From Dave McMenamin's latest with ESPN Seems like DS was part of the plan from off-season day 1, but we wanted to get Russ dumped first. When we saw that wasn’t likely, we snatched him up still to prevent anyone else from signing him after his tourney play.
Not surprising, this roster was not built with the idea of Russ being on it. He and Schröder are redundant.
you're obviously right on the first count, but i still think we could use both, tbh. or if russ went out another pg type might be helpful. you can't have just one on the roster, and reaves/nunn/lonnie/bevs really don't qualify for me.
Russ is too high usage. His salary, skill, role and fit do not mix. Even as a backup, I think he's going to get a minimum of 26 minutes. The player in his role is a 12-14 minutes a gamer who can get DNPs and it's not a headline. Whether we need another PG in that smaller role depends on the health of Nunn and DS (not off to a great start in the regard). I already only expect 45 games out of Bev. Bev is a good enough secondary ball handler next to Bron. Really think their minutes need to be handcuffed together. I prefer Nunn in Russ' new role of first guard off the bench, that way you can let him cook. He's fine as a starter because of his range but I think he thrives in a lineup where he gets more of the spotlight on offense. The Indy trade really slots these guys for a more successful rotation. Turner - AD - Bron - Hield - Bev TB/Jones - JTA - Brown - Walker - Nunn Use AR and DS as injury/rest replacements. With Bev sitting half the games and Ham resting AD and Bron, there's still a lot of opportunity for both of them to play and start throughout the season. If Bev sits, DS starts a the point of attack guard and their responsibilities on both ends will be largely the same. If Bron, AD, or Turner miss a game; you slot one of them up and insert AR as a connective SF.
I don’t really see the need still. You don’t need a true PG next to LeBron, Beverley is fine next to him, or Nunn, or Walker. Off the bench a Schröder is perfect for the backup PG role, or Nunn, or both of them, but both need the ball to be most effective. I still feel Russ is redundant, there’s no role for him on this team, he and LeBron have the same skill set, only LeBron is way better at it. All that said I’m glad he’s not hurt worse, I wish injury on no one, and if we are going to tread water he’ll have to be useful in some role, whatever that is.
Schroder off the bench is great. Paired with Reaves (if he comes off the line) can work; Schroder played very well with Chris Paul attacking secondarily within seams and gala offensively. I think he'll thrive. Last I heard from Trudell, Schroder was getting differing opinions on that thumb. Let's hope it isn't an 8 week injury or so.
eh, i agree that lebron doesn't need a true pg, but he doesn't agree--he's pressed us to get one every year, pretty much. further, i think the non-pgs who have thrived with lebron were very good shooters, and none of our guys really qualify there (this is why i said i'd take rozier's deal for russ--he's exactly the archetype that has worked with lebron). i didn't like our preseason minutes with bevs as a primary ballhandler...at all. i actually thought lonnie did better than pretty much any other guard at handling the ball under pressure, but he's really not a pg, either. i agree with jsm that russ is overkill, but we need more than just schroder with that skillset, imo.
