Player salaries are so inflated that even if the player performs it’s probably not worth it, but some players have incredible agents which has lead to some insane signings.
Swordart to TSM for 6 mil still boggles my mind. No matter what angle you look at it, it makes no sense, except if someone was intentionally trying to sink the org.
TL Pyosik is another more recent one. Not nearly egregious but idk how there are people that get paid to make decisions like these.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if HLE’s owners don’t watch any League of Legends. They’re actually one of the richest orgs but year after year they put together the most frustrating rosters.
My post wasn’t meant to prove your point being wrong, but more to amend it being purely player related, but more a balanced with org and other players. It’s not a pure individual drop off, even though he didn’t look much better at FNC after that (probably a bit for the same reason).
The coach of TSM of that time even defended YellowStar on the famous DL clip and said that he was totally lost and burnt out quickly because he arrived in a team that had an abysmal level of communication, which he was not used to. Literally nobody talked besides him, so he tried to do the extra part and do it all by himself, which even worsen his mechanics which have never been his strong point anyway. He was desperately willing to put a lot of effort in guiding a team that didn’t want to be guided.
TSM 2016/2017 was kinda like FNC 2018/2020, a team that had strong individuals but failed to really be a team, despite their success.