This is clearly a smokescreen.
We always hear players, management, media talk up players like this.
It’s funny because a majority of the time they talk them up by saying “he is working hard, trying to find his role, fit in, gym rat”
The things we have heard about Anfernee are clearly different than the things we heard about Sergio, Crabbe, Meyers, Martell, etc.
In fact, most of the time, Stotts and Olshey put a damper on expectations, from what I recall.
Doesn’t mean he is a star.
Doesn’t mean he will be great.
But clearly everyone who has actually seen him play, competed with him, and watch his daily routine has said he is “ready now”.
Considering he is going up against Dame and CJ, I would be surprised if that translated into “bust.”
He must be cooking someone in practice and looking good while doing so.
And once again, find me quotes that are in the same ballpark as the things people have said about Simons.
It’s not like Neil goes, “yeah that’s the most gifted player I’ve ever drafted” all the time. Usually Neil is the one to go “Up to Stotts to figure out the rotation, he’s a young guy, he will need to work his way in.”
He has said absolutely none of that.
May not be a star, but as I argued with many people, he certainly has trade value and I’m not keen on another Jermaine O Neal situation.
Also, it’s nice to know that people around the league apparently value Simons more than some of our own fans who claimed he had “minimal” trade value, ignoring the circumstances around him being drafted and his “redshirt” year essentially.
