Roster Building From Here - FA and Summer of 2023

[Handlogten's Heros]

And beat writers always tell the 100% unfiltered truth

Yall talk so much ish about Tony saying things for the org, but I guess the moment he says something you want to fit your narrative, it's gospel.

They don’t but when you have too conflicting ideas that come from the same source… the front office… then you go ahead and judge for yourself.

It ain’t even about if what he said was true… it’s that two completely opposite ideas were presented from the same place .

 

[NUMBERICA]

Who in their right mind believed Ainge when he said he liked the 2024 draft more lol.

Obvious trolling response.

 

[KqWIN]

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Saint is right. If it’s a rumor or idea people like, it is gospel. If it’s not, how dare they report that garbage!

Fans gonna fan, it’s all fun at the end of the day. TJ is too good at this stuff to not know what’s he’s doing

 

[HermanG]

So which one was the lie @HermanG



Told ya

Im sort of confused. What do you mean by which one?

 

[infection]

Ainge doesn’t lie though

 

[FrenchJazzFa]

We need Dame or Victor.... Or Victor and Dame

 

[TheStormofWar]

Ainge and Zanik seem like they're about to uncork the genie. Hope they don't go too nuts and trade a zillion picks for Dame. Not that I hate Dame, but trading a Narco Sub's worth a picks isn't a good idea for a club trying to build long term sustainability.

 

[fishonjazz]

And to be fair to @HermanG it may not have been a lie… but it proves my larger point that when the GM speaks about what they are planning to do… don’t take it at face value.

Well duh. Lol

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Im sort of confused. What do you mean by which one?

DA said he actually thinks the 2024 draft is better than the 2023 draft and now there are reports from TJ that they don’t like the 2024 draft and don’t see it as worth tanking… those are two opposing ideas/statements. So which one is the lie?
















Lie is a strong word I know but it’s more fun to say someone lied… I don’t think it’s some master plan to throw us off his scent… I just think when they speak there is no reason to believe they are telling the truth and revealing their real intentions.

 

[HermanG]

DA said he actually thinks the 2024 draft is better than the 2023 draft and now there are reports from TJ that they don’t like the 2024 draft and don’t see it as worth tanking… those are two opposing ideas/statements. So which one is the lie?
















Lie is a strong word I know but it’s more fun to say someone lied… I don’t think it’s some master plan to throw us off his scent… I just think when they speak there is no reason to believe they are telling the truth and revealing their real intentions.

Why do you constantly synonymize telling the truth with spilling the beans on everything? I know you are smart enough to understand the difference so you must have a different agenda.

Also I believe those two comments came 7 months apart so....

 

[whatthe]

DA said he actually thinks the 2024 draft is better than the 2023 draft and now there are reports from TJ that they don’t like the 2024 draft and don’t see it as worth tanking… those are two opposing ideas/statements. So which one is the lie?
















Lie is a strong word I know but it’s more fun to say someone lied… I don’t think it’s some master plan to throw us off his scent… I just think when they speak there is no reason to believe they are telling the truth and revealing their real intentions.

Bilal was projected to be in the 2024...so...nah they don't look deeply until a couple months before

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Why do you constantly synonymize telling the truth with spilling the beans on everything? I know you are smart enough to understand the difference so you must have a different agenda.

Also I believe those two comments came 7 months apart so....

My agenda is simple… I do not take anything the front office puts out directly or indirectly as gospel. I hear it and then watch the actions. That’s all… so when DA says the 2024 draft is better than 2023 I laugh cuz it’s either a lie or just a guy saying something off the cuff that he doesn’t really believe imo. Maybe what TJ is saying is the “lie” but I just feel like they have very little motivation to be honest or direct at all… this is poker… why voluntarily show your hand.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Bilal was projected to be in the 2024...so...nah they don't look deeply until a couple months before

I have no issue with that… I think they do more work than you think though… my issue is with people taking statements and running with it like it’s gospel.

Most of the draft prognosticators think 2024 sucks. This far out that can change dramatically… but I do think they look 2-3 years ahead and have a general idea of the projected quality of future drafts… Does DA have a 2025 draft board… nah… does someone in the org have a list of the prospects they are most interested in for 2025… you betcha.

 

[The Fresh Prince]

Definitely give up Kessler in a luka trade. I LOVE Kessler but he can also be schemed off the floor a bit when a team goes with true 5 out lineup.
However I wouldn't give up Kessler, Sexton, Ochai and 5 firsts. That is too much imo. And I LOVE luka and think we should try hard to get him.

If the ping pong balls land on #1 and we get Wemby you do trade Kessler all day for Luka. Luka, Lauri, Wemby is a great 3 to build around with cap space to build around.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I generally think people are getting ahead of themselves with Kessler. He’s an ELITE basic big… but he’s a basic big. The most value Gobert provided might be what we got in a trade, so maybe there’s a lesson in there somewhere: if you can get something of a haul that is more versatile for a basic big you should at least think about it.

 

[fishonjazz]

I generally think people are getting ahead of themselves with Kessler. He’s an ELITE basic big… but he’s a basic big. The most value Gobert provided might be what we got in a trade, so maybe there’s a lesson in there somewhere: if you can get something of a haul that is more versatile for a basic big you should at least think about it.

Yep. I LOVE Kessler. But i also understand that the nba has been and is changing. Bigs that cant shoot and cant defend the perimeter are less valuable each year. God forbid we have Kessler as our starting center and run into a team like the warriors who are using draymond at center or something. Or the clippers using morris at center. I cant remember which team it is (kings maybe or celtics?) that have been playing 5 out ball in these playoffs and looking good. Kessler could have trouble and even be a liability in a series like that. Teams can scheme a traditional center off the court.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Yep. I LOVE Kessler. But i also understand that the nba has been and is changing. Bigs that cant shoot and cant defend the perimeter are less valuable each year. God forbid we have Kessler as our starting center and run into a team like the warriors who are using draymond at center or something. Or the clippers using morris at center. I cant remember which team it is (kings maybe or celtics?) that have been playing 5 out ball in these playoffs and looking good. Kessler could have trouble and even be a liability in a series like that. Teams can scheme a traditional center off the court.

The thing that is a bit different with Kessler is I think he has good enough hands and a decent finishing package around the rim. I don’t think he is the type to get played off the floor but you might want a stretch big or more switch lineup to counter. I just think if you are getting Luka you are getting him the play him with Lauri and Walker… don’t want to be the Utah Mavs. We have enough other stuff the trade should work.

I don’t think Walker will ever be an outside shooter but I think he will be more equipped to punish small lineups than Rudy was. The playoff defensive issues we had were mostly the garbage effort and garbage defenders we had on the perimeter. Add in a lack of being able to play multiple ways defensively and it was only a matter of time before you ran into a bad matchup.

 

[NUMBERICA]

The thing that is a bit different with Kessler is I think he has good enough hands and a decent finishing package around the rim. I don’t think he is the type to get played off the floor but you might want a stretch big or more switch lineup to counter. I just think if you are getting Luka you are getting him the play him with Lauri and Walker… don’t want to be the Utah Mavs. We have enough other stuff the trade should work.

I don’t think Walker will ever be an outside shooter but I think he will be more equipped to punish small lineups than Rudy was. The playoff defensive issues we had were mostly the garbage effort and garbage defenders we had on the perimeter. Add in a lack of being able to play multiple ways defensively and it was only a matter of time before you ran into a bad matchup.

Okay, but there are still limitations. And what if he (and maybe an unprotected pick) gets you a top-3 pick, rather than sending three or four (the inverse of the Jaden McDaniels effect).

I’m simply saying this notion that he’s untouchable is overboard.

I also just want to plant my flag that basically nobody was talking about Kessler as an actually good NBA player last year but I raised the point unprompted. I am not a hater and I see his obvious value. Hell, if the Warriors had him they would sweep the Kings since Kessler totally owns Sabonis.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Okay, but there are still limitations. And what if he (and maybe an unprotected pick) gets you a top-3 pick, rather than sending three or four (the inverse of the Jaden McDaniels effect).

I’m simply saying this notion that he’s untouchable is overboard.

Yeah I get that. I was thinking more the Luka trade so might be behind. Like what if Portland has the 3rd pick and would do 3 for Walker and 9 or maybe Walker and 16. I’m sure there are a bunch here that wouldn’t do Walker for #3 straight… and I get it.

I would like to see what he looks like after a full summer of training. He’s way more coordinated with the ball around the basket than Rudy was. No one is untouchable though.

 

[TheStormofWar]

I don't think that Kessler is untouchable, but it is no stretch to think he can be decent offensively in punishing small ball lineups (which Gobert could never seem to do). I still there is value in a decent post game. If Kessler can do that? All the better. I do think he has better hands than Gobert.