(06-20-2024, 10:09 AM)mvossman Wrote: I think you are underestimating how bad Thybulle is on offense. He is roughly the same animal as DJJ from 3, but he literally does nothing else. The goal is to improve the offense without taking a significant hit defensively. Thybulle would be going the wrong way.
I also think you are overestimating Maxi market value. He is very likely a negative asset due to his age, health concerns and contract. Why wouldn't Indy just keep Jalen, who is 23 and just had his best year?
Carlisle knows and values Kleber. He´s a good back-up for Siakam/Turner, while also opening minutes for Jarace Wallace. Of course if Smith opts out to sign a better deal in Indiana, then the trade is not happening.
But I´m fairly certain that Smith and Indiana are very open to other options, given that he played a total of 32 minutes over seven games in the play-offs, and mostly garbage time minutes at that. That´s the same amount as AJ Lawson. Carlisle clearly did not fancy him. He was virtually a DNP-coach´s decision in the play-offs.
Are we worse offensively with these trades? Very rudimentary, but Kleber/THJ combined for 18.8 PPG in 47 minutes during the regular season vs. 15.4 PPG for Thybulle/Smith in 40 minutes. Smith was clearly the best shooter amongst the four players. There is certainly more upside in the Thybulle/Smith pairing.
And of course I´m aware how bad Thybulle is offensively, but that´s the reason he is one of the few THJ trades that make sense financial sense and would not cost us significant assets.