(08-08-2025, 12:35 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: I agree with option D. I want to use this year as a evaluation year. No big trades, unless it is something you cant tun down until you know the answers you list. The bold part is what scare me. Who is the "they' in that? I am worried about Nico wanting to prove he was right and mortaging the future to prove him right. IMO, that went out the window when they won the lottery. Sure, you want to win, but going for a win now move using our limited assets shouldn't be the plan imo. If Luka makes the Lakers into a contender in short ammount of period, Nico has to wear that. No need to make more mistakes trying to fix a big mistake. Winning the lottery should have changed that process. Did it though?
As far as limited assets go, I agree but also disagree. After next year, they don't control their picks but they do have picks in three of those years. They will probably just be late firsts. While they don't have young studs besides potentially Lively, they do have a lot of good players on good, long term deals. Who knows what that brings back in trades, but could be valuable in today's new cap environment.
Also, I want our GM to be flexible. I am fine seeing how AD and Kyrie fit the next few seasons. Although, I want a GM who can take a real look at the roster and if it doesn't work to not be tied to "his" guys. I don't think we have that now.
I don't think there is any question Nico is going to mortgage the future soon. My guess is that Flagg is the only reason he didn't already go all in for someone like KD. You don't break up a finals team and trade for a guy on the wrong side of thirty to not go for it. I hope Flagg is good enough to make this team one player away, but I think Nico is going to pull the trigger regardless.
As for who that player is, when it looked like Boston might go full fire sale I think Derrick White would have made a lot of sense. A POA defender who can shoot and provide some creation is exactly what this team needs. I wish there was a list of all the current NBA players Nico has a relationship with because history says that will be the pool of guys he will be looking at.
When Nico does pull that trigger, he will likely be sending out the Laker 29 pick and probably the Mavs 31 as well. That means when this first window is finished (in two or three years) their best players (except for Flagg) will likely be either negative contracts or UFAs and they won't control their own first until 32. That is the definition of limited assets.
I agree with you that Nico is likely not the right candidate for flexibility. His career will be defined on winning the Luka trade and he will likely do everything he can to win with AD. Because of Flagg there is a small chance he can actually do it, but it will definitely cost the future to have any chance.