I look at this last season same as Dames rookie year. Had some great stretches but terrible ones as well. Many fans wanted a major rebuild then. Instead Neil added Rolo, some bench guys, and over next two years we were a contender if Wes doesnt tear his Achilles. Id look at building the same, hopefully we get better bench and 5th starter and then we'd be there.
Near locks to stay; Dame, CJ, Nurk, Trent
Upside but questions; Little, Collins, Simons
Irrelevant; Gabriel, Brown, Hoard, Adams, Hezonja, Hood
One season: Ariza
Need to go; Whiteside, Melo, Swanigan
We last won a ring 40 years ago. I’m now with the opinion that you need to assemble your team to WIN NOW with 2 to 3 players on the team as prospects. With this, you need veterans to surround Dame, Nurk, CJ and Trent Jr. So Melo, Ariza, Hood become significant. If we see promise in Simons, Collins, Little, Hoard, then decide which 2 to keep and add your draft pick. This means it’s to time send Mario, Hoard, Moses, Adams down the road. And I’m assuming Whiteside will sign elsewhere.
Currently, we don’t have a WIN NOW roster. And the whole “let it bake” approach can happen again AFTER Lillard is past his prime and a rebuild happens.
To summarize:
Dame
CJ
Trent
Simmons
Then add a veteran to this mix. A scorer like Lou Williams, etc.
if we can improve the above by making a trade (let’s assume it’s CJ), then this addition must add a unique value that we lack. For me: a defender.
CJ for Jrue Holiday??
essentially, trading CJ with say Ariza for Holiday and Reddick would round out a very sweet back court:
Dame / Holiday / Trent / Reddick / Simons
Now for forwards:
Melo / Hood / Little
Here is where we need to add a veteran - at Power Forward. With the above back court and Nurkic at Center, I see the need for an “enforcer” a real banger. We may also want to bolster the PF position with our draft pick.
and finally Center
Nurkic and assuming Whiteside leaves, we need another vet to fill this spot.
summary
Dame, Simons
Holiday, Trent
Reddick
———————-
Hood, Melo, Little
Veteran, Draftpick
———————
Nurkic, Veteran, Draftpick
2-way = Hoard / Adams
So CJ & Collins to New Orleans for Holiday & Reddick is the major trade.
Then we need a veteran PF and C
And draft focus on bigs: PF and C
He is a FA and he shouldn't be expensive. Now you can sign him to his actual value most likely. Also Crowder is a good choice if we can use Ariza at the 4. Crowder-Ariza would be a good 3 & D duo.
