This is the most important off season we've had in decades. Will dame ask for a trade by mid season if we falter in this off-season? That's what is on the line.
I’d try to buy low on DFS with Keon, Nas, Walker or Watford, and enough 2nds to make the deal work. DFS and Grant are both good defenders, with Thybulle coming off the bench. That might not be a huge upgrade, but he might be considered enough of a vet that the starting lineup won’t be any worse than Dame/Ant/Hart/Grant/Nurk. We’ll have to see where Lively ends up, but I think Lively is a good option at backup C, with potential to be the starting C down the line. BPA with the lotto pick.
I’d say last offseason was more important. The best move was drafting Sharpe, who was a huge hit. With two 1st rounders, I think this offseason will be a more impactful one. So far, the only thing competent under this regime has been the young talent scouting.
Assuming the right all-in move doesn’t come along, keep ‘yer lotto pick, swap ‘yer New York pick, use your future assets, filler and potentially Ant, and make 1-2 big time upgrades. Grab vets around the edges, and be obsessed about roster balance and depth—never losing on those things again.
1. Sell the team 2. Fire Chauncy 3. Fire Joe That is the way to go but none of those will likely happen and we'll be stuck right back in mediocrity, unless we get lucky and get the 1 pick
You said that. Not me. This actually IS. Because Dame could very feasibly ask for a trade midseason. Last year we didn't realistically have that fear. His talk now does have that feel.
I am probably the most pro dame person out there in terms of him staying, but his language the last few interviews is pretty telling. Cronin HAS to make the big splash this off-season or dame asks for a trade. It's literally ultimatum time.
Build around Dame. That’s been obvious. Youth be damned. Then in 1-2 years when this fails, we will have nothing. My favorite part is Dame inferring he doesn’t want development players, but he’s fine with a coach that needs development
I’m not sure that it’s set in stone to do the retool around Dame. If the ping pong balls cough up Wemby, keeping a core of Ant, Shaedon and Wemby, cashing in on what Dame could bring in trade, and doing a full rebuild may be pretty enticing. Based on what Dame said today, I doubt he has the patience to deal with another raw, albeit extremely talented, rookie.
