Scase wrote:OakleyDokely wrote:Scase wrote:I don't think this is an either or situation.
Siakam is both not worth any genuine high end prospects, but the return was also pretty crappy due to waiting until the last actual minute.
Could it have gotten better? Most likely, but probably not a crazy amount. This is why I wanted us to pull a hard reset after Tampa and start rebuilding then, but I can admit that it was pretty unlikely/unrealistic. That said, there is no excuse for dragging this out as long as it took.
It also brings into question Masais judgment, if Siakam is so low value, why did we stick with him in a core for so long? Why did we try and build a contender with him as the #1 option?
I've said it before and I'll say it again, either Masai was wrong holding onto him thinking he was worth more than he was, or Masai was wrong for trying for so long to build a team with him as the centre piece. Either way, bad judgment got us here.
The expected return for Siakam and when to pivot (rebuilding the roster) are two separate questions though. Even if they pivoted earlier, I'm not convinced the package for Siakam gets substantially better. The bigger impact of an early pivot would've been an improvement on our draft picks.
I think it's realistic that a younger player, on a longer term contract would fetch more than an older one with zero time on their contract. The question is how much better. I don't think a crazy amount, but it's hard to argue it would be just as bad.
Moving him sooner naturally would benefit our picks, but it would also mean that we would probably be more willing to get picks further out, giving us increased flexibility. We moved Siakam to Indy for that crap sandwich, because we had no choice but to move him then, or stupidly re-sign him. Shopping him a year+ in advance opens up the options. Maybe they are the same type of picks, but from a different team that isn't on an up swing, but rather one looking to push over the hump and decline shortly after.
The dubs are a good example (not saying it was an option, just an example), trade to a team that with Siakam and whatever prospects they have now, will not result in a good team for long with Curry etc retiring/falling off in a couple years. Immediate picks would be great for sure, but better ones further out, ultimately hold more value. Especially when you take into account how meh this draft is supposed to be.
Like I mentioned, if the Raps traded Siakam a year earlier, maybe they get an extra late pick or middle tier prospect as well. But the deal was always going to involve middle to late picks and mid tier prospects, not top assets.
Overall, I'm content with getting 3 1sts + Brown + financial flexibility once they decided to pivot.