JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:52 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:32 pm
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:16 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:14 pm
Deandre Ayton is the other person I would point to before Robert Sarver in this situation. Ayton was excellent for most of the playoffs until the Finals. Giannis was and is clearly significantly better than Ayton, but Ayton isn't (reportedly) asking for Giannis level 2nd contract money. HE'S (reportedly) ASKING FOR MORE. (source:
https://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/19/1265 ... 00-million)
Lol what? You're just gonna ignore the fact that Giannis' extension was in the summer of 2016 when he was a worse player than Ayton is, after three years in the league?
Giannis' 2015-16 season was better than any single season that Ayton has had yet. The numbers back it up.
Really? 16.9ppg and 7.7rpg on 50.6% FG in 35.3 mpg?
80 GP, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 5.1 FTA PG. Yes, really. That season was better than any single season of Ayton's. It's really only slightly close in the stats you chose to cherry pick. Giannis was clearly better overall.
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:52 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:32 pm
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:16 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:14 pm
I have a problem with him trying to cut corners to get there and it resulting in a 25 game suspension that likely cost the Suns a playoff berth in the 2019-20 season.
That's false. He took a diuretic to mask his marijuana use. It had nothing to do with PEDs.
Prove it. Even if that were the case, which I'm skeptical of, he still tried to cheat his way out of it instead of taking responsibility for his initial actions.
He claimed he didn't know what was in a supplement he was given. But I believe there were sources at the time saying it was to mask marijuana use. Either way, there was no evidence the diuretic had anything to do with "cutting corners."
So the guy who's paid millions of dollars to maintain peak physical condition didn't know what he was putting into his body? OK, sure. Then he's an idiot. Is that really better?
There were no sources about him using it to cover up marijuana. He was trying to cut weight. This is a dumb debate so it'll be the last I have of it with you.
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:52 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:32 pm
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:16 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:14 pm
He can shoot, I'll give him that, but not without also acknowledging that his tendency is to take less efficient shots that don't benefit team success.
Yeah that explains why he had the highest field goal percentage in NBA playoff history (and has consistently efficient stats in the regular season).
Did I not say he was excellent in the playoffs? And find me a big man who's less efficient with Chris Paul. But by all means, pay him off of a 20 game performance.
His high efficiency stats weren't just in the playoffs, or just last season. I don't know how you can criticize him for choosing "less efficient shots" when he is one of the most efficient shooters in the league.
He choses less efficient shots when he's given the freedom to take them. Part of the reason for his high efficiency is that he's massive and gets a lot of easy shots close to the rim. In fact, even some of his near the rim shots are less efficient because he refuses to dunk the ball most of the time.
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:52 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:32 pm
JeremyG wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:16 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:14 pm
Offering that kind of player a max contract will not lead to an NBA title and I think most NBA executives would agree.
Well Woj says you're wrong:
"
Many executives league-wide expected the Ayton max deal would be complete in short order this offseason, and now his possible emergence in the restricted free agent market could impact how team's navigate salary cap space next summer. Throughout the conversations, the Suns' stance had been consistently been
the organization didn't believe Ayton was a max player -- a value assessment that's been met with surprise elsewhere in the league."
Other general managers are looking out for the best interest of their own teams? Good thing we have Woj to report on that.
So you don't believe the other teams actually consider him to be a max player?
I believe every team has their own roster and cap situation. Is he a max player for the Spurs? Probably. Is he for the Warriors? Unlikely.
All I'm saying is that it's against NBA rules for opposing GM's to make on the record comments about players on other teams. So whatever Woj "reports" is just rumor and/or gamesmanship by other GM's around the league. Failing to grasp the context of these "reports" is a big part of the problem in sports journalism.
I'll end with this; clearly you've committed yourself to not at all changing your mind about this situation and that's fine. But going on and on about it with talking points that are mostly conjecture or based on partial knowledge isn't going to convince anyone who's really trying to examine this situation from all angles. It's clearly not just, "Sarver cheap. Ayton disrespected superstar. Pay him." like you've made it out to be for several days running. So agree to disagree and know that I'm not going back and forth over some of this stuff with you anymore.