u/ATetrahedron

This is a common narrative. We asked why doesn’t TJ get more playing time? “hEs nOT GoOD”, yet his playing time against OKC last years WCF and this years playoffs, he showed up BIG with proper opportunities. The same thing can be said about Joan during actual opportunities of quality playing time. The fact they these 2 didn’t get consistent opportunities during the regular season was criminal, I could go on about how Rob’s development was ruined as well or how Garza would have been valuable to utilize for stretches but we got Ayo out of Rob so it’s okay.

We have young talent. We have good core pieces. We don’t need a giant mega star like Giannis giving up - Randle, Jaden, TJ, Joan, 3 1sts, along with having to move Gobert in some way as well. We need to a proper playmaker who’s in their 20s and can run the floor with this core.

I think we all know Randle goes and good riddance as well. But time to move off of Gobert. 2nd highest contract on this team, 0p in an elimination game, liability on offense. Team has reached its ceiling. Goal should be to get a playmaker with Randle/Bones and picks for Gobert and salary back.

Ant, Jaden, Naz, Joan can all start with Ayo, TJ, and Rocco being the 1st 3 off the bench. Just need a playmaker to bring out the best of this group.

This team has a lot of great players, who are still a couple of years away from their primes.

A superstar top 10 player? ✅ (Ant)
A defensive big who can grab boards, block shots and anchor the paint? ✅ (Gobert & eventually Beringer)
A defensive wing? ✅ (Jaden/Clark)
Guards who can score, shoot and are athletic? ✅ (Ayo/TJ/Bones)
A 3/D guard who does a lot of the dirty intangibles? ✅ (DDV)
A stretch big who can shoot and space the floor? ✅ (Naz)
A playmaker who can bring the ball up, set up plays and put players in their best offensive positions and dish out 7-10 assist a night? ❌

We don’t have the last. We did, but of course he’s nearly 40 and likely in his last season (Conley)

We have all the right pieces for a title, and we have plenty of defense and underrated talent on the offensive end who CAN score (Ant/Jaden/Naz/Ayo/TJ/Bones) but yet we don’t have a player who can bring out the best of these talents.
But instead we have an iso dominate PF, who sure can score in iso and bully ball but isn’t on the same timeline as this groups core (sure Gobert isn’t either but he serves his role here perfect), and is taking away offensive opportunities away from players who can be 18-22 a game scorers on the best stints and seasons (Jaden/Ayo/etc)

I hope this offseason TC can work on a package for Randle, a 1st round draft pick, and maybe throw in someone else for a true floor general if there’s not a great one available at the end of the 1st. Need that player to get over the edge of being a tier 1 team instead of a tier 2.