gerrit4 wrote:TGM wrote:Raps need to do a consolidation trade. We have sufficient depth. Raps haven’t had an alpha scorer since Kawhi and in the history of the team outside of him and Vince we’ve only had secondary scoring options.
Ingram can maybe be that guy, but not totally sold.
I think you're right, but we should probably be a bit more patient, considering how poorly the team has performed so far. I think we need to figure out what works before we start consolidating.
Yes, I'm purposefully avoiding the word "evaluate."
I think the time to make a consolidation move will be once we see how these guys work together, as nobody knows how Ingram fits with any of these guys yet. He might be this group's "Rudy Gay," and maybe we'll move on from him sooner, or he could be this group's "Ibaka" and is an important piece in some playoff runs. I think they need to actually play to figure it out. But hey, if there is a great move available, we should go for it.
The team has done a great job of asset accumulation and payroll management, but has done a poor job of addressing need and balance.
I think when considering what a competitive would look like it is a lot simpler than people realize:
Roster composition:
When building out a team PG and C are your two most important positions to fill. You should never compromise and round up the solution and round down the problem. Our issue for many years is avoiding the importance of the there positions. When we won the championship, yes kawhi was a beast, but without a Lowry, Fred Tandem and a Gasol/Ibaka you weren't winning anything.
PG - I've been saying this since day one. IQ is not going to cut it. It's not like we need a JA or a Fox, but we need a PG that facilitates and can also disrupt the other teams PG. Boston with the Jrue and White combo. OKC with Caruso and Wallace. My recommendation is Chris Paul, Brogdon and Shead. To acquire a Paul and Brogdon will not be super costly, but what they bring to the team will be night and day.
C - People crap on Jakob all the time, but the reality is that he has been our most impactful and consistent player. What we need is depth and some spacing. Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis come to mind. I'll come back to this point later, but if we have a Brook and Jakob or Jakob and Bobby combo this will do wonders
Now comes to filling out the rest of your roster.
Alpha scorer - We have always lacked an alpha scorer outside of Vince and Kawhi. Ingram can kind of play a poor's man version of that role, but he is best suited as your second best scorer.
Floor Spacing - We actually are more than sufficient when it comes to this. Dick, Jakobe, Battle all can play that role. Especially with the addition of Ingram in the off-season. One guy I would consider trying to add for depth is a Paul Reed type of PF that can stretch the floor. Boucher is equally good at that, but not as the starter. Hence the need for a Bobby or Lopez.
Defensive Swing - I actually don't think this is as hard to acquire as people feel. A Mattise Thybulle, Kelly Oubre. Doesn't have to be a DPOY, but I think there are enough defensive swings that we can target.
MVP - This is the hardest piece, but also the piece you have to always start with. We ain't winning anything without a MVP type level player. Every team that has won has one: SGA, Tatum, Joker etc... So when one becomes available, yes you gut the roster to acquire cause the rest of the pieces are easier to get.
So how we make this happen:
Let's start with Giannis trade: Bucks, want young players with star potential, picks and need salaries to match:
IQ, Barnes, Dick and 4 first round picks - For Giannis, Portis and Pat C. Need to move a few smaller pieces to make salaries work cause Bucks are in second apron, but doable. Also, don't see many teams topping that offer. If there is a way to keep this years pick and give later picks even better.
Move RJ - I think the market for someone like RJ is pretty good - I'm thinking RJ, Ochai and Pat C to Spurs for Paul and Vassell. This deal in some ways makes a lot of sense for both sides. Spurs have a glut of guards. They are most likely taking Harper at 2. So a trio of Castle, Fox and Harper eat up pretty much all of minutes. Paul was an one year bridge player. RJ gives the Spurs a big SF that can drive and penetrate being a 3rd or 4th option. His salary is reasonable and he is experienced enough to play with the time line of their roster. Vassell is more effective when utilized in the offense. However, him being buried kind of makes him like another John Collins for the Spurs.
Free agents, round it out with a Malcolm Brogdon, Paul Reed and maybe a Jae'Sean Tate. These guys will come super cheap, especially if we have a contending roster. The last two probably at the minimum as they could be out of the league.
Paul -Shead - Brogdon
Vassell - Walter - Wilson
Ingram - Battle - Tate
Giannis - Mogbo - Reed
Jakob - Portis - Yang/Chomche
I realize this is a complete turnover of our roster, but we are moving assets and consolidating assets. If our window is 3-4 years, I would definitely run with this roster.
