Texas Chuck wrote:So on topic with what led to that derail.... I could see Atlanta moving the #1 overall pick in a deal that brought them Bridges. He really is a good fit for them and with some other moves I think they could talk themselves into being very competitive right away.
What I can't see is why Brooklyn turns that down. Bridges value is only continuing to go down. So much of his value is in that cheap contract. And contenders don't want him to be a first option, so just because he put up numbers for 20 games after the KD trade as a forced 1st option, doesn't mean he returns first option return. Because he's not that guy.
So flip him for an elite prospect, get even cheaper for your big FA plans and stars weren't coming to Brooklyn to play with him anyway. Utah posters are making similar mistakes with Lauri. His value is going down not up. And I just don't see how him on a max is great value or leading Utah to contention. He's not getting better just more expensive.
I know its tough to be a mediocre team with a good, but not great young player and to want outrageous return because well he's our best player. But asset management is vital. And if you could get #1 overall this year? Yeah I'm doing that. Maybe the guy is never as good as Bridges. Obviously. If it was a guarantee well Atlanta never considers it. But the path to contention seems clearer for sure.
I just don't think you understand how bad Sarr is as a #1 prospect.
He's a stretch 5 only and he shoots 27% from three who has never shot better than 30% from three.
He never does anything on offense but hang out at the three point line. He's just always at the three point line and rarely ever gets close to the paint.
He's just not at all good inside because he's so soft and physically weak currently. He's years and years and years away from being Nic Claxton, with like a 10% chance he can be Nic Claxton with a 37% three point shot... And that guy would be a star, but man, it's so hard to see his jumpshot getting actually really good.
(Sarr is an elite perimeter and transition defender, but a below average paint defender as well)
Also like
James Harden is a top 10 cancer in the NBA.
Is like... Clearly worse than Lauri on both ends of the court.
Will demand a max salary in the offseason despite maybe being washed immediately after getting the max.
And got
-An unprotected swap in 2027
-An unprotected first in 2028
-A top 3 protected swap in 2029
Despite the Clippers having the worst health in the NBA.
So if there's one trade that has reset fan expectations, it has to be this one.