JonFromVA wrote:Again, by the numbers Allen-Mobley-Markkenen-Okoro-Garland was working very well and there were even numerous variations on that core that also worked including 63 minutes of LeVert instead of Allen.
Of course if we have the opportunity to upgrade in a way that doesn't destroy our cap, we should do so, but I don't think we should make changes based on just perceived fit.
fwiw, I think Stevens gives us some redundancy with Okoro which is very handy given he's on a minimum contract for 2 more years. It's not to the point I'd feel comfortable trading Isaac and moving Stevens in to his role, but that's the kind of situation we want where we can trade from a team strength to shore up a weakness.
Speaking of ...
The LeVert acquisition basically strengthens our hand when we start negotiating with Sexton. They are not strictly redundant, and I can see the Cavs holding on to both if they can't swing a useful trade and Collin doesn't get a big offer. Then when LeVert's contract is up, we will have Sexton as leverage. Which is all fine and good if Altman and Bickerstaff can keep both players happy through all that so we don't have to trade them for peanuts, we can ideally build-up their value, and can eventually pull off a trade that lets us trade from a position of strength to shore up a position of weakness.
It's no simple thing keeping players happy. How good would have Isiah Hartenstein post All-Star break? But we let him walk because we couldn't promise him play-time. But nobody is handing us a perfect SF for us to slot-in to our core just because we need it. If it happens, we will have to wait for the right opportunity and/or take a chance on someone who's not highly valued at the moment, or develop that player in house (and we do have time for that).
I'll say this, when it comes to players who don't really fit, I think teams worry way too much about *losing a player for nothing* or being perceived as having lost a trade. If the value added to your team isn't there due to your roster construction, and you have really good players, then there are far worse outcomes than realizing cap space and middling draft capital.
Obviously, I'm not on the phone talking to agents, but so long as the Cavs are good enough to win, have really good young players, and have the money to pay free agents, it seems to me that it's a mistake to write yourself off as a non-destination. Players prefer warmer clients but they prefer winning and money more.