Trade & FA 2024-25:

[cow]

I agree with a lot of this. 

I don't mean mentoring so much, just that Flagg having an opportunity to watch AD (a help defender Flagg is being compared to coming out of college) up close for a couple of years could be quite helpful in his development, possibly. 

I also think this development raises my personal level of hope that they can build a team this summer capable of being high enough in the standings for Kyrie's timetable to matter next year. I think it would require Flagg to hit the ground running a little more than you seem to expect, but the real reason is that this frees up an asset or two that I wouldn't think they'd have considered moving last week. I think more is in play for them this summer all of a sudden, trade-wise, which makes more seem possible. 

Obviously, one can take the view that "of course Harrison will screw all this up" and sure - he might! But, if he does, there will be plenty of time for doom and gloom at that point.

It's not about thinking Nico will screw this up or doom and gloom, it's just looking at realities and wanting to build for the future instead of investing more in a core that will age out in three years time.  We could move players and invest assets to trying and get a chip with AD/Kyrie and certainly be competitive, but I don't that's the correct road to go down.  My entire focus would be on the long term development of Cooper Flagg and the team we need to put around him and since we haven't seen him play in the NBA, that's a lot of unknowns and shortcutting the process always blew up in our face with our last star.