Obviously i'm not Thibs. It's just guesswork but september is a slow month in terms of nba news so allow me.

Since Mitch and OG are both injury prone, i'm counting on them to miss chunks of the season.
I selected 4 scenarios: fully healthy, without Mitch, without OG and without Mitch and OG. I hope I didn't miscalculated the minutes allocation.
Like in the video, i counted 35 min for Brunson, 34 for Bridges, OG and Randle and 25 for Mitch. I even included Randle at the 5 for a few minutes.

Fully healthy

PG
Brunson 35
Miles 13

SG
Bridges 23
Donte 25

SF
OG 19
Hart 18
Bridges 11

PF
Randle 26
OG 15
Hart 7

C
Mitch 25
Precious 15
Randle 8

Fully healthy, I don't think we have any weaknesses. This is a killer starting 5 with Donte, Hart and Miles on the bench. I believe we can win against every team.

Without Mitch

PG
Brunson 35
Miles 13

SG
Bridges 23
Donte 25

SF
OG 19
Hart 18
Bridges 11

PF
Randle 26
OG 15
Hart 7

C
Precious 25
Simms 15
Randle 8

This is not news for anyone but as soon as Mitch or OG is down, we are vulnerable. What was a strength with Mitch at the 5 is now at best neutral but i guess we could survive 20 games in the regular season if the matchups are not too difficult.

Without OG

PG
Brunson 35
Miles 13

SG
Donte 34
Miles 5
Hart 9

SF
Bridges 34
Hart 14

PF
Randle 36
Hart 12

C
Mitch 25
Precious 15

I'm not a fan of Hart at the 4 but Thib is. Bridges covers a lot for the eventual OG absence. This is still a formidable team but not a top tier killer one.

Without Mitch & OG
PG
Brunson 35
Miles 13

SG
Bridges 15
Donte 33

SF
Hart 21
Bridges 23
Donte 4

PF
Randle 36
Hart 12

C
Precious 35
Simms 13

Without Mitch and OG, it's going to be more difficult to beat playoff teams but any team without 2 of its starters is bound to lose a few games.

All in all even with injuries to Mitch and OG, we are in a position to win most games. Come playoffs time, we will need everyone. Brunson, Bridges and Randle are not injury prone. It shows that we have a lot of depth. I'm not sure all the other good teams could survive as well as we could.

I can see Precious getting a ton of minutes at C also (35+) if Mitch goes down. He's a great fit especially with OG/Bridges/Jules/Josh (size, length, rebounding)

martin wrote:I'd like to legit see Brunson at 32 minutes or less.

30 minutes per for the top 8. Spread the love around and hold tight until playoffs.

Minutes Police!

We have such a strong bench, Id like to see fewer minutes for OG and Randle as well. I believe it will pay dividends in the post-season.

OG was consistently near the top of the league in Toronto, probably one of the most injured as well.

Thibs could make the argument in the past that it was necessary, although as a fan, I thought he was wrong at times.

We have a bench which has some players who started for us last season, and played well. Worth a shot.

The same with pulling starters in a blowout. The worse thing that could happen is that the lead dwindles, the starters have to be put back in, after a breather. It happens to other teams.

fishmike wrote:OG is more likely the small ball center over Randle. Especially against 5s who shoot 3s like Turner, Tingus, Brook, etc

I can see Precious getting a ton of minutes at C also (35+) if Mitch goes down. He's a great fit especially with OG/Bridges/Jules/Josh (size, length, rebounding)

I’ll call it, Sims will have an Ihart type year!

HofstraBBall wrote:Opening day starting lineup

Randle, OG, Hart, Ragu, JB

Just sitting Bridges?

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:Opening day starting lineup

Randle, OG, Hart, Ragu, JB

Just sitting Bridges?

Marinating with Josh and McBride until late first. We shall call this the Second Blue and Orange Wave.

Unbeatable.

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:Opening day starting lineup

Randle, OG, Hart, Ragu, JB

Just sitting Bridges?

My bad. Wanted to see how the Bridges is final piece crowd would react.
Fine…..Randle, OG, Hart, Bridges, JB. Although that would not give Bridges time to adjust to lesser role. Which I feel will be a bit of a struggle for him early on.

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:Opening day starting lineup

Randle, OG, Hart, Ragu, JB

Just sitting Bridges?

My bad. Wanted to see how the Bridges is final piece crowd would react.
Fine…..Randle, OG, Hart, Bridges, JB. Although that would not give Bridges time to adjust to lesser role. Which I feel will be a bit of a struggle for him early on.

I’m kind of stuck.

Brunson / McBride / Kolek
Bridges / DDV / Payne
OG / Hart / Diadet
Randle / KBD / Achiuwa
_________ / Robinson / Sims

If I had to have a starting lineup today, I think I go small ball with Hart in there to help pick up the rebounding load.

Brunson / Hart / Bridges / Randle / OG

We are going up against Boston and have size deficiency at pretty much every position. I think this team outhustles them and has the length to make up the difference.

I kind of expect Deuce to be traded for a center before the season starts. But don’t want to do that and see no rush. The second unit might be better with Cam Payne who has good passing, 3s and defensive chops.

I think KBD is an interesting and underused player. Been checking tape on him. 6’8. 7’3 wingspan. We have a lot of length hangin on the bench. He should be good OG insurance.

Sims is a wildcard. Could see him step in as next man up. In replacement of Hart in the starting lineup the Knicks still scorched.

Also, just for giggles, looking at The January. They played good ball pretty much all around. I think we are going to miss iHart.

https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*20&Month=4&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TeamID=1610612752&dir=D&slug=advanced&sort=NET_RATING

Robinsons health will be key. I am calling on a big year from Sims. If not, think Precious will build on solid first year with us. Also keep mentioning that I feel a small lineup where Randle plays the 5 would be hard to match up to.
Don’t see a reason to make a forced move.
Our strength is our depth. Think we will see many games where our second unit outscores the other team’s.
Hard to put a squad together that can beat Boston right now. However, I agree that, if healthy, we will give them a run for their money.

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:Opening day starting lineup

Randle, OG, Hart, Ragu, JB

Just sitting Bridges?

My bad. Wanted to see how the Bridges is final piece crowd would react.
Fine…..Randle, OG, Hart, Bridges, JB. Although that would not give Bridges time to adjust to lesser role. Which I feel will be a bit of a struggle for him early on.

I’m kind of stuck.

Brunson / McBride / Kolek
Bridges / DDV / Payne
OG / Hart / Diadet
Randle / KBD / Achiuwa
_________ / Robinson / Sims

If I had to have a starting lineup today, I think I go small ball with Hart in there to help pick up the rebounding load.

Brunson / Hart / Bridges / Randle / OG

We are going up against Boston and have size deficiency at pretty much every position. I think this team outhustles them and has the length to make up the difference.

I kind of expect Deuce to be traded for a center before the season starts. But don’t want to do that and see no rush. The second unit might be better with Cam Payne who has good passing, 3s and defensive chops.

I think KBD is an interesting and underused player. Been checking tape on him. 6’8. 7’3 wingspan. We have a lot of length hangin on the bench. He should be good OG insurance.

Sims is a wildcard. Could see him step in as next man up. In replacement of Hart in the starting lineup the Knicks still scorched.

Also, just for giggles, looking at The January. They played good ball pretty much all around. I think we are going to miss iHart.

https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*20&Month=4&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TeamID=1610612752&dir=D&slug=advanced&sort=NET_RATING

Robinsons health will be key. I am calling on a big year from Sims. If not, think Precious will build on solid first year with us. Also keep mentioning that I feel a small lineup where Randle plays the 5 would be hard to match up to.
Don’t see a reason to make a forced move.
Our strength is our depth. Think we will see many games where our second unit outscores the other team’s.
Hard to put a squad together that can beat Boston right now. However, I agree that, if healthy, we will give them a run for their money.

I’m eying the camp battle between Achiuwa and KBD. I keep watching tape on KBD and I think he is Taj 2.0 with more skills. Achiuwa is stronger and has more raw strength. KBD is slightly longer and has more skills.

I still think a Kessler/Deuce trade is on the horizon. But we know with Ainge’s pricing that it may never happen. We could just as easily wait a year, keep Deuce’s value contract and draft a Kessler clone in 2025 with one of those picks if they hit.

It would surprise me to see a deal done for Kessler.
Especially, as you mentioned, given the history of Ainge overpricing his assets and being difficult to deal with.