Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 8:27 am
Bones provided competent guard play off the bench last night against the team that has set THE standard of defensive excellence. Him passing that test is a big deal and reinforces the notion that while Tim Connelly shouldn't put down the phone, he should continue to be patient before pulling the trigger on something.
I still want to see more though before concluding that we just let Finch and Co. keep working their magic with the existing roster.
The offensive punch he could provide will be a godsend but what was really encouraging were the grit plays- like that rebound he ripped right out of the defender's arms and renewed the wolves possession. He brought Nickeil energy last night and this team really needs that.
Still somewhat concerned that he doesn't apply a lot of rim pressure and he seems to have a higher opinion of his passing skill than he ought to
Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 8:27 am
Bones provided competent guard play off the bench last night against the team that has set THE standard of defensive excellence. Him passing that test is a big deal and reinforces the notion that while Tim Connelly shouldn't put down the phone, he should continue to be patient before pulling the trigger on something.
I still want to see more though before concluding that we just let Finch and Co. keep working their magic with the existing roster.
I completely agree, Q. I've always liked Bones, but thought his tendency to force shots might keep him from being a rotation player. Last night I saw a guy who really wanted to play like a PG and didn't force anything. That's how you end up making 4 out of 7 shots. He and Rob had 6 assists and only 2 turnovers against the best defense in the Association, and Rob's assist to turnover ratio has been very good the past two weeks. (I know it was 10:3 before he lost his rotation spot to Bones). And then we still have Mike if he can heal up. Finchie should be able to cobble together a PG role using these three guys, especially since our offense is so Ant and Ju centric. Any trade for someone like Coby White would be ill advised now.
Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 8:27 am
Bones provided competent guard play off the bench last night against the team that has set THE standard of defensive excellence. Him passing that test is a big deal and reinforces the notion that while Tim Connelly shouldn't put down the phone, he should continue to be patient before pulling the trigger on something.
I still want to see more though before concluding that we just let Finch and Co. keep working their magic with the existing roster.
I completely agree, Q. I've always liked Bones, but thought his tendency to force shots might keep him from being a rotation player. Last night I saw a guy who really wanted to play like a PG and didn't force anything. That's how you end up making 4 out of 7 shots. He and Rob had 6 assists and only 2 turnovers against the best defense in the Association, and Rob's assist to turnover ratio has been very good the past two weeks. (I know it was 10:3 before he lost his rotation spot to Bones). And then we still have Mike if he can heal up. Finchie should be able to cobble together a PG role using these three guys, especially since our offense is so Ant and Ju centric. Any trade for someone like Coby White would be ill advised now.
He did have 9 assists last night in a win against Cleveland, but agreed I don't think he is the right player to grab unless you know you can extend him to a much lower deal than what he is looking for this summer. As long as we are healthy I''m fine rolling with what we have until the trade deadline, and seeing where we are at at that time.
FNG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 9:16 amAny trade for someone like Coby White would be ill advised now.
To be fair it's always been ill advised
Right. There are really two questions:
1. Do we need to trade for a PG? Answer (or at least my answer): The jury is still out, no need to do anything rash.
2. If the answer to #1 becomes "yes", then what type of PG do we get? Answer: Not a one-way offensive PG when we already have a really cheap version of that in Bones! Some of the other names we've bandied about on here from higher cost to lower cost that make more sense are Jrue Holiday, Scotty Pippen Jr., and TJ McConnell. But in each of those cases, something of value will need to be given up.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:07 pm
We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.
Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?
The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:07 pm
We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.
Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?
The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.
I think there is always going to be that player on another team that we don't even know about that just needs to find the right team. NAW for us a few years ago when we got him as a throw in. Bones just might be that this year. Davion Mitchell was that for Miami this year with a fantastic assist to turnover ratio. Dyson Daniels was that for Atlanta last year, and hell NAW might be that again for Atlanta this year. I thought it might have been Keon Ellis of Sacramento, but it sounds like there is a big line of teams lining up to bid on him. It's up to Tim Connelly to see if he can find that player again for us.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:07 pm
We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.
Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?
The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.
I think there is always going to be that player on another team that we don't even know about that just needs to find the right team. NAW for us a few years ago when we got him as a throw in. Bones just might be that this year. Davion Mitchell was that for Miami this year with a fantastic assist to turnover ratio. Dyson Daniels was that for Atlanta last year, and hell NAW might be that again for Atlanta this year. I thought it might have been Keon Ellis of Sacramento, but it sounds like there is a big line of teams lining up to bid on him. It's up to Tim Connelly to see if he can find that player again for us.
Definitionally these aren't starting players, which is was the request.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:07 pm
We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.
Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?
The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.
We need a young Mike Conley. I don't know who that is or how we get him. i just know that's what we need. It's TC's job to make something happen and give his team the piece it needs. Jrue would help but he doesn't line up with our core and he's not the setup guy I envision. I think Pritchard would be the best fit.
