yeah, it's similar, too, in that neither player really did anything to deserve demotion--inasmuch as we see that as punishment. just that a reduced role would probably help the team, and the coach seems concerned about doing that based on reasons that are probably more apparent to them than us.
Rui is at least still hitting his shots. 3-4 from 3 the past game. 16-34 for 47.1% from 3 in the past 8 games. 42.6% for the season. As I've mentioned in other threads, it doesn't have to be a Rui vs DFS thing, and I don't get why JJ seems to think so. Both Rui and DFS could play 30 min if he chose to make the rotations that way. The guy who shouldn't even be getting the 15 minutes he does is Reddish. 1-7 last game. 3-27 for 11.1% from 3 in the past 20 games. That's unplayable, even if he provides solid defense. When there were few other defensive options after Christie, that's one thing, but now he's eating minutes that DFS should be getting. No way should Reddish get 15 min and DFS only 20.
Time to go to the bench as soon as DFS comes back. He's getting hunted and getting lost on defense. He's not rebounding. He's not shooting enough or getting enough touches offensively to counter the weaknesses. I think JJ wanted him to be our DFS. He couldn't be, so JJ went out and got DFS. It's only a matter of time before the change. Maybe JJ knew Dorian's baby was due any day and wanted to wait until he came back instead of yoyo'ing the lineup again. I like Rui and I want to see what he looks like in a bench role before moving him, but we're getting close to that point. He needs to transition there and prove it fast, Vando will be getting into shape right as we get to the deadline and then it'll be time for some difficult decisions.
Joking. Wasn't a total redemption. The defense, especially in the first half was really not good. Props for stepping up. Raising the engagement level. The effort on the glass was up. Rui after the game to JJ
Worth keeping in mind when putting him in the trade machine... Listening to Buha's latest pod. He has Woike on and they're doing mid season grades. Buha gave Rui a B-. Woike said he thinks that's too low and thinks those inside the building (based on how they feel about him) would grade him at an A-. Woike was also talking to a Lakers source about Rui in a trade and what would be involved in that trade and the source said, "I don't know, Rui's pretty good." So clearly, they really value him and if they move him, they're expecting to give up considerably less than if they've moving another on the block asset.
Idk..Rui was at 13pts and 5 rebs for 4 years in Washington. He's at 12.7 pts and 4.6 rebs in 3 seasons here. Rui might just be, as good as he's going to be already.
I would give Rui no higher than a B this year. He’s a good player with some skill and size. But he’s underwhelming on the boards, D, and consistent offense. He’s not proving to be a great starter. I’d move him for a more consistent and better player if possible.
I agree, especially the defense part...and the boards part. I think Rui can be good but he also might just be whatever he's going to be at this point...and to me, he's more of a 6th man, not a starter, in this league. Rui to me in a trade is house money...we got him literally for free (nunn + 2nd's) and we could end up flipping him for a really nice starting caliber player at another position of need (center). Rui for Vucevic straight up feels like it could happen...and I'd welcome Vuc with open arms next to AD
yeah, again, i like rui and am glad that folks in the organization love him. but most ways you slice it, he kinda is what he is--kind of an mle type player. he's improved. i think his three point shooting improvement is stable enough now to be considered real, and the numbers sort of support that he's gotten better defensively over time. but none of that is moving in such a way that i'm not open to using his slot to shore up a position of need. kinda like when kuz was here, having your third-highest paid player being a 3/4 is weird on a roster with lebron and AD.
Yeah Rui is a 12 and five guy at 30 minutes a game. His three ball has improved a nice amount. Vucevic is a 20 and 10 guy in 30 minutes. You can play him at 5 next to AD as he’s also 40% shooter from three. To me that’s the move. Trade Rui for a better player at a position of need since we have DFS and hopefully soon Vando.
The Finney-Smith trade is still kind of a headscratcher. I guess it makes more sense, if we have a Vanderbilt trade lined up. Yet even still, if we brought in a 5, AD is playing more 4, and I imagine Finney-Smith and Lebron makes more sense at 3. Where does that leave Rui? Untouchable at 20-25 min a game, off the bench? I guess we'll just have to wait, until Rob unveils his master plan, by the trade deadline.
Yeah I’m not buying the “untouchable” jargon either especially with Rob. There are only 3 untouchable players here and that’s Lebron, AD and Reaves. I’d prefer not to move Max or Dalton but it would depend on who comes back in trade.
I guess we have to at least try, to sell moving Rui as a painful proposition. Everyone is talking up their assets right now.
