Trade Targets: 6 Ball Handlers Daryl Can Trade For
Trade Targets: 6 Ball Handlers Daryl Can Trade For
The Opening Tip
Hello & Happy Almost Weekend - It's the Corner Three!
Oh Yeah, The Sixers
Let's do some questions!
1. How better/worse would the team be with the addition of a Zach LaVine?
That's a great question and while I've waffled back and forth, I think LaVine would be an overall net positive. However, such a tricky situation because acquiring him almost assuredly means sacrificing some of that new found depth that we all love so much and has been a huge reason for their terrific start. I do think he fits the mold of the kind of scoring threat they still need though, albeit that he is very lackluster on defense, I think my final stance is they should wait for Caruso but if LaVine is cheaper than normal, go for it.
2. Thoughts on Joel Embiid's passing renaissance?
Not only has he been willing, he's been extremely capable which are both welcomed and needed for the team to succeed. There's still some warts here and there and he's still working bad habits out but never been more confident in his ability to improve at that part of his game.
3. Any concern with the amount of minutes Tyrese Maxey has been logging?
Certainly, but really there's no other option until Daryl and the old school Chevy get a true backup point guard in here. I'm sure they see the glaring need and will address it (hopefully) but until then I'll pretend not to see it.
4. The Tobias Resurgence?!
Don't want to jinx it! So I won't speak much on it. I'll just say I'm verry happy and the statue he gets in front of 76 place will be a special one.
5. Prediction for Birds/49ers?
Birds by 2 TD's. Big game for the D-Line.
Mike's Corner
Every week, Spike or Mike is going to write a column for the #CornerThree. It's Mike's week, and he's trying to save Tyrese Maxey.
They need to find another ballhandler. Tyrese Maxey's legs are going to fall off. Nick Nurse has him playing the most minutes per game of any player in the NBA in almost decade, and though he's been excellent, he is still a human with human tendons and human ligaments that have a tendency to wear, and more scarily, tear if overused. I simply do not care enough about the regular ass season for Tyrese to be playing this many minutes, running as much as he is, in November. Yes he's 23, but we want him here and attached to his legs for a decade-plus, and there's no reason to ride him into the ground like a rental car at a weekend conference in Tallahassee.
If you're not as sympathetic to injury/exhaustion concerns as I am, let me convince you in other ways. Fresh legs! If he plays closer to 35 minutes per night, he'll have more energy to Sonic around the court than if he plays closer to 40. In November/December, I'd rather him stay freshy than create a situation where the team has not had enough reps to figure out consistent offense without him. Just as important as it is for Maxey to fight through his mistakes becoming a lead guard in the NBA, it matters that the Sixers not go careening off a cliff whenever he dares to momentarily sit down.
Another reason to find another ballhandler: Maxey is an absolutely electric off-ball shooter and setting screens for him to pop out and shoot off the catch WHILE ALSO having a player with the ball in their hands who can beat somebody off the dribble will give the offense another dynamic element, especially in times when Joel Embiid is either off the floor or missing games entirely. Think of a lineup with Maxey/MYSTERY MAN/Batum/Harris/Bball. Maxey flies around Batum & Harris screens, Bball sets a high screen for Mystery, and you have a Tobias mismatch, a Maxey 3, a Bball roll, a Batum slide to the corner, or a paint touch for Mystery. A lot of ways to get good offense out of one more guy who can do something with the ball in his hands. Pat Bev is fine, Melton is fine, but both are not true threats off the bounce, and the team should explore someone who can ease them off this responsibility.
INTERNAL OPTIONS:
Korkmaz - he's extremely not fast, but he's crafty, he's big for a ballhandler, he's a threat to shoot from wherever, and he can pass. I don't love this as an option, but if Daryl doesn't want to spoil a resource in December to get a guy he's not certain would live in the playoff rotation, Nurse should consider committing to giving Furk legitimate sustained run at backup point guard for weeks at a time.
Terquavion Smith - no one would describe Terq as a caretaker guard at this time, but he can fly with the ball in his hands and he can pull up from wherever. He's averaging 24ppg as a high volume scorer in Delaware and should get the chance at some point this season to cosplay as Maxey for a few minutes a half with the big club. If Nick Nurse can start Marcus Morris, he can give a 2-way guy a shot to surprise him.
Javonte Smart - the safer of the 2-way options, Javonte has less upside but less Wild Man in him than Terq at this point. He's 24, he has an NBA body, a funky but useful jumper, and higher passing acumen than most 2-way guys. They made the choice to use one of their 2-way spots on a non-developmental player -- this is why. You can try him out at backup point without wasting a roster spot on him or trading anything of value to get someone who may also not work out. But you gotta try.
EXTERNAL OPTIONS:
Let's use Daryl's own very reasonable parameters - no one who wouldn't at least compete for a spot in the playoff rotation. That means this player will need to be able to shoot and defend, in addition to the thing we need: someone who isn't Maxey beating their man off the dribble. They also have to be on an expiring contract or at least a very small one. If they don't meet all of those qualifications, then I would rather spend nothing and give extended run to the internal options until you make your decision about a max-type player that would cost several picks closer to the deadline.
So no Collin Sexton or Malcolm Brogdon (contract, defense), no Ish Smith (shooting, defense), no Tre Mann (defense, too unclear if he's good), no Killian Hayes (shooting, unclear if he's good), no Derrick Rose (bad), no Immanuel Quickley (would cost too much and the Knicks won't trade him in-division even if they couldn't agree on a contract just yet), and no Alex Caruso yet -- he's going to cost at least a first, maybe two, and they'll want to keep their powder try for a bigger fish. With that said, onto some relatively uninspiring options!
DELON WRIGHT - I've talked about him so much. He's injured now, but he's an excellent defender and a better shooter than you think (37% over the last 5 seasons), and he won me a fantasy basketball championship with 4 steals to beat John Gonzalez. That's a pedigree.
TYUS JONES - Also in Wizards hell. He's an excellent floor general, never turns the ball over, and he'll surprise you with some scoring chops. Undersized, but gives a shit on defense, even if he'd get hunted in deeper playoff matchups. His contract lines up devilishly nice with Marcus Morris's matching.
MONTE MORRIS - Been out with a quad strain all year. Everything I said about Tyus Jones applies here, except Morris is a better catch & shoot threat and a worse defender.
SPENCER DINWIDDIE - Maybe there's beef with Embiid after the Kyle Kuzma "dinshittie" incident. Maybe he's just too weird after wanting to get paid in crowdfunded crypto or whatever. Maybe he holds the ball too long in an offense that should be more flowing. But he's big, capable as a scorer and driver, knows how to get fouled, and could flip on- or off-ball roles with Maxey depending on matchup. I did love him at Colorado but it's making me a little queasy thinking about what it would cost. And he's kind've a tough watch.
MARKELLE FULTZ - Bring him home!!!!!! (my Magic)
SKYLAR MAYS - Fun shot here, for a guy the Blazers just converted to a standard contract. Have liked him since LSU. A crafty and thick guard who's competent at everything and capable of running actual point guard. He's a 3-level scorer in the G-League and if you give him less responsibility around better players, he can get them organized, hit open 3s, and finish enough at the rim. His shooting splits aren't good on a bad Portland team where he was playing way too many minutes, but he's fine with upside. I like fine with upside.
I'd try one or two of the internal options for a month, then make the call if I want to spend a couple 2nds on Delon once he's healthy. I'm going to keep writing this column until they do something.
Peace, Love and Thanks Stay warm, call your parents
-Zo