Clarkson and Lou are in the upper half of guards in the league. That position is the least of our worries. With your logic, our PF needs upgrading too unless Randle improves his defense. So we should look for an allstar PF and trade Randle.
I wouldn't put Clarkson and Lou in the upper half of guards in the league at least not yet. No Randle isn't a good defender, but the other parts of his game have all improved. He's already an outstanding rebounder, an improved playmaker, an improved finisher (yes still a long way to go, but definitely better from where he was at the start), his overall efficiency got better as well, and just on the eye test he has more potential than Clarkson. That's why don't you trade him unless you get a star back in return because he has a much higher ceiling. Again that's no knock on Clarkson. I like him as a player, but he's not a starting two guard right now. Could he develop into one? Maybe, maybe not but right now he's best served as a sixth man right now:
We won 17 games last year . You take any infusion of talent and worry about the pieces filling in at a later time.
By the way, Eddie Jones was a very good player; an All-Star. Guess what? We still traded for Kobe who played the same position.
That is reverse-thinking. That approach is what leads to a Brown-Metta-Kelly rotation. How about building a complete team first, then worry about the pieces? This is a team sport and one glorified player gets you no where unless that player is prime Kobe.
Orange to apples. That team was competitive and complete. This team is equivalent to a car with no tires and yet we're talking about upgrading the suspension. Let's make the car run first.
This. We are in no position to turn back talent. I trust Mitch to find talent that can fit together with Luke's vision. I'd much rather have to worry about making DeRozan fit than dealing with another season of Nick Young.
We have to get someone. We need to get at least one preferably two impact players this offseason. Jim and Mitch's job are on the line so they aren't just gonna fill the roster with JAG's and allow the kids to just run the show. They're gonna sign at least a couple of big time free agents to get us back in postseason contention.
What relevance does trying to fit Derozan and playing Nick Young have? I'm saying WE NEED TO GET A WING FIRST. Haven't we learned our lesson last year? Or do you want to see D-league talent (Brown) in our starting lineup again?
I get that. But why would we start with one of our better positions? I've used this before, but allow me to rate each spot on a scale of 1-10. D'Angelo - 4 Clarkson/Lou - 6 Young/Brown - 3 (if Young is gone - 1) Randle/Nance - 6 No center - 0 A team is a sum of it's parts. So if we get Derozan, what does it make our SG rotation? Maybe a 8? So we improve by 2 points, which is a marginal upgrade when the SF and C spot can jump by 5 points or more with a single signing. It's just not an efficient way to build a team. You need balance with functional parts.
DeRozan has played small forward before and if there was an injury he could move there again so not sure why we'd have to start Brown.
I don't quite understand your position. You prioritize pursuing an SF over an SG because you think we can better use our cap flexibility to pursue a SF instead of an SG because we are set at that position with Clarkson and Williams? My position is simple. Acquire to talent irrespective of a possible redundancy in positions and worry about the pieces filling in at a later time when we are in a place of contention.
Yes, in our current state I prioritize balance at all positions. I feel that is the best way to improve our team. Your position sounds similar to the Seventy-centers approach...
Sign horford and derozan and im a happy camper. Horford is a good modern center with a decent shot. He's a high character vet that will help this team on and off the court.
OK. I guess I fail in communicating myself clearly; I guess I'll just trust the process this off-season.