Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

I'm thinking another majorly developmental season.

I think it was always going to be that. They're building around a 19 year old, and while they can hold onto Kyrie for a while in some kind of gesture (might even be the right way to go), a 19-year old star and first time NBA coach weren't going to equal competitive, at least not in any real sense. I don't mean that with any judgement or in any negative way, but I resigned myself to this being "year 1" months ago.

Where I've been since the end of last year is: fine, they've got to rebuild. That sucks, but it is what it is. Can't undo the decisions of the past few years, when the ammo was spent, or the last two, when the focal point of the team was unceremoniously shipped out of town. Our "fan body clocks" might be set for the next few years to be special (should've been Luka entering his prime), but that's just not where the team is anymore. As long as they're honest, realistic and smart about this, and...above all, patient, then I'm game for another ride. In the end, all I need is entertaining basketball and plausible hope that they're building towards being a great team.

The reason I'm so jazzed by the approach is that while they've basically done what I'd have done (young players), I didn't expect to feel like they're into modern basketball so clearly so quickly. I think they might be better than I expected this season, and if not I'm really confident the team will at least be more fun than last year's.