HERE YOU GO, I expect your full support & enthusiasm…
My assumptions are…GSW regrets the Poole contract but that certainly doesn’t make him a bad player. GSW isn’t a real contender as currently constructed. If Myers leave, they’ll be facing tough decisions about their core- but they’re immensely loyal to their Big 3. The cap situation is a big issue there…and their youth movement hasn’t panned out. Time for some fiscally sound restructuring without a tear down. Some calculated risks that could actually make them better AND more flexible immediately.
ORL sends…Isaac ($17m, $7m guaranteed-defensive monster if healthy), Fultz ($17m, $2m guaranteed, strong on-ball, needs shooters), Cole Anthony (rookie deal, significantly improved BBIQ, great skillset), #11 pick, DEN 25 frp
GSW sends…Poole (big contract coming, ORL hands him the keys and prays that a change of scenery & role pays), Andrew Wiggins (GSW finishing school has polished game and he’s ready to win on both ends), #19 (largely to balance risk of Poole deal)
For ORL…Go Big! Once extensions kick in for Paolo & Franz, their roster will be locked, for better or worse. This is a very big bet on Poole’s ability to play the star role, while still deferring some spotlight to the highest-upside young player, Paolo, while still scoring 22+ ppg. He’s very young and very skilled, can he play the modern “Lead Guard” like Murray does in DEN? Can he be more efficient AND become a great facilitator? Can Wiggins, now the elder vet, continue to play smart and unselfishly on both ends without strong HOFers to keep him in his lane? Both could become All-Stars if they play winning Bball. Franz is good enough to become a 20ppg All-Star, but his game is built to be complementary, with ability to dominate when needed. Suddenly TONS of talent, but success will rest largely on Poole’s ability to grow as a floor general…scary situation with huge upside. The GSW egos must be checked at ORL airport as Paolo remains the big dog here- bad chemistry could be disastrous. Good chemistry jumps them to contending in a short time. #19 gets them solid frontcourt upside/depth, Lively or GG Jackson?
For GSW…huge cap relief, options with Fultz and Isaac deals. If Isaac is healthy, Wiggins’ defense is forgotten. Along with Draymond, they strangle opposing teams, from perimeter to rim. Klay’s ability to gamble defensively increases and his defensive exposure is
lessened. Cole pretty much replaces Poole, at a fraction of the cost and is understudy to Curry. Poole’s upside MIGHT be higher than Cole’s but Cole is more than up to the GSW role Poole outgrew/was overpaid for. Fultz is a big question- giving Curry more off-ball might help Curry out. Fultz isn’t a floor spreader, but he’s very efficient and a big, strong force with the ball. He can get where he wants and would thrive penetrating & kicking to Curry, Klay, and #11(Dick? Hawkins?)…either way, all 3 present good financial & basketball angles…two frps acknowledge Isaac’s health risk…if he’s good to go, he’s likely the best player in the deal and GSW is actually immediately improved as well as out from under the cap space tax hammer, to a greater degree at least.
Poole(All-Star, 24/9, HOU Harden), Suggs
Wiggins, Harris
Franz, Housman, Okeke
Paolo (All-Star, 21/9/6), Hendricks (#6), M. Wagner
WCJ, Lively (#19?), Goga
#19 could be Leonard Miller, Jett Howard, Whitehead, GG Jackson, Podzmieski…whoever impresses or drops to us
