I get where you're coming from, but it may be worth noting that Grant has the 49th highest salary this season and the 45th highest next season; and next season players like Siakam & Derozan will sign new deals, while several other like Lebron, PG13, & OG able to opt out.
I would keep the vets in the following order (assuming you get their true value back in trades): DA - position of need, has talent, showed something at the end of the year that is worth checking if it is consistent Grant - position of need, prototypical 3&D, would be a good 3rd option on a good team. MT - Affordable, good veteran off the bench, a real defensive expert to throw out there based on situation on a good team Brogdon - Assuming Scoot really earns that PG spot, a great PG off the bench Ant - I am a bigger fan of him than many, but this team needs to commit to Sharpe at the 2, Scoot at the 1, so his role really is as a microwave kind of guy off the bench, don't think this will fly on this team RW - Love the guy, but health, health, health
Not a bad list but I would slightly edit it to DA is a no-brainer for me. (not easily duplicated) Ant ( I don't think he has peaked yet) Grant (Depends on who we draft-if we get Sarr I am keeping Grant. If we get Risacher, Buzelis, or Williams then I am open to trading him. Brogdon- I lean towards trading him, but I do like his game. MT- I like him, but I rank him lower because I think his minutes will be low. (and I like Rupert) RW- I bet he sticks until the trade deadline. If he stays healthy he gets traded. If not.......he is not going anywhere
I think you only commit to ant like that if he is ok coming off the bench. Otherwise, time to cut the cord and let the scoot sharpe combo run, good or bad, until you know where you stand with it. Can't pussyfoot that anymore, imho
On the flip side, I think you only move him if he has indicated he wouldn't be ok with it. And he hasn't. It's not like he won't get minutes off the bench. Of course, I would trade him for the right player.....but who we can get for him is a whole different discussion.
I'd say keep Ant if I thought he could be an even mediocre defender and distributor. But his talents are entirely as a shooter. Somebody who can be bothered: where did the following duos rank among best Blazer duos? Ant-Scoot Ant-Shaedon Ant-Brogdon
I said Grant is worth much less.... Yes the contracts are a part of that, and make him worth even less than being the inferior player he is.
True value back in a trade is hard to know as these guys all have different value. I'd first rank them in order of who I'd want to keep; Ayton Grant Ant Brogdon Thybulle Timelord Thybulle/Timelord Id dump for nothing or expiring contract. Of course if Joe can magically get more then yes do it. I'd shop all of these guys, and even listen to offers for our youth. Doubt we get enough return to trade away Sharpe/Scoot or other young guys but you never know and I'd listen in case there is a Boston trading for Telfair opportunity. If a team wants to trade for someone higher on the list (Ant instead of Brogdon, or Ayton instead of another vet, etc) they need to offer more in return. Yeah we all have some difference in our ranks of players and how much extra compensations we'd want to trade away a player we rank higher. Ultimately it'll be pretty disappointing if we have all these below average vets on the mid July roster, or worse trade away youth/picks to add another irrelevant one.
Keep Ayton, trade everybody else. Might have to cut Williams at this point because I'm pretty sure he'd fail any trade physical. Draft/sign whatever Purdue player was responsible for feeding Zach Edey the ball and tell him to do that with Ayton every time down the floor.
