Wasn't mentioning them as an example or benchmark... just that it doesn't have to be this long drawn out soul sucking franchise debilitating process.
I doubt we cut that far, but lets assume Danny finds a home for everyone except JC. So we have JC/Lauri/Walker/Sexton/THT/Ochai - and like 40-50M in space. Say we weren't lucky enough to land a top 4 guy but got someone like Anthony Black or Wallace in the top 10 and one of Jett/Dick/Hawkins with our Minny pick... the Philly pick is spent on a project who toils in the G League maybe. Say we bring back NAW. Say we use the cap space on okayish FA like Hart and Naz Reid. So you have:
Sexton - Black or Wallace
JC - NAW/Dick or Jett
Hart - Ochai/Dick or Jett - Maybe Simone
Lauri
Kessler - Reid soaks up the backup 5 but also can play 4 if we go supersized
That team might be worse than this team, but look at Indy... they have Mathurin, Nembhard in the rotation and Tyrese is also a young guy. Its not like we are relying on the rookies too much. With internal improvement on Walker, Ochai, Lauri, Sexton... I think we are pretty easily just as good. With a real "meh" summer and not a lot of luck tbh. Its also a more sustainable group.
Mike is helpful in that way... but you can go find a vet mentor that doesn't need 25-30 minutes a night too.. and the 25M can help us get a younger vet at another position. He also might want to make a title run before he completely falls off.
Okay... so if our rookies and young core are awesome then they take us to the playoffs and OKC can have the pick. If not or if there are injuries we add another high lotto talent.