Team Tank 2022-23

[ItsGoTime]

I don't disagree with the thought process of a complete overhaul but I agree with the sentiment that if you're doing that, it basically means bye bye Luka because Luka isn't going to want to go through that and I don't think starting over without a generational talent is going to be much better than retooling.

To me all we need to be competitive is a tough minded frontline.  There's good pieces on this roster but our best frontcourt player is currently limping around after serious injury, there's no way any team can compete like that.

If you assume Green can take another step forward and completely overtake Bullock (all we need is for him to be consistent, we've seen what he looks like when he's playing well) as well as Hardy then you're looking at:

Kyrie/Luka/Green/x/x with a bench core of Hardy/Bullock/Maxi is a pretty good start.

The problem is filling in those x's is going to be very difficult when you're remaining assets to trade or use are Hardaway(or Bullock, I think you need to keep one)/Bertans/McGee/top 10 2023(?)/2027 and I believe we'll also have two seconds to move this offseason as well.

I'm a huge fan of Taylor Hendricks if we slip into the top 10.  He's the exact kind of power forward that you need today (and that we are SORELY missing).  Then you can use what's left paired with the 2027 to come up with a trade for a starting defensive minded center.

The formula that worked so well for our defense last year was essentially Bullock handling point of attack, DFS on the best off ball player and Maxi patrolling the backline (and a lot of buy in across the board which I think was very much because DFS and Brunson were the type of guys to get that buy in from everyone else).  The problem now is that all three of those guys took a huge step back defensively and then one got hurt and one is gone.  Green got asked to fill DFS's role which is silly because he's better on point of attack and will get outsized on the wings and when he WAS guarding the point of attack Luka was essentially handling DFS's role which is...just hilarious.

Can Green grow into the defender that Bullock showed us last year and can you draft a DFS or Maxi replacement and then trade for the other?  That is where my mind is at.

I think this is spot on, where I think the problem lies is in the thought that we can use the leftovers to get that defensive minded C, also, which one will be available at that type price? The closest player I can think of that might fit the bill that also might be available is Capela. Seems like he has lost a bit of a step though and his price tag might not reflect that. The top 10 pick might be the asking price. We are then out our “solution” for the PF spot. There are those that think Turner is in play, but that is guaranteed to cost at least the pick (most likely the 27 as well). That is an amazing start, but we then have no “sweeteners” other than Green and/or Hardy to find the starting PF. 

We have been talking to Atl a lot (although their whole off court operation has changed recently). I guess a Capela and Collins deal pretty much puts us where we want to be in terms of starters. What does that cost us though? I’d for sure say at least the 23 and 27. If not just that it might take Green and/or Hardy along with matching salaries.