Yeah, that’s an excellent point. Mobley has immediately impacted winning, and I’m a big pro tank guy. Also - hate to say it, but I’m also pro tank for next year, or at least not making any “win now” moves this summer. This summer I’d trade away Gordon, Wood and Tate. Buyout or trade Wall. Start Sengun. Your defense will likely still be bad enough to lose a ton of games. You’ve got Green, your current centerpiece player, under full control for another 3 seasons, then his extension. Don’t make the mistake other teams have made when they find their first great player by adding win now players….keep losing and add to your long term core.
I think it just comes down to how you want to build your team eventually you will need both types of players.
Yes, we have one more year where we fully control our pick, 2023, then they start going to okc. Next year we should go for as high a pick as possible and then all the big contracts come off the books in time for a big FA signing and all in on winning in 2024. Although ideally you would want Jalen, Sengun, Christopher etc to develop so well over the summer, and our pick this year to hit such a home run, that even if we are trying to get as high a pick as possible next year it won’t be top 4 again just because our young guys have gotten so good, but still in the top 10 range.
Interesting. I've only watched Orlando during the games we've played them and he didn't stand out as much as I thought. Super small sample size though
Sure. But when u say dumbass sht like Green is at least a few years away from being an NBA Caliber Player. (latest post: early February) I just hope that one day he becomes a replacement level NBA SG.... maybe even one day developing into a starting caliber NBA SG if I'm being optimistic (early march) kinda contradicts the story u r trying to spin. literally just bias statements, acting like its facts.
I don't think the general vibe from clutchfans sees him as that, in fact most see him as first team all defense and maybe DPOY type of defender...
1- Barnes 2- Mobley 3-Kuminga easier situation on a bad team to have better stats ,Detroit& Rockets with their top picks choices will be glued to the bottom for a long time
That’s how I see it. You want development…just not winning. I’m ok going from the bottom record to Portland/SAS/New Orleans territory. That’s an improvement of about 10 games at this point in the season, but puts you in the 6-8 area of the draft…close enough that you still have ok odds and can trade up using future picks if there’s a guy you really like.
This is one of the arguments pre-draft on picking players more ready vs guys with the best upside. Ironically Mobley is a rare breed of being ready with high upside. I pushed hard for this strategy in tank vs play-in threads as well. Year 1 of a rebuild is the best time to pick the guy with high upside, but might not come out the gate ready day 1. Kuminga would've been a really good player to trade for as well. During the 3 years before we owe OKC our picks we should try for a top 3 pick each year and start picking our core by 2024 or 2025 and make moves to compete thereafter.
Mobley. I like JG and I think he will turn out to be an excellent player, glad he plays for our Rockets. That being said, I would still draft Mobley ahead of him. I think long term he has more potential to be both an offensive AND defensive monster.
Would you take MJ over Hakeem in a redraft? Absolutely! But i think both teams like who they got. Right now Jalen is playing exactly like we had hoped and so is Mobley. I have no problem saying Mobley has played better (for more of the season) than Jalen. I love his game and don’t think it’s even worth debating between the two selections, but it ultimately depends on where we end up in this years draft. Consensus top 3 picks are most likely big men. So I would prefer Jalen and one of them than Mobley and another big. BUT, if we end up in a spot to take Jaden Ivey instead (as of right now he’s 4th or lower on most boards, but he could go higher). It would’ve been nice to have taken Mobley and Ivey. Jalen Green & Chet/Jabari or Mobley & Jaden Ivey Honestly, I’d take either and I don’t regret taking Green at all. Truthfully I just wish we could’ve gotten them both, lol.
I’ve always thought you should lose until you believe you have 2 All-NBA players…then you trade or sign a 3rd. We won’t know if we have 2 until late next year at the earliest, so I tend to believe we should tank again next year and be judicious with our cap room in 2023. It’s ok to wait until 2024 or even 2025 to sign a major free agent. Our current rookies aren’t restricted free agents until 2025, and NO TEAM competes for championships while it’s core players are still on rookie contracts. It’s ok to be patient. I don’t want to just be a playoff team. I want to win it all.
Green, not changed since the draft despite how great Mobley's looked. I think Jalen's going to be pretty special when all's said and done, he might have had a slow start but anybody who doesn't see the star potential at this point is totally lying to themselves.
Since we don't have our picks, we won't have the luxury of benefiting from being a losing team after next year, however I agree the rest of the post
Green, but for a very specific reason: I don't believe in comparing two good draft picks. By that, I mean if a draft pick works out, I'm not particularly interested about how the picks that happened later turned out. Because here's the thing: We have no idea of knowing how Mobley would have played here. He could have suffered a career-ending injury the moment he stepped on the court. So, it's one thing if a pick DOESN'T work out; it's sensible to think about how things would have been different with another selection. But if a pick is solid, then that's all I really care about.
The only exception to not tanking next year is if you believe you’ve got a shot at Jokic in 2023 free agency. If that’s actually on the table, then you play to attract him.
Not saying we should tank in 2023-2024 or 2024-2025. Just that we should be judicious with our cap space. If you think there’s a good player going for a discount, then use some of the space, but don’t reach and give a max contract to a guy that is a Tobias Harris type. Be patient.
