TheAlchemist wrote:This isn't really a knee-jerk reaction thread, although we just got beaten pretty badly by Miluwakee.
But coming into this season, we took a gamble, put all our eggs into one basket, to woo a superstar to stay on our team.
It worked to some degree and we really have been one of the best teams in the league until recently.
But a couple things have become crystal clear;
#1. We lack a really defined second option. This can go into two parts, the decline of Kyle Lowry and the gap Pascal Siakim/Ibaka have to becoming a legitimate #2 option. On top of that, our offensive system has not really integrated both Lowry and Kawhi together at all.
All the time off between the two, has made things kind of awkward if anything. Lowry not dominating as usual, Kawhi isolating a lot and not passing as much.
It kind of shows that Kawhi does not want to really integrate as much with the team, as he lacks in the facilitating department.
#2. Kawhi looks like he will not re-sign. Say what you want about the new house, say what you want about the non commitment, but we really have not had ANY indication that Kawhi wants to stay. He wears his own branding wherever he goes and doesn't show the team spirit a player should at all.
Listening to even Danny Green talk about Kawhi buying a house in SoCal, you can get the sense that Kawhi doesn't want to live here for most of the season.
I'm pretty much guranteed that he will bolt.
#3. We lack the star or firepower to make the eastern conference finals. Say what you want, but we really have no star power, system, second option or even been playing like a powerhouse team.
and IF these facts are true, we really should sell at the deadline. Not only Kawhi, we should sell everyone.
We only have one season to "woo" this guy, and if we aren't dominating or have a great team to begin with, I hardly doubt we will re-sign him.
A shrewd general manager would see this very clearly, and stockpile assets. We can use the Anthony Davis Sweepstakes as leverage to get what we want.
If LA is being shutout for Anthony Davis, why not send that same package they where for Anthony Davis, and use it to get Kawhi? Hell they can sign someone in the off-season and make a great team for themselves.
Want Kyle Lowry as a 1.5 year rental? or Ibaka? Send us some decent assets.
Danny Green is expiring. Send a crappy contract and a first rounder, we'll take it.
THE POINT of this post is ; We have a chance of having a sustainable championship caliber team, if we leverage our assets this year
And the possibility of being sellers should really not be dismissed as hearsay.
Agree with you hundred percent. I don't think trading our depth for Anthony Davis will be enough either. I think this team would do better with a two way player that could perform within the offense the bench mob and non-Kawhi team shown us in the last two years.
I am not that high on Ingram and Kuzma yet. I think we should go to Clippers for package centered around Harris + fillers + pick first.
*INGRAM*ALLSTARSEASON* Wemby is HIM
