Aloha,
Jamie did an excellent job as usual, breaking down the game, so I’m going to go in another direction. AD has finally bought into playing his best position. Center. After playing through some nagging injuries earlier, he seems to be fairly healthy. If he can stay healthy, big if, I believe AD the monster will be with us most of the season.
That said there is reason to believe with the development of some of the kids, especially Lonnie turning into a legit 3rd scorer, that this team could make the playoffs. Considering we have only lost one more game then the 6th seed Warriors, we might even avoid the play in game.
We are finally in a place where a trade might make sense. And as I have posted many times, that trade should be for a forward with size that can shoot. While I admire Patabevs tenacity, having him guard 6’ 9” guys is not sustainable. He has guarded, KD, PG, Middleton and Kuz among others and they have exploited his size.
Two things I have been apposed too are trading those first round picks, without protections and a trade that leaves to much salary on the books and we can’t retain Lonnie.
Now most of the Westbrook trades out there does not address the Forward position, and takes in salary that will be there next year. So we may have to go with a smaller trade.
With Russ the leading 6th man candidate I’m not even sure I want to trade him. A lot of what AD is doing is because of Russ finding him in his spots. So who could we find to help? Pat Bev, Nunn and a protected pick is our best hope. Some of the guys rumored to becoming available later in the year are:
Bogdanovic
Obure
OG Anunoby
Kuz
Are the most prominent names floating around. OG Anunoby is my personal favorite. Although he might cost a unprotected first. But a 24 year old 3 and D forward on a reasonable 17 mil contract would be worth it. And it would leave us with enough money for Lonnie.
As our young guys continue to grow any one of the players could really make this a strong squad. I’m sure we won’t do anything until the 15th which make sense.
When we left for this road trip I was hoping for 3 and 3. But we upset the Bucks and avoided an emotional let down loss against the Wizards. Now I’m hoping for 4-2. Although you know AD will be up for his match up with Embid. Last year in their match up AD out played him. If he does that again 5-1? I can dream.
It will be interesting to see what Robb does if we have a successful road trip.
Oh man, now you’re giving dope to a junkie.
Three things working against the team making a trade, IMO:
-Rob Pelinka has never made an in-season trade as a GM to date.
-The players we need are likely coveted by every other struggling teams and most of them have better offers they could put out there.
-If we’re winning why would Rob the rock boat (this factors back tpo point 1 a bit)?
Why has Rob never made an in-season trade? I don’t know, honestly. Last season seemed like the time it would happen. We were terrible, just awful, we had a lateral chance to move Russ for Wall (I think Houston was also asking for a FRP which was insane and I’m glad Rob held firm) but no deal was made.
Also, despite all the media proclamations on how valuable our 5 and 7 years out draft picks are they’re not as valuable as ones that convey this summer or over the next few years. The players that will be drafted with our picks are likely not yet even in high school. Or they’re sophomores. Point is nobody knows they’ll be valuable because the strength of a pick correlates to the overall strength and depth of the draft that summer. That is a big unknown. Other teams will be looking for three and D guys that have size in the 6’6″ to 6′ *” range, they can and could ofer better.
If we’re winning why upset the apple cart? This one ties back to the coach and Rob’s current streak of no in-season trades made. I think it’s a chemistry concern? Maybe? Or a “get up to speed” concern? However, that didn’t deter him from claiming Drummond off waivers and installing him as the starting center so…I honestly don’t know. Still, if this team keeps rolling as-is I think we wait until the deadline when the most players will be available for the most reasonable deals or we claim guys off of waivers.
I agree to an extent. But there is also salary dump issues for some teams. I’m just not convinced we can go on playing PatBev against tall forwards. Something has to give. He brings no offense so I don’t see it really upsetting the Apple cart.
No disagreement from me, just that all evidence points to Rob being opposed to in-season deals no matter how badly things are going. if they’re going well it’s curious to me how that affects his outlook.
PatBev is a sinkhole on offense right now. I’ve had him being the first trade piece to go on the board for awhile. But the obstacle is Robbie P and his motivations.