03-08-2022, 01:33 PM
(03-08-2022, 01:17 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Bates is a good player overall. He was elite in the playoffs. At times during the regular season, he was probably above average.
At the career level, he's had 1 season where he was elite and several where he was above average to good.
I think that's the tough thing. Do you pay him at the elite player level? Or do you pay him at the Good player level?
Imo, you only pay a player at the elite level if they're consistently elite. Bates is more often average to solid than he is elite.
To me, consistency is part of excellence. Basically, I don't think Bates has been elite overall, so I wouldn't pay him as such. Tag him, try to work out a fair deal, and if we can't get that done before the draft, look for a safety in the first 3 rounds.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.