Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Smitty]

Luka
Kyrie
Thompson
Washington
Lively
Marshall
Gafford/Kleber
Grimes
Exum
Hardy

That'e already 10 people (11 if you think Kleber is going to get 4 minutes). More than they can realistically play in a playoff rotation, so 1-3 of those guys won't play in the playoffs. Honestly, it's more than you can realistically play in one REGULAR SEASON game, effectively, though you can mix and match there from one night to another, and injuries/load management will happen.

The only way, at this point, to actually improve the team in a meaningful way is to replace one of those guys or add someone who pushes one of them to the deep bench. Anyone added BEHIND one of them does almost nothing.

If they were an old team, I'd argue for maximizing the developmental aspect of the bottom of the roster, but they're young, even with Thompson/Kleber/Irving, and they're trying to compete for a title THIS YEAR, which to me brings us back to guys like Powell/Markief who will stay ready, know their role, be supportive and above all else not cause drama.

I mostly agree with this post actually. The difference I think in my thinking is that you believe in Hardy a bit more than I do and that’s perfectly fine. BUT more importantly I see the games missed by LuKaiExum being a real issue in the regular season and think another PG would get real playing time in ~40-50 games. I definitely don’t see Powell playing that many. As for the front court I don’t see it as dire because of Naji’s ability to play down and the development of Omax. Plus Luka and Klay being able to play some 4 (in the way we talked about earlier). PJ to play some 5 and so on.