Shams: Nico to be fired today!

[DanSchwartzgan]

Of course! 

I think people are really out of control with the Davis negativity. I get it, because his time here has been disappointing, especially in the wake of how he got here. But, I would be very surprised if his value wasn’t higher than Kyrie’s was when the Mavericks traded for him. He would still be very high on my list of the best centers in the league.

First, your bold "out of control" negativity statement doesn't match up with your not so bold prediction.  What we gave for Kyrie was basically a single unprotected distant pick.  Dinwiddie was expiring filler and DFS was basically a 5th starter/MLE type.  The single pick was the only thing that mattered.  I've seen people quoting tweets about 5+ picks.  I even saw someone say 8.  That may prove to be the prediction that is out of control optimistic.

I get that people don't keep up with what other posters say, but I was the one talking about the need to have a strategy to maximize AD's value (and how that might conflict with a Tank is that is indeed happening) well before Nico was fired.  AD is potentially valuable, but not if you rush it.  I've seen national writers and podcasters struggle to come up with a market for AD let alone a terrific return.  I'm preparing myself to be disappointed and looking up the term "sunk cost" to make sure I'm using it correctly when the time comes.  What AD's theoretical value is and what someone who actually has to put him in a lineup will pay appear to be two different things to me...especially if everyone knows there is a mandate to trade him.

Scattershooting:  I saw where some executive survey had Matt Riccardi as the highest rated Asst. GM in the league (I believe I heard that on Take dat wit you).   Part of me wonders if that is our next GM.  If I knew I was going to do that in a few months, the exact thing I would have done is appoint him and the long-time former player Finley as co-interim.  Then, when it felt right, I'd name Riccardi as the guy.  The good news there would be continuity within the front office and with the CEO and coach.  That would also be the bad news.  I'd highly recommend the podcast I linked.  He's been part of some big trades.  His humility and collaborative personality seem to be the exact opposite of Nico's.

More Scattershooting:  It won't be SGA and it won't be five picks and two swaps, but if we deal AD, I want a current young player with upside who fits the Flagg timeline.  It doesn't have to be a PG.  Just someone who we look at and think "I can see that being really good" five years from now.  I don't care about the number of picks.  I care about the quality of picks.  Hopefully we as fans understand the difference by now.

#3:  One of the techniques of an undercover tank is holding out injured players longer than necessary when they return from injury.  Part of me thinks PD ordering AD be held out is just sending a message that we don't have to hurry him now that Nico's gone.  After all, we are no longer interested in proving Nico's vision.  But, a little sliver of me wonders if this is another minor clue that we might be tanking (or at least willing to go there depending on how things fall).  Personally, I'd all for sending AD to Luka Boot Camp for two weeks before letting him back on the court.  Let the losses mount.