Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Smitty]

Doesn't seem like a realistic possibility to me.  Even getting up to someone like Markkanen's level takes out a good bit of the depth. Given the age of our stars and what is happening right now, I suspect they will continue to prioritize depth.

For better or worse, I think they build around Kyrie/AD/Klay for now.  To me, the tea leaves say Lively and Christie are key components.  If you think D wins championships, you probably keep PJ (plus he swings nicely between starting SF and takes the non-AD minutes at PF).  If you think AD is a four, you keep both centers. I get that you have decisions to make on PJ and Gafford, but there is too much sunk cost there to not retain them. 

So, if we want to design trades, the better use of time IMHO is probably to eliminate the top seven...Kyrie, AD, Klay, Christie, Lively, PJ and Gafford (and maybe Marshall too) and work with what's left.

I would love for you to be right. We've seen the past two seasons just how much depth matters throughout the year. I just fear that Nico isn't in it for the long haul, and he'll go for what he thinks is the "homerun" to try and win a championship in the next 2-3 years.