Had Swider stayed…

[elimunelson]

And it sounded like he could have been convinced to stay….

This team imo is a tournament team. They are lacking one more shooter.

 

[Cuse12]

And it sounded like he could have been convinced to stay….

This team imo is a tournament team. They are lacking one more shooter.

He would solidified the forward position for sure. Different team.

 

[Irt4su]

If my aunt had balls…..

 

[OrangeXtreme]

If my aunt had balls…..

She'd have left for the NBA at age 23 too.

 

[Brooky03]

The Colgate and Bryant losses wouldn’t have happened. But we’d still be a bubble team.

 

[RF2044]

And it sounded like he could have been convinced to stay….

This team imo is a tournament team. They are lacking one more shooter.

Well, let's think about this.

We entered the season with completely unproven commodities at forward. Brown has emerged as a steady, dependable contributor -- so one position is covered. Had Swider returned, presumably he plays the 3, gives us another big guy down on the back line. He was also a very solid rebounder, so he'd actually be a big upgrade over both Benny / Bell, and that would improve what has already emerged as a team strength.

Plus, he's an NBA caliber shooter -- so he'd give us the second [or had he returned, primary] shooting threat, as well as a high double-digit scorer.

I have to think that if he'd returned, this team would be an increment better, which equates to NCAA.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Well, let's think about this.

We entered the season with completely unproven commodities at forward. Brown has emerged as a steady, dependable contributor -- so one position is covered. Had Swider returned, presumably he plays the 3, gives us another big guy down on the back line. He was also a very solid rebounder, so he'd actually be a big upgrade over both Benny / Bell, and that would improve what has already emerged as a team strength.

Plus, he's an NBA caliber shooter -- so he'd give us the second [or had he returned, primary] shooting threat, as well as a high double-digit scorer.

I have to think that if he'd returned, this team would be an increment better, which equates to NCAA.

I don’t think there is a question. Not just an NCAA team but a team with second weekend potential

 

[Dave]

Boeheim wouldn’t be too old.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Everyone called this in the offseason.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The Colgate and Bryant losses wouldn’t have happened. But we’d still be a bubble team.

We got boat raced by Colgate. Maybe we score more points but That would still be an L.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Swider would thrive with Judah. Joe and Swider would get looks all day or layups for Judah. Judah would still have to get them the ball.

 

[Brooky03]

We got boat raced by Colgate. Maybe we score more points but That would still be an L.

I think Colgate jumped on an inexperienced team. Swider’s experience would have made a ton of difference.

If this team without Swider plays Colgate today, we win comfortably.

 

[elimunelson]

I don’t think there is a question. Not just an NCAA team but a team with second weekend potential

I agree. I think Cole is a 20ppg guy with this squad for sure. To me this is the most irritating aspect of not seducing him into staying one more year (after he said it could have worked)

I REALLY hope it's a lesson learned for next year. Push those guys who can come back, to come back and work with the foundation of this squad. Only way we're pushing forward is with experience. We have it if we recruit our own guys. If that's Boeheim, so be it. If a new coach comes in, let's hope he makes it his first decisions

 

[RF2044]

I don’t think there is a question. Not just an NCAA team but a team with second weekend potential

It's hard to know what the cascade effect would be. For example, would Jesse make the same enormous jump in production if Swider was the focal point? Would Joe have hit his equilibrium niche playing off the ball?

We'll never know. But assuming that things gelled, hard to dispute what you're suggesting. The way Swider played at the end of last season flashed that he could be a true "go to guy."

Him also being a superior shooter would really make this offense pop.

 

[rrlbees]

I agree. I think Cole is a 20ppg guy with this squad for sure. To me this is the most irritating aspect of not seducing him into staying one more year (after he said it could have worked)

I REALLY hope it's a lesson learned for next year. Push those guys who can come back, to come back and work with the foundation of this squad. Only way we're pushing forward is with experience. We have it if we recruit our own guys. If that's Boeheim, so be it. If a new coach comes in, let's hope he makes it his first decisions

That’s not JB. He’s honest with the kids. Swider said he would have stayed if JB said he needed too, but he appreciated JB didn’t push him one way or the other and left it up to Cole. I’m sure JB told him the pros and cons and in the end told him he was ready to give it a shot. And in the end it was 100% the correct decision for Cole.

 

[CU44SE]

Swider obviously makes us a better team. But we saw how long it took brown to get consistent minutes. Most likely he doesn’t get discovered this year if swider is here.

You could also argue that it would be bell riding the bench instead though because Swider is a shooter. But you never know. JB could have preferred swider and bell to stretch the defense.

No telling what way it would have went

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

I think Colgate jumped on an inexperienced team. Swider’s experience would have made a ton of difference.

If this team without Swider plays Colgate today, we win comfortably.

I think the Colgate loss was more about the staff just rolling the ball out against a team that (they knew) was well-suited to taking advantage of their style of play. To be fair to your point, throw the SU youth into the equation and you have the perfect ingredients for a solid ass-kicking.

 

[djcon57]

And in the end it was 100% the correct decision for Cole.

After seeing the latest Laker trade...ehh...I dont know. He's pretty much toast there I would think. Hopefully he can get hot in G league and get noticed somewhere.

 

[rrlbees]

After seeing the latest Laker trade...ehh...I dont know. He's pretty much toast there I would think. Hopefully he can get hot in G league and get noticed somewhere.

Which trade? I assume the one involving Westbrook and not the Bryant one although that could depending on those 2nd round picks.

But even this year Cole got a $500k+ contract plus some sum of money for each game on the Lakers roster. Not sure he would have done better by staying another year and being a year older.

 

[djcon57]

Which trade? I assume the one involving Westbrook and not the Bryant one although that could depending on those 2nd round picks.

But even this year Cole got a $500k+ contract plus some sum of money for each game on the Lakers roster. Not sure he would have done better by staying another year and being a year older.

Getting Malik Beasley specifically.

You might be right. Ultimately, it was the right decision because it's what Cole wanted to do and its his life. I'm just saying it's gonna be tough to get PT now. MAYBE he sneaks into the 1st with a monster year this year, but would have been a long shot

 

[rrlbees]

Getting Malik Beasley specifically.

You might be right. Ultimately, it was the right decision because it's what Cole wanted to do and its his life. I'm just saying it's gonna be tough to get PT now. MAYBE he sneaks into the 1st with a monster year this year, but would have been a long shot

Yea that was the Westbrook trade but I think Vanderbilt impacts Cole more than Beasley.

 

[Fat tire 13]

This is a positive for JB as a coach

Former players respect the fact that he is a straight shooter when it comes to guys declaring for the draft. He won't selfishly ask guys to stay if it is best for the player's career to go professional

I agree with everyone that Cole would have helped us a bunch this year, but since he's on a NBA roster you can't really blame him for leaving in the end

 

[djcon57]

Yea that was the Westbrook trade but I think Vanderbilt impacts Cole more than Beasley.

Yeah I disagree. Cole's skill is shooting. Vanderbilt is just a banger.

Beasley and Russell take away the need for another shooter.

 

[rrlbees]

Yeah I disagree. Cole's skill is shooting. Vanderbilt is just a banger.

Beasley and Russell take away the need for another shooter.

I don’t disagree from a skill standpoint but I look at positions too. Russell, Beasley and Cole could play together.

 

[Day2]

Yeah I disagree. Cole's skill is shooting. Vanderbilt is just a banger.

Beasley and Russell take away the need for another shooter.

There’s a good chance a lot of the guys the Lakers acquired won’t be back next year.