Pursuing the right 2nd PG: Trade? Free Agent? Draft? All three?
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:35 pm
From my perspective (and I gather I'm not alone), it is essential this off-season that Schlenk brings to the roster a combo guard who is both such an offensive asset and a defensive one that he gets deployed as the starting SG--at minimum, occasionally, and potentially even being the natural choice above Reddish, if his pedigree merits it.
What's great about that as an objective is that you really can attack it this off-season through any of three methods of acquisition, and what's additionally great is you really do have justification to consider filling all three current voids in the depth chart with one of those. (Mind you, yes, we have Brandon Goodwin, but given how he fell out of favor in those last few weeks of our season, I think it's more than plausible that his non-guaranteed contract is vulnerable.)
There are a couple of options I've been on-record as favoring big-time, and a couple that are only more recently emerging.
Among the more recently emerging is Shaq Harrison, who's an RFA this off-season. The left-handed Harrison has always had a reputation for solid defense, and as a college PG who has gotten significant minutes professionally at SG, he has solid handles and doesn't turn the ball over, while also being a pretty good finisher. It wasn't until this past year, though, that he put things together beyond the arc. Now that he has (38%), there's good evidence that at age 27 (in Oct), Shaq can begin to make a name for himself on someone's roster. His on-court/off-court for this season was by far the Bulls' best (+11) among those who received any substantial minutes.
And so you'd think the Bulls would regard him as a keeper. But then you go to read-up on the guy, and enthusiasm among Bulls writers seems surprisingly modest. They like him. He's referenced as an up-and-comer, one of the Bulls' FO better decisions bringing him in, one of the most underappreciated players on their roster. But evidently because of the other options on the roster in which the Bulls are invested, it seems they're generally accepting of the idea that he'll get a better offer as an RFA than what the Bulls will be willing to pay. If Schlenk can get this guy for $5m or less, I say go for it. If Schlenk can get this guy at a higher number, but for just one year, I say go for it. I'm in.
The other one who has more recently come to light is Delon Wright. I've followed Wright since TOR first drafted him, and now that he's 28 and achieved all that he has in TOR, MEM, and just this past season in DAL, I'm stoked about the value he would add in ATL. In short, he is a more accomplished version of Shaq Harrison. Like Harrison, his history shows both good and bad from the perimeter, and like Harrison, he's always been regarded for his defensive chops. But with more accomplishment comes a somewhat more significant price tag. Acquiring Wright means accepting a $9m cost in 20-21, and a $8.5m in 21-22. It's that second year that might be more problematic, since there remains the prospect that Schlenk will want to have as few veteran commitments on his books as possible, allowing him fullest possible opportunity in the 2021 FA marketplace.
So, why would DAL even be considering trading him if he's that good? I've spoken with DAL fans about it, and they seem to believe it's a 50/50 proposition that Wright will remain b/c of just that reason for DAL as well--his 21-22 salary is an obstacle to clearing enough space for the 2021 off-season market. And in spite of numbers that are fairly stout, some even career bests in DAL this season, there is a perception that Carlisle went away from using him and instead using the well-traveled Trey Burke in the bubble because he just doesn't appear to be the fit beside Luka that was originally anticipated.
Perhaps opportunity knocks, then(?). The sense you get from those same DAL fans is that if you're willing to part with that conditional late 2nd round pick, a deal could be struck.
Then, one of the two who I've been, not only on their train, but in the conductor's seat is Tyrese Haliburton. I'm among the congregation singing his praises for his BBIQ on both ends of the court, his unconventional but quick and accurate perimeter shot, and the fundamentals that over time could make him among the best regarded 6-5 defenders in the league. Travis is well aware of my avid belief that he should use the #6 pick on him. Haliburton's not an immediate answer, but we're not in a big hurry. He could be an exceptional one by the time ATL evolves into a serious contender.
Finally, I've already written ad nauseum about how I consider Victor Oladipo to be at the top of this list.
Honestly, I don't see a more ideal fit. He brings to the roster the same elements that Iggy brought to the GSW roster back-when. Unlike others, you know that it's not just a theoretical thing that maybe he might have the ability to play at the highest level, and in the post-season. He's shown what he's capable of doing.
Still, the questions surrounding him are substantial: (1) Can he get back to where he was, or is what we just saw in the bubble (which wasn't terrible, but also wasn't elite) now his ceiling?... (2) If you acquire him now, will he play well enough in 20-21 to make his Bird rights worth having, or will he not, and so you're in no better a situation to be able to retain him than if you had never given up something for him in the first place?... (3) Though this latest injury is the only major one--ie, one that has ever derailed him for a considerable number of games--what are the chances that hindsight will show that this was just the beginning of a series of setbacks?
And the question that envelopes all of that is "what would he cost?" If it were as easy as offering a conditional late 2nd round pick, there surely would be almost no ATL fan who would recoil, and no fan who would not, to the contrary, get very, very excited to know we effectively have 2-time ASG selection, 28 year-old Dipo on a "prove it" one-year deal.
If he makes it all the way back, you've added a serious high-caliber asset to your weaponry, both in terms of his production and in terms of the attitude and character that he's regarded for... and you're at advantage to re-sign him over any others. If he doesn't, then, as-is the nature of prove-it deals, he's not in-the-way of your going after a better option next off-season.
But it's almost certainly NOT going to be that you acquire Dipo for a late-round 2nd round pick. What will it take to persuade IND to deal him, and is that an acceptable price? That's where I think this thing probably fizzles, as much as I hate to say so. Sending IND the #6 plus Huerter has been floated, but the risk/reward from where I sit says that's a significant overpay. I for one am not even persuaded the #6 should be part of the deal, at least unless there's more benefit to the deal than just Dipo. So, when Schlenk called to ask what he should do, I told him sending out Huerter straight-up is the most he should be willing to pay.
So which one? Or two? Or three? Heck, maybe all four? Not likely, but not inconceivable either. Think of the luxury of having 5 different guards who have spent legitimate and significant time playing both PG and SG, and your 6th being Ice.
Dang.
Behind Ice and Cam, assuming you were to somehow successfully flip Huerter for Dipo, assuming you keep #6 and take Haliburton, assuming you get Wright on-the-cheap, and assuming you get Harrison on a deal that fits the plan, you could have for yourself quite a stable of solid backcourt guys who all contribute, if not contribute significantly. I'll be very, very content with Schlenk acquiring even just a couple of the four, though.
What's great about that as an objective is that you really can attack it this off-season through any of three methods of acquisition, and what's additionally great is you really do have justification to consider filling all three current voids in the depth chart with one of those. (Mind you, yes, we have Brandon Goodwin, but given how he fell out of favor in those last few weeks of our season, I think it's more than plausible that his non-guaranteed contract is vulnerable.)
There are a couple of options I've been on-record as favoring big-time, and a couple that are only more recently emerging.
Among the more recently emerging is Shaq Harrison, who's an RFA this off-season. The left-handed Harrison has always had a reputation for solid defense, and as a college PG who has gotten significant minutes professionally at SG, he has solid handles and doesn't turn the ball over, while also being a pretty good finisher. It wasn't until this past year, though, that he put things together beyond the arc. Now that he has (38%), there's good evidence that at age 27 (in Oct), Shaq can begin to make a name for himself on someone's roster. His on-court/off-court for this season was by far the Bulls' best (+11) among those who received any substantial minutes.
And so you'd think the Bulls would regard him as a keeper. But then you go to read-up on the guy, and enthusiasm among Bulls writers seems surprisingly modest. They like him. He's referenced as an up-and-comer, one of the Bulls' FO better decisions bringing him in, one of the most underappreciated players on their roster. But evidently because of the other options on the roster in which the Bulls are invested, it seems they're generally accepting of the idea that he'll get a better offer as an RFA than what the Bulls will be willing to pay. If Schlenk can get this guy for $5m or less, I say go for it. If Schlenk can get this guy at a higher number, but for just one year, I say go for it. I'm in.
The other one who has more recently come to light is Delon Wright. I've followed Wright since TOR first drafted him, and now that he's 28 and achieved all that he has in TOR, MEM, and just this past season in DAL, I'm stoked about the value he would add in ATL. In short, he is a more accomplished version of Shaq Harrison. Like Harrison, his history shows both good and bad from the perimeter, and like Harrison, he's always been regarded for his defensive chops. But with more accomplishment comes a somewhat more significant price tag. Acquiring Wright means accepting a $9m cost in 20-21, and a $8.5m in 21-22. It's that second year that might be more problematic, since there remains the prospect that Schlenk will want to have as few veteran commitments on his books as possible, allowing him fullest possible opportunity in the 2021 FA marketplace.
So, why would DAL even be considering trading him if he's that good? I've spoken with DAL fans about it, and they seem to believe it's a 50/50 proposition that Wright will remain b/c of just that reason for DAL as well--his 21-22 salary is an obstacle to clearing enough space for the 2021 off-season market. And in spite of numbers that are fairly stout, some even career bests in DAL this season, there is a perception that Carlisle went away from using him and instead using the well-traveled Trey Burke in the bubble because he just doesn't appear to be the fit beside Luka that was originally anticipated.
Perhaps opportunity knocks, then(?). The sense you get from those same DAL fans is that if you're willing to part with that conditional late 2nd round pick, a deal could be struck.
Then, one of the two who I've been, not only on their train, but in the conductor's seat is Tyrese Haliburton. I'm among the congregation singing his praises for his BBIQ on both ends of the court, his unconventional but quick and accurate perimeter shot, and the fundamentals that over time could make him among the best regarded 6-5 defenders in the league. Travis is well aware of my avid belief that he should use the #6 pick on him. Haliburton's not an immediate answer, but we're not in a big hurry. He could be an exceptional one by the time ATL evolves into a serious contender.
Finally, I've already written ad nauseum about how I consider Victor Oladipo to be at the top of this list.
Honestly, I don't see a more ideal fit. He brings to the roster the same elements that Iggy brought to the GSW roster back-when. Unlike others, you know that it's not just a theoretical thing that maybe he might have the ability to play at the highest level, and in the post-season. He's shown what he's capable of doing.
Still, the questions surrounding him are substantial: (1) Can he get back to where he was, or is what we just saw in the bubble (which wasn't terrible, but also wasn't elite) now his ceiling?... (2) If you acquire him now, will he play well enough in 20-21 to make his Bird rights worth having, or will he not, and so you're in no better a situation to be able to retain him than if you had never given up something for him in the first place?... (3) Though this latest injury is the only major one--ie, one that has ever derailed him for a considerable number of games--what are the chances that hindsight will show that this was just the beginning of a series of setbacks?
And the question that envelopes all of that is "what would he cost?" If it were as easy as offering a conditional late 2nd round pick, there surely would be almost no ATL fan who would recoil, and no fan who would not, to the contrary, get very, very excited to know we effectively have 2-time ASG selection, 28 year-old Dipo on a "prove it" one-year deal.
If he makes it all the way back, you've added a serious high-caliber asset to your weaponry, both in terms of his production and in terms of the attitude and character that he's regarded for... and you're at advantage to re-sign him over any others. If he doesn't, then, as-is the nature of prove-it deals, he's not in-the-way of your going after a better option next off-season.
But it's almost certainly NOT going to be that you acquire Dipo for a late-round 2nd round pick. What will it take to persuade IND to deal him, and is that an acceptable price? That's where I think this thing probably fizzles, as much as I hate to say so. Sending IND the #6 plus Huerter has been floated, but the risk/reward from where I sit says that's a significant overpay. I for one am not even persuaded the #6 should be part of the deal, at least unless there's more benefit to the deal than just Dipo. So, when Schlenk called to ask what he should do, I told him sending out Huerter straight-up is the most he should be willing to pay.
So which one? Or two? Or three? Heck, maybe all four? Not likely, but not inconceivable either. Think of the luxury of having 5 different guards who have spent legitimate and significant time playing both PG and SG, and your 6th being Ice.
Dang.
Behind Ice and Cam, assuming you were to somehow successfully flip Huerter for Dipo, assuming you keep #6 and take Haliburton, assuming you get Wright on-the-cheap, and assuming you get Harrison on a deal that fits the plan, you could have for yourself quite a stable of solid backcourt guys who all contribute, if not contribute significantly. I'll be very, very content with Schlenk acquiring even just a couple of the four, though.
