I would have rather kept Stauskas, but I'm not crying in my milk over his departure. But besides giving Philly the right to switch draftpicks with us, we also promised them a future 1st round pick, to go along with the 1st round pick we already owe the Bulls. So as it stands now, were going to lose two out of the next four 1st round picks. And, if by some freak of nature, we were to win the lottery, guess who will end up with that pick? As it stands now, that's probably the only way Philly would switch picks with us.
We'll have around 21 or 22 mil to work with in the offseason, but that's before we resign Rondo, if indeed we intend to resign him. I personally have mixed emotions about him. I'm not sure his positives outweigh his negatives. It's not my decision, but if given the chance, I'd try and resign him if I can get him for the right price. Problem is, I'm pretty sure that my right price is not his right price. If we were to resign him for, say 11 mil a year, that would leave us around 10 mil left to work with. Not a lot of money to make a significant change. I don't see the team getting any better without moving some of the current pieces in trades. Trades are always tricky. Are you really improving yourself by removing this player and adding that one. They always look good on paper. Just like Belinelli did......
We'll have around 21 or 22 mil to work with in the offseason, but that's before we resign Rondo, if indeed we intend to resign him. I personally have mixed emotions about him. I'm not sure his positives outweigh his negatives. It's not my decision, but if given the chance, I'd try and resign him if I can get him for the right price. Problem is, I'm pretty sure that my right price is not his right price. If we were to resign him for, say 11 mil a year, that would leave us around 10 mil left to work with. Not a lot of money to make a significant change. I don't see the team getting any better without moving some of the current pieces in trades. Trades are always tricky. Are you really improving yourself by removing this player and adding that one. They always look good on paper. Just like Belinelli did......
The only thing given under Vlade's reign is one first round pick.
We replaced Thompson/Landry with Koufos/Belli, price tag is less than a mil. Despite Belli sucking this year, this is improvement worth extra years on the contract. If we need to offload Koufos/Belli to make cap space, doubt it would be a problem. Do you think their contracts are bad?
I would argue that Rondo, young Doug Christie, Guy, WCS and DMC, with Collison, Ben, Casspi, Acy and Koufos and deffensive minded coach (lets say Thibs) is a contender.... and Doug Christie was not a star and far from the max player when he was acquired.
One non-star player and coach away from contender is not that far fetched and is achievable.
Not saying it is easy, specially to find young DC type of player, but achievable with the resources we have.
From future contract point of view, the only thing I do not like are generously given cheap contracts to Duje and Wayne (can live with Seth and Anderson). For Butler, do not know. He is definitely not earning his paycheck playing, but do not know how much he is contributing from the locker room.
Otherwise, all other contracts in my mind are reasonable or cheap, even before the salary cap increase.
We are at the stage of 98-99 team. Did not need pricey star to come in then, nor now. Just complementary players to gel together with complementary piece added here and there.
Will it work, do not know, but we have a chance... which is more than what we had year ago this time.