How exactly do you know this? I think seniority is definitely a thing. I think THT likely has been better than Ochai, but I think NAW might get more opportunity based on seniority and the fact he's kind of a leader on this team. There are times when young guys are brought along more slowly and have to clearly prove they are better than a guy with more seniority... and Ochai likely hasn't done that yet. I don't think it clearly means Hardy thinks those guys are better than Ochai... it could mean that though.
We are in full discovery mode... the discovery with some prospects is more urgent than others... give Ochai a spot above those guys then it will be hard to "demote" him and send him to the G League. Bring him along slowly and make him earn his PT by killing the guys in front of him in practice... or more likely NAW continues to stink up the joint and is replaced.
How do you know it to be the other way around? The players who routinely receive more minutes than they should based on their play each year are first round draft picks. And there’s good reason for that. It’s logical to invest in the player who has the most talent and shows the most promise.
I think a fresh lottery pick is given more priority for playing time than borderline NBA players. Seniority is a thing, but it’s a thing with established vets and THT/NAW is the opposite of that. If either of these guys were real, established NBA players that would be one thing, but they’re not. If Doke were healthy, for example, I think he should have no priority over Kessler just because he’s had years in the league where he’s done nothing. Getting real PT isn’t the only chance you get in the NBA. What you do in practice matters. NAW is working on years of chances to prove himself.
And like I said, even if it’s close and Hardy chooses to go with “Senority”….it doesn’t really change my attitude towards Ochai. It’s still not good that Ochai is close with borderline NBA players that blatantly don’t look NBA caliber.