VCfor3 wrote: I agree that I doubt Brown will become available. Just was throwing him in in case Boston decides to move him in a Harden deal though even then I don't know if Houston would move him for even an unreasonable offer.
And for what it is worth, I think Simmons would highly elevate our regular season team but like you said I fear he and Ja could impact each other on the offensive end. Ja is decent off the ball but his magic happens with the ball in his hand. Simmons needs the ball in his hands due to the lack of a 3pt shot. He could play down low since JJJ will be out on the perimeter, but that would clog the paint for Ja drives. It would be nice to always have one on the court to initiate the offense, but it may not lead to Championship level offensive flow when it comes time to close that close game deep in the playoffs. Simmons would highly elevate our defense though as our top wing defender and likely would have a couple appearances on the all defense team. He also may help our rebounding next to JJJ.
The question is would Simmons on our team lead to a championship ceiling? If the FO thinks so then I'm all for going after him. If they think we'd fall just short then I'd rather turn to the draft in order to try and find players that would get us to where we want to go. Like you said, 7-9 years of control would be better than 4 especially if we are still searching for additional pieces. And if there is a draft I want to take stabs in it would be this one. Here's to hoping the Mitchell/Gobert problems flare up enough for them to end up with the 7th seed and lose in the play-in tournament so we get that pick.
He would clog the paint no more than Jonas. How many teams really "respect Jonas' range" even with him being a capable shooter?, they respect him as a roll man. Usually when Jonas is taking a 3, he's wide open & not overly contested.
We don't really know how Simmons will affect the offense, it's guess work to hide him as playmaker out the post. What we need to answer, is what we know Simmons will absolutely do for Memphis to potentially make the team better & that is, give Jenkins a very capable 1-5 defensive option to Jonas weakness, a big wing defender, defensive stopper & a player that can get out in transition with Ja running point. From there we can find a way to make him useful offensively playing off ball.
It needs to be factored that Philly didn't have a PG like Ja to compliment Simmons ability in transition. In Philly Simmons is a lesser version of Giannis, where it's easier to box them out as the main ball handler apposed to being a secondary threat, putting pressure on defenses with their defense & transition buckets.
Front offices make moves all the time believing they will be successful but there's only one way to find out.
Having said all that, pertaining to the risk factor. Barring injury, Simmons retains his player value regardless & can be flipped for a more specified target, draft compensation if things don't go as expected.
PS. I agree with both of you that the best option is atop this draft retaining assets & cap but the question is, is that a reality for this team without lotto luck ?