08-13-2023, 11:55 AM
(08-13-2023, 02:20 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: I think the decline question is right up there with will Luka come to camp in shape? line of thinking. Even if Luka comes in out of shape, he’s still going to be great. Even if we get a declined Capela, he’ll still be the absolute best option at starting C for this team and it’s not particularly close. So no, I don’t think there is much evidence for the opposite conclusion.
Giving it a year could stunt our young addition’s playoff growth, which is what Luka and Kyrie (and the rest of the team for that matter) care about. Don’t punt on the play that very well could get us into field goal range to win the game when your team has been on a roll.
Edit: Please explain to me how you came to the conclusion that we will have only 1 pick to trade next year? If we trade 27, next year we will have 2 picks, not 1 (with Capela, what do we NEED that 3 picks will get us that 2 picks won’t?). Getting Capela starts the contention window now and doesn’t interrupt that long term window, it’s all upside.
The evidence for the opposite conclusion is less about Capela potential decline and more about the many what ifs adding up to a very high unlikelihood this team will be able to contend next year, with or without Capela and regardless of whether he is on the decline.
If we protect that pick at all (using a 28 second) then 29 is off the table as well. Sending out an unprotected first for Capela is a significant overpay in my estimation.
The bottom line is you and I disagree on how close this team is to contention this coming season and how much Capela would impact that. I would not mind getting Capela, but I don't want to overpay or too negatively impact our future options to do it.