TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[mvossman]

I'm getting more and more amenable to this Ayton thing as time passes (which means it's a waste of time, because what I want to see happen almost never does). 

I'm still a little concerned about giving up first round picks for a player who can't really create offense for himself and others. As @"omahen" said yesterday, that's what they need more than anything else, and if they do another big draft capital deal for another big who will end up being a complementary player (albeit a much better one than my initial reaction assumed yesterday), I can easily envision a chance that, while the center position will be figured out (we hope) the overall roster and asset cache to improve it might be far worse than it is today, even. 

Defensively, I think he helps a ton after doing some light investigating. Loads of help on that end. And, offensively, he's got the tools to be a great complementary player to Luka. I think it was @"Bayliss" who said he can't punish smaller players after switches, and I still agree with that, so I think we'd be signing up to watch a ton of Luka step back 3's against bigs (especially since Ayton can't take his man too far out of the paint). 

I don't know. Very conflicted. Tell me they can get him for one first, somehow (probably can't - two might be dreaming, the way the market has been going) and I'm in.

I think the negatives you mention outweigh the positives.  He can't punish small players, he can't create for himself or others, and he is not a dominate defensive force.  He does not really address our biggest needs and he would be costing our most valuable assets we have (potential post Luka firsts).  That trade also makes the two picks we have left even less valuable because they are still in the Luka years and adding a young quality center (while not making us a contender) makes it much less likely we will crater.  

I don't send out those two picks unless its for a game changer, and I don't think Ayton fits that description.