Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:41 pm
Jaden can get there if the team allows it to happen. He won't get there if he has to continue to reach for hand me downs and scraps while not being a preferred option. He does pretty damn well for someone who shoulders a huge defensive load and has to fight his own teammates for offense. And he always shows up at playoff time.
Pretty much my thoughts on the matter.
It's why I'm growing more convinced that extending Julius could prove to be fatal decision if the team goes that route, even tho I would absolutely understand the decision (and personally I really like the way Ju plays).
The team could get more synced up and with growth from Ant, Jaden and the young guys could have another 23-24 type of run with Julius on the team but I really think they've shown that isn't enough offensive punch to get all the way there.
Julius won't get any better, and they need to start cashing in bets on guys like McDaniels, Shannon and Dilly to see what they can become if given the chance.
- I like the numbers you pulled Q and they certainly back up what I imagined would be the case, which is that Jaden still has a ways to go as a playmaker and I really don't know if he gets there. I'm very confident his scoring can go up, but I'm unsure of his capability as a secondary ball handler- which is by far the biggest hang up I have between keeping Julius and handing the reins to the young guys.
I still think they need to largely buy into what they are growing in house and not make any big desperate moves
I’ll echo you and Cool on your assessment of Jaden. I can easily see Jaden becoming our #2 scoring option but I’m less sure about him becoming our second ball-handling option. That’s where Dilly comes into the picture. Rob can certainly be our #2 ball-handler. He has an elite handle and what looks like a great feel for the game, very good court vision and natural passing talent. Randle is also a high-level scorer who can handle the ball far better than most PF and who typically keeps the ball moving.
I continue to lean towards moving on from Randle in favor of Naz as our starting PF, making Rob our starting PG, relying more on TSJ as well as Clark off the bench, and forging ahead with a team that aligns better with maximizing the talents of Ant and Jaden and with the type of play required to beat teams like OKC, Houston and Indiana. I do think we’ll need to acquire a defensive big to back up Rudy. I still think it can work with Randle and Naz if we can sign them without going above the 2nd apron, Naz is willing to remain a 6th man behind Randle, and Randle is willing to continue adjusting his game to keep the ball moving.
Trading for Giannis will be far too expensive, so Connelly is probably working a deal now.
I would not make the trade for Giannis as I believe the trading of all assests is what has hurt teams like the Clippers. Building a super team, a la the Yankees, doesn't work as well in the NBA. The top teams in the NBA have almost always been built from drafts and making a shrewd trade to find missing pieces. Trading for big stars only works if you are the Lakers or Celtics, just the way the NBA wants it. LOL
If Connelly can get Durant for a song, without breaking up the young core (trade Randle, DDV and Conley, toss in Miller, Garza, Minnott if needed, but do not touch the guys that will grow with Ant) I am down. Otherwise, draft a couple bigs and trade Randle when the time is right. Time for the kids to play, even if we take a step back!
- I think it's easy to understate just how good a guy like Giannis is... or even Kevin Durant still is. Just last week, I posted Durant's stats from last season. It would have arguably been the greatest offensive season in franchise history. Unless he has "another" catastrophic injury, there's nothing to suggest these guys won't continue to be uber-elite players in the next year or two.
- It's highly likely that Anthony Edwards will NOT finish his career in Minnesota. That's why I think contract length is much more important than age when discussing a star player in a small market. I'm not advising a trade for Giannis... only that their "timelines" might be closer (relatively speaking) than we might think.
- A lot of championship teams build organically through incremental development and improvement and grassroots efforts. And MANY more teams that try to build that way fizzle out without reaching a title. Every championship team is different. Sometimes, it's a missing star player, or two highly competent borderline All Star players, or one perfectly compatible really good player, or young guys hitting... or... you get the point. There is no surefire formula. Every tactic could work... or it could fail. That's why it's a tough gig.
I'd like to combine Randle with Rudy and see if we can make a run at Bam Adebayo. He may not be Rudy defensively but Bam can be played at all times and situations.
You add Bam to a starting lineup of Rob, Ant, Jaden, and Naz. I think you would really be on to something with that group. And since you can't platoon offense and defense in basketball, I don't think you can win a championship with Rudy. He's just so far down offensively. I don't want to hear about his net ratings, he's just not serviceable on offense. With Bam we would suffer some defensively but the team would be much better overall.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 5:34 pm
I'd like to combine Randle with Rudy and see if we can make a run at Bam Adebayo. He may not be Rudy defensively but Bam can be played at all times and situations.
You add Bam to a starting lineup of Rob, Ant, Jaden, and Naz. I think you would really be on to something with that group. And since you can't platoon offense and defense in basketball, I don't think you can win a championship with Rudy. He's just so far down offensively. I don't want to hear about his net ratings, he's just not serviceable on offense. With Bam we would suffer some defensively but the team would be much better overall.
You can't win a championship with Randle or Finch either. I'd rather keep Rudy over both of those two. I'm not opposed to trading Rudy if we get a defensive minded center back who is a better all around player, but I'd address the lower hanging fruit first. I think Miami would have zero interest in trading Bam for Rudy and/or Randle.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 5:34 pm
I'd like to combine Randle with Rudy and see if we can make a run at Bam Adebayo. He may not be Rudy defensively but Bam can be played at all times and situations.
You add Bam to a starting lineup of Rob, Ant, Jaden, and Naz. I think you would really be on to something with that group. And since you can't platoon offense and defense in basketball, I don't think you can win a championship with Rudy. He's just so far down offensively. I don't want to hear about his net ratings, he's just not serviceable on offense. With Bam we would suffer some defensively but the team would be much better overall.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 5:34 pm
I'd like to combine Randle with Rudy and see if we can make a run at Bam Adebayo. He may not be Rudy defensively but Bam can be played at all times and situations.
You add Bam to a starting lineup of Rob, Ant, Jaden, and Naz. I think you would really be on to something with that group. And since you can't platoon offense and defense in basketball, I don't think you can win a championship with Rudy. He's just so far down offensively. I don't want to hear about his net ratings, he's just not serviceable on offense. With Bam we would suffer some defensively but the team would be much better overall.
I just took a quick look at salaries and thought about bit more about what the Heat might want in return. Bam is set to make $37 million next season. Meanwhile, the Lakers are apparently prepared to offer Naz $120 million on a three-year deal. So it might be more realistic to offer something like Naz Reid (sign-and-trade) + Donte D and pick 31 in exchange for Bam and Kyle Anderson. We might have to include pick 17 as well.
OKC's 3-and-D big unlocks every lineup combination for his team
I liked this article and this is really the point I'm envisioning when it comes to Jaden- can he be a versatile big instead of a 3 and D wing?
I'm not sure but I can see it.
I definitely like the idea of Jaden being a swiss army knife big that could start at PF, but then slide down to C when we play "small". I think he has to add a bit more weight, but hopefully that comes. I know Holmgren is really skinny too, but he makes up for it with ridiculous length that's even longer than Jaden.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 5:34 pm
I'd like to combine Randle with Rudy and see if we can make a run at Bam Adebayo. He may not be Rudy defensively but Bam can be played at all times and situations.
You add Bam to a starting lineup of Rob, Ant, Jaden, and Naz. I think you would really be on to something with that group. And since you can't platoon offense and defense in basketball, I don't think you can win a championship with Rudy. He's just so far down offensively. I don't want to hear about his net ratings, he's just not serviceable on offense. With Bam we would suffer some defensively but the team would be much better overall.
That’s really intriguing, Cool. I like it a lot!
Sure, I'd like to add Anthony Davis too, but it won't happen. Pat Riley and Spo are smart. They aren't trading their best player who is 27 for two one-way players who are on the wrong side of 30.
I'm waiting for Abe to chime in with his thoughts!
