TRADE: Tyus Jones to DAL | Branham to CHA

[DanSchwartzgan]

Thanks for that long analysis.

So back to the question. If I understand you correctly, your preference would be that no one gets waived, and they do NOT make moves to convert Nemby and/or Cisse to regular NBA deals and to lock them up on future years at NBA minimum deals (which means their seasons end by the end of Feb and they go back to the GL)?

Yes to both.  No one gets waived.  I’d park Nembhard and Cisse and only use their remaining games when injuries force your hand.  If I had intel that someone was going to make me match a larger than minimum contract for Nembhard this summer as an RFA, I might consider cutting Williams to get Nembhard on a standard contract.  Sorry, I know Williams is a favorite of yours.  AJJ is my new Williams.  I have a very good idea what the ceiling is for Williams.  I have no idea on Johnson.

But, I have my doubts that that will be necessary.  I get the advantage of doing it now.  I’m just not positive we will even need him next season depending on the draft.  And if we do, I don’t think he’s going to command a contract that we can’t handle.    


I find your position on ping pong balls hard to swallow, but probably accurate.  I want to maximize the chances of the best possible outcome.  But winning a few here and there is fun and culturally and developmentally positive.  The draft is flat after about 4-5.  So, unless we have another (once in franchise history) miracle again, we will have to count on scouting more than position.

Your comments about the draft made my mind go somewhere it hasn’t gone before.  Common wisdom says Flagg won’t be good enough to really put final pieces around until he’s closer to his mid-20’s.  I’m not sure that’s true with this kid.  Do we really want to put another 19 year old (taken 8th or 9th overall) next to Flagg and waste these two years with Irving?  I might consider trading our lottery pick for the right youngish high level starter if I’m in the 7-10 range.  There is a place in this draft where the upside is too great to pass up.  But, beyond that, I might rather have a player of a certain level.  I haven’t identified the player yet.  I really wish we had a late first in 27 so we could pile up some fake firsts to go after someone really good if we go down this road.  

Some will say that’s impatience.  I think it may be strategic.  It has to be the right player.  Flagg is special and I’m not sure we have to go through an extended rebuild when he’s likely to be a top 25 player next season and you still have Kyrie.  I’d be even more interested in such a strategy if I thought Lively would recover to full health.