Being serious, Elf is out there because Thibs wants our most defensively capable lineup to set the tone early & prevent opponents' stars from getting into a rhythm. Even with this season's growth, our best starting 5 would still be at a talent deficit against many of the teams that we've been battling on even-footing this season...so trying to minimize that initial talent gap by preventing the opposition's biggest weapons from gaining momentum, before opening things up more when the talent level balances out as the benches get more involved; has a logic to it.
...even though Elf has proven that he is just as capable of preventing us from getting a rhythm, as he is frustrating the opposition...
HarthorneWingo wrote:Don’t you think that the more looks like we’re out of the lottery, the more likely we’ll be willing to include it as part of a package to obtain another frontline player this off season?
I think this offseason is too early, both for us and for the Booker's/Mitchell's of the NBA that we should try to wait for. If all of that generation of stars are still happy sitting tight where they are next offseason, then I think you tap into our trade arsenal for someone who wouldn't single-handedly give us a contending big 3 with Julius & RJ. But this offseason should be about continuing to add ammo while bolstering the squad against regression next season without giving up any of our better bait.
That's why I'm hoping for us to snag Lonzo on a contract that he can outgrow...plus GTJ if we're full-on day-dreaming
...cause just inserting Lonzo into Elf's minutes would make us a much stronger team next season, and we could get him while keeping our powder dry for the real difference-makers. Rather than burning any of our ammo on the Sexton's & Markkanen's that will be available this summer.