08-08-2025, 04:04 PM
(08-08-2025, 02:00 PM)mvossman Wrote: 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.
I think Nico wants to go all-in as well. I'm hoping his hands will be tied by how expensive the roster could become if he did. It makes me pretty worried for PJ's future here.