VanWest82 wrote:LonZoBallin wrote:My theory is we got smoked by the Cavs! We have no ways to improve! All our core players are only going to get worse from here on out.
Why would it be such a bad thing to blow it up?
Mind if I take a crack at answering this? You're right, we're probably maxed out as the second best team in the east who gets smoked by the Cavs every year (though I disagree about Derozan, who will very likely continue to improve). But blowing it up is only something you do if the conditions are right, or you have no other choice. Think about our roster and all the moves we'd have to make to properly tank.
1. Let all our free agents walk. Sign and trades are dead due to changes in 2011 CBA, so we'd be letting Lowry, Ibaka, Tucker, and Patterson all go for nothing.
2. You'd have to trade Derozan. He's too good to let us lose enough where we could get a top 5 pick. But he's tricky to build around, and as many have said (posters, NBA writers - both local and US, sources from inside various organizations, etc.) there really isn't much of a market for him right now. People assume we'd get a top 5 pick for him. That's not happening. History suggests you get 30 cents on the dollar when you trade stars. What would we realistically get for a divisive player who just flamed out in the POs for the third year in a row?
3. Look at the rest of our roster. Outside of the odd gaffe (i.e. Bruno) the organization has been diligent about surrounding our stars with high end role players. Guys like Poeltl, Siakam, Norm, Wright, FVV, JV...none of them have star ceilings. They're solid complimentary guys, assuming they reach their potential. And there's nothing wrong with that btw, in fact it's amazing we've drafted so many useful players given our draft positions. But the overall point is once you get past our stars and vets, the youngsters aren't guys you could potentially build around.
If you decide to tank when the cupboard is basically bare, it's not going to be pretty. That's how 5-10 year rebuilds happen. And make no mistake, that's the position we'd be in.
If you're going to do it, Portland is a solid model. Yes they lost Wes Matthews and LA (and then traded Batum), but Lillard and CJ were already on the roster. We don't have anyone like that. So when you look at it from that lens, rolling it back for another 2-3 years of pseudo-contending while we look improve on our future assets (i.e. picks and young players with upside) seems like the better alternative.
I see the future different than you. The maxed out at 2nd time is in the past. The celtics were ahead of us this year, gaining fultz and probably a max player at the least. Come on now, I know it's good to be positive but one must also be realistic.
The wizards have the player that matters(John Wall) Their core players in Wall and Beal are younger than DD and Lowry. Wizards are trending UP!!
The Bucks don't only have a superstar, they have a MVP talent and battled us without their 2nd best player. The next two most impressive players in that series were rookies, Maker and Brogden. How aren't they only going to get better? And they have the player that matters like the wizards
It wouldn't shock me at all and I actually think it will happen, we finish 5th in the east next year. And possibility 6th depending on what happens with Milsap. We can say winning culture all we want but the HAwks have been doing it longer than us!!!!! They made the Conference finals not to long ago, remember? And have the one player in Dennis that could potentially have a break out season to All-star status. We don't have that, Sorry but Powell won't get there with DD and Lowry around!
6th in the east is very possible next year. All those teams have ways to improve and finished top 6 last year. All but the hawks are def trending up!
The blow up is in perfect order and that's why I don't understand how you guys can't see it!?!?!? You trade DD at the draft for a rebuild package and let lowry and ibaka walk. Bottom out! Don't half ass tank, tank to the bottom where you need to be. That's how you tank. With the Leafs success it puzzles me why more don't see how it's possible. They tanked and are taking the spotlight regardless of what we do. You trade DD for your Marner....go get your Auston and then take King James down when he's past his prime. Give me hope! If I had Greak freak, I think King James is in trouble in a few years. Even with Wall and how beal played in the playoffs with his youth, I have more hope than the Raptors. And the Celtics hope is through the roof. Maybe Denis in Atlanta becomes a Kawhi type PG. I don't have any hope with this core.
You sign Lowry and Ibaka, it's going to be rough. We will have no ways to improve and tanking will be next to impossible for a while. You can't just ship out 80 million in salary lol it doesn't work like that. One will go and we'll be stuck in the middle. Have no choice but to wait out the salaries with no ways of getting better. Even if you trade one, you're bringing back salary and won't get a game changer in free agency. You're still stuck. Maybe picking late teens instead of early 20's, goodluck.
Celtics future is bright because they didn't wait until it was too late to trade KG and Pierce. Don't miss that boat with Derozan. Imo that was his best year ever. He might have a close or similar year but I don't see it getting much better. Imo when everything is said and done rn now Derozan's trade value is higher than it will ever be.
I think a lot of Derozans value comes from we win. If we're battling for 5th or even 4th I think Derozan's value goes down even if he has the same year as last season. And he relies a lot of free throws, guys! Free throws only go down from wing players, when he loses those 10 free throws a game? What is he?
Don't miss the boat...
*INGRAM*ALLSTARSEASON* Wemby is HIM
