Post#1772 » by RapsFanInOhio » Wed Feb 2, 2022 4:45 am
I mentioned this in the PG thread tonight, but if there’s ever a deadline to make a deal I feel like this is the one. We have the assets to do it, we can avoid the tax, and we need the depth. They’re too good to tank, which means you can probably cross off a top-10 pick being an option at this point, and if that’s the case the only decision that needs to be made is whether you feel like a mid-1st is more valuable long term with our salary situation than adding rotation players.
So here’s a few options and I apologize as I’m sure these have been posted already:
Poeltl and McDermott for Dragic, Flynn, 2022 first unprotected, 2023 second
First, Poeltl and McDermott are two very good players, so this probably isn’t enough, but these two guys are flat out rotation players and make us super scary as soon as this year. They’re adding 25 mpg each and bring two things we lack - rim protection and bench scoring. The downside for us is that Poeltl expires next year with FVV and GTJ; McDermott’s deal extends into 2024, so you’re likely looking at a tax scenario in 23-24 if everyone comes back. On the flip side, we likely can avoid it next year and with the expanding cap in 25 you may not be looking at costly repeater taxes. All that said, I love this deal for us so it probably isn’t realistic.
For San Antonio, again, this may not be enough. However, it fits where they logically have to go with that roster - adding two more first rounders to their core this summer (ours and their own) and suddenly you’ve really got something brewing there. You’re not competing for anything this year anyway, and Poeltl is unplayable at times so he probably doesn’t have the value you might think. McDermott doesn’t have a bad contract and he probably ages okay because of the shooting, but he also likely won’t be around for the next great SA team.
Kelly Olynyk and Cory Joseph for Dragic, Flynn, and a second.
This deal also gives us some depth, most importantly at the PG spot where we could use it the most. Olynyk isn’t the best interior defender but he’s another guy you can throw at Embiid come playoff time and he also fits with all of Precious, Boucher, and Birch. The cost isn’t much, although eating Olynyk’s deal in 2024 is a tough pill to swallow. We keep the first this year which helps from a roster construction standpoint.
Detroit gives up two guys that won’t be there for Flynn and a pick. Not a bad haul for them.

Props to Turbo_Zone for the sig