There’s no doubt he is talented. But the NBA tends to force people into roles unless you’re so good you defy classification. Take Anthony Edwards, who isn’t a floor general point guard or a knock down shooting guard. He’s just too good to keep off the floor.

Giddey is good but hasn’t shown he’s that good. When you’re not that good, you still can become a major contributor to a championship team, but you have to fill a role. You’ve got your Jrue Holidays who don’t have Edward’s burst or Giddeys passing but he plays monster D and can hit a 3. That’s very valuable as the third best player on a team with an MVP level guy.

I think Giddey’s main value is with the ball in his hands, but in crunch time with this team, I want SGA first, and if he has to pass, I like either JDubs ability to either shoot/slash or Chet’s shooting.

That’s 3 of 5 on the floor. Many teams are lucky to have three studs in their crunch time five, but it’s also important to have a couple role guys who play great D in that closing lineup. It’s like how Pope and Gordon are great for Denver because they can contribute without having to initiate the offense. And Porter isn’t great on D but can score on catch and shoot as well as anyone player like that in the league.

If Giddey isn’t initiating the offense, Joe, Wallace, Kenrich, Dort, and Jwill are all better options for guys who can fill a role, bringing some combo of D, passing, and/or shooting. That’s five more guys ahead of Giddey for two spots.

Giddey needs to be a point guard for a team with a great big man, and/or a great wing scorer who doesn’t like to start with the ball, and/or some great shooters who can’t create a shot alone but will knock down open threes. He’s a great passer and could be the perfect ball handler for a team with those elements, but this team is surpassing him.

Sadly, two weeks ago we could have traded him for some nice value. Now it’s the ultimate sell low. If the issue works out (a big if) they need to let him be the primary ball handler on the second unit to rebuild his trade value. Even then, it would take a team who thought he could be the guy with the ball in his hands at the end of the game (not to shoot necessarily, but to run the offense). Unless he starts bringing something in terms of shooting or defense, he can never be a max guy who doesn’t run the point.

Or we just change expectations and recast him as a backup point guard, and any team in the league would love to have that skill level in their backup PG. He may lose interest after his career started out on a path that seemed destined to get a max contract, but in current situation, he really isn’t calling the shots.