You make a really good point. I just think our starting 5 just needs that defensive player like Varejao and it would be set. He may not have too many years left; but we would have a legit back-up PF/C in Hickson that could help the second unit. Varejao doesn't need to score to be effective; which our starting 5 already has all the scoring we need. I think there needs to be some decisions to bring some older players in. If we could just land a decent SG/SF combo this summer; I think we would have the perfect 8 man rotation of Lillard, Matthews, Batum, Aldridge, Varejao, Hickson, SG/SF veteran, and E will.
I am hoping Meyers Leonard can become that kind of player. He has all the physical tools and is a hard worker and so very young. I think he has a good chance to get there - and when he does he's still only be 23 or 24. And, I think he has the potential to be better than Varejao. Even if he's not, even if he can just develop into a younger version of Varejao, I'll take the younger version over the one that's already in his 30s. It's the "not too many years left" part that makes me dislike this trade. By the time Lillard and Batum are entering their primes, Varejao will be past his, if he's even still playing. Which is why I prefer to stick with Leonard, develop him and have him enter his prime at the same time as our other young players. If we were in "win now" mode, this trade would make sense. We're not in "win now" mode. BNM
