MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think I can be talked into including Max in the deal for Herb. To me, he's the perfect guy to pair with Kyrie in the starting group.

Kyrie - DLo
Herb - Klay
Flagg - Naji
AD - PJW
Lively - Gafford

In the starting group I see two offensive creators in Kai and Flagg. Plenty of offense when you combine AD. Then 4 very good/elite defenders surrounding Kyrie. Herb being the "POA" guy.
Off the bench you have another playmaker in DLo & secondary ball handler in Naji. PJ provides scoring off the bench. Klay being the knockdown shooter. It’s just really well balanced.
AD playing a lot more 5, with less Gafford minutes in the playoffs. I like it.

If I was running an 8-man playoff rotation, I'd drop Gafford and Naji. I'd start PJ at the 4 and AD at the 5, to add more shooting in the starting lineup. DLo, Klay, & Lively off the bench.

I think that is a championship team with a healthy Kyrie.  I really do.  All that really happened there was we gained the spread between Jones and Christie and move Klay to the bench.  I think that spread is substantial, but not crazy.  It shows me that I must also think the team with an improved Christie isn't that bad.

This plays to something I've been pondering.  It makes sense to hold onto Christie and the pick for the next iteration of the team once AD/Kyrie/Klay move on.  But, I can also see the argument for using assets like that to give you the best shot you can get to win a championship during this window.  The question to me is what realistic trade target is out there who is logical from a positional standpoint and give you enough spread over the outgoing that it is worth moving some of our future assets?