I've never saw a fanbase flip on their players even when they're playing good. Usually, the hate from the fanbase comes from players selling their team but I don't recall a moment where Podz did that. I mean sure the FO values him, but honestly I think he deserves it because:

• He's a smart player on the court. I'd argue that he makes reads faster than our other young players, and most of all he moves the ball. He has a natural feel for the game.

• He hustles on the court. Despite his limitations, he makes up for it with the effort. People underestimate the value of effort, athleticism and talent means nothing if you put no work in your game. I mean look at Wiseman. Podz is not an athletic player, but he grabs rebound better than most of our wings. He maybe not good enough defensively, but he makes it up by drawing charges.

• Even if he didn't turn out to be an all-star in the future, he can be still a role-player that contributes to winning. I think that's reasonable enough for him to be kept.

One of the arguments against Podz that I always see in this sub is that he's not athletic enough and he won't stay enough in the league for that reason, but people tend to forgot that Steph wasn't particularly athletic either but look how he turned out. Of course I'm not saying that Podz will be the next Steph because no one can be Steph, but:

• You can't really judge a player by their athleticism alone. Based on that argument, you're saying Blake Griffin is better and will last longer in the league than Steph because he's more athletic. It's an absurd take.

• You can't judge a player by athleticism when his best asset is his mind and feel for the game. Being a smart player is more valuable than being athletic in our system, and I think that's where Podz excels at.

Really thought today's Athletic piece was good if a bit fluffy. But this quote really made me happy:

"Taking the hook shot and the floater out of my game,” Podziemski said.

I hated that he never had a middy jump shot and thought it was a big hole in his game. This new mindset should make him better and, if well executed, help him get to the 2nd or 3rd complementary scorer.

Wiggins has been a thorn in my side all season. We all know the potential of him, but he had a terrible year by all measurable standards. That's what we all say and believe, because we feel it. I sure do. But then I looked deeper at the seasons and here's what I'm seeing now.

Wiggins with the dubs..

• 2021 - Really strong season

• 2022 - Epic season. All star

• 2023 - Came back strong until....

  • Family matters for a couple of months....but then....

  • was one of our best players in the Playoffs until he broke his rib

• 2024 - Terrible first half, good second half

  • We know there are continued family matters

  • Cracked rib from the Playoffs

  • Came back out of shape

This is actually a really good record. He had a bad half a season and the season before he was out for family reasons for a couple of months (consider it like an injury).

I think he's gonna make a comeback. There's been talk of him working his butt off in off season. And suppose he does. He's back to reliable Wiggins 17 and our best POA defender who also grabs around 6 boards.

What are your thoughts on a $27M Wiggins from this perspective? Because we got Kuminga breathing down his neck for minutes and a MAX $40-50M contract.

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Steph had the number 1 handle of the past season according to

IN:

De’Anthony Melton
Buddy Hield
Kyle Anderson
Lindy Waters III
Quinten Post

OUT:
Chris Paul
Klay Thompson
Dario Saric
Lester Quinones
Usman Garuba

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Robert Williams… not to much to say about him that isn’t already known, but I list out his strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

1. One of the leagues best rim protectors and big man defenders

2. A great rebounder

3. He’s a good passer from the center position

4. Insane lob threat

5. Not a liability on the perimeter

Weakness:

1. It’s obviously the fact that he can’t stay healthy which has hurt his value completely

2. He can’t shoot but I’m not sure how big of a weakness that is when we’re looking at one of the most impactful defenders in the league who also has good bbiq.

I think at this point taking a risk on someone like Robert William could end up paying huge dividends, he only gets paid 12 mill and we have players on the team who are injury prone/ aren’t able to impact the game anymore at a level that makes them playable. The players I’m talking about is GP2 and Looney. Looney if we’re being honest was so unimpactful on both ends that it was baffling, his body isn’t lasting anymore and it’s clear. GP2 can’t stay healthy at all and when he plays he’s impactful but he’s just wayyyy to injury prone.

Robert Williams when healthy is more impactful than both looney and GP2 currently and we wouldn’t loose much because currently GP2 and looney aren’t able to impact the team because of health and general decline so it is a gamble but even if it fails we don’t lose much. It also serves to open up a guard position which we have a log jam at.

Its the summer nothing to do but think of the past and right now thinking of Warriors legend Omri Casspi who didn’t play in the playoffs with us but did receive a Warriors championship ring was the longest active NBA Player at the time (and still now I’m pretty sure) to have never played in a playoff game since the introduction of the three-point line

Omri shot 45.5% from 3 on great PER numbers with a 63 TS% mark, played D across multiple positions. After beating Steph in a shootout was fun to see him on our team but injuries ruined him man, he was an incredible shooter for us but not as much as he was for the Kings he was unhappy with a small role but he still excelled on that we had so much little gems on that team sad he got waived before the playoffs because he got hurt, with an excelled role he had so much raw potential…