Cam Johnson was helpful too.
I looked at his stats last night and was surprised to see that he’s a below-average 3-point shooter (both this year, and for his career). He can score, though.
While I’d like him on the Pistons, I don’t think I’d give up, say, Ivey and the #3 pick for him. And, if I’m the Suns, I don’t know if I’d think that was enough of a return.
The way I look at it is that Booker is probably at his ceiling, or very close to it. Booker seems like a 1A or second guy on a team. So, I don’t know how great a bump he’d give the Pistons, if you subtract Ivey and the top-3 pick. I feel like they’d be similar to the pre-bubble Suns, but worse defensively.
Ivey could be a future all-star, and has great chemistry with Duren. The #2 or #3 pick could also be an all-star. Booker would make us better for '23-'24 & '24-'25, but after that, the two young guys may be better (and cheaper) than a nearly 30-year old Booker who would be looking for one last big contract.
If there’s some other way to get him, then I’d be more excited at that possiblity.
Booker has really come a long way on D. Is he a true #1? I don’t know. Hard to say.
I mean, Booker shot like 80% on high volume over two games. He’s a star. But you just can’t throw a team together like a week before the playoffs and expect to beat a team like the Nuggets.
Booker and Durant is an incredible one-two punch. Problem is with Paul and Ayton’s contracts, you might not have financial flexibility to build the team around them.
1 Like
Honestly other than Curry it’s been a hot minute that a guard was champion’s best player. And out outside of Jordan and Curry you don’t find many generally (Magic but he was Lebron sized)
Booker’s had like 2 seasons with an above league average TS (though obviously is usage is really high which is something). I quietly don’t think he’s THAT different from Zach Lavine, just in a healthier ecosystem. While this is obviously something lot a sleight to Booker I also think Lavine is under-rated.
Booker didn’t make any level of All-NBA, and I think that was justified. He’s stretched as a #1, but on a team with Durant I don’t think he’s intended to be one?
The problem I think is having a team built around a max contract center who probably isn’t top 10 at his position, A max contract guard who isn’t top 6 and a max contract forward who is…but probably not for long?
1 Like
Booker is just too tough shot dependent. Yeah when he’s hot it’s impressive but it’s never easy
I wonder if the two issues conspiring against guards aren’t (1) it’s very hard to be WAY better than other top guards as a scorer while (2) making major contributions on D. So you either have to be an insane passer—which being tall helps a lot—or a genius helper on D despite not being tall. There’s a sort of scorer’s curse?
The short of it—heh—might be that extra height has always been a huge advantage in the sport.
Would you rather have Kentavious Caldwell Pope for $13 million or Booker for $32 million, if you’re trying to construct a championship team?
(Before anyone does it, I am not coming even vaguely close to arguing KCP is better or more valuable)
I don’t think the contracts really end up as a major impediment to the roster. So I’m taking Booker for sure. I don’t not get what you mean tho.
I would maybe put it, if you’re drafting 16 playoff teams from the entire pool, don’t all these lead guards basically cancel each other out? The truly special players rn are weird and bigger.
I think that’s kind of what I’m getting at
Booker
Lavine
Mitchell
Bane
Maxey
Edwards
Murray
Beal
Irving
Morant
Are mostly iterations of the same flavor right (I’m holding out Luka, Shea, Halliburton who I think show more or show the possibility of more)
I don’t know that any of them are going to drive you to a title but guarantee you a floor (at least if Irving plays)
If you’re team building I’d rather spend my big bucks at the 3 and 4 than here
1 Like
This Knicks-Heat game is intense. Think the Heat’ll pull this one out.
The flagrant was legit but what a swing here
1 Like
Was that Mike Smith courtside? I know he’s tight with Jimmy
5 Likes
It is actually. Good eyes 
1 Like
I hate this dumb Knicks team a lot
I know I wrote like 1000 words at how janky the Suns are after their top two
But how does this Heat team win
Max Strus in their closing five along with Kyle Lowry and the salad fork sticking out of his back
1 Like
Thibs has never seen an offense he can’t kill
Basically a guarantee of a 95-90 game
I am a “Bulls Fan” but like Jimmy more than the Bulls
And once again for the record: through all the various PR dustups, time has vindicated Jimmy 100% of the time
3 Likes
Poole just a pathetic defender (also 4 fouls in 12 minutes)