dckingsfan wrote:payitforward wrote:dckingsfan wrote:So who is the core? In my mind it is Westbrook, Beal, Bertans, Avdija and Gafford. Bryant if he can come back healthy and the dreaded conversation about Rui if he can make the jump for a season. ...
A "core" is not just "the best players." A core has to be able to move forward through some years.
In that sense, how can the 32 year old Westbrook & the 20 year old Avdija both be part of "the core?"
Westbrook as the central piece of that "core" means "win now." & that's not "win a title now," it's get the most you can out of having the guy next year & the year after.
I worry that's going to motivate Tommy to make a big mistake & sign an expensive veteran.
As to Bertans, he's not at the core of anything whatever. He's an overpaid, single-skill player. He's a problem not the answer to a problem. That doesn't mean he can't help you sometimes; it's not a criticism of him, just of the decision to re-sign him for all that $$ & all those years. & that mistake too makes me worry about Tommy doubling down by signing an expensive veteran.
In short, I see this team as reflecting two completely opposite strategies. The first is to develop a new core via the draft & being opportunistic. That core can be grown around Brad Beal; he is not too old for that. It's a plan oriented around the future.
The other strategy is to get the most we can right now out of Russ & Brad. Sacrifice anything to maximize the benefit of having those two guys for the next couple of years.
I don't like that 2d strategy.
You are getting at the core of the question and the follow-on strategy (or vice versa). I hope this discussion die in an excruciating discussion of incidental detail but on the big picture.
Strategy: What is your plan of action to move forward and what tactics are acceptable to do so to build your roster. (One could argue you should go after your coach first and then recruit toward the offensive and defensive schemes that could would run).
"...your..." -- are you asking me in particular? Or are you asking what ought to be this team's plan of action?
From my POV, I focus on being great at using the draft & being extremely opportunistic in every way:
In 2019, I would have tried to come out of the draft with Mr. Unnameable, Keldon Johnson & Daniel Gafford.
Last year at the deadline I'd have traded Davis to Boston for the #26 pick in the 2020 draft. I'd have been sure to trade up for the #35 pick as well: thus I'd have come out of the 2020 draft with Deni, Desmond Bane & Xavier Tillman. I'd also have bought a mid-R2 pick & grabbed one of Kenyon Martin Jr., Skylar Mays, or Paul Reed. I'd also have signed Nathan Knight & Nate Hinton undrafted if at all possible (i.e. as my 2-way players -- w/ Mathews moved to the main roster).
dckingsfan wrote:Core: Who are the players that you take forward both short-term and long-term. (I would argue that you have a short-term and long-term core given that it takes time to get where you want to be. But a counter to this is never look at the short-term rather keep your eye on the goal: a championship).
So, I would argue that there is a short-term core and a long-term core. Would you agree with that? If so, break down your short-term and long-term core groups.
To me that translates into players you are sure of (whom you keep, i.e. sign, long-term) & players you're not as sure of -- you try to be good enough at picking those guys that, over time, you become sure of the maximum number of them.
You may want to trade players out of either group if there's a chance to be opportunistic.
The greatest skill is not being able to outline "strategy." That's actually pretty easy. The greatest skill is being able to see opportunity when it's available to you -- i.e. to execute on strategy with maximal positive effect but also to let go of an asset you've viewed as "strategic" if/when a better asset is available to you.
