Facil...
Here's something to consider.
I sincerely doubt that Dame is going to be dangled.
CP3. Even if he bails on his final year and goes for a new pact, say 3 x 30, why would he want to bail on the Suns? Devin Booker is a young SUPERSTAR. Ayton is stepping up to be one at center [he was blown away when someone told him that Nokic said he caused him problems]. Bridges and Saric are first rate, up and coming role players at SF & PF, and Monty Williams is coach of the year finalist [most first place votes] and beloved of his team. Paul is a perfect match, and they could draft a PG this summer that CP3 could conceivably mentor for the next three years.
Lonzo Ball? He could be expensive, and while a solid defender with three point range great court vision and size, he is a very streaky, inconsistent shooter, and I would expect him to be in the 20 million range and up if the Pelicans are to be pressed to not match.
Looking at Blake Griffin tear it up for the Nyets, one must wonder if the God of Buyouts might shine favorably on....New York's own....
KEMBA WALKER
At $36 & $37.6 guaranteed for the next two seasons?
No thanks.
But there are rumblings of displeasure emanating out of Boston, concerning Walker's dismay at Ainge trying to shop him. NOW HE WANTS OUT.
I saw a Porzingis for Walker trade floated in the blogopsphere, which might make some sense for the Celtics, but for the Mavs? Again, at the risk of repeating myself, I have also seen a Porzingis for Myles Turner trade floated, which would make a world of sense for Dallas. For Indy? If KP were not a perennial Injured Reservist, one wonders how he might match up as a Center with PF Sabonis, whose father was something of a mentor to KP.
Be that as it may, KEMBA WALKER.
Would I trade for him?
I would NOT. Not with those salary numbers.
But if the Celtics despaired of trading him and went the buyout route?
Walker is still a 90% FT shooter and .360% from trey and when ambulatory was a 19-4-5 man over 31.8 minutes in 43 of 72 games.
If we could sign Kemba Walker at Elfrid Payton money [$4.7 million] and reup Derrick Rose for roughly the same coinage, while some might differ with my rosy outlook, with Vildoza and Quickley on board as PG/Combo options, and with up and coming PGs to choose from in the draft at 19 or 21 [if we go that route, with the likes of Tre Mann, Jared Butler, Nah'Shon Hyland or Miles McBride projected to be on board when we pick, and guessing that we do not pick up Ntlikina's option nor elevate my beloved Liliputian Jared Harfper], Walker and Rose could give Thibs the kind of veteran presence he craves, while developing Vildoza and Quickley in a less pressurized manner. A long shot to be sure, but if Kemba could be had on the cheap, well, that's a horse of a different fire department, and one has to think KW would love to match up with the Knicks, and stick it to the Celtics management.
PS: Admittedly Blake Griffin is shining as a small ball center playing next to the likes of Durant, Joe Harris, Kyrie and Harden [how 'bout DEM Apples], but it is worth contemplating how similar BG's size, game and athleticism mirror that of our own OBI TOPPIN. Thibs actually gave that a look see against the Hawks, and there's no reason Obi couldn't practice for such an eventuality this summer, to function in a Blake Griffin/Taj Gibson manner. ANYWAY....slow day leading up to the Nyets-Knucks this evening.
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