kodo wrote:Patrick every year has been per 36 minutes, 13 points 5 rebounds, negligible playmaking. Good 3P accuracy on low volume (pretty common situation for a roleplayer though) so under 2.0 3PM per 36.
Comparable non-rookie contract forwards hitting those #s:
- Derrick Jones (UFA)
- Grant Williams ($12M)
- Caleb Martin ($6.8M)
- Herb Jones ($12M)
- Jaden McDaniels ($22.5M in 2025)
- Josh Green ($12.6M)
It will be interesting to see what Okoro gets, his #s almost identical to Patrick's (9-10 ppg, 3-4 rpg, 39% 3P shooting, 4th year, drafted top 5). Big factor though is Okoro is very durable, 280 games available vs 213.
I think Okoro and McDaniels both have a defensive gear that Patrick doesn't. Jaden especially- bad sportsmanship attempting that dunk in closing seconds last night, but obviously getting under another team's skin can be a competitive advantage (until it isn't)... Draymond, Brooks, Smart, Grayson, etc.
But MIN took a big leap of faith with that McDaniels extension. Two things I imagine went in his favor for negotiations: TWolves trading all their future assets for Gobert (thereby both planning on being deep in luxury tax, and not letting any existing asset on the roster walk for nothing), and he stepped up in his first post-season (outperformed reg.). It panned out, as this happened the 2nd year in a row.
Small sample size with Patrick , although he looked overwhelmed and got demolished by Giannis, and was as limp as ever in last year's Heat play-in (and his usual mediocre 10 point self in Toronto). Don't think we need more evidence to know that Patrick doesn't "rise to the occasion." It's a bummer. I had 75% faith originally in that pick, and I've traditionally turned on almost every 4y disappointment before they came back and proved me wrong (Chandler, Niko, Bobby, Lauri, Coby) - high on those 3 before I officially gave up, and then they blossomed (here or elsewhere). Maybe the same thing happens with Pat.
But I've said this before... I don't love putting THAT much stock in personality, but it's frustrating knowing that even if Patrick became a great player (hypothetically), his style of game would basically be SLOW. He liked face-up dribbling and using his length to get a slow mid-range shot off on his summer league/covid-camp highlight reel. Defensively he rotates and sticks to his man well - but he doesn't try to suffocate or stuff anybody like Caruso.
No exaggeration, but leading up to that COVID draft where I had all the time in the world on my hands... I was watching all those interviews with the prospects, and to paraphrase myself... I really liked Edwards' personality. Not afraid to be honest, direct, pretty funny, very energetic, down to earth. And watching his HS and limited college clips, he wasn't polished, but he was aggressive. So I was pretty high on him. I didn't look up at Patrick at all, so the pick was a surprise. But damned if I'm not honest, when I started hearing interviews with the kid, I felt a little nervous. Slow reaction time, uninteresting responses, and poor awareness beyond "saying the right thing." Again, I know you can't read too much into an interview, cause rookie Rose was about 100x the killer he was a talker (and Kawhi)... But man. I feel like if you draft top-5, either you should be getting a 20+ PPG prospect or you should be getting a strong leader who could direct and lead your team within 5 years.
We got a mouse who barely scored 10 PPG. And it seems like it doesn't matter whether half the roster's scoring/usage options are injured or healthy... He's still a 9-10 PPG guy.
Anyway - that's maybe my final vent on Patrick. Now it's on him to resign cheap and pull a Coby, play a lot better... Or leave and pull a Wendell/Snell/Thabo and be somebody else's buy-low/value starter. But all-star/franchise-player he is not and will never be. It would be straight preposterous.
All that said... Maybe that's another way to look at this #11 pick. Are you atleast getting a productive scorer (20+ PPG caliber), or somebody who could talk and direct this rudderless team (when Caruso sits)? Maybe that needs to be more on AK's mind than getting the most athletic and multi-skilled prospect. End of the day, the amount of POINTS that all his picks combined to average is ****ing pitiful. Atleast Ayo broke the 11 PPG barrier. Kind of worried he'll get cute again, with Collier or Cody. Another 8 PPG special.
