I wouldn’t try to trade CJ yet until most of the team is back healthy. We have Ariza’s partial guarantee, Simons, Collins, a MLE, and all of our picks—look for a 3-D wing and a serviceable backup big and backup PG. If you can get Whiteside to join a contender like Boston or Dallas or a team that is over the cap, you could probably squeeze out some assets out of that too. I’ve heard that Wendell is demanding to play pf now, could a Whiteside/Ariza/Simons/2022 lotto protected pick get you Porter Jr and one of Wendell or Lauri?
I think the decision to trade CJ won’t be until next offseason, or trade deadline at the earliest. We’re seeing that Gary can eventually become a really good 3-D starting SG, but he isn’t that right now. We need another full year of playing experience for Gary before pulling the trigger on a CJ trade. We won’t have a secondary playmaker at the wing position that can create their own shot, so we can’t just trade CJ for anyone.
Stars with PO for next year are Paul, James, Leonard, George, Holiday. Unless the Clippers don’t win this year and something catastrophic happens in the next 12 months, I don’t see any of those guys except Holiday and Paul being available in a CJ-packaged deal. Stars with PO in 2022 include Harden, Durant, Westbrook, Beal, Butler. Maybe Beal becomes available. Too far out to tell, but I’m on the Don’t Trade CJ bandwagon for at least a year. I wouldn’t mind bringing back Stotts for a year, but I’m not against looking for a replacement either. We at least need an defensive coordinator. I remember D’antoni quitting in Phoenix because he wouldn’t bring in Thibbideau as his defensive coordinator. Maybe at least lay out the ultimatum this summer?