As I see it

Aloha,

Well it certainly was a disappointing finish but I think it was a very successful season, considering where we started from. Even though we were swept every game was a battle and came down to just a play or two. I believe we are in a great place moving forward.

One of our biggest problems has been continuity since LeBron arrived. We have basically had a new roster every year. Rob addressed that in his end interview and I hope we see several of these guys back. Denver’s core has been together for years. I would have liked to see this group with a training camp and season together. It might have been a different outcome.

I for one do not see LeBron retiring after this team came so close to the finals. Some speculate that it’s a power play to get what he wants. As great as a player that he is, he is a terrible GM. If it is a power play, I would tell him don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

We have a few no brainers that with recent reports seem destined to happen. Austin will be back. The kid has came so far in such a short time that it would be criminal not to resign him and it sure sounds like we will. He can only make 12 mil the first 2 years. It’s the last 2 were the bidding would begin. I guess a team could offer a full superstar salary the last 2 years but I doubt that. A team that bids on him cannot do anything else while they wait for the Lakers to respond. I just don’t see a team offering more than his max market value. Austin will be back.

Same goes for Rui. It has been said that his current market is between 15 and 18 mil. I suspect we see Rui back as well. And the Lakers have made it clear they want him back.

Vando at 4.8 mil is a steal. I don’t even need to talk about him. He will be back.

After those 3 it gets more interesting. DLO had a terrible finals. But he also had 7 good games in our wins and was very good in the regular season. Now before you move on from DLO, you have to ask yourself, with our cap situation, who can we get that is better? We certainly would not be able to in free agency. We don’t have The cap space. There could be trades I guess but for who? The click bait guys bring up Kyrie. But why would the Mav’s do that trade? This is a bad year to be a free agent. Dry little money out there. Kyrie is not going to find a better deal, so I’m sure he stays there. DLO will not make 31 mil again. And with out a lot of money out there a 20 mil or so deal with the Lakers will probably be his best bet. If the Lakers can’t find a good trade for him then I believe he starts the season with the Lakers. It doesn’t mean he finishes the season.

I will be watching for what they do with Beasley, Bamba and Harrison. All 3 are not guaranteed. That is 30 mil in tradable contracts. I am sure all 3 will be guaranteed before the draft so they can be used in draft day trades. And if they can’t trade them? Well again, with our limited cap space who could we get in free agency that is better? To sign a free agent they have to fit into 132 mil cap space. Beasley was disappointing but he has been a good player and we couldn’t do better with minimum contract guys. Bamba is not worth 10 mil a year but could we do better with a min guy?
Again if they start the season with the Lakers it doesn’t mean they finish the season with the Lakers.

I think the bench will be the biggest focus. Vando is a good start there. Rui will start next year. Max may break into the rotation next year. I have seen two separate redrafts where Max went in the 1st round. I was impressed by him and I think he could get a bigger role with the team. I also would welcome Gabriel back. He is an high energy guy that won’t cost much. “After that we would need a back up point guard and more depth behind AD and LeBron. We just can’t wear them out over the season and we still need to win when they are hurt. If we have the cap space I wouldn’t mind keeping Lonnie. We can offer a 20% raise but we have no bird rights. I also like Dennis as a back up PG. Perhaps he would return for the MLE.

All in all we go into this season with more options than we have had in years. We have some solid young players and possibly over 50 mil in tradable contracts along with a decent draft pick, 17th. Also we can now sign 3 two way players and we have been good with finding hidden talent. Even if we end up running it back, we will enter the season as one of the Better teams with many more options then we have had in years.