Wanted to start a discussion about some fantasy trades and/or FA acquisitions this offseason.
My outlook on this team:
I feel DM and DG are not a compatible Championship backcourt......maybe if we had Lebron it would be feasible, but Bron ain't coming through that door nor is there any other superstar SF. One has to go, I loved our Trio of DG, Evan, and Allen.....but unfortunately, Koby sped up the timeline by trading all of our assets for Mitchell, but then acts like first-round exits are fine and the team needs time to grow. JB did not instill any confidence at all, but I just find it hard to really think of who the perfect coach for these two would be. I really can't think of any. I think our peak will honestly be Dame/CJ at best......and I don't know if it will ever get there......because neither player seems to play off the ball that well and it seems they prefer to have it in their hands. While Garland throws the oops that makes you go ooooh & ahhhh in the regular season, seems like that shit doesn't help in the playoffs. With the length most teams present across the board, I don't think having 2 smaller guards will ever truly work.
Backcourt Opinion: Start actively looking for the right trade. I'd gauge the value of both players and would not force a trade, but I'd be active and try to pull the trigger by the 2024 deadline.
My goal would be to get bigger. If everything seems okay with DM, I'd prefer to trade DG. While DG is great, he is not the type of max player that can carry you in the playoffs. He's not even a Brunson at this point.
While DM is by no means perfect, this is the boat Koby put us in, he mortgaged future years for players that truly don't fit together. I pick DM because, while not a true PG, he has enough handle to take over those duties and can pass well enough to make the defense pay. Not as natural as Garland and doesn't fling as many oops, but he makes you + size for the PG position and is switchable 1-3 in most match-ups.
If we don't trade DG, I really hope he is on a crazy strength program because he just isn't there physically.
Frontcourt Opinion:
Mobley and Allen do not fit together at all in today's game. They would have fit together fine in the '90s; maybe even early 2000s, but certainly not today. I'd look for Allen trades this offseason with a goal of trading him by 24 Deadline too. I wouldn't give him away or force myself into a trade, but that would be the goal. We do have time for him however since he's under contract for a while.
Those are the major decisions we need to make with our Core because of the timeline Koby pushed on us and the lack of assets to really improve. If we cannot really extract value for Allen if Evan ever appears ready for a Full-time center role (which I'm thinking would be 2+ years minimum), I'd move him to the bench and he'd be the first big off it.
If we don't trade Allen, dude needs to be in the Weight Room with DG and Evan, and they all need to be putting up 1000 3's a day with Okoro.
Ancillary Players Opinion
I'm not really sure there will be any straight-up players to move the needle one way or another. I think everyone will be out of our price range and any of the really good dudes if they do take a paycut, I see going to Lakers, GS, Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, Knicks, Philly, etc. before they would come here since we seemed pretty far away in the playoffs.
Our Peak next season
If we don't change coaches or the core 4 at best we are a 2nd round exit, more likely we are in that 4/5 spot again and drop in the first round.
My outlook on this team:
I feel DM and DG are not a compatible Championship backcourt......maybe if we had Lebron it would be feasible, but Bron ain't coming through that door nor is there any other superstar SF. One has to go, I loved our Trio of DG, Evan, and Allen.....but unfortunately, Koby sped up the timeline by trading all of our assets for Mitchell, but then acts like first-round exits are fine and the team needs time to grow. JB did not instill any confidence at all, but I just find it hard to really think of who the perfect coach for these two would be. I really can't think of any. I think our peak will honestly be Dame/CJ at best......and I don't know if it will ever get there......because neither player seems to play off the ball that well and it seems they prefer to have it in their hands. While Garland throws the oops that makes you go ooooh & ahhhh in the regular season, seems like that shit doesn't help in the playoffs. With the length most teams present across the board, I don't think having 2 smaller guards will ever truly work.
Backcourt Opinion: Start actively looking for the right trade. I'd gauge the value of both players and would not force a trade, but I'd be active and try to pull the trigger by the 2024 deadline.
My goal would be to get bigger. If everything seems okay with DM, I'd prefer to trade DG. While DG is great, he is not the type of max player that can carry you in the playoffs. He's not even a Brunson at this point.
While DM is by no means perfect, this is the boat Koby put us in, he mortgaged future years for players that truly don't fit together. I pick DM because, while not a true PG, he has enough handle to take over those duties and can pass well enough to make the defense pay. Not as natural as Garland and doesn't fling as many oops, but he makes you + size for the PG position and is switchable 1-3 in most match-ups.
If we don't trade DG, I really hope he is on a crazy strength program because he just isn't there physically.
Frontcourt Opinion:
Mobley and Allen do not fit together at all in today's game. They would have fit together fine in the '90s; maybe even early 2000s, but certainly not today. I'd look for Allen trades this offseason with a goal of trading him by 24 Deadline too. I wouldn't give him away or force myself into a trade, but that would be the goal. We do have time for him however since he's under contract for a while.
Those are the major decisions we need to make with our Core because of the timeline Koby pushed on us and the lack of assets to really improve. If we cannot really extract value for Allen if Evan ever appears ready for a Full-time center role (which I'm thinking would be 2+ years minimum), I'd move him to the bench and he'd be the first big off it.
If we don't trade Allen, dude needs to be in the Weight Room with DG and Evan, and they all need to be putting up 1000 3's a day with Okoro.
Ancillary Players Opinion
- Okoro - while nothing special, I would not use him as trade filler, with no value. Gotta keep working and hope he turns into 3 and D.
- Rubio - Have to hope he recovers from ACL and if not by the trade deadline, he should strictly be used as trade bait.
- Wade - Again, hope he recovers from the shoulder issue and shows he can shoot again. If he can, while not really a good full-time starter, I'd label him an 8th man type and spot starter at best. Again, if shot doesn't recover by tradeline, he'd be outbound with Ricky.
- Windler - I'd be tempted to pick up his option just for trade fodder, at this point, I never expect him to ever be healthy. I assume he has some type of congenital defect.
- Levert - Unrestricted FA - if this dude leaves and we get nothing back.....we are already doomed. Hoping for a sign and trade, but if I can't find one I'm bringing him back on a 3-year tradable deal. If we traded DG, he might be useful as a 6 man off the bench and emergency PG if needed.
- Merril - Meh - could be consolidated in a trade.
- Lopez, unless he can get his Brother to play alongside Evan for the MLE.....he should be gone.
- Isaiah Mobley - For now keep and see if he can develop keep Evan happy.
- Mama D. - For now keep, but cut if something better comes along
- Travers - I'd invite to Summer League and see if he's viable to sign since we are hurting so bad at the SF position. Could be trade fodder.
- Diop - I hate that name..... the same as Travers though, we need some beef on the frontline but not sure he's ready. Could be trade fodder.
I'm not really sure there will be any straight-up players to move the needle one way or another. I think everyone will be out of our price range and any of the really good dudes if they do take a paycut, I see going to Lakers, GS, Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, Knicks, Philly, etc. before they would come here since we seemed pretty far away in the playoffs.
Our Peak next season
If we don't change coaches or the core 4 at best we are a 2nd round exit, more likely we are in that 4/5 spot again and drop in the first round.