Pop > Stotts....so there is that. This team has to hide Melo', CJ and Dame for the most part on defense. 55 wins....lol. This team could still make the Playoffs but it will be as a low seed with no HCA and likely be cannon fodder to a large market LA team and another wasted year of Dame's prime. Big picture, if this team is going to make a big step forward to real contender status, this needs to be a reset year. Develop the heck out of Little, Simons, even Hoard and Moses just to see what you have. Use Whiteside, Bazemore and even CJ to get legit pieces coming back that are here for the next 2-4 years. Get a good Lottery pick that can either be an impact right away or that can be used as an asset for another piece. Nurkic Collins OPJ (throwing that in because salary fits with some of our large contracts, in this case CJ) 40% career 3-pt shooter, versatile, long defender. Hood Lillard Simons Little Asset from Whiteside trade Asset from Bazemore trade Lottery pick/asset obtained Skal or maybe Brown Trent Jr if he is not included in a trade Hoard as a #13-15 That is a very dangerous team with way more defense, better shooting, Simons and Little would have had a year of development and you should be able to get solid pieces out of 3 huge contracts in Hassan, Baze and CJ. It makes Hood more of a mismatch as he moves to the '2'. That roster causes a lot of match up problems for a lot of teams.
Load management is a way to keep your best players fresher for the playoffs, not an answer for tanking. If you think this team will ask Dame to fake an injury or make him not play if he's not hurt then you don't know anything about your favorite team.
I disagree....Cleveland or the Knicks need a franchise player even if they lose...something to build around....Spurs are below us in the standings...they'd love CJ ...I don't think Neil moves him but I think half a dozen teams would line up if he was on the block to obtain him...CJ got a lot of love from major sports networks even when he was slumping.
Would anyone here do KAT and Teague for Lillard and CJ? I never checked KAT's advanced stats, but those are ok i might go for it as GM.
I know we joke about "tanking", which isn't realistic at this point in the season. But, I really would like to see Dame's minutes limited until Nurkic and Collins get back. I don't want Dame busting his ass trying to make up for the other deficiencies on the team and then shorten his career or be dead for the playoffs anyway. Right now: keep Dame under 30 min/game, keep CJ under 18 shots/game, Sit Tolliver, Split C minutes equally between Whiteside and Labissiere, Let Hood do exactly what he is doing, but at least 12 shots/game, continue to test Baze and Hezonja until trade time, make Ant shoot at least 15 shots/game, give Little as many minutes as possible, play Hoard, Trent Jr, Brown as you can.
Dang, I had it all wrong. I thought we signed Melo to tank while giving the appearance of trying not to tank.
If I'm keeping CJ then I would waive him or give him backup 3/4 minutes to see if he could help the second unit score--but keep his minutes and shot attempts in check. I would prefer just to waive his because I do believe he could provide valuable scoring toward the end of the year, but by that point the team will either be out of the playoffs completely, or will be fighting for 8th seed with Nurkic and Collins back, where I would rather put a defensive 3 next to them--hoping it would be Little.
First of all, Dame can't be traded this season and Teague is a free agent after this season anyway. Second of all, FUCK NO.
I don't think under 30 minutes is realistic for Dame but the rest of your post is good. The problem is the team still believes it can turn this around so you're never going to convince Dame, Stotts, and probably even Jody given how much money she's paying for this team that this is the answer. I've been saying every game Dame has played why he has to play the whole 1st and 3rd quarters. Take him out with about 4 minutes to go in each quarter. If the team maintains or builds a lead then you don't even need to bring him back in the 2nd quarter. If they're up by a certain amount or getting their ass kicked in the 4th then you don't have to bring him back either. That probably won't happen very often but even if 1/10 of the games he only plays about 20 minutes it will help keep his overall minutes down.
Teague and Dieng would act as fillers. You cant tank with a 30 years old Lillard. I'm talking about a new chapter.
How is he a good piece to start a rebuild when he shares a position with the best young player we would have left on the roster
