I would say absolutely, the kid is great when he is part of the game plan. Look at him in the playoffs last year. They knew to feed him early and it paid off. This year I think egos got in the way and he is done.
I can't decide how to feel on the Randles and Woods of the league as fits with Dame and Chauncey... One part of me feels like their attitudes and general lack of effort on the defensive end would be horrendous fits. The other part of me wonders if Dame and Chauncey would be enough to get them to give effort on that side and bring their typical offense... I guess, if the cost is cheap enough, those would be the kinds of big swings we'd need to hit on???
Randle >>>>>> Grant Like Wood this season, Julius was toxic with his attitude - not worth a top-10 pick. They both tanked their value. Trading up for Keegan is the answer, not these bunt-single moves
And I would say any Ayton deal would have to be a 3 team deal if trying to include Nurk as a S&T in it.
I would take on Randle if the Knicks part with 11 in the process. He was an All NBA player just a year ago. But we'd also need need to forget about Grant and aim to get a knockdown shooter at the 3 either via trade (ahem... Cam Johnson) or with the #11 pick. I don't like the spacing with Grant/Randle/Nurk.
Jokic has been to WCF and will be back at that level with Murray and MPJ.. Embiid can definitely get to ECF with better teammates. Are you really saying it's impossible to build a contender around those two guys?? Now let's look at this: Luka & Tatum & Butler- no championship success yet
Now let’s look at this: The last NBA champion with a traditional big was the Spurs nearly 10 years ago — in a much different “NBA” landscape. Hmm. Jokic needs Murray AND MPJ. Wonder why that is. Hmm. Embiid has played with MULTIPLE all stars and still needs better teammates? Interesting. Meanwhile, the Heat (with a worse supporting cast) beat the 76ers and were in the finals 2 years ago. You’re essentially making points as to why the “C” is a stupid investment.
I'm good with trading Nurk for Ayton... Dame Hart Grant (via #11 and contract/TEP) Randle ( with 11 for #7 and contract/TPE) Ayton (via Nurk, but I don't know if we can do this while pulling off the other moves... Could this work financially?)
According to the podcast I listened to, the NY guys thought he was a good defender and capable of playing great defense.
Here’s what our new assistant GM thinks of Daniels. This was written in February btw, when no one had him projected so high
Ayton and nurk would need other pieces, but I think it could be done. However, I'd have to check on total salary. S&T hard caps us, and bringing in randle and Grant is going to increase salary quickly
geeeeezuz....reading this thread and realizing the draft is a month away...... starting right now...nobody can post about the draft unless it's an original thought damn double damn
You do realize that 60% on 2-pointers is worth more than 35% on 3-pointers? So the idea that feeding a post player who shoots 60% isn't smart and just clogs the lane so they can't get layups...just isn't smart. Never seen an NBA team have 5 guys stand around the 3 pt line as an offense. I'll go one step further and say feeding a good post up scorer is actually smart basketball for a few reasons. 1) defenders aren't used to defending it. 2) it causes defenses to sink inside to help which opens perimeter shots. 3) it creates fouls/foul trouble/free throws. 4) the league is about the next new thing, even if it's an old thing. If a team were to mimic the 80's & 90's Blazers where they started every game by force feeding Duck the ball on the low block for the first several possessions (until he ran out of gas), I think it would be very successful. I get that the league is guard/wing dominated but I think having an inside option would only open things up more.
No, the hard cap that we would incur by receiving a signed and traded player would make things tight. I didn't see Ant in your starting lineup but I would assume you wouldn't want to let him walk for nothing. Without Ant or Ayton we're at just over 118M for 10 players. If Ant and Ayton make a conservative combined 45M and we sign two rookie min players, we're at the estimated hard cap of 155M. I don't think we could get those two guys to agree to a combined 45M so I don't think this works. You can say that you're good with the salary if you're adding it in a way that doesn't incur a hard cap but not if you're using the full MLE or taking on a player through sign and trade.
