Quote:
Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom
I agree with your position on the players running the league nowadays. And I agree with your general assesment of Ariza in the state of Game, yet not with your feeling about his future with NO. I think he may wind up successful with a guy like CP running the show. He is a good perimeter shooter and has a lot of length, like a mini chandler, so that make a few highlight reels. HOwever, will he stay healthy?
|
I think it has a chance of being successful, but he is not a good shooter as evidenced by his 32% career 3 pt%. Unfortunately, the biggest mistake is that rather than build your team with rising stars and then filling it in with complementary pieces, they traded one of their best assets just to get someone that could possibly fit in along-side Paul.
I liken this to what happened in Cleveland. For several years, they took on bad contracts (O'Neal, Jameson, Wallace etc.), while trading away draft picks and their own expiring contracts, and where did it leave them? Mediocre talent, and now no LBJ either. Rather, if the GM didn't just listen to James, he could have built up from the ground up, like the shrewd early trades for Williams and West, before the King Lebron hype got out of control.
Going back to the New Orleans situation, they've basically gone all in on mediocre talent, with the very real risk that Paul will leave when he becomes a free agent. If Paul does leave, I know I'd much rather have Collison than Ariza. In the same vein, if Collison does continue his development, then they actually have a better chance to win in the short term as well. I'm not railing on Ariza, but to give up someone with that much potential, would be like the Flames giving up Backlund to get, say, Ponikarovsky - a solid 50pt player that will give you a couple good years, replacing Backlund who many on this site believe has ~50pt potential for the next couple years as well.
The opposite of this, is the Lakers. Kobe demanded talent for almost two years before the right deal came along. The Laker's brass stood firm, and because of that, they were able to find the right fit and win championships.
PS. re-reading everything I think you might actually agree with me on most points. Just clarifying why I think the NO trade is very poor.