Can we have a future 3 guard rotation of Ant/Sharpe/Scoot?

[illmatic99]

Not talking about starting Shae at 3. It's becoming glaringly obvious that he needs to play his natural position at the 2.

But rather, I'm talking about starting two of them and bringing the third off the bench. People might be framing this idea of having three of these guys as clogging the rotation. Instead, I think of it as an advantage, especially because of how unique each guy's skillset is.

I don't see this pressing need to make a decision on Ant vs Scoot, or Ant vs Sharpe in the coming future. As long as either Ant or Scoot can buy in to coming off the bench for 35 mpg, this rotation can coexist.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yes, I think that will be the case. I think Brogdon is gone by the deadline and Scoot will be coming off the bench for the foreseeable future, unless he just starts going insane and lighting the net on fire.

 

[illmatic99]

Yes, I think that will be the case. I think Brogdon is gone by the deadline and Scoot will be coming off the bench for the foreseeable future, unless he just starts going insane and lighting the net on fire.

I'm talking 3/4 yrs down the line when Shaedon/Scoot will be coming up for extensions.

 

[B-Roy]

At some point they need to decide between Ant and Scoot, but they have at least 3 seasons before that happens. So I don’t think it’s an issue.

 

[illmatic99]

At some point they need to decide between Ant and Scoot

why?

manu had a HOF career coming off the bench.
the only time Harden ever went to the finals is when he came off the bench.

as long as they all get paid and get minutes while closing games, does it matter?

 

[BankTeller]

I'm talking 3/4 yrs down the line when Shaedon/Scoot will be coming up for extensions.

No, I don’t think so, only because I don’t think that will be smart. There were already so many debates about Scoot, Ant, and Shae in the beginning of the season, that many said to trade Ant for whatever we can get. We were actually lucky that the situation worked out that it became clear that there wasn’t much of a debate between Ant and Scoot once the season started.

When Ant and Scoot are up for extension, Ant will also be up for extension, and we will not be getting him for that price tag again. I suspect a new extension in two years for Ant will be between $40-45m for 4 years, if not more. So is it smart to commit that much salary to three guards? The answer remains no.

But when Scoot is up for extension, how much is Ant going to be worth on the open market? He’ll be what, 26? He’s going to be a top 10 scorer in the league for close to the next decade after that point. So I expect a huge return, and by then, hopefully some forward we draft like Castle steps up in the playmaking department and we repeat the cycle.

 

[BankTeller]

At some point they need to decide between Ant and Scoot, but they have at least 3 seasons before that happens. So I don’t think it’s an issue.

I actually think the time to decide should happen by the end of next season. By then, Scoot will have a two season sample size on his prospects as a franchise PG, and Ant will have a two year sample size on being the man. I think Ant’s value will be at his absolute highest at that point, and the only reason to not trade him is if there are still doubts that Scoot can become that guy.

 

[B-Roy]

why?

manu had a HOF career coming off the bench.
the only time Harden ever went to the finals is when he came off the bench.

as long as they all get paid and get minutes while closing games, does it matter?

Are we gonna do this again? You'd think after 10+ years.....

I mean sure if all 3 are HoF talents then yes we can and should keep them all. Otherwise, maximize your assets so you can build a roster that makes more sense.

 

[illmatic99]

Are we gonna do this again? You'd think after 10+ years.....

I mean sure if all 3 are HoF talents then yes we can and should keep them all. Otherwise, maximize your assets so you can build a roster that makes more sense.

you are missing the key differentiator here now vs the previous iteration:

variation in skillset.

Scoot and Shae appear to project like plus defenders.
Ant is one of the best off the dribble 3pt shooters in the league.
Scoot appears like he will be pass-first, and eventually proficient in the midrange..
Shae looks like he is most efficient off the ball.

there isn't too much redundancy in their abilities, unlike Dame/CJ who both had similar strengths/weaknesses.

 

[wizenheimer]

I imagine that might be what Portland is planning because Portland can't seem to learn the lesson that's been obvious for 10 years: a team won't succeed when all of the major talent, and usage, is in the back court. A contending team needs a significant 2-way talent at wing unless it has a generational talent at C, like Jokic

Portland will need to choose between Ant or Scoot....assuming Scoot actually has the upside so many projected. Clearly, Sharpe is not only the SGOTF, he's the SG now

 

[B-Roy]

you are missing the key differentiator here now vs the previous iteration:

variation in skillset.

Scoot and Shae appear to project like plus defenders.
Ant is one of the best off the dribble 3p5 shooters in the league.
Scoot appears like he will be pass-first, and eventually proficient in the midrange..
Shae looks like he is most efficient off the ball.

there isn't too much redundancy in their abilities, unlike Dame/CJ who both had similar strengths/weaknesses.

Ok.

 

[oldfisherman]

It takes time for a high quality 3 guard rotation to develop. But it is worth a try.

The Pistons won 2 rings with the 3 guard rotation, 89 & 90. Believe the year prior, they were conference champs.

 

[Natebishop3]

why?

manu had a HOF career coming off the bench.
the only time Harden ever went to the finals is when he came off the bench.

as long as they all get paid and get minutes while closing games, does it matter?

So who is the Manu?

 

[blazerkor]

This season will be the season where Scoot is learning like last season was for Shae. If Scoot comes into his own I think you have to trade him or Ant. I don't think in four seasons we can be paying three guards the max, super max or even two of them that much and one just under it. We need our best talent distributed throughout our lineup.

 

[illmatic99]

So who is the Manu?

either scoot or ant.

 

[BankTeller]

why?

manu had a HOF career coming off the bench.
the only time Harden ever went to the finals is when he came off the bench.

as long as they all get paid and get minutes while closing games, does it matter?

Manu accepted his role. That was part of what made Manu great, find 3 AS players in the NBA today willing to come off the bench for the good of the team. Scoot is eventually not going to be okay with coming off the bench, and Ant won’t be willing to come off the bench.

This is a good situation to be in. We all think Scoot can be special, and Ant is improving his trade value with every game. Don’t overthink the idea of having to choose one over the other. If Ant fetches a lotto talent on his rookie deal + 2 1sts or more eventually, take the deal and don’t look back.

 

[wizenheimer]

Manu didn't come into the NBA until he was 25

 

[Natebishop3]

either scoot or ant.

It has to be Ant.

Scoot isn't a shooting guard. Not at all. It's not his game. He's a pure point guard. Simons can play both guard spots.

 

[illmatic99]

It has to be Ant.

Scoot isn't a shooting guard. Not at all. It's not his game. He's a pure point guard. Simons can play both guard spots.

why can't ant and shae start, with scoot off the bench?

needless to say, and this is my main point in this thread: this is a strength that we need to all consider as such, and not a potential roadblock to success. teams would kill for a 3 guard rotation like this one.

 

[OneSport3]

a team won't succeed when all of the major talent, and usage, is in the back court.

Did you miss the entire last decade of the Golden State Warriors?

 

[Reep]

It has to be Ant.

Scoot isn't a shooting guard. Not at all. It's not his game. He's a pure point guard. Simons can play both guard spots.

I think it is his game, it's just not his height.

 

[Cugel]

Ant is not a point guard.

 

[Reep]

To me it all comes down to ego. Sharpe will be a starter. One of Ant or Simons won't be. If the one who isn't can swallow their ego then it could be a very good rotation.

I have to admit I wanted it originally to be Scoot/Sharpe starting. But, I think Ant and Sharpe both have enough skills to run the offense without a pure PG on the court. And Scoot with the second unit looks decent. I just don't believe Ant will ever accept a role off the bench. Like CJ.

 

[tlongII]

No. Too small.

 

[Natebishop3]

Did you miss the entire last decade of the Golden State Warriors?

Who is our Draymond? The Warriors were able to succeed because Draymond is a freak power forward who plays like a point guard and runs the offense and defense. He’s a nut job but he allowed them to essentially have two shooting guards. Curry isn’t a traditional point guard. He runs off screens like Reggie Miller.

Simons is a ball dominant lead guard. That’s not how Curry or Thompson play.

 

[Blazinaway]

why can't ant and shae start, with scoot off the bench?

needless to say, and this is my main point in this thread: this is a strength that we need to all consider as such, and not a potential roadblock to success. teams would kill for a 3 guard rotation like this one.

For the rest of this year for sure with Scoot coming off the bench and perhaps into next yr as well depending on how he improves. I would move Brogdon and roll with Ant/Shae/Scoot. Seems a fairly easy and common sense decision.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I question the most if Scoot is a rotational NBA player. As others posted - he looks more like Mudiay or Dennis Smith Jr than he does Rose/Wall/etc. Of course nothing is certain at his young age, but I expected much more from him.

Until Scoots performance is at a starters level the question is irrelevant.

Simons and Sharpe are both starting quality players now.

If all 3 becomes starting level players we can see how they actually play together on the court. Maybe one can succeed on the bench or maybe we are better going with only two. We're a long ways, likely years, from being at that crossroads.

 

[RR7]

I imagine that might be what Portland is planning because Portland can't seem to learn the lesson that's been obvious for 10 years: a team won't succeed when all of the major talent, and usage, is in the back court. A contending team needs a significant 2-way talent at wing unless it has a generational talent at C, like Jokic

Portland will need to choose between Ant or Scoot....assuming Scoot actually has the upside so many projected. Clearly, Sharpe is not only the SGOTF, he's the SG now

Does keeping these 3 preclude us from adding wing talent?

 

[TYDame]

Shaedon should watch how Booker get his shots. Stop at the FT line for an easy 2 points. He can do it

 

[beast blazer]

I question the most if Scoot is a rotational NBA player. As others posted - he looks more like Mudiay or Dennis Smith Jr than he does Rose/Wall/etc. Of course nothing is certain at his young age, but I expected much more from him.

Until Scoots performance is at a starters level the question is irrelevant.

Simons and Sharpe are both starting quality players now.

If all 3 becomes starting level players we can see how they actually play together on the court. Maybe one can succeed on the bench or maybe we are better going with only two. We're a long ways, likely years, from being at that crossroads.

Agree. Why talk about how scoot may co exist with Simons etc when he hasn't even shown that he's a starting quality PG yet. Also, many of the top prospects in next year's draft are PGs. What if we pass on one because "we already have Scoot". Chris Paul 2.0?