Faller: Mason Plumlee
Plumlee hasn't necessarily done anything wrong. When he gets on the floor, he looks like the same Mason Plumlee we've always known. He's a good rebounder, a solid defender, and a plus positional passer.
Yet, his stock is falling anyway. Plumlee has seen his minutes steadily decrease in March. At this point, we can officially say that Tyrone Lue prefers Daniel Theis as a primary backup to Ivica Zubac.
This is about versatility. Simply put, Plumlee is considerably more similar to Zubac. They're both non-shooting big men who thrive in drop coverage on the defensive end.
Ivica Zubac BLOCK ➡ Kawhi Leonard BULLY bucket 😤pic.twitter.com/nnpyrAubMW
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 25, 2023
By comparison, Theis is a more switchable defender. He also offers a semblance of floor spacing. You could make the case that Theis' stock has risen, but his minutes have remained fairly consistent since joining the squad. Plumlee's numbers are dropping:
And his stock is dropping with them.