Mario Hezonja?
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Sorry I'm late to respond, but made my annual trip up to Uncia03's to watch March maddness. Had a great time, but very tired. I recommend not getting old. And if you do, get rid of all mirrors. They become too much of a reality check. But back to the subject.. I dont disagree with what you've written. You need all those things, and if you get all those things at one time in a player, your lucky. And, you've probably just spent a lot of money. I would almost put heart and grit above everything else, because if a player has those qualities, he'll usually improve all the other things. If he has his head on straight, and is able to realize his limitations.
That last one is very hard for some players, and just as hard many times for management. A player may be trying to achieve something he's incapable of, or, management may trying to limit a player that's capable of doing much more than he's being allowed to do. The one thing I've learned over the years I've been watching NBA basketball, is that if you commit to a player, a coach, or a GM, then you have to have the patience to let that commitment run it's course before passing judgement.
The Kings have been guilty of changing courses on a yearly basis and the results are what you would expect from that. But I digress! I think it's fine to risk giving a small contract for reasonable money to a young player that's underachieved since being drafted. The risk is small, and the reward may be large. But if your going to give a big contract with big money to a player, then that's a different story. Your expectations become much higher, and hopefully those expectations are based on past performance. The reason the player getting the small contract is getting that small contract, is because of his past performances.
It's for this very reason that I'm opposed to giving Aaron Gordon a max contract. I like him, and yes, I see the potential, but his past performances don't add up to a max contract in my humble opinion. I could be wrong, and I would certainly hope I'm wrong if we were to sign him to a max contract. But to my mind, the risk is too great that what we've seen from him so for, is what we'll get in the future, and that's not worth a max contract. I using him only as an example as the difference between signing a Hezonja or signing a Gordon.
That last one is very hard for some players, and just as hard many times for management. A player may be trying to achieve something he's incapable of, or, management may trying to limit a player that's capable of doing much more than he's being allowed to do. The one thing I've learned over the years I've been watching NBA basketball, is that if you commit to a player, a coach, or a GM, then you have to have the patience to let that commitment run it's course before passing judgement.
The Kings have been guilty of changing courses on a yearly basis and the results are what you would expect from that. But I digress! I think it's fine to risk giving a small contract for reasonable money to a young player that's underachieved since being drafted. The risk is small, and the reward may be large. But if your going to give a big contract with big money to a player, then that's a different story. Your expectations become much higher, and hopefully those expectations are based on past performance. The reason the player getting the small contract is getting that small contract, is because of his past performances.
It's for this very reason that I'm opposed to giving Aaron Gordon a max contract. I like him, and yes, I see the potential, but his past performances don't add up to a max contract in my humble opinion. I could be wrong, and I would certainly hope I'm wrong if we were to sign him to a max contract. But to my mind, the risk is too great that what we've seen from him so for, is what we'll get in the future, and that's not worth a max contract. I using him only as an example as the difference between signing a Hezonja or signing a Gordon.
Im glad peja apparently knows Hezonja personally (source is from this thread) and that inside knowledge would be very critical to unpacking his performance on the court.
If the red flags can be reasonablly explained we could get him at a discount. Be great to get him on a contract that looks similar to Temples deal except with a team option intstead of player.
If the red flags can be reasonablly explained we could get him at a discount. Be great to get him on a contract that looks similar to Temples deal except with a team option intstead of player.
serious question: I was at the Magic v Kings game and Mario looked dis-interested, out of shape and lazy.
Should I just consider that a fluke or something that can be shaken off and we wind up with a baller? Because after that game where I saw him in person, I would want nothing to do with the guy - seemed to have loser written all over him.
But everybody can have a bad day right? Was it just a matter of the guy having a bad day? He did wake up with a fancy dunk and a couple threes later in the game but I was so far from being impressed.
Should I just consider that a fluke or something that can be shaken off and we wind up with a baller? Because after that game where I saw him in person, I would want nothing to do with the guy - seemed to have loser written all over him.
But everybody can have a bad day right? Was it just a matter of the guy having a bad day? He did wake up with a fancy dunk and a couple threes later in the game but I was so far from being impressed.
I don't know enough about him as a player to speak on that aspect. People seem to think he has potential still so I am trying to talk myself into the idea. Here is all I can come up with.
When he got there it was not the best environment, with no other euro players to learn from. The front office was a joke and has since been overhauled. He only had that run of good games when injuries decimated the starters and he got a shot and seemed to shine. Now they are healthy again, and he is relegated back to backup. Also, they didn't pick up his option which has to add water to his fire to play hard for them. Plus they have pulled off a masterful tank job.
That's all I got. I don't know if I would be happy or not if we signed him. I would just be hopeful.
When he got there it was not the best environment, with no other euro players to learn from. The front office was a joke and has since been overhauled. He only had that run of good games when injuries decimated the starters and he got a shot and seemed to shine. Now they are healthy again, and he is relegated back to backup. Also, they didn't pick up his option which has to add water to his fire to play hard for them. Plus they have pulled off a masterful tank job.
That's all I got. I don't know if I would be happy or not if we signed him. I would just be hopeful.
I can only speak for myself, and I certainly know his history and the results he's had. We all know he was drafted because of his potential, and except for a few spurts here and there, he hasn't lived up to it. The other side of the coin though for me, is that almost every Magic player that's left that organization has played better with his new team. And yes, I know one could apply that same logic to Gordon. But the difference is the money involved. I think both players come with some risk, but Gordon's is a lot more expensive.
I think it's one thing to spend a lot of money on a player that's already proven himself, and the only risk is whether he'll re-sign with you or not. I think it's quite another to spend a lot of money on a player and the risk is whether he'll develop into the player that's worth all that money. However, in Hezonja's case, the risk is not that great because the money isn't that great. For that reason I would be willing to take a gamble on him, if the money is right. If someone comes along and offers him 15 to 17 mil a year, then I wish him well.
I think it's one thing to spend a lot of money on a player that's already proven himself, and the only risk is whether he'll re-sign with you or not. I think it's quite another to spend a lot of money on a player and the risk is whether he'll develop into the player that's worth all that money. However, in Hezonja's case, the risk is not that great because the money isn't that great. For that reason I would be willing to take a gamble on him, if the money is right. If someone comes along and offers him 15 to 17 mil a year, then I wish him well.
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