The Giannis Sweepstakes

benhogan

Granite Truther
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Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
Beal is light-years ahead of Middleton offensively. They have pretty similar efficiency numbers, but Beal does it at a much higher volume while being by far the best scoring option on his team. I'm not stressing about his defense, the defensive effort of offensive superstars on terrible teams is universally bad. Beal is also a couple of years younger and has taken some big jumps the last few seasons.
in the same respect aren't offensive #s universally good for superstars on terrible teams?

Even Davis Bertans, shooting savant, is going to cash out big playing on that rotten team
 

nighthob

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Jul 15, 2005
12,678
It's a matter of skills, Beal can create his own shot, which is increasingly the currency of the NBA. People looking at Beal are saying to themselves Will he get better defensively once he doesn't need to score 28 a game?. Middleton needs guys to get him shots. He's about as good as it gets in terms of sidekicks, but there's value to being an alpha scorer.
 

ehaz

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Sep 30, 2007
4,948
Yeah, he's a legit star offensive player. I'd love for the Celtics to target him, not least because he and Tatum would be super-happy about it and because that combo would be indefensible.

If there were any way to get him without giving up Jaylen, I'd jump all over it. Jaylen+ likely gets it done, and that comes down to an evaluation of whether Jaylen is currently overrated by the league and so you'd be selling high.
I'd imagine it would have to involve Kemba, because I'm not sure how Kemba/Beal fit in the same lineup and because you have to match salary somehow... But that makes zero sense from WAS perspective.
 

Euclis20

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Aug 3, 2004
8,017
Imaginationland
in the same respect aren't offensive #s universally good for superstars on terrible teams?

Even Davis Bertans, shooting savant, is going to cash out big playing on that rotten team
Looking at volume, sure (somebody has to score points). Efficiency, less so. Beal just put up 30.5 PPG on a TS% of .579. That's pretty nice.
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
11,997
I'd imagine it would have to involve Kemba, because I'm not sure how Kemba/Beal fit in the same lineup and because you have to match salary somehow... But that makes zero sense from WAS perspective.
There are possible 3-teamers where Kemba goes to a team like Utah that is perpetually in search of what he provides. However, Kemba's health situation likely puts the kibosh on stuff like that.