Don't Take Advice From Me

[MexicanMamba]

Word Count: 1500+ ... I dunno I took a few out


I was going to save my last media points for the end of the season and another playoff predictions, but I’m wrong enough so allow me to go on to another tried and true article idea. Here I will dig through lotto teams and give some thoughts as to how I would attack their upcoming off-season (or trade deadline?) to assist with a turnaround. I won’t do all of them and instead have chosen FOUR to get into as in-depth as I feel like going. Yes, two of them will be for the teams managed by the guys I brought in. Not that they will read this anyways.





HOUSTON ROCKETS

Key Players: Jalen Suggs, Brendon Silva

Key Assets: Alphonse Morelock, 2046 1st Round pick



This will be the 4th straight season that the Rockets have been out of the playoff picture, and they haven’t been out of the 1st round since the 2030 season. I know in recent seasons it has been a combination of bad lotto luck and negligence which has been a major issue. 78 has had a couple of good young players fall to them, but then insurance wasn’t completed, and TC ripped them apart. This past off-season was a bit different however, as not only did their lotto luck shift (They grabbed the #1 overall pick) but free agency also treated them very well, by getting them Jalen Suggs and, the surprise of the off-season, Brendon Silva. These were nice first steps, however, they obviously were not the catalyst for some major turnaround. What should come next? The collection of young assets. No matter what it’s still a process to get to the playoffs, but you have to start somewhere.



1. Trade Brendon Silva. Silva is a very good, maybe great player. Maybe he is a tad overpaid, but who the hell isn’t in this league at this point? Preferably though, he should be sent out to be great for somebody else. 78 still lacks many high-end assets as of now, and Silva needs to be used to get more of them. Morelock looks very promising and this upcoming draft pick (depending on the draft file) could be a nice boost, but either at this trade deadline or (more likely) the off-season, Silva should be moved to allow the Rockets to truly build around legit young pieces.



2. Take offers for Jalen Suggs. I am not saying that Suggs absolutely needs to be on the move, because he is a newly signed, 24-year-old wing with good size, decent athleticism and great defensive potential. That being said, at max dollars and the next best young player on the roster being a rookie, Suggs may be a poorly timed fit. I wouldn't be desperate to move him off for just anything, but I would place him firmly on my trade block and see if any offers for a legit blue blood on a rookie contract comes through. If such a deal exists that also gives the Rockets more financial flexibility as well, even better.







PHOENIX SUNS

Key Players: Ronny Asher, Larry Canfield, Immanuel Quickley

Key Assets: Anas Mahmoud, 2046 1st Round pick





I believe there is an argument to be had here that there is a solid nucleus built here with Canfield, Asher, Quackenbush and Quickley. A nice combination of size, athleticism, scoring and defense. So, trading Mahmoud to try bringing in a legit Point Guard to run the show would be tempting. The problem is, where does that team actually take you? Probably not very far, especially in a division with everyone being active, even if the Pels are still very much in learning mode. I know Nate wants to re-build around youth and watch them grow, so, here’s how I would think about attacking that.



1. Trade Ronny Asher. But don’t give him away. He’s been trying. Well, he has had him on the trade block all season anyways. I have suggested to him to get more aggressive and go out seeking/offering deals himself. I am a bit surprised there’s been mostly radio silence on this player as I think a lot of him. He’s just hit his absolute peak and is a 24-10 type of guy who will still be 27 when TC rolls around next season. He’s also under contract for 3 more seasons after this one. All that to say, get real value from him if possible, because he’s worth it. It would clear up some financial flexibility to work around the younger players as well.



2. Keep an open mind on Canfield/Quickley. Canfield’s fouling still needs to be worked on and Quickley could be a defensive dynamo soon, though with offensive deficiencies. I may even be willing to use some points to train these two up as they are both 24-years old. However, don’t be completely shut off from the possibility of moving them as well, depending on what offers may come. Canfield is hitting RFA after this season and Quickley is prepping to get his 3rd contract after next season. With Mahmoud in tow, there is the option of continuing to go younger IF value is there for these two.







CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Key Players: Scottie Barnes, Cam Ron Fletcher, Eloy Tilton, Cassius Winston

Key Assets: 2046, 2047, 2048 1st Round picks





To be blunt? Kill it with fire. This is such an odd grouping of players and the record is proving that. Winston and Tilton are older and lack top-level production (Forget the sham that was Winston’s all-star appearance) AND are under massive contracts for next season still. Cam Ron Fletcher is hitting RFA so, crapshoot as to what he is about to be paid, and Jere Bailey is as fake of a blue as there is. Scottie Barnes is a piece that I do think has some value at least. The organization needs a hard reboot, in all honesty.



1. Tilton and Winston gotta go. The smart play is to just embrace the suck one more season to let those contracts die off with a wimper, but I would be incredibly tempted to pay someone to take one or both of those damn things off of my plate so I could have a fresh salary cap, but I can be impatient. Either way, they’re bad max contracts that are like anchors, dipping you into a bottom of a black ocean.



2. Decline the option of Jere Bailey. First, I’d make him available in trade before Wednesday’s deadline to see if anyone was willing to take a flyer on a young player with an option year. Bailey has some decent defensive potential so, you may be able to get a bit of value for him. He’s not helping THIS roster though, so I would value the cap spending ability next season more than having him.



3. Put Scottie Barnes on the trade block. This team needs assets in a bad way, and Barnes is probably the player most likely to get them in return. He’s still only 28, can score inside, and is a good athlete, on top of having a more than reasonable contract. Target a solid blue on a rookie contract and try to swap Barnes out for them.



4. Don’t trade any of your 1st round picks in the forseeable future unless its for a young purple player.







NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

Key Players: Albert Hunter, Deni Avdija

Key Assets: Ned Lomax, Ken Dirks, Larry Veloz, Jerold Harrison, 2046 1st Round pick





I think this roster is the one I would have the most fun toying with if I were the GM for it. Free agency did not hit quite as successfully as they had hoped, but they still got solid veterans and Albert Hunter for far less than a max. They also have 4 quality blue potential rookie contract players as well as 3 solid green potential players on rookie contracts. I genuinely believe they are in the rare position where they can build a strong team to win games very soon while also keeping a few young players in their back pockets to groom for the future.



1. Place Felicio, Turney, Avdija, Lynch on the trade block ahead of Wednesday’s deadline. Even if its just points in return, a full bank is a helpful tool. If you can squeeze some more young players out to trade in the off-season? Even better.



2. Prioritize your young players. With that much youth, it will be important to list them in order of how much you’d want in return for them in a possible trade. As everyone who has been around for awhile knows, not every blue potential player is built the same. So, know your players’ worth that way you are not settling for less than that in any future negotiations.



3. Consider trading a green potential (or two) by Wednesday’s deadline if it means bringing in a young veteran who can also help you win the following season. With so many young players on-board already, there is room to take some swings immediately. I’d save my top assets for the off-season when more teams are ready to deal, but if you find something interesting now for the assets on the edges? Don’t be afraid to take a shot.



4. Get prepared to be aggressive in the off-season. With this collection of assets, you can be in a real position of strength. Wield it as best as you can. Don’t always wait for offers to come to you. If you’re aggressive, then you can gets deals you love instead of ones you’re content with. GO OUT THERE AND BE SOMEBODY!

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[greepleairport]

+5
(+6 article, but media cap has been reached. well done sir!)