Joe Dumar's by picking Leonard would be admitting that the Daye pick was a failure, or at least not living up to expectations. Another GM would not have these preconceived notions...
I don't know. He did do that with Stuckey but Stuck was also tied into the Darko pick ( his greatest failure ). I think when most people look at Daye they see career bench player.
Daye can be as good or better than Prince....not sure what that's saying, but Prince has been a starter for many years now.
I have very high hopes for Daye. I'm predicting that he'll become a 20 ppg player and good rebounder at SF in this league, while being a guy who intiates the offense at times. I'd plunk him at starting SF, rotate him to backup SG, and play him 30 minutes per game. This kid competes and we saw signs of major improvement from him last season. He's also got a clutch gene - he made quite a number of big, game winning shots last season, and seems to play without fear. I also love his length.
I agree this kid has got a fair share of strengths (and weaknesses) even though I'm not nearly as high on him as you are but really, a fierce competitor? He strikes me more as the opposite when he looks like a deer in the headlights out there. He hasn't got any killer instinct at all imo.
I didn't say he's a fierce competitor - he's not a high energy guy like JJ. But he does compete (as evidenced by the way he fights for rebounds even though he isn't as physically strong as many of the guys he competes with). I think he's a gamer.
I disagree with the notion that Daye pick was a failure. Daye is a rotation player and he was the 15th pick. Other than Ty Lawson at 18th pick, I don't see a player who is substantially better than Daye in that draft. I wouldn't mind Leonard pick. He reminds me of Gerald Wallace. He had great composure during the March Madness games.
Daye will NEVER be as good as Prince. Yes, his attitude has been nothing short of bufoonery these past 2-3 years. But, he's still been one of the best, and most consistent, players on the team. He's been a very special player from the day he was drafted until Joe blew up the team by trading away Billups. No amount of palming the ball at the 3pt line is going to change that.
I not saying Daye is a failure per se, just that Joe drafting another SF means he has dropped Daye down a peg to bench player. Still a great asset in a draft just an idea in Joe's perspective of him.
Per 36 minute stats in their first two seasons in NBA: Prince: 1st year: 11.3 ppg, 2.0 ast, 3.7 reb 2nd year: 11.2 ppg 2.5 ast, 5.2 reb Daye: 1st year: 13.7 ppg, 1.3 ast, 6.8 reb 2nd year: 13.4 ppg, 1.9 ast, 6.8 reb
Daye played really well when given consistent playing time. He also was forced to play a lot of PF, not exactly the position he's built for at this stage of his development as a player and as a (not yet) fully developed man. The team dysfunction, the coaches weird never settled rotations, saw Daye sitting much more than I was happy with - never buying Kuester's opinions that this was best for the team. He'd play great, then inexplicably sit - and that happened to many players this season. It was foul to watch all year.
Daye surprisingly become a go-to shooter for us on last second opportunities. All I care about is whether he's a better value and a better fit at this point in time, and he is.
Granted. But, as far as impact on the court goes, I say the jury's still out. Daye can show flashes of greatness immediately followed by boneheaded play of the day.
