the_process wrote:If the Wolves keep their pick, assuming the Blazers then want to tank...
MIN gets Simmons
POR gets Edwards, Rubio, MIN 1st, PHI 2023 1st
PHI gets Lillard
The Blazers can figure out what to do with Rubio and CJ after the fact.
I like this iteration or the one with Golden State (Wiggins, Wiseman, MIN pick to Portland). Regardless, I think Simmons is the most valuable available piece for Dame, whether he goes directly to Portland or not.
In terms of 'going young' or getting younger guards to pair with Embiid...why? Embiid has maybe 4 prime years left. We need to maximize his window. There's no route to a championship outside of him. We don't have time to develop young guys anymore. He's gotten injured every year. Why should we pretend to believe that a 32-year-old Embiid can still be the best player on a championship team? The process is peaking NOW.
Is Dame's contract ridiculous? Sure. Is he a bonafide top-15 player? Yes. Of all the available options, does he give us the best shot to win a title? Yes. It shouldn't matter if you're paying Simmons $37 mil vs Dame $51 mil if one wins us a chip and the other doesn't -- you can never overpay for a title.
Even if Dame drops off after 3 years, that's one year of Dame being *just* an all-star caliber guard instead of a superstar. Steph is doing AMAZING things at age 33. Dame will be 31 in July. Historically, most superstars tend to fall off at ~34-35. The odds of winning a chip(s) with prime Embiid + Dame over the next 4 years >>> anything else.
Let's not overthink this guys. Thankfully, I don't think Morey will.