2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[Not an evil robot]

I don't think there is that big a difference between 4th and 7th best on this team.  I see the following tiers:

Superstar: Luka
Playoff starter:  Brunson, Dorian
Playoff rotation:  Dinwiddie, Bullock, Maxi, THJ
Regular depth:  Powell, Bertans, Green, Frank

We don't have the assets to go after a playoff starter level player unless we trade for an over priced one like Tobias or Hayward

But I think we could find a center that falls into that rotation category.  Between the pick, the TPE and multiple expiring contracts somebody like Holmes should be getable.  I would prefer not to spend the pick to get that player, but we have to make that call before we know what might be available on the tax MLE market.

Also notice that I have 7 guys in the top three tiers.  If we don't send THJ our in a trade, he would provide much needed depth at the wing.  That plus a functional starting center would go a long way and you have your 8 guys.

I feel like we keep forgetting that we have a core 7.  Timmy was a key piece in the playoffs last two years.  There were struggles early this season, but I feel like Kidd would have figured out how to make it work.  He is the piece we would be most willing to send out in a trade due to fit concerns, but if we don't send him out

To me it feels like outside Luka, we’ve got one definite starter (DFS), two starters-ish (Brunson, Bullock), one definite rotation (Maxi), one rotation-ish (Dinwiddie), and one wild-card (THJ).

To make those pieces to fit the optimal roles, we’re “just” missing a definite starter. If we want to stay small - a big3&D wing. If we want to size up, a small-ball center type. The challenge is getting either without creating another hole.

Ignoring contracts, chemistry, and the like - I think the best immediate  fit around Luka is swapping Brunson for the player above, moving Dinwiddie into the starting line-up, and backfilling that 6th man type role. That’s very unlikely though for the reasons I was just ignoring.

Honestly if we’re completely theory-crafting,  although I love his personality and he’s a huge success story, I’d swap Brunson for more of an equivalently talented FVV-mold instead (plus add the player I mentioned). Luka may improve on defense but he’s likely never going to be a net positive there and Brunson is already maxing out his ability on that end of the floor given his physical limitations.

In the playoffs being forced to “hide” two starters is not ideal. GSW lineup works so well because Curry is the only weak link to target and even then he’s capable enough (the target I’d set for Luka)