05-27-2022, 01:26 PM
(05-27-2022, 12:28 PM)Not an evil robot Wrote: 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)
Think it's already been gone over a lot here but a S&T with Brunson is not easy to accomplish. I think it's best to sign JB into tax after trading for a big + signing another quality player with TPMLE and running it back at least one more time. If it goes really terribly, then you can move JB who has solidified himself as a strong asset in this league. I doubt there is much that would change that outside of a bad injury.