jskinny35 wrote:martin wrote:franco12 wrote:The window with Thibs & Leon Rose is now. I don’t see a five year plan. It’s get into the play offs, it’s win now. But we don’t have the horses to win that race. What good is the playoffs if it’s a first round exit? It’s the same problem that has plagued this franchise. We have folks that think we’re one piece away. Just sign Kemba and Fournier, that will get us over the hump.I would have preferred Miller because to me, that would have signaled- hey, we’re not ready to compete in the big leagues- we need to develop guys. We’re not going to go out and sign a player like EF because what they bring is wasted.
I get the nonsense about creating a winning culture. But if this year continues to crater out like it’s trending, what exactly did we gain by locking up a player like EF? What did we gain by signing Kemba Walker? And locking up Randle?
What did we lose by not letting a Grimes & McBride play? Even Kevin Knox.
We gave up future cap space to win now. And we’re not winning and the players we added have actually helped with the losing.
And I give our FO credit for finding gems at the back of the draft.
But let’s play the what if game- what if we had stunk better last year- then we might have drafted Chris Duarte because we wanted him and we might have been in position to draft him.
Rather than sign Walker/Fournier, perhaps they go all in on some young player like a Gary Payton Jr.
And then this year and next would look a whole lot brighter from where I am sitting.
A lot to unpack here.
I am wondering where you go to see every team's plan or how you determine if they have one or not? Also, please let us know which teams you think do not strive for winning more than the previous year and do not strive for playoffs.
There are not too many players you draft and become instant turn-arounds; these things usually take 5-7+ years, just look at either Phoenix or Milwaukee. Also, there are plenty of teams that you build with development and trade them away to get high lottery talent, just look at Brooklyn or the Lakers.
I get the notion that young guys may need playing time to get better, but you also have to acknowledge that getting playing time in a winning environment is even better; there is not one strict path to developing players via minutes played.
Give or take, Leon and Thibs have had the team/organization for 1+ years and in that first full year, they hit a proverbial homerun, I don't know how you can otherwise frame it. MIP in Randle, tremendous progress with their 1 high lottery pick, Coach of the year, 4th seed. They spun trade gold with Rose. IQ looks like an incredible draft at 25. Defense was tremendous.
Because the team has faltered over the first quarter of this season... blow it up cause it's doom city?
Under the CBA and how players choose to move to new teams, the free agent market is not what you think it is, and in particular this year and next. I do think optimizing your salary space and dollars was better used this off-season by spending it; you can absolutely quibble in hind-sight if they used it on the best player.
I agree with most everything above except I think we do have enough information now to conclude that an offense built around Randle does/will not lead to anything beyond a 1st or maybe 2nd round playoff achievement. I would go further to say only Giannis, Jokic, Luka and maybe Lebron should be the focal points of a team's design. You can't replicate the offensive style with a lesser player and expect anything but middle of the road results. Last season that was our best chance at establishing ourselves after years of futility. I understand last season's overachievement necessitated running it back (with a few tweaks) this season - but unless the plan has been to find that perfect complementary piece to add to Randle - we're stuck on a road that eventually dead ends. I believe (as others have posted) a vet PG like Chris Paul or even Rubio could have helped reshape Randle's ISO/hold the ball style. Outside of acquiring Lillard (which would cost the farm) - I don't see anybody or any player movement that would change our trajectory.
I think most of us can agree that the younger players/2nd unit is our strength and while that doesn't mean they would perform better as starters - it does suggest that our team plays better/more cohesive when we're moving the ball and playing at a faster pace. Those waiting for Randle to change his slow style should remember when we tried to get Melo to do the same thing. After 5 years in the league it's hard for anyone to significantly change their playing style. So Randle to the bench and he finishes games is one option (that Thibs will never do). Keep benching other starters around him while allowing Randle to save his defensive energy for offense? I don't think we need to blow up the roster - but if Thibs can't get Randle to move the ball and play at a different pace - other changes won't really matter that much IMO.
You bring up good points. Add Durant, Harden, AD,Embiid, Lillard, and perhaps Morant, AD, Zion, and Trae? But I get your point. Some may be past prime, some are entering.
We can keep stabing at trying to dissect the issues but we don’t know the plan or what is not being executed.
A guy like Joe Harris (EF money BTW) is type of player that is movable on a contending team.
EF is movable this year, or next, or the year after. But Moving a player, or coach, etc is a concept unless you have a viable replacement and then again its about execution. Blow it up? Thats not happening 20 games into a season. Thibs has not lost the team or even close to it. WE have tradable players and picks without doing that. Randle is a building block not a cornerstone but he the best thing we have now. Other blocks are RJ, OBI and IQ. As popular as Grimes and McBride are they have yet to demonstrate that.
Kick the can down the road and do as best we can. Its boring but likely what happens until an opportunity opens up.
