Turns out, it wasn’t really Brett’s fault. (For those that didn’t know, Brett was the interim GM at the time of that specific draft coz ownership had just fired big collar guy.)
Adam Lefkoe on the RTRS podcast:
“…Jay Wright told me that Brett Brown & the coaching staff wanted to keep him, but the ownership wanted more of a project–that for salary reasons & all of that stuff–was giving them more runway…”
(Right around the 36+min mark of the pod.)
by isight08
8 Comments
It is clear from the beginning that this was not BBās decision. Many potential GM candidates turned down the offer because Josh Harris wanted them to work with Colangelosā lackey. It was very clear, Colangelosā lackey still had significant power on decision making process. They were just hiding behind BB and Elton Brand
Yep.
Traded Bridges for a spectacular 13-game career from Zhaire Smith.
And don’t get me started on trading up to take Markelle Fultz over Jayson Tatum
And I don’t want to hear the name Jah Okafor.
On the bright side, and with gratitude, this team as currently constructed looks and feels pretty right at the moment. Got to see the game in person yesterday. They were solid.
Suns GM said the story around the league was that the extra unprotected pick from Miami we picked up was going to be part of a larger package for Kawhi that summer.
I do believe that they wanted to keep him though. He was the target all season with that pick and was a perfect fit. Just think that maybe they got caught star hunting and felt they needed a better pick than their own to move.
Imagine keeping him and then trading for Jimmy in the middle of the season. A starting 5 of TJ, Jimmy, Mikal, Simmons and Embiid.
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Even if we kept him after the draft, Elton and friends wouldāve still traded him during the ā19 offseason
Iām still blaming Brett Brown. To me, picking Zhaire as more of a āprojectā seems EXACTLY the decision a coach like Brett Brown would make.
The ācouldāve, wouldāve, shouldāveā convo is so old.