05-24-2025, 04:10 PM
(05-24-2025, 06:51 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: I have been all over the map since the lottery luck on preferred direction. I have not come to a desired path yet. It makes it worse that I really like Gafford and PJ. I think an important piece is what each player wants (that needs to be considered as both players are entering their last year in their contracts). In addition, what the potential return for either player needs to be considered. I think whatever move they make it needs to make sense and prove value to the franchise moving forward. Both are good players.
I really think it is going to be tough to get buy in for PJ coming off the bench, despite minutes being available. I think it is an easier conversation with Gafford. I think, Gafford is the cleaner fit now too. Although, if you can sell the role and get buy in for PJ, there is a strong case to make that it is the better fit especially in a year from now, two years from now...... PJ gets his minutes, AD plays some backup 5 (especially as he gets older), and you find a replacement level center who is a 20 minute a game player when needed. In the playoffs, this lineup is much easier to work with PJ than Gafford, imo.
So who are the targets? Most of the guys have some warts. Two names out there are Sexton and Simons. Sexton has some dog in him (next JET?), but he too is in the last year of a contract and can you agree to a role and $ number after this year? In addition, he is smaller and could you play him and Kyrie together? I think that needs to be a consideration moving forward. Simons is not really a point guard and not a good defensive player. He is a flame thrower though. I have been thinking this team needs a guy at the guard spot who can spit fire every once and a while. Potentially he could be a part of a three guard rotation when Kyrie returns. Neither are perfect, but those are the two obvious names in the trade market. Or maybe it is something as simple as moving one for a mid first round pick in this years draft. There is risk there obviously. It seems like either should get more than that in a trade. Although, who knows.
Stay Tuned.
Real talk... how much better is Sexton than Hardy if given the same opportunity? Given Sexton is a better distributor, but shooting and defense I'm thinking they're very similar. JET is a great comp for Sexton, by the way.