All depends on what model they are working under. If they are working under a model that keeps the team competitive enough to be in the playoff hunt year after year and a team that makes this town proud due to its character. I'm sure Neil is doing just fine in this owners eyes.
Operative word here is rebuild aka draft picks, younger players. Would put Portland in play. I love Vucevic but I'm also ok with Plumlee. I wonder if there's anyway we could get Gordon. Evidently he's available as well and his value isn't as high as people think (according to Steve Kyler at least) I could see Orlando interested in Vonleh. Would you give up our first round pick (say lottery protected) plus Vonleh for Gordon?
I think the Wizards are in the market for a big man, I'd love to see a trade centered around Mase for their first.
I wouldn't give up the first round pick. That pick would sign for less and gives us an extra body if an injury parade happens.
Gordon still has much higher ceiling and if we protect our pick Orlando will know there is a good chance it won't come to them this year. I would not trade any of our 2017 picks. This draft is stocked with forwards in the 11-20 range where we will land and there will be some good talent at the end of first round too. It's essential to get players who will be here for less than $20M a year too, given the circumstances. I would honestly rather trade some of our players for picks, even second round picks, to clear salary a little and have cash to sign Plumlee. There is usually the odd good talent even in the second round. Green, Millsap, Thomas, even Butler was the final pick of the first round and lately we saw Brogdon and Jokic there. Trading picks when you are stuck with numerous players on $15M and more is a bad idea. We have so many expensive players.
That could actually be doable. They might be able to sign him back in the Summer too if they can send Mahinmi somewhere. They could give us their first and a cheap player, perhaps for backcourt. They got some half decent young talent there on the bench, don't they? Not starter quality but fillers.
Not sure if we want to give up picks, as Olshey can pull something nice if this draft is really that deep and IF he is so good in this. And I think it's too early to cut Vonleh, as he could turn Jermaine O'Neil case.
I still reckon we will be trying to deal Crabbe, if not now then at the end of season. His contract makes zero sense but it'll be very tough to find a trade partner for this transaction. He's just not good enough to be paid $19M. BTW trading Plumlee for a pick would be pure tanking now. We'd be left without any center that can play basketball. We would also need to trade someone else for a center now or in the Summer, unless we want to be starting a rookie center next season (salary cap means we cannot get anyone from free agency really unless on a minimum contract or not much more). Maybe send Plumlee, clear a bit of salary and then move for Bogut. He will likely sign for not that much.
I'd see if Orland would take Crabbe and the Blazers first rounder for Vucevic (who's got 2 years at a reasonable 12 million per left). Makes sense for both teams.
I mean, I can shoot threes in an empty gym*. Doing it in an NBA game is a different matter. *May or may not be true
Gordon is a bit of a problem for Orlando. He's not a good enough shooter to be a 3 and he's not big enough to match up well with a lot of legit PFs. They seem way to enamored with his athleticism to trade him away though.
So, any more predictions? I still think Ezeli, a first rounder, and Meyers/Davis gets traded but I could also see Aminu going as well. I'd be surprised if Nurkic was the only move. Olshey pretty much confirmed that they never intended to keep this group together long term.
