I definitely underestimated Winslow. I still think Hezonja is the better fit for us long-term, but agree that Winslow (& Johnson) will be more NBA ready to begin their careers (which is why I think they will both be drafted higher, especially due to the fact that Hezonja is getting less pt- which I think is a ploy by his team to lower his draft stock & discourage him from declaring). I also agree that the FO will make a concerted effort to be competitive next year, but considering how difficult the WC is (& will be), I think that we will do what we attempted to do last year by putting a still developing team in the position to potentially compete (given that certain things workout in our favor) without straying from it's long-term plan.
Towns, Okafor, Russell, & Mudiay will all certainly go higher than Hezonja. WCS, Johnson, & Winslow also all likely get drafted ahead of him, not to mention a few other players who have the potential to go ahead of him (Porzingis, Kaminsky, etc). Best case scenario (given that we don't get lucky & jump into the top 3) is that we end up picking #9 & he falls to us, in which case, I could envision the FO changing it's off-season strategy & targeting a quality backup PG (along with a backup C- depending on what happens with the Tomic situation) instead of a starting wing, especially because Burks was given a lucrative extension & management will want to see if they have a starting quality player at a discount price.
PG Exum/FA (who can shoot)
SG Burks/Hezonja/E.Millsap
SF Hayward/Hood/Ingles
PF Favors/Booker
C Gobert/(Tomic/FA)
This may not be a surefire playoff team, but with improvements from Exum & Burks (as well as the continued contribution of Hood), it could be a team just good enough to sneak in & essentially position itself for a legitimate playoff run the year after (assuming that Hezonja progresses as predicted- although he may need another year or 2). I agree that developmental timeline should be taken into consideration, but given the fact that we have made a clear long-term commitment to Exum (who is still at least a year or two away), we should build towards our projected timeline of being a championship caliber team in 2-3 years by drafting the player that best complements the other 4 players who we have decided to build our team around (a #1 option on offense, who has the length & athleticism to even contribute defensively).
As much as I'd like to speed up that timeline, cutting a corner (by drafting an NBA-ready player, who will be able to make more of a contribution in the beginning, over a player who, while may be more of a project, ultimately fits the long-term plan better) could be the difference between being a playoff regular rather than a championship caliber team- which I truly believe is a possibility, given that we make the right personnel moves & show the necessary patience. Imagine drafting a potential #1 scorer (regardless of how far away that potential may be), signing a backup PG who can actually facilitate an offense, & finding a serviceable 4th big. This really is going to be a pivotal off-season for this team.
