+minushighness wrote:deep6er wrote:+minushighness wrote:
I don’t think I am getting carried away at all. When I watched Fultz play this season, I saw a 19 year old kid who could literally get to the rim anytime he wanted (despite the defense sagging off to contest him at the rim) and who was creative enough to contort his body in a variety of ways to get his shot off. Add some muscle to his frame, bring his shot back - something his shooting coach is very optimistic about, and you have a player capable of being scoring champ with the right amount of shots.
You're definitely getting carried away. You're also misreading Fultz's skill set. If the shot clicks again (big if) he can be a really good scorer but the best thing about him is how diverse his game is. He won't be dogging it on defense so that he can put up Harden numbers. If Kawhi is healthy you trade Fultz for him in a heartbeat. If our wildest dreams come true then Fultz is a top 5 player in this league. Kawhi is already a top 5 player.
Have you all taken crazy pills? Is everyone's memory so short that all it takes is 1 year to forget how good someone is. Healthy Kawhi is the most complete player in the game besides Lebron. 2016/17 Kawhi was one of the best defenders in the league not just with blocks and steals but switches, knowing where he had to be when and he became an elite finisher and shooter. The one aspect of his game where Fultz can surpass him is passing, but Klaw is still a great passer and ridiculously clutch, so many end of the game shots. His ball handling is absurd for a guy his size too. I think it was Oladipo who he famously put on skates that year.
So go ahead, love Fultz, but keep some perspective. Kawhi (if healthy) is hall of fame level and doesn't need the ball to be effective. Everyone wants that on their team. Personally, I don't make the trade because I'm terrified after Bynum (and Brand... and Webber) but my post Bynum PTSD is just one of the many reasons why I couldn't be a decent gm.
Giving up one of Covington/Saric, Fultz, 10, and 26 is too much to trade in return for a Kawhi rental. I am especially paranoid of trading Fultz while his value is so diminished. It would kill me to see the kid realize his potential for the Spurs on a good contract and then lose Kawhi in the off season.
Also, every time a trade like this occurs for a superstar, they never commit to an extension and eventually become a distraction with all the contract drama as the season progresses. I would be more open to going all in if we were able to get Kawhi to commit to an extension, but I doubt his people would go for that.
Well said on all points. That's why we shouldn't trade or him.
Apropos to what's going on in Kawhi's head and the maneuvering in Tinsel Town with the Dodgers part-owner/Lakers team president needing to make a big score, we're beginning to get a sense of the packages of various teams:
* the Clippers: 12+Tobias Harris (expiring); the best the Clippers could offer would be 12+13+future pick. They could include their 2019 pick if they miss the playoffs. But even if they sign Kawhi, their roster is pretty thin and will be thinner if Jordan bolts. With or without Jordan, not likely to be a top team in the West.
* the Lakers: Kuzma or Ingram (not both and not Ball); the best the Lakers could offer would be Kuzma+Ingram+future pick. The Lakers own 25 on Thursday. If LeBron doesn't go to LA, Kawhi alone doesn't make them a contending team. With Kawhi and LeBron, are they a contending team? Wild card: Paul George. Interestingly, not many rumors have been circulating about him.
* Cleveland: 8; the best the Cavs can offer is 8+some mix of Zizic, Osman and Nance. If they finish better than 10th, they lose their 2019 pick to Atlanta. The Cavs can't make a serious offer.
* Boston: Brown+Rozier; the Celtics can add one or more of their future protected picks. The Celtics own 27 on Thursday.
* Sixers: ??????
Three interesting developments: Rudy Gay opted out of his 2018/2019 contract with the Spurs, meaning one of two expiring contracts (the other Danny Green) is now gone. Jamal Crawford also opted out; a possible one-year rental for us ancient as he may be? Woj reported that Chris Paul plans to stay with Houston and will lobby big time to recruit LeBron. I still don't see how Morey can make the numbers work without finding a third team to unload some combination of Anderson, Gordon, Tucker, Nene and/or Onuaku and send picks/prospects to Cleveland to help them make a sign-and-trade.
I hope we put all of our efforts into signing LeBron and making provisions to sign Paul George if we strike out. I don't know who Tom West is but he makes a strong case for George being a great fit.
https://www.libertyballers.com/2018/6/19/17462938/examining-how-seamlessly-paul-george-would-fit-with-sixers
