This seems to be the end line on the rebuild... assuming nothing else substantial, here's where we would be at: On Roster: Jalen Green KJ Martin Alperen Sengun Usman Garuba Josh Oliver Free Agents: Kevin Porter Jr (RFA) Christian Wood JaeSean Tate There will be cap holds on Wood, Porter, and Tate... There should be enough cap space to sign 2 max free agents with our own... Granted, they could deal Wall as an expiring with Brooklyn picks for a star and sign another after... They will also have 2 years more of picks to add... Could look very nice... Stone seems to have a plan...
My dream for a "quick" rebuild is that the young core we drafted last night plus a top 5 pick in next year's draft leads to us overperforming expectations in the 2022-2023 season. Perhaps a low playoff seed via the play-in tournament and some solid performances in the first round against a tough, top-seeded opponent (à la the Clippers in 18-19). Wall & Wood come off the books after that season, which is the same offseason Zion's rookie contract is up. I'm not confident in NOP's ability to build a winning roster around him. Developing a talented, exciting young core could entice a guy like Zion to join up. We'd then be set at the guard spot and in the post (assuming the addition of Zion and the growth of Garuba & Sengun). That free agent class has some pretty solid wings, either productive vets still in their primes (Harrison Barnes would be 31, Jerami Grant 29) or guys coming off rookie contracts that could be studs if they continue to develop (Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke). I doubt Stone's plan is simply to swing for the fences for a guy like Zion, but I do think 2023 free agency will be a very important time for us.
Stone and Ferntilya are going to go HARD after Embiid if he doesnt reup with Philly. HARD! KPJ Green Tate Sengun Embiid See you at the parades! edit: Thats if we dont hit the lotto again next year with either Chet or Paolo - can you imagine??? We do have 3 first round picks next year too!
I like every part of this thread! Well done, everybody and OP @Landry's Tooth Interesting thought on Oliver... i see the upside, but I think somebody else will snag him from us by then (even this year)
I always thought that was the play where he could then spike those Nets picks values by leaving back for Houston. I questioned that when he was jaking it on the court near the end. We'll know more if he signs an extension or not... the 3 of them can max out for a few more years around 50 million each... Not sure that will happen... Kyrie is another type of dude and if he's not in the Nets aren't an obviously better team than most.
