bwgood77 wrote:ImNotMcDiSwear wrote:bwgood77 wrote:
Well I'd love a healthy TJ Warren but he's a starter quality player.
As I've said, personally, I think we are set with our 9 man rotation and emergency players after them.
Though I would love it if we had Desmond Bane (if not Tyrese Haliburton).
I think we are more in need of another ballhandler that can defend and shoot than a wing or big or PF. If we could get both or someone who had size and could playmake (Thad started doing this last year), that is ideal, but my biggest fear is an injury to CP3, Book or Payne. If we have to rely on another current guard, we are SOL in the playoffs. Having to play a few minutes of Nader isn't as bad and we can always just play more Cam at PF if Crowder gets hurt or Cam at SF if Bridges gets hurt, or our starters more if Cam gets hurt, with an emergency lineup of Book at the 3 with CP3 and Payne or Shamet.
Obviously if Ayton gets injured we are in big trouble too so that is where Thad could come in and start at C or at least come in for JaVale and play more minutes and likely finish games.
TJ's returning from being injured for a year and half, heading into free agency. I don't think we'd keep him beyond this season - hence the mercenary label. We'd bring him in to get his legs back and show what he can do on potentially the biggest stage. We get a ring, then he jets off to get his bag this summer. Win-win. That's my thought, at least, if the Pacers were willing to accept just draft considerations and a year of Dario's salary on the books. A rebuilding team might be down with that. IDK. Might be a daydream, but if Sabonis lands with Golden State, we'll need to upgrade to compete, and Thad Young just ain't it.
I don't know if a big playmaker is what I'd be looking for. I think we could really use another long perimeter defender who can knock down perimeter shots, like Justin Holiday. Booker's got the longest wingspan of our rotation guards. Mikal's the only long perimeter defender we have on the roster. I'd like another.
I guess you say big playmaker since we're not imagining a future that doesn't involve Cam Payne, and none of our forwards are playmakers unless you count Saric - and I don't, since his feet are stuck in mud, making him an undersized C who is only useful when he's hitting the 3 ball, which he only ever did for us in the bubble. Kaminsky if healthy might be the better player at this point. Which is why I'm down to trade Dario along with draft assets if necessary to get an upgrade, even if it's just for one season.
So, I see why you're interested in a big playmaker. I just don't see an available player who fits that description who is also good at basketball. I don't think Thad Young can play C at all unless the other team's going small - and even then, I'd just go with Crowder or Cam or Frank if you don't like the way McGee matches up.
I haven't brought it up because I doubt we'd consider it, but there's a little corner of my mind that wonders if dealing Ayton for Sabonis isn't totally bonkers. We lose continuity and defense, add scoring and playmaking, but don't lose anything in terms of rebounding. The real gain would be the roughly $17 million we'd save each year... and keeping Sabonis out of the Bay Area. Ayton, Saric and Smith for Sabonis and Warren or Holiday works under the cap. Hard to imagine, but I'm not sure this doesn't make us a better team. Sabonis is a helluva player.
Ayton for Sabonis isn't bonkers. Sabonis is better right now depending on how you look at it. But as long as we have Paul, Ayton is a better fit, and Ayton has far more upside and is better at defense.
I can't see Sabonis switching onto guards, though he is highly efficient, a solid rebounder and passer. I don't think it makes us better. Post Paul depending on Ayton's development? Maybe but we'd probably still suffer a great deal on defense. I'm sure you saw the quotes about Ayton guarding Giannis holding him to 53% while all other Suns he got 70% from the field. Sabonis couldn't guard him at all, nor could he switch onto smaller players, etc.
So no, I don't do it. I'm not entirely sure GS would, but maybe with Draymond on defense. But Draymond already is kind of their big who passes and they lead the NBA in rebounding, and Sabonis is a liability on defense (where they are #1 in) so how do they improve? Especially once Klay is back and he picks up the scoring.
I'm sure a team like the Clippers would love to get Sabonis somehow but don't think salaries work.
But Brooklyn, Charlotte, New Orleans and possibly Memphis would be great spots. The Pelicans could offer a bunch of picks maybe.
I think ultimately they keep Sabonis and trade Turner who could be more appealing to teams due to his shot blocking and 3 pt shooting...ability to switch, etc...and he seems to want out.
I'd argue Ayton is better today. All Defensive level C versus an average starting center defensively. Sabonis shoots worse offensively overall. He does stretch the floor better but is not Towns. He's shooting 30% from 3. Sabonis could likely be targeted on D in the playoffs because he cannot guard smaller guys. Ayton can. Sabonis does shoot it better so you get some spacing, but it's arguably not even more valuable than the gravity / rim pressure Ayton provides.
Sabonis should only be a target if he's playing the 4 alongside Ayton, which likely won't happen based on what we could offer relative to other teams.
