I can say that I think very few point guards would have been able to make something cohesive out of what we were running down the stretch with Tucker, the Morrii, Wright and a hodgepodge bench.
I can also say that when the previous year and the first half of this year with Bledsoe at the point and a few more capable players around him that the team was very good on offense.
I think the problem was not so much with the point guards as with the absense of Channing Frye. He not only stretched the floor, Frye was constantly setting quality picks on the perimeter that allow the offense to flow.
I think that Goran's regression was primarily due to Frye's absense. Frye was the one who set picks and then opened the floor for Goran to operate. If he doesn't have someone in Miami to do that for him, he will not succeed there either.
Frye did the same for Bledsoe, but to a lesser extent. But having Goran as a real threat made Bledsoe more of a real threat. When Goran started just camping out in the corner this year, movement for the whole team dwindled and Bledsoe ended up having to go 1 on 5.
Frye's leadership in the lockerroom was also a loss--at least that is what mgmt and players alike say. That loss is really hard to quantify, but this team has usually had quality veteran leadership like Nash, Hill, and Frye.
I was in favor of not resigning Frye because of the size of the contract offered him. I still think it was the right move. But they did fail to find someone to fill that role, either from within the organization or without.
BTW. This is why I would strongly consider Kaminsky with the 13th pick. At that spot, pick someone who will walk into a role on the team (unless there is a huge talent that slipped or something and is obviously much much better). He is going to have a solid, but not stellar, nba career. But his presence on this team will be more than just his individual abilities. He is big, very skilled, very smart, and will do the little things that will make others succeed. He is also a leader personality and will provide leadership in the locker room from day one because of his age and the leadership skills he has developed through four years of college ball. I know scouts seem to always prefer younger players, but there are some things that upper classmen develop that younger players miss--leadership primarily. I am not under the illusion that Kaminsky is going to be a superstar. But he could have a huge impact on this team.
There is more to be determined through scouting, interviews, and the combine, but that is how I see it so far. I do know that Kaminsky has nothing to lose by doing all the drills. He is already thought of as so unathletic that he has more of a chance of being a positive surprise than not.
Just my 2 cents.
