Last Guardian wrote:Stay the course? What even is the course? There is very little potential here. There isn't enough playmaking and shooting to be a good offensive team. There are too many weak defenders getting big minutes to be a dominant defensive team. I am not seeing what the vision is here to actually get behind continuing what we are doing.
The blueprint is Raptors and Bucks obviously. Both build through trades, development and high upside picks in the draft.
1- Bledsoe, Lowry- athletic, strong, pull up threat.
Fultz fits that team concept, still a lot of development to do. Lowry clicked when he was 27, Bledsoe 24.
2. Matthews, Van Vleet. Strong, good shooters. Van Vleet playmaker, Matthews more versatile defensively.
Fournier is not strong, but good shooter, average playmaker, fairly versatile defensively. He is very disappointing in this playoffs, but so was Van Vleet last year until Bucks series and Matthews many times before. I dont think he is the answer, but he is also not the problem. I am fine with moving him, but sg market is not exactly deep, and his market value is not exactly high with his contract situation. In the end Weltman must decide if he is the chemistry killer and when is the perfect time to trade him if he is.
3. Anunoby, Middleton- Long, good finishers, good shooters. Similarities end here. Anunoby is a great versatile defender, while Middleton is a shot maker and playmaker.
Okeke is long, good finisher and good shooter so the common theme remains. He is something of a mix between those two players above. I am high on him, but we just dont know until he starts to play.
4. Giannis, Siakam- long, athletic, good team defenders, good drivers and playmakers.
Isaac fits defensive side which is impressive given the competition but falls short on driving and playmaking. If he ever stays healthy we will need to find our offense elsewhere.
5. Lopez, Gasol- shooting, skilled, smart defender
Vucevic is the best ball handler of them, comparable shooter and worst rim protector (but not as far from Gasol as you would think, better than him last year !). He is more in a Gasol mold than Lopez. Complements Fultz and Isaac nicely with his shooting and playmaking.
Bamba is more in a Lopez mold. Rim protector and shooter. He lacks the smart defender part, but maybe it will come with time.
To me similarities are striking. We wont see the full extent of Weltman vision next year sadly, but we have pieces that not so many teams possess. Positions number 3 and 4 are obviously the hardest to get. For 2 games i thought we have it covered.
