Lost in LA wrote:For what it is worth, I feel the team is at a crossroads. Our core talent is not great, but Brown got the best out of them, and the team has punched above its weight over the last 2 seasons, but unfortunately had more costly lapses this season than last.
I believe Monk will stay, as this is a perfect set up for him. If he starts, then I think we keep Huerter for now at least, but we will need one other defender at least.
We need some forward defensive help, and possibly a ball handler as the less we have Fox do, the more energy he conserves for the fourth quarter of games. Most of the current bench needs to go, but Sasha needs more consistent time as he is a high level winner and is also a very intelligent player. Keon is not an NBA level starter yet, despite some flashes, but his defence has proven to be essential in a team of average at best defenders. So we need a real 4, with wing capability, and we can learn from what Malone did at Denver in surrounding a very good player like Jokic, in our case Sabonis, with physically adept support players, and not have him do all the dirty work as well as the ball handling.
Not sure what trade value Barnes has, but I cannot see keeping both Huerter and him, but I see Huerter as being more useful next season, and younger. Unless we improve the core of 7/8 players with 2 new additions, I do not see us getting better, which will make the decision to extend Barnes and re-do Sabonis' deal look really bad. We sit between some young teams like Houston and OKC, on the one hand, but are in better shape that say the Warriors or even the Lakers. Fox is a bit of an enigma, as while he is very talented, he hasn't shown the consistency or maturity needed as the team's leader and face of the franchise.
Monte's legacy and future depend on this off season and/or the 24/25 deadline. Brown needs to be re-signed now, and Vivek, who unlike prior owners, has plenty of money, needs to open the wallet to build the value of the team. We have done the hard work in 2022/3 to get here, and it would be shameful to throw away the porgress thus far.
Well put together. Agree as well.
Keeping Huerter and bringing him off the bench if Monk stays could be a good option. Guard rotations of Fox/Monk/Keon/Huerter with potentially keeping combination of Davion/Duarte/Colby as deep bench options. Huerter could play some 3 off the bench as well. Just depends on staggering the minutes. Think we would see a new side to his game that resembles the small playmaking K'Von we saw last season.
But as you allude, the big thing is getting a 4.
I agree with Sasha, he needs consistent minutes. He improved on the defensive end as a team defender as the season went on. He is never going to be a great 1-1 defender, but there are a huge amount of these guys getting minutes in the POs right now.
His minutes should be around what Trey is getting, or just under. 16-20mpg.
I think the main aim of the coaching staff should be to restrict the minutes of Fox/Sabonis during the RS. Maybe even all the starters. Whether it be conscious or not it seems like these guys coast too much during games. You can take Domas out of that, he doesn't coast on any possessions let alone segments of games. Maybe his would be to keep the body in check. Tell them, get the job done in 32mpg or under or we need to give someone else a chance to. Extend to 34-36 on some nights (maybe when they've had longer breaks between games), but if they can't get it done in that time and build a winning lead, give another player a chance. Don't wait until you are getting blown out or blowing someone out to put the likes of Kessler/Colby/Sasha/Lyles/Len/Duarte etc in or back in. The squad will change, but the premise still stands.
