Simple. There should have been laps left at the end of the race. If they didn't put Lewis on new tires, he would have fell like a stone potentially on a restart. Ferrari gave him a chance to even get Leclerc with their strategy. FIA screws Lewis yet again
People made it sound like he was just complaining or just washed at Merc post-2021. Then, he gets to Ferrari and just as many gaslit us about Adami and the team in general. Proves that it's not just the car but the driver's skill and their ability to help a team develop the car. The actual GOAT, not just an overuse of that term that's present all over the internet
First off, while the possibility of Joel or PG being traded is certainly on the table now more than ever, I think it's doubtful for many reasons. Also, and this is something that I'm still getting used to, but many fans in the Philly area tend to be a lot more negative about a team's future than reality actually shows, and while I think the gap between the perceived negativity and reality is the shortest for the Sixers, the end is not exactly nigh.
All that said, assuming the core four are here to stay, what the hell kind of identity can you make with this team? Lets off rip assume that Joel will play only about half the games, if that even. So you can't really base a lot of your identity around his strengths. The best you can hope for is a minutes cap that allows him to play a solid 50 games, and even that is being generous. PG is a relatively solid 3rd option who is multitooled and can kind of fit in anywhere, so combine that with his age, he's not really a factor in this.
What does a team look like built around VJ and Maxey? While many like the idea of a run-and-gun, fast paced team and can't wait to just throw out Embiid and PG so we can get a bunch of young, quick guys to play at break-neck pace, I think that style is very hard to replicate. It works for the Pacers because Haliburton is an elite playmaker, and Maxey is a much better all-around scorer but just a good playmaker.
I don't think playing a heliocentric style will ever work with this core, and I think that model is showing its limitations in these playoffs. Brunson may have the ball the most, but the Knicks are only in the Finals because KAT has stepped his game up in all facets, including as a passer. While San Antonio of course will Iive and die with Wemby, they have a slew of ball handlers to flank him with.
Plain and simple, I think the Gansey hiring shows an obvious strategy moving forward: we're going big. I think the priority for this team, and the best path moving forward is to prioritize size and strength, and that's exactly what Gansey has been doing for years in Cleveland and that's what they hired him to do here. This might be the worst draft imaginable for that mandate, but I see two guys that the team is going to make a push for at all cost with that in mind: Morez Johnson Jr and Jayden Quaintance. Koa Peat is the backup if all else fails, and while I don't like that, I think that's the philosophy.
From now on, I anticipate that they're going to have Maxey be the floor in terms of height and strength on this team. I don't know how well this will work, but I can say that it seems like a much more attainable route than any other option. Everyone is always looking for shooting and playmaking, so there is a premium price put on those skills, and I think the goal is to get as much of that as possible from the core four, but everyone else is going to be asked to rebound, set hard screens, play physical defense and just try to hit as many of the open shots as possible when you get them. I don't think we're going to play pretty basketball going forward, but if you like the rough stuff, this might be up your alley.
I've been looking at the draft order, and I'm not sure many people in front of us have the incentive to trade down in this draft. The only team I could squint and maybe see a reason to trade down in the Top 11 is the Hawks at Pick #8, but they could use the guard depth, and drafting someone is probably easier than signing for them.
I'm not sure the Thunder want to trade back at #12, and us trading up to #17 with the draft order all over the place may not be worth the price. Maybe the Bulls at #15? They already have a high lottery pick this year, and considering some reports that they'll be interested in signing vets to complement their youth, they may be willing to take #22 and a slew of seconds.
Memphis likely wants as many young players as possible right now since they're at ground zero of their rebuild, so they're a no-go. Hornets probably want vet players more than picks at this point. Raptors might be amenable, but that's only a jump of 3 spots.
What do you guys think? This is a funky draft and the last one before the changes take effect next season. I'm definitely watching the whole thing this year. Who knows what the fuck will happen.