It’s a great point about the Budenholzer system, and it also helps having 3 all Defensive players plus Middleton to hold up the defensive burden. They have lineup options now with established guys instead of the inconsistent developmental players like Brown or the “can’t play them at all against certain matchups” guys like Ilyasova. Augustine and Forbes will be far more effective as experienced guys who know their role.
Portis has always intrigued me because he has some asshole to him. He’s been in totally dysfunctional programs- the Bulls, Bullets, and Knicks? No one is going to be successful there. But he has skill. With the proper guidance, hunting for a ring, he could surprise.