point blank right at the basket and shot 45% from the line.. Ndour couldn't do that?? Ndour wouldn't be a good practice player or a good triangle fit?? A good teammate/good locker room guy?? Come on man, what are we talking about here? If we were set up with a top NBA roster and had room for an LT/Amundson at the end, OK why not, but we aren't and we don't. Go ask Daryl Morey if he'd even entertain carrying 1, let alone 2 guys like this while he was building his team up over the past few years. Or Sam Hinkie in Philly...These guys get it man. They were worried about developing young promising talent first and foremost--to me, players like that are worth tuning in to watch play every night, esp. in down years/transition years...I'll tell you this -- it'll be hard to stomach watching Ndour go to another team and develop quickly into a Ken Faried/Chris Copeland hybrid, I can tell you that..
7/22/2015 9:32 PM