Historically was an empty calorie sort of player, a stat stuffer on a bad team. His numbers looked better because he'd have big games in blow outs, but didn't really do much in meaningful moments.

For the first part of the season, LeVert looked like the best player on the team until he dislocated his ankle. After the injury Dinwiddie looked like at least Russell's equal. It's only during this middle part of the season where Russell has become a real driver for team wins. He may have turned the corner before our very eyes and he looks like the real deal at the moment.

So... if he's an all-star PG, averaging 20ppg/6-7apg/3-4rpg... does that by default mean he'll get max offers? Heck, if the Knicks strike out on Kyrie, would Russell be a legit target for us?

(yes, he's better than DSJ now... but DSJ's athleticism is special and he'll get many chances to prove whether he's the next Baron Davis and not the next Shannon Brown)

smackeddog wrote:D Russell has only put it together in his fourth year- DSJ is in his second. D-Russ was not good in his second year. Why do Knick fans love to marvel at other teams players, who took years to develop, while trashing their own players who they don't grant any patience to? (Not aimed at you, but I keep seeing this sort of thing come up on other forums!)

Maybe its to show how the average NBA team organization put together a better program for their young-core players .. The Lakers should have kept D.Russel and draft Ball, plus tandem the two guards in the backcourt for two seasons learning and getting whipped going up against the Western conference BADDEST Top-10 Guards in the NBA .. the Splash-Brothers, Harden & CP3, Westbrook & PG, Lilard & McCollum, Teague & Butler, Parker & Ginobli, Conley, Rondo.
The West guards mention above performance are to much for any rookie or 2nd season player to take on nightly in a 82 game season.
Recall Magic Johnson recently got the President job in LA, and he needed Lebron to help him build a winning team. The Lakers organization has slipped off the winning chart when Phil retired after they couldn't pull off the CP3 trade from NO Pelicans.

Kemet wrote:

smackeddog wrote:D Russell has only put it together in his fourth year- DSJ is in his second. D-Russ was not good in his second year. Why do Knick fans love to marvel at other teams players, who took years to develop, while trashing their own players who they don't grant any patience to? (Not aimed at you, but I keep seeing this sort of thing come up on other forums!)

This is the New NBA .. Very few NBA Guards get it right before their 3rd n 4th season .. You could count the guards using one hand that were NBA-Ready in their rookie or 2nd season in the NBA the past twenty years.

So far I could recall a couple of ROY guards .. Simmons Lilard Harding CP3

I'll go a step further and say only CP3. Simmons had an entire season to prepare, observe and workout with NBA players. Lilliard's defense was so bad that it was a glaring weakness. You can argue that it still is, kinda. He also had the typical struggle with turnovers. CP3 was the most complete point guard to come in that I can remember.