Fanspo is at a point where toxicity is at an all-time high. People are unable to articulate their feelings without getting angry or defensive. It's honestly sad. But what I want to talk about today is the blatant undervaluing of players from small-market teams.
I constantly see Lakers, Warriors, Spurs, Bucks, and Mavericks fans scrapping teams for parts. Honestly, there is no world where Herb Jones is moving, under any circumstances. And when I say that, I have no interest in moving the only wing on the All-Defensive First Team. I'm met with a block.
Then we have the people who want to trade Timelord for a bag of chips like he isn’t an elite defender. Or the people moving Ingram for players who don’t even average 20 PPG. Like honestly, in what world do you think someone is moving a 26-year-old entering his prime for a 36-year-old?
Then we have the "Lauri Markannen is god" people. He isn’t the answer to your team’s problems. He’s a studio gangster, as Charles Barkley puts it – a role player who puts up numbers on bad teams because someone has to score. Realistically, nobody is paying Ainge’s asking price. And when people underpay, they get mad that nobody wants their mediocre players and draft picks from a contending team, which also have little to no value.
People are scrapping the Pelicans and Jazz for parts, consistently undervaluing assets because it would benefit their team. Herb Jones and Trey Murphy aren’t moving, under any circumstances. The Jazz aren’t moving Markannen unless you give up 3 firsts and 3 swaps minimum. If your team can’t do that, then that’s too bad. You can’t have him for chump change.
And Ingram is still moving for market value. Why would anyone in real life trade Ingram straight up for a player like Ayton or Brook Lopez? Be for real. Ayton has no heart and doesn’t like basketball, and Lopez is pushing 40.
We consistently see people angry that they dislike the moves they make, with no logical explanation for why the teams involved would get involved. And it’s getting disrespectful.