Is his defense really so terrible? His 2020 playoff DWS were 0.8, the same as Kyle Lowry's. Kyrie was -0.1 in the playoffs last year, for reference.
Is that really just a Kemba issue? Or is that a function of most PGs in the league being attackable if you can switch them on to someone like Bam or Butler? The list of point guards that can hold their own chasing around guys like Robinson and Herro and not get destroyed when switched onto guys like Bam and Butler that aren't complete zeros on offense doesn't have more than a handful of names on it... Smart, Brogdon, and ???
It can be both. Miami is a very tough team to guard when their shooters are hot but Kemba just isn't a good defender much like IT isn't a good defender. It's not for lack of effort or anything like that. He's just short for a guard and his quickness was diminished due to his knee troubles. I'm hoping that better knee health can help alleviate some of this issue and the reality is that not every team can attack him as effectively as Miami. For instance, he was just fine against Philly, IMO. Ultimately, he's still a net positive player for this team so even if I don't like the contract, he still has considerable utility for this team, especially if he can regain his late 2019 form where he was almost single-handedly winning games for us. And as the Jay's continue to grow, we'll need less and less from Kemba over time.
Sure.
Who is talking about last year? This year is much different when a 6-foot guard suddenly declines at age 30. When I say nobody would touch him it also includes the difficulty in a deal ever getting done to match salary. He was seen as an asset last summer.....he surely isn’t viewed as an asset when you tie that contract around his neck.
He is on a 3 year max deal. While you wouldn't get any top prospect or super high draft pick for him, it's not as if you would have to take back Wiggins in a deal.
But you would have to take back a Wiggins if we wanted to move Kemba due to the contracts. (No, I’m not suggesting we trade Kemba for Wiggins)
Aren’t most of those contracts similar to Kemba’s? None of them are assets.....if any of those guys are moved it will be for another enormous contract from a declining or soon to be declining player.
All those guys have worse contracts, IMO. Of the highest paid players in the league, I am arguing that Kemba is pretty neutral. Wouldn't have to attach an asset to trade him, but also wouldn't get too much value back.
Trader Danny is back and he’s back big! Kemba news is not surprising at all. Really hope that knee can be managed. You have to wonder what Ainge is targeting now.
Yeah, he's a great floor-raiser: if you add him to a decent young core, you're probably going to the playoffs.
Yeah, this.
If those deficiencies are caused by a knee issue that resolves itself, then I don't see how that's worse. Kyrie Irving had chronic knee issues his first season here, was a sieve on D by the halfway point, and missed the playoffs entirely. He was 100% physically (key qualifier there) the following season.
There is no universe in which Ainge, or any other NBA GM, comes out says "I regret giving Kemba a max contract".
It's probably something he's dealing with that really does not require surgery. My guess is that he's got little to no cartilage in his knee and it's going to be a chronic problem. It's about pain management and rehabbing it as much as he can.
Yeah I wish that this was a predictable as the Chris Sale situation mentioned upthread. We know the outcome and timeline bands on stuff like UCL surgery.
Trust me, I want to see Kemba healthy as much as anyone, and it would be great if his knee issues are fixable.
If "rest" is the Celtics/Kemba's approach going forward, color me skeptical since we just witnessed 4 months off. Brad can hide him against opponents' 2nd units next season. That's an OK solution BUT less than ideal come playoff time. Danny basically signed a 2017 IT4 to a MAX contract right in the midst of the Jays leaping. There were other tacts DAR could have taken.
Only 1+1 left on the deal though, and he likely opts out. It would basically be a GFIN move, sacrificing the 14+30 picks to do it.
Ah, I thought that second year was locked in. Still find it incredibly unlikely Clips would want to exchange George for Hayward and some relatively low value picks in a year where they’re going to face immense pressure to at least make the WCF.
That would be basically signing Kawhi’s ticket out of town after next season by the Clips, no? Unless behind the scenes Kawhi is no happy with George?
Semi's 3pt/FT improvement, work ethic, attitude and cheapness kind of leads me to think #14/15 isn't a bad place for him. BUT his ON/OFF #s this year backs up the eye test, he gums up the offense. AND he's not nearly as good as his defensive reputation. Guys he guards get into the paint and easily shoot over him unchallenged.
