Assuming we don't draft Wemby or Scoot,predict the 2023 opening starting lineup

Pick 3 for John Collins?

He has shot worse than Jabari this year... and plays no defence.


Let's try it again:

Assume we get pick 5
Sign Harden
Trade Sengun and Clips pick for Capela
Trade Green for OG Anunoby and a pick
Pick Ausar Thompson at 5

Harden
Ausar
OG
Smith
Capela

Yuck.

At least it is a defensive lineup. But would be brutal to watch. No thanks

 

According to you they’re making the play in. Why are you talking about Wemby or scoot. Strange.

waiting on the I told you so per you

 

-Nix
-Nix look-a-like Hudgins
-Tate
-Kaminsky
-Boban

Why not tanking one or two more years if Wemby/Scoot can't be drafted.

 

if we don't draft top 2 then it's going to be pretty ugly considering we don't own our pick next year.

even worse knowing we are going to make OKC a contender....

 

Daishen Nix - Jalen Green - KPJ -Jabari Smith - Bruno Fernando

 

C - Denial
PF - Anger
SF - Bargaining
SG - Depression
PG - Nix

 

It's a toss up. If we are the shttiest team once more it's like a 50/50. 50% we keep it at 1-4, 50% we give the number 5 pick to the thunders

 

We better not be starting KPJ unless its in Rio Grande

 

Sengun
Eason
Smith
Green
Porter Jr.

We will trade KMJ to GS to trade up and take Jett Howard at the 14th pick. NBA will finally capitulate and give us the first pick and we will take Wembanyama. Developed team will look like the Nuggets with Center and PF running point. Two combo guards, SF, PF, C. Will look like this:

Green/Howard
KPJ/TyTy
Eason/Tate
Smith/Wembanyama
Sengun/Wembanyama

Garuba and Christopher as role players. Rest of team TBD.

 

There are so many things up in the air that I can’t even predict a starting five.

Will James Harden really want to come back to this mess? Will we make a stupid desperation trade for an ok veteran? Will we ride with our young fellas and watch their development?

The only sure thing is that there’s no sure thing.

 

PG Darius Garland SG Jalen Green SF Jaesaen Tate PF/C Kristaps Porzingis PF/C Alpi Sengun 6th KPJ

 

I still think Jabari is a perfect player with senguin and green. Someone who can play great d and make open shots (I know he is not doing that right now)
So I think those 3 are set. I also really like Eason and kj manning the 3 though I would trade both if I can get a stud 3 or 1. Would either draft a pg or sf with my top pick as well
If I can't get a pg in the draft or trade I would sign a pg in free agency bc that is priority (pref harden)
Then I would have a bench full of veterans.
New coach

 

impossible to tell... its all gonna come down to who just uses us for leverage - and what free agent will actually take our money... or if another team turns into a total dumpster fire down the stretch - and we can step in to extract an asset..

i would expect 1 starter from the draft (wemby or Scoot) and at least 1 starter from cap space due to fa or trade... with Green and Bari starting... and prob Sengun if we miss on Wemby...

 

Seeing Nix's name there took me from depressed to suicidal.

 

First off, the idea of James coming back is ludicrous. We shouldn't want that for numerous reasons. And, neither should he.

Forget about Wemby or Scoot. The league isn't letting it happen. (3 or 4)

I, also, want nothiing to do with John Collins.

Not worried in the least about Jabari. I see him as the perfect fit once he matures physically/progresses. He will be one of the leaders of this team.

So, we would have the #3 or 4 pick, ammo, capspace, and impetus to win more, while not sacrificing youth and flexibiility. So many possible outcomes.

 

If we missed out on the top two picks, I would guess they will throw a lot of money at someone. If they're going to throw a lot of money at an FA, I hope it's Fred Van Vleet. It's still idiotic to outbid the entire NBA for Fred Van Vleet at this point in our rebuild, but at least he would fill a position of need (floor general), play defense and bring championship habits.

If we're trying to win as many games as possible, I think we will have this 8-man core:

Sengun/Garuba
Jabari
Tate/Tari
Green
VanVleet/KPJ

Sengun and especially Green and KPJ have to get their defense in better shape and add as much muscle as possible without getting fat. This would be a great core to start competing with keeping in mind we're adding a great pick this summer and would still have almost a max FA slot available for any player that breaks loose on the trade market (we have lots of picks to attach as well).

I think the rest of the season will tell us a lot about which direction to go. I'm 100% certain they will do everything to win next season and that energy alone will make a big difference. I just hope they are extremely patient with the cap space. Like, if it takes a few years to rebuild your image, then take your time to do that so that we have access to better FA's. I don't want desperation signings and frankly I don't think anyone should pay FVV near the max, that's just the least harmful example I could think of.

Save the money for a top tier FA. The second FA is 100% dependent on the first so I really hope we don't go back to the days of acquiring underachieving or over the hill max players. Patience.

 

Harden
Green
KPJ
Bari
Sengun