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Would you be disappointed if we missed the playoffs? Our pick is top 16 protected and we could lose the pick if we win too many.

Depends on how we get there.

If Cade, Hayes, Bey, Stewart etc have balled out of their minds then sweet let's celebrate the rise.

IF we're close at the deadline and we bundle 2 kids into a trade for a "win now" piece then I'll be fuming.

Despite popular opinion most teams are treadmill teams (Portland, Denver, Indiana, Boston). The question is can we wait a year or 2 and put ourselves in a position to be a elite treadmill team?

Develop the kids another year, conserve cap space next off-season or be smart with our money then roll again.

It did appear the 2022 off-season was the goal. Now it looks like 2023 is it.

That gives Cade 2 seasons to stake his claim and gives Hayes, Bey & Stewart 3 years to show where they fit around him.

Then we can go shopping and buy a significant piece (or 2 depending where Grant fits then) and maybe make a huge jump.

I anticipate a Lottery ticket this season but playoffs in 22-23 heading into that vital free agency.

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Pharaoh wrote:Depends on how we get there.

If Cade, Hayes, Bey, Stewart etc have balled out of their minds then sweet let's celebrate the rise.

IF we're close at the deadline and we bundle 2 kids into a trade for a "win now" piece then I'll be fuming.

Despite popular opinion most teams are treadmill teams (Portland, Denver, Indiana, Boston). The question is can we wait a year or 2 and put ourselves in a position to be a elite treadmill team?

Develop the kids another year, conserve cap space next off-season or be smart with our money then roll again.

It did appear the 2022 off-season was the goal. Now it looks like 2023 is it.

That gives Cade 2 seasons to stake his claim and gives Hayes, Bey & Stewart 3 years to show where they fit around him.

Then we can go shopping and buy a significant piece (or 2 depending where Grant fits then) and maybe make a huge jump.

I anticipate a Lottery ticket this season but playoffs in 22-23 heading into that vital free agency.

Sent from my SM-G781B using RealGM mobile app

What if CoJo, Grant and KO all ball out of their minds like they did last year? Closing games out at the end with CoJo/Cade/Bey/Grant/KO. Fuming still?

Not happening too many Eastern teams improved this offseason.

I voted yes I want another high draft pick if not two more. Hard to be in position to be bad enough to get these high picks. We havent picked higher then 7 since 2003 thats a long time.

buzzkilloton wrote:Not happening too many Eastern teams improved this offseason.

I voted yes I want another high draft pick if not two more. Hard to be in position to be bad enough to get these high picks. We havent picked higher then 7 since 2003 thats a long time.

Yea a totally hypothetical question. Curious where people stand with the team.

Only way to guarantee a higher pick than 7th is to totally tank and be one of the bottom two worst teams.

So you think the team should hardcore tank multiple years?

FloridaMan78 wrote:

buzzkilloton wrote:Not happening too many Eastern teams improved this offseason.

I voted yes I want another high draft pick if not two more. Hard to be in position to be bad enough to get these high picks. We havent picked higher then 7 since 2003 thats a long time.

Yea a totally hypothetical question. Curious where people stand with the team.

Only way to guarantee a higher pick than 7th is to totally tank and be one of the bottom two worst teams.

So you think the team should hardcore tank multiple years?

I know were not going to hardcore tank. Just play the kids and run out Cojo/Olynk/Grant minutes like Casey wants and try to win until playin is eliminated then rest the vets here and there. Were going to be right there with the worst teams 5-6 teams in the league.

I just dont see how we pass anyone. Hornets have a bunch of young talant just like us and were better then us last season and just improved in the offseason a ton already and are about to add Lauri as well. Wizards lost Westbrook who I think is a negative and are adding Kuzma/Harrel/KCP/Dinwiddie. Bulls added a bunch. Even the better teams from last season are stocking up more talent which are teams we play. This is the deepest East I can rememeber.

buzzkilloton wrote:

FloridaMan78 wrote:

buzzkilloton wrote:Not happening too many Eastern teams improved this offseason.

I voted yes I want another high draft pick if not two more. Hard to be in position to be bad enough to get these high picks. We havent picked higher then 7 since 2003 thats a long time.

Yea a totally hypothetical question. Curious where people stand with the team.

Only way to guarantee a higher pick than 7th is to totally tank and be one of the bottom two worst teams.

So you think the team should hardcore tank multiple years?

I know were not going to hardcore tank. Just play the kids and run out Cojo/Olynk/Grant minutes like Casey wants and try to win until playin is eliminated then rest the vets here and there. Were going to be right there with the worst teams 5-6 teams in the league.

I just dont see how we pass anyone. Hornets have a bunch of young talant just like us and were better then us last season and just improved in the offseason a ton already and are about to add Lauri as well. Wizards lost Westbrook who I think is a negative and are adding Kuzma/Harrel/KCP/Dinwiddie. Bulls added a bunch. Even the better teams from last season are stocking up more talent which are teams we play. This is the deepest East I can rememeber.

Yea with Casey it’ll be tough to tank playing the vets.

But if you had it your way would you want us to hardcore tank multiple years to get a couple top 5 picks?

FloridaMan78 wrote:

buzzkilloton wrote:

FloridaMan78 wrote:
Yea a totally hypothetical question. Curious where people stand with the team.

Only way to guarantee a higher pick than 7th is to totally tank and be one of the bottom two worst teams.

So you think the team should hardcore tank multiple years?

I know were not going to hardcore tank. Just play the kids and run out Cojo/Olynk/Grant minutes like Casey wants and try to win until playin is eliminated then rest the vets here and there. Were going to be right there with the worst teams 5-6 teams in the league.

I just dont see how we pass anyone. Hornets have a bunch of young talant just like us and were better then us last season and just improved in the offseason a ton already and are about to add Lauri as well. Wizards lost Westbrook who I think is a negative and are adding Kuzma/Harrel/KCP/Dinwiddie. Bulls added a bunch. Even the better teams from last season are stocking up more talent which are teams we play. This is the deepest East I can rememeber.

Yea with Casey it’ll be tough to tank playing the vets.

But if you had it your way would you want us to hardcore tank multiple years to get a couple top 5 picks?

If it was my way we would have a couple good Vets around to help the kids be pros and I'd run the kids out there until we have 2-3 certain franchise stars.The way its going I'm not to worried about it this season just hoping we stay in the top 4-5 of the draft. Multiple good bigs coming out.

buzzkilloton wrote:

FloridaMan78 wrote:

buzzkilloton wrote:
I know were not going to hardcore tank. Just play the kids and run out Cojo/Olynk/Grant minutes like Casey wants and try to win until playin is eliminated then rest the vets here and there. Were going to be right there with the worst teams 5-6 teams in the league.

I just dont see how we pass anyone. Hornets have a bunch of young talant just like us and were better then us last season and just improved in the offseason a ton already and are about to add Lauri as well. Wizards lost Westbrook who I think is a negative and are adding Kuzma/Harrel/KCP/Dinwiddie. Bulls added a bunch. Even the better teams from last season are stocking up more talent which are teams we play. This is the deepest East I can rememeber.

Yea with Casey it’ll be tough to tank playing the vets.

But if you had it your way would you want us to hardcore tank multiple years to get a couple top 5 picks?

If it was my way we would have a couple good Vets around to help the kids be pros and I'd run the kids out there until we have 2-3 certain franchise stars.The way its going I'm not to worried about it this season just hoping we stay in the top 4-5 of the draft. Multiple good bigs coming out.

100% this!

You’re obviously not going to stifle development but we at least need to play the ping pong balls 1-2 times more. We NEED star power and if we can land a Chet Holmgren or someone with that superstar potential we can really look to make noise in the follow season after we hit free agency and players will want to come here with the dearth of talent we would have.

As soon as it looks like we would have to fight really hard and play vets big mins to stay in playoff contention I’d hope that our front office takes note and makes sure that we play for the draft.

FloridaMan78 wrote:

Pharaoh wrote:Depends on how we get there.

If Cade, Hayes, Bey, Stewart etc have balled out of their minds then sweet let's celebrate the rise.

IF we're close at the deadline and we bundle 2 kids into a trade for a "win now" piece then I'll be fuming.

Despite popular opinion most teams are treadmill teams (Portland, Denver, Indiana, Boston). The question is can we wait a year or 2 and put ourselves in a position to be a elite treadmill team?

Develop the kids another year, conserve cap space next off-season or be smart with our money then roll again.

It did appear the 2022 off-season was the goal. Now it looks like 2023 is it.

That gives Cade 2 seasons to stake his claim and gives Hayes, Bey & Stewart 3 years to show where they fit around him.

Then we can go shopping and buy a significant piece (or 2 depending where Grant fits then) and maybe make a huge jump.

I anticipate a Lottery ticket this season but playoffs in 22-23 heading into that vital free agency.

Sent from my SM-G781B using RealGM mobile app

What if CoJo, Grant and KO all ball out of their minds like they did last year? Closing games out at the end with CoJo/Cade/Bey/Grant/KO. Fuming still?

Yes because that's short sighted and a trip to mediocrity!

Our future rests on the shoulders of our kids! Hayes, Cade, Bey, Stewart. We need those guys to become the best players they can possibly become.

If we're closing games with CoJo & KO then that hurts the development long term

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I would be OK with them making the playoffs even if a veteran or two is sprinkled through the rotation late in the season. Some youngsters may end up burned out toward the end of their first 82 game season. Some may not play as well as expected. Some will get injured. I'd rather use callups from the G league but sometimes the last man standing might be a vet.

As long as we're not riding productive veterans to reach the playoffs it would be refreshing and a good sign, given how much better the East will be this year.

I don't think the playoffs are happening, but if they did it would be great for the young team.

Playoff basketball becomes different with the physicality, ref whistle, and reviews. It would be advantageous Cade starts to learn how players get superstar treatment from the refs.

Pharaoh wrote:

FloridaMan78 wrote:

Pharaoh wrote:Depends on how we get there.

If Cade, Hayes, Bey, Stewart etc have balled out of their minds then sweet let's celebrate the rise.

IF we're close at the deadline and we bundle 2 kids into a trade for a "win now" piece then I'll be fuming.

Despite popular opinion most teams are treadmill teams (Portland, Denver, Indiana, Boston). The question is can we wait a year or 2 and put ourselves in a position to be a elite treadmill team?

Develop the kids another year, conserve cap space next off-season or be smart with our money then roll again.

It did appear the 2022 off-season was the goal. Now it looks like 2023 is it.

That gives Cade 2 seasons to stake his claim and gives Hayes, Bey & Stewart 3 years to show where they fit around him.

Then we can go shopping and buy a significant piece (or 2 depending where Grant fits then) and maybe make a huge jump.

I anticipate a Lottery ticket this season but playoffs in 22-23 heading into that vital free agency.

Sent from my SM-G781B using RealGM mobile app

What if CoJo, Grant and KO all ball out of their minds like they did last year? Closing games out at the end with CoJo/Cade/Bey/Grant/KO. Fuming still?

Yes because that's short sighted and a trip to mediocrity!

Our future rests on the shoulders of our kids! Hayes, Cade, Bey, Stewart. We need those guys to become the best players they can possibly become.

If we're closing games with CoJo & KO then that hurts the development long term

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Yea I ask that because if we do make the playoffs, I think it will be partly due to the vets closing games out. I think Cade will have the ball in his hands, but I don’t think Hayes will be on the floor. We lost some games last year because young guys like Hayes, Diallo, and Josh Jackson had no idea how to close out games.

That Orlando game sticks out when Diallo was dribbling around in circles like chicken little down by 3 with 30 seconds left or the Ind, Dallas, and Charlotte games where Hayes repeatedly turned the ball over late in the fourth. I think we win some of those games just by having them on the bench in the last 5 min.

Development is most important. But point guard is a really tough position. I remember Popovich benching Tony Parker multiple times early in his career when he wasn’t playing the right way late in the fourth. Sometimes being left on the floor when you’re hurting your team isn’t good for development. Carrot or the stick moments are important. Hayes definitely needs some of that this year.

It’s not a simple question. If Eastern teams are tanking and we squeak in despite playing poorly, I’ll be upset. But if our young guys are balling, building a core, and earn a spot because they are beating competition than I’m thrilled.

FloridaMan78 wrote:

Pharaoh wrote:

FloridaMan78 wrote:
What if CoJo, Grant and KO all ball out of their minds like they did last year? Closing games out at the end with CoJo/Cade/Bey/Grant/KO. Fuming still?

Yes because that's short sighted and a trip to mediocrity!

Our future rests on the shoulders of our kids! Hayes, Cade, Bey, Stewart. We need those guys to become the best players they can possibly become.

If we're closing games with CoJo & KO then that hurts the development long term

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Yea I ask that because if we do make the playoffs, I think it will be partly due to the vets closing games out. I think Cade will have the ball in his hands, but I don’t think Hayes will be on the floor. We lost some games last year because young guys like Hayes, Diallo, and Josh Jackson had no idea how to close out games.

That Orlando game sticks out when Diallo was dribbling around in circles like chicken little down by 3 with 30 seconds left or the Ind, Dallas, and Charlotte games where Hayes repeatedly turned the ball over late in the fourth. I think we win some of those games just by having them on the bench in the last 5 min.

Development is most important. But point guard is a really tough position. I remember Popovich benching Tony Parker multiple times early in his career when he wasn’t playing the right way late in the fourth. Sometimes being left on the floor when you’re hurting your team isn’t good for development. Carrot or the stick moments are important. Hayes definitely needs some of that this year.

Agree Hayes needed that more last season but:

These kids have a full off-season with the organisation this go round.

That means coaching & training on a different level.

IF we're consistently sitting Hayes at the end of games and rolling out CoJo then we've failing as a franchise.

IF Hayes isn't on the floor then put FJ or Diallo in the line up and put the ball in Cade's hands.

Time will tell but I'm hoping Killian is much improved this season.

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All I care is about Cade's development first and foremost since he's the number 1 pick. If we're playing poor and stumble into the playoffs as a travesty, then yes I'll be mildly upset. But if Cade is the one leading us there like Trae Young, then it'll be fine IMO

It really hinges upon Cade

DBC10 wrote:All I care is about Cade's development first and foremost since he's the number 1 pick. If we're playing poor and stumble into the playoffs as a travesty, then yes I'll be mildly upset. But if Cade is the one leading us there like Trae Young, then it'll be fine IMO

It really hinges upon Cade

Yea totally agree with you.

I think if we do make the play in game or the playoffs, it’ll be because Cade is a generational talent. He ends up being near what Luka was and leads us.

I think Bey and Stewart will be solid, not sure about Hayes.

There were some crazy stats about top 10 picks over the last decade on the ringer. It was nearly 9 of 10 of the top 10 picks over the last decade don’t make it to the their second contract from their drafted team. We could get lucky with Bey, Stewart and Hayes, but odds are against it.

As long as it happens organically, i.e. the kids are all getting their minutes and their development and teamwork has come along so well that they play .500 ball doing it “the right way,” who’s going to complain? Would you want the players to intentionally tank or develop more slowly just to get one higher draft pick? There isn’t a “good” switch that can be turned on at whichever point in time the coach/GM thinks is best. “Hey Casey, leave the ‘good’ switch off for another season. We need the players and the team as a whole to suck for another year so we can get another top 5 draft pick.” “You got it, Weave. I promise I won’t touch that sucker until after we get that draft pick, then I’ll hit the switch and all the players can start being good and winning games.”

Liqourish wrote:It’s not a simple question. If Eastern teams are tanking and we squeak in despite playing poorly, I’ll be upset. But if our young guys are balling, building a core, and earn a spot because they are beating competition than I’m thrilled.

Agreed, and I'll reinforce that there is value in the young guys getting playoff experience.

FloridaMan78 wrote:Would you be disappointed if we missed the playoffs? Our pick is top 16 protected and we could lose the pick if we win too many.

Did we get in because of the younger players being developed or the older players being leaned on? But honestly we still have jahlil “I’ll get you the 1st pick” Okafor still in the roster and best chance at playoff is us losing a play in game… so sure what the heck. Lose the 83rd game of the season and win the top overall pick. Sure why not.