Skybox wrote: got to choose a path, IMO. The surest way to disappoint everyone is to try to please everyone (every path)
They are choosing a path though, people just aren't accepting it.
Young players being brought into the fold slowly is an extremely normal practice that people are not used to because of the last few years. If they are as talented as they have the potential to be, I can see them ending the season with way more minutes than the beginning.
I think you personally accrue more disappointment/lose faith from people, including from your own team, if you decide to jettison Fultz before the season starts (who has been getting praised by basically every teammate including Paolo, Franz, etc), to get WORSE this season by giving starting roles to rookies just because you're not sure in the future at these positions yet. I personally don't fear letting Fultz play it out because I think if they were going to extend him, they would've done it already. Maybe I'm wrong. But I think if he gets one, it's because he somehow is hitting threes at a way better rate and is playing incredibly well.
Secondly, there's just so many damn injuries/days off for players that people will get chances to shine. It's up to them to take it.
Not moving guys right now does invite the risk of extension, but those are the fears of fans more-so than the front office. I don't think they have favorites - they want someone to actually show they're the future at the guard position while not being a shooting liability. Who will step up and take it?
Moving guys right now makes us take a step back immediately, which none of the players want, also invites depth issues if we have similar problems as last year. Suddenly those "log jam issues", which is really just good depth, becomes an actual issue when we're relying on the Schofields and Bol Bols of the world to give us 20 good minutes.
There just needs to be a direction by mid-season. I think they'll get a lot of answers the first month or two. If they end the season with every guard still on the roster, Cole and Fultz with extensions, Black and Jett with no path forward and a mediocre team.. then obviously they deserve all the criticism they get. I just think that is so obvious to avoid and have a little faith (not full faith) that they will avoid it.