Time to trade Fool's Gold

[GVC]

I'm just not convinced we can avoid the inevitable, regardless of switching the lineup around. That's why IMO, maximizing Al's trade value should be at the top of priorities.

I don't disagree. Al needs to be put in a position where he's most likely to succeed. I just don't think this necessarily means he should be starting. His value could be increased by playing him off the bench. At the very least, I think that option is worth exploring, even if only for a handful of games (depending on matchups). He can still play 28-35 minutes off the bench.

 

[InGameStrategy]

I don't disagree. Al needs to be put in a position where he's most likely to succeed. I just don't think this necessarily means he should be starting. His value could be increased by playing him off the bench. At the very least, I think that option is worth exploring, even if only for a handful of games (depending on matchups). He can still play 28-35 minutes off the bench.

If he plays 28 to 35 minutes, then he's nearly a starter.

If value is what you want, then you keep him as a starter. His scoring is normally OK (first game notwithstanding); it's his pathetic defense that is what needs to be hidden (or insisted upon) in order to maximize his value. And in that case, it doesn't matter much whether he plays as a starter or as a backup. He might have a few more blocks or RBs as a backup, but if he's playing 30 MPG, then he's running up against a lot of the starters anyway.

Bottom line: Coaches--especially Jazz coaches--should insist upon playing defense. And if the players don't play defense, they should sit down--or maybe come off the bench. Starting should be based on maximizing wins, not an individual player's value. Whether a player is a starter or a backup, a player's value is maximized when his development and effort is maximized. And neither this coaching staff nor the previous one has insisted upon the maximization, despite giving lip service to effort and development. When a starter is on his way to 2 for 16 and there are other options that either need the development minutes or are likely to do better, you sit him down--no mater whether he's LeBron or McLeod.