Just to clarify, a players prime is considered to be between the ages of 27 and 32, so he's hardly past his prime. In fact, he just entered into his prime. You don't like him, fine! But don't make up crap to fit your agenda. To be honest, I haven't been his biggest fan, but he can defend, and if he can shoot consistently, which he has in the past, then he could help this team with his experience. If he gets injured, and can't play, we aren't losing someone that we expected big things out of.
The upside of him playing well, and getting the minutes to do so, is that he then becomes a trade asset at the trade deadline. Just because you don't like him, doesn't mean other teams won't. Strange how Lebron liked your nothing player. Shumpert plays with attitude, and that's something that this team needs. This is a contract year for Shumpert, so whatever we get from him, I can guarantee you it will be his best.
If I may say something about a defensive rating. Temple has always been considered a good defender. His defensive rating before coming to the Kings was always around 100. Sometimes a little over and sometimes a little under. However with the Kings, his defensive rating was hovering around 112 to 114. Did Temple suddenly become a bad defensive player? By the same token, Koufos defensive rating was around 103 on average until he got to the Kings. This last season it was 110, and that folks was the best defensive rating on the team. As matter of fact, Koufos and Willie have been taking turns being the best defensive player on the team the last few years.
Once again, did Koufos suddenly become a bad defender? No is the answer to both Temple and Koufos, but when your on a team surrounded by young inexperienced players, it's going to affect your overall rating. I don't think it's an accident that Willie's best defensive rating occurred when he was on the floor with Koufos. Your as good a defender as the players around you. For that reason you can't take the plus/minus or the defensive ratings at face value. You have to dig a little deeper to get the truth.
The reason I bring this up, is because people tend to use those ratings as the be all, end all, and they're not. As a matter of fact, they're far from it. I think over a long period of time, they can be useful, but as a short term measuring stick, I put little value in them. I'm more inclined to go with the eye test. If you disagree, then someone explain to me how Cousins can put up 25 points, grab 12 rebounds, have 5 assists, block a shot or two, and end up with a minus 15 rating. Somehow my brain has a hard time figuring out how Cuz had a negative impact on the game. It's all about the company you keep.