Sorry Kid, You Went! Now Where Are You?

[pacers]

Sorry Kid, You Went! Now Where Are You?

One of the most interesting and creative rewards from the BBB era, Sorry Kid helped push our understanding of how powerful the NDL could be for very good players (and better understand why some players have “cannot go to the NDL” stips; sad for Liu Yuze). I wanted to do a retrospective of all the Sorry Kid uses so far and see what we’ve learned. Hope you enjoy!

What we know about how it works, compared to normal NDL delegations:

• B/B players can be delegated.
• Diminished gains restrictions (which usually hit with B/B ratings or one A rating) do not apply for 3 seasons. Players can stay down for 3 full seasons of gains.
• Players are eligible for full NDL gains every season, though they are still restricted from premium points after winning MVP.
• “Can play PG” stip players can be delegated.

Here are all the Sorry Kids so far, ordered in loose ranking of best to worst outcome:


Scoot Henderson
Total NDL gains: +43, +10 pot
+10 handles
+10 inside
+8 JS
+8 3pt
+7 Strength
Camp gains: +8 inside, +8 handles, +4 JS, +4 3pt
Total gains:
+18 handles
+18 inside
+12 JS
+12 3pt
+7 strength

Outcome: Very good. Probably the best outcome thus far. Started with “through the roof” upside and is getting better every year. Went from “handles need a lot of work” to doing just above 2 TOs/game on high volume and full PG minutes (7th lowest TO% among eligible point guards). Offense is there as well after the equivalent of full extra camps in inside, JS, 3pt, and strength. Will have a long and very successful SLN career.


Jalen Suggs
Total NDL gains: +18, +12 pot
+6 3pt
+6 JS
+3 inside
+3 handles
Camp gains: +10 3P, +8 Jump Shot, +4 Handles, +4 Inside
Total gains:
+16 3pt
+14 JS
+7 handles
+7 inside

Outcome: Very good. Longtime starter at PG for the Sixers. Probably would have gotten much more in NDL reward points if the CPU started him at PG in the NDL instead of SG. Has had top-tier offensive efficiency every season in SLN thanks to the +30 total in outside boosts, though handles have also been an issue. Would have benefitted from a third season in the NDL, though at that point I don’t think anyone knew that Sorry Kid players could get a full 3 seasons of gains.


Nolan Traore
Total NDL gains: +33, +8 pot
+10 inside
+7 strength
+7 JS
+3 3pt
+3 handles
+3 blocks
Camp gains: +8 handles, +8 JS, +4 inside, +4 strength
Total gains:
+15 JS
+14 inside
+11 strength
+11 handles
+3 3pt
+3 blocks

Outcome: Very good. One of the best “game manager” type point guards in the league right now, which is exactly what Wemby needs, and would probably be doing more volume on his own team. Handles had a huge spike in the NDL, possibly due to the potential boost. Probably never gets to B inside without the NDL inside and strength gains. Would have gotten another +5 in gains at minimum had he stayed his whole third season in the NDL.


Jonathan Kuminga
Total NDL gains: +20, +10 pot
+7 inside
+5 strength
+3 dreb
+3 handles
+2 JS
Camp gains: +8 inside, +8 JS, +8 strength
Total gains:
+15 inside
+13 strength
+10 JS
+3 DReb
+3 handles

Outcome: Good. Suffered from SF/PF identity crisis for many seasons; might have been a better outcome if NDL gains and camps were oriented toward an SF profile from day 1, with more focus on handles in particular. Still a stock lord and very fun player.


Labaron Philon
Total NDL gains: +48, +8 pot
+12 inside
+10 handles
+9 3pt
+7 strength
+4 JS
+3 DReb
+3 steals
Camp gains: +8 handles, +8 inside, +8 JS
Total gains:
+20 inside
+18 handles
+12 JS
+9 3pt
+7 strength
+3 DReb
+3 steals

Outcome: Too early to tell. Will probably be a solid scoring PG at a minimum, though if that’s the outcome it’s probably disappointing. The volume is there; the efficiency will need to take a step up.


Isaiah Evans
Total NDL gains: +30, +10 pot
+9 inside
+5 3pt
+6 handles
+5 strength
+3 JS
+2 steals
Camp gains: +8 3pt, +8 JS, +8 inside
Total gains:
+17 inside
+13 3pt
+11 JS
+6 handles
+5 strength
+2 steals

Outcome: Too early to tell. Cedric Coward is probably who we thought Isaiah Evans would be. Notes indicated low inside, and even after +17 inside his volume still leaves something to be desired. Will be interesting to see how his career plays out after a few more TCs and the +10 pot taking hold.


Herb Jones
Total NDL gains: +20, +11 pot
+6 inside
+3 handles
+3 steals
+3 strength
+3 JS
+2 3Pt
Camp gains: +8 inside, +8 strength, +8 JS
Total gains:
+14 inside
+11 strength
+11 JS
+3 handles
+3 steals
+2 3pt

Outcome: Eh. Big first year in the big leagues where it looked like the sky was the limit, then has had a strangely worsening career over time. Wasn’t really good enough at any one thing to stick: never very efficient, never a consistent plus rebounder, STOCK:TO positive for basically only one year of his career. Leftover free agent at the age of 31.


Jaden Ivey
Total NDL gains: +14, +10 pot
+4 JS
+4 inside
+3 3pt
+3 handles
Camp gains: +8 inside, +7 handles, +4 3pt, +4 JS
Total gains:
+12 inside
+10 handles
+8 JS
+7 3pt

Outcome: Eh. I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know he was still in the league until writing this article. That remaining +1 in reward camps would have made all the difference. Handles, efficiency, and boards all lacking. Probably just didn’t have enough potential to make it big? Leftover free agent at the age of 28.


Austin Reaves
Total NDL gains:
+25, +9 pot
+8 handles
+7 inside
+6 3pt
+3 strength
+1 DReb
Camp gains: +8 inside, +8 JS, +8 3pt
Total gains:
+15 inside
+14 3pt
+8 JS
+8 handles
+3 strength
+1 DReb

Outcome: Eh. Had an interesting 4 years on the Bullets as a backup 1/2, then not much of note since. Boards never good enough to really play full time 2. Leftover free agent at the age of 31.

[Jordo]

I think Ivey was a bad dice roll guy

[Merv]