11-05-2019, 09:12 AM
(11-05-2019, 08:38 AM)DanSchwartzman Wrote: This isn't so much a trade idea as it is a framework for thinking about trades. I've yet to figure out what the biggest area of need is. When you have a bunch of "good" players and "great" players aren't within the reach of your assets, then all you are probably talking about is marginal improvement.
I'm starting to look at lineups and positions a little differently than the traditional five positions (1-5). In terms of lineups, we have Both Unicorns, Neither Unicorn, Luka without KP and KP without Luka. We are nowhere near figuring out the lineups that include KP. Right now he has a positive net rating in two man lineups with only one teammate...Brunson. He's a net negative in On Court and his On Minus Off is -26.
From a positional standpoint, I've got four:
1. Luka: (too unique to be placed in a single catagory). Size of a SF, assists like a PG and rebounds like a PF. Lineups that include him are basically about complementing his skills while attention has to also be paid to surviving the lineups that don't include him.
2. Ball Handlers: (basically, Wright, Brunson and Curry). Sometimes Carlisle has two of these guys on the floor with Luka. Sometimes only one. Wright and Curry are net positives with Luka (net ratings of +13 and +4 respectively). Wright and Brunson seem well suited to running the team when Luka sits (Wright has said he prefers that so he can have the ball in his hands more). But, Curry's D next to Luka's D isn't ideal. If you were going to upgrade here, it would need to be a ball handler who doesn't have to have the ball in his hands (oxymoron) who plays D and can create his own shot. Wright seems to fit that relatively well, but could also benefit the team if he moved down a notch in the pecking order in favor of an even better shot creator (remember, we were gunning for Kemba Walker this summer)
3. Big's (Powell, KP, Maxi and occasionally some minutes from Boban). DFS has also gotten significant minutes at PF. I'm not sure we know what the ideal pairing is with KP. Playing KP at C with Maxi hasn't been good. KP with DFS has been the best situation, but it is WAY too early to tell how the KP/Powell pairing is going to work. The team tried to trade for Olynyk this summer. So, it isn't out of the question that we might want another big (Keep and eye on Zeller too).
4. Wings: (DFS, THJ and Jackson). It is starting to feel like Jackson is the 10th man in what is becoming a 9 man rotation. Shame. I was hoping he'd be the answer here. Logically, this is the area where improvement might be easiest to come by. Neither DFS nor THJ is hitting their 3's and their box score and advanced stats aren't very good. But, man it is easy to find lineups with either of them that are effective. With that said, Iggy and Green seemed to be serious targets this summer.
Future improvement is also clouded by a potential drop in BRI which could actually lower the cap and tax levels. It seems the team has targeted something more at all three positions. Improvement might just be marginal (potential deals might be uninspiring), but the difference between 48 and 51 wins and the difference between 5th in the West and 4th is also a marginal difference. At some point marginal improvement is enough to make the difference between a first round exit and two rounds of playoffs. So, maybe our biggest need is actually marginal improvement. Anything more that than is likely out of reach or incredibly expensive.
The key is to have Luka to start off the ball as he does not need the ball in his hands to be excellent. Obviously for the whole game Luka should be the main ball handlers I would say around 26 of his roughly 36 minutes per game.
This gives Brunson and wright about 22 Minutes of ballhandling to share. Luka is an excellent spot up shooter and it should be utilized even more. Excellent floor spacer and good off ball movement.
This way Brunson and Wright can get their game going. Especially Brunson who tends to force his shit if not given enough opportunity. Wright plays super in control. Excellent player.