Does anyone remember that the bane of our existence over the last 16 years has been abysmal, sometimes historically bad defense? Monk doesnt solve that, (exacerbates it when compared to DDV). Collins does and Huerter dont solve it either... In any way. In fact Huerter to me screams like the type of player who flourished on every team except the Kings (ala George Hill). I'd expect a massive step back from him if he is here (no basis for this, but just my gut feeling). Collins I'd be fine with of we didn't just draft Keegan (who frankly is a 4/3 NOT a 3/4). If you were drafting an older player, i wouldnt mind puttinf Keegan on the bench for a year or 2 to develop, BUT a move for Collins is a foundational move for your franchise, especially with the time on his contract. So bringing him and Keegan together doesn't make a ton of sense to me (Keegan is not a good enough ball handler or facilitator to play wing full time).
The problem is our depth problem at 3 now extends to 2 and we are for most intents and purposes, taped out with respect to available salary for impactful players. To my understanding, we curre tly have $106M in signed contracts, with an $8M caphold for Keegan. So $114M which leaves us currently with ~$8M in space. My understanding is that if we dont use this, we only have a cap-room MLE ($5.3M/yr for 2 years). If we use all $8M then we get the Non-taxpayer MLE ($10.3M/yr for up to 4 years, but it hard caps us to use it). We also a have a Bi-annual exception ($4M/yr for 2 years). So someone smarter than me can answer if the above and the following are reasonable per the CBA given where we are today...
1. Sign aMartin twin on $4M/year for 2-3 years (player options for 3rd year).
2. Get oladipo on BAE ($4m)and the other $4M from the available cap for $8M/yr for 2 years (2nd year player option). That puts us at the cap and allows us the full non-taxpayer MLE (for Bamba or maybe hartenstein).
3. Use the MLE to go for Bamba and promise to initially start him in a twin towers situation next to Sabonis as they can cover each others flaws (bamba stretches the floor and defends the paint whereas sabonis will direct the traffic minimizing bonehead plays from bamba), or throw some at Hartenstein.
4. Renounce Jones and trade Holmes and Harkless and 2 SRP for Luke Kennard
For Bamba, he would start the season at 4 but would also get significant minutes at Center when Murray plays. Despite the route, he will pull 20-25 min per game and make 8 figures. He gives us a security blanket in 2 years for if Domas decides to bounce.
For Oladipo he gets good money on a short term deal which protects him should the season go belly up again for him (by giving him an optioned $8m year if he needs it) but gives him an out to go make better paper should he deserve it. It also gets him back with his buddy (domas).
For Clippers, they it will give them a good target inside for John Wall (expected to sign with them) and PG13 to throw dimes to inside and breaks up kennards contract into an expiring piece (Harkless), and a more palatable piece (holmes)
It allows you to still have your FRPs and Barnes as key trade pieces.
Fox/Mitchell
Oladipo/Martin/TD
Barnes/Kennard/Holiday
Bamba/Murray/Lyles/Metu
Sabonis/Bamba/Len
I think there is good balance and solid shooting and reasonable perimeter and interior defense here especially if brown institutes as good system. I think it would at least be a 7 if not 6 roster.
