Building Around Cooper: A Backward-Looking Thought Experiment

[vfromlmf]

I think we're all saying largely the say thing in different ways. In my view, I bucket traditional SG, SF, PF into the need for at least 6 fairly interchangeable rotation players. I call them "wings" simply because they're not small guards or big centers. That's it. If one of your mid-sized players can run a little point (e.g. Flagg, Naji) even better. The best all-around players play the most and the rest fill in the gaps.

Kyrie, Jones, BWill and Nembhard are more limited because of their size but if you're as good as Kyrie it's less of an issue. Kyrie can play next to another small guard for stretches. Not 30 minutes, but short runs against certain matchups, sure. But if I'm drafting, I prioritize a bigger player.

To Gump's point about the roster:

You clearly need to hold spots for three small guards. 1. Kyrie plus two of 2. Jones, 3. BWill, or someone else.

You clearly need to hold spots for three centers. 1. Lively plus two of 2. Gafford, 3. Bagley, Powell, Cisse

You clearly need a bullpen of six wings. 1. Flagg, 2. PJW, 3. Naji, 4. Christie, 5. Martin, 6. Klay are under contract

Then you have three new young players: 1. Lotto Pick, 2. No 30 Pick, and 3. AJJ

If I look at our needs, an impact starter in the lottery, a guy who can bump Klay or Martin out of the rotation is my top priority.

That's 15.