fsuizzy wrote:zgope1 wrote:Daffy wrote:
So now we're going from waiting for free agency to HOPING an elite talent wants out. When we trade for this talent what will be have left on our team? What if everyone is happy with their situation for the next 2 years.
it's not really based on hope. the best star talents have wanted out on a more regular basis for a while now. We need to develop every asset we have in the meantime. That might mean we create a star too. Double edged sword and the most logical way
On any given day there are roughly 21 stars in the league off the top off my head that will carry a team to the Finals with help from another star. Exceptions to Lebron of course who probably could carry a team on his own. After review all the stars. Westbrook seems like one of the few GOOD choices available until 2022.Spoiler:
Thanks for such a good post. I like many of these players more than Westbrook. One of the problems with a static list like this is the league is continually changing. We've seen massive change this off-season alone. It's a moving target. Players you think are going to stay on a club do move (Paul George just signed a massive deal with OKC for example) and new players evolve. When young players get a chance to show their game and an opportunity to get floor time, there is more than you might expect. Some bust, but some flourish.
So, my point is there is no fixed list. Not really.
I'll use the Magic as an example, since we have less emotional interest in the Dennies. They've had pretty good players move through their system lately: Oladipo, Vucevic, and Tobias Harris. They have built around Aaron Gordon and Vucevic now and still have Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba and a first round exit. They traded for Fultz too, so they have youth. Also, they've just drafted Talen Horton-Tucker and Chuma Okeke.
Players like Fultz (I'd put Ball in this category too) are basically seen by fans as dispensable, but I'd argue we don't know who they are, not even after as much as they've played. I'd argue Fultz, Bamba, & Isaac (at least) could in the future figure on the list, maybe as early as 2021-22. Does this sound crazy to you? Pay more attention then. D'Angelo Russell just signed a max deal with Golden State after being laughed off the Lakers. Joe Harris, the SRP who had to fight to stay on a depleted Cavs bench, led the EC in 3-point shooting. It's in flux. You have to be able to adapt.
At a certain point, though, you need to know, and we're dealing with narrow windows. I'd say when Goran went down and Winslow stepped into the point, it was transformative. This season Winslow must be given that role, and it's basically make-or-break. He is still young, but we all know it's time. His trade value will plummet if he doesn't perform to expectations.
If he does perform to expectations, why wouldn't he figure on your list? I mean... are you, like some of our posters (HEATlanta: cough, cough), that sure our young players are so worthless when *clearly* our scouts that helped draft them, our coaches who train them, and our front office give them credit?
I'd say the list is closer in reality to 40 players every season than 20, but we just don't know who the players are. For that reason you don't go all in in 2019 on a team that you expect will win big in 2020-21, which is the window we should be targeting. We will then have a contributing Herro and Bam, a prime-Winslow, Butler, another solid player (using Waiters/JJ expirings/2020 FRP after drafting?) It's slower but smarter.
Why not 2019-20 though? I mean, despite the fact Westbrook and Paul George just had a first-round exit, we can take Westbrook & Butler to the finals right, because of... good coaching? That's pure hubris.
Again, Orlando is instructional. It seems a no-brainer for them to go all-in, give up a FRP and maybe Isaac and Mo Bamba and expirings to get Westbrook, but they aren't doing it. It's not just an age issue. Vuc is 28.
I think it's that $47m a few years from now that makes them hesitate. You know what? It should.
Sometimes it's instructional to see another team's fans' take on the same deal you are entertaining:
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1871424
No Magic fans are rushing to dump their assets to get Westbrook.
There will be better deals. Keep your powder dry.
