Of course not. Did you expect that? He still played a whole lot better than Danny Green our starting shooting guard. At least Avery got into double digit scoring and stayed aggressive. DG has become the invisible man most games lately.
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com...y-green-3-point-stats-specialist-role-defense At least he sees it is an issue, though. I like Danny Green but he's got to be able to be more consistent. When Green is hot, no one can stop the Lakers. But it's tough watching $15 million of the roster going down the drain when this guy takes 3 shots and misses them all. His defense has also been overrated... with Caruso+KCP+Bradley+AD+LeBron (when he wants to), Dwight... his defense wouldn't even rank top five on the roster to me. The Lakers are paying him big bucks to be an elite 3&D player but he's simply underperforming. Hopefully, he catches fire if and when the playoffs roll along. If not... Pelinka has some phone calls to make.
I don't think he will be. He'll be a nice expiring contract to pair with Kuz to get someone that can actually fill in the role of third option.
I hope AB speaks to Silver and finds out the league has the best intentions to help address those concerns. On the hiring thing..... I find that to not be so simple. If you spend your whole career being an athlete, you are not simply qualified for a front office role without putting in some time gaining skills that others have spend decades acquiring. To suddenly hire athletes and expect that they will be effective in desk job roles for over 40 hours a week isn't really smart. Most players have no idea what is involved in these types of jobs, so the demands come across as pretty empty to me. On the flip side, nothing can replace the experience playing the game at the highest level, but a front office job doesn't require those same skills. If you are part of the drafting/scouting team, then yes. The rest? The best person for the job should get the job. Who thinks Kobe, if he wanted a front office job, would not have been hired IMMEDIATELY? He had acquired skills and abilities beyond the court to make him qualified. Now pick most random NBA players that skipped to the NBA after 2 years of college or less...You might not feel the same. The players NEED the best people in those positions, and nobody is handing out million dollar jobs to unqualified people. Athletes live in a bubble where their value is extremely inflated, and their value anywhere else doing anything else is nowhere near as lucrative minus 1% of the megastars. They literally aren't worth $50k a year in a new office job with no experience. It's a harsh reality for players that squander their fortunes. Dudes end up managing Starbucks.
Hearing his son has respiratory issues and is high risk for COVID. Completely understandable and I don’t think he’ll be the only guy to do this. Perhaps the door can be left cracked for him to return at some point should the NBA actually be able to manage this.
Bummer for sure, but I totally get it. I think more KCP as starter followed by more Caruso. Sounds like they will pick up JR Smith and though he's a knucklehead I'm not opposed to it because of the Lebron connection.
I’m not mad at him. Family first. We’re going to suffer a bit defensively, but Waiters getting time might make our offense more dynamic.
Honestly was a little upset with him when the first notification of him sitting out Orlando went out. Then when the news of his son's respiratory issues came to light I really don't get how anyone could fault him. It sucks for us (especially need Howard to play now) but I do think Waiters and whoever can fill and even surpass his offensive role. An engaged Waiters might even be able to step up on defense more than expected.
This. Also need for Caruso to personally take on the mantle of being that defensive bulldog AB was. He’s got all the physical tools to do it.