We could try to trade for Leonard or LeBron I suppose. But the Tatum, Hayward, Brown trio of wings with Horford and Irving as the Book ends is pretty incredible. Tatum just looked like a future got to guy when it mattered most in the playoffs this year. Brown nearly averaged 20 a night in the playoffs this post season and seems like he’s just starting to truly sniff his potential as well. Both of these guys are 21 or under. That’s ridiculous. The biggest glaring move I think we need to make is find the one big that can run with Tatum and Brown for the next 10-12 years as Horford truly starts slowing down in 2-3 years. We need an alpha big (PF or Center who will be as good at his position as Brown and Tatum currrently project to be at theirs. That creates a potential 10 year championship contention window, given reasonably good health.
Therefore, rather than chase Leonard or LeBron, which feel wing redundant, i’d Rather choose to consolidate players and picks to try and move up in the draft to pick one of Bagley, Carter, Jackson or Bamba. All of these guys could be future all stars, possibly all pros as their ceilings.
You’d have to hit it right but that’s always the game.
* Could Bamba be Gobert like defensively?
* Could Carter or Jackson be an Al Horford?
* Could Bagley be a Chris Bosh with a mean streak?...
So, the move i’d Like to do is something like some combination of Rozier, Smart, Morris, Yabusele, the Sacto pick (also likely to be a top 5 pick next year) the Memphis pick, the Clipper pick and our picks to Memphis for the 4th and a re-signed Tyreke Evans (if he is probably leaving anyway)
Basically a consolidation trade to move up in this draft for of these promising young bigs. I suppose you could include Brown if you had and then keep the Sacto pick to draft his replacement next year (hopefully...) but i’d Prefer not to.
How good would this team be, assuming you choice of big chosen was as good as the Tatum/Brown selection?
Horford/Baynes (Bamba or Bagley)
Tatum/Theis (Jackson or Carter)
Hayward/Morris or Ojeleye
Brown/Tyreke Evans
Irving/Smart or Rozier
If I’m Memphis I would do that deal (in some shape or form). Gasoline is getting old quickly and Conley isn’t a spring chicken either - both have had injuries. What they need is some young vets (Smart, Rozier, Morris, etc) to help them compete a bit more now and then a boat load of draft picks, including their own back to start reloading for their rebuild. We can give them both in some type of combination. I know they’re throwing the Chandler thing out there but not sure how many takers they get on rhT.
For us, the one thing we need most, the glaring need, is a young alpha big.