My early takes while catching up on last nights games:
Bye Bye Herro
The time to capitalize on Herro has passed. He was my preferred trade for Sexton before the season, he and Okpala (still obtainable) and now you see why. He had a skillset overlap where he was pinched between Duncan Robinson's perimeter shooting and Dragic's dribble drive with both of those guys seeking new contracts and Spo just not having patience for Herro last season. Where he benefit most is from Dragic moving on, Duncan getting his payday and Lowry/Tucker being super smart offensive IQ players who are willing to set him up to play to his strengths. Guess who would ALSO produce like this with a ultimate greenlight playing next to smart veterans in Rubio and Love as the first guy off the bench?
Celtics Overlap
Speaking of skillset overlaps... Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will never work together as long as they are the best two players on the team. Marcus Smart is speaking with the blessing and power of Brad Stevens office, so please don't assume he is available or speaking out of turn. Stevens had a interview yesterday and he spoke glowingly of Smart not just voicing what he did, but also putting in the work to communicate with Tatum and Brown after the interview individually. If Boston could acquire a floor general with enough respect/cache to make Tatum stop pounding the ball (as long as he plays this way, Brown is the better all around player who makes teammates better, but Tatum is unquestionably more talented with a higher ceiling) they can save their season and this Udoke era, however, the overlap between Brown and Tatum will remain. Rubio, John Wall, Ghost of Rondo (limited playing role but more lockerroom/mentor role) are three acquisitions they could make. Schroder is looking for a payday and the language barrier/lack of floor general in his game is exacerbating this.
Fade the Cade
Please visit the Draft thread from last season if you need better context for why I said early and often not to draft Cade Cunningham. I get the excuses about injuries... will not make him quicker, more athletic and NOW taller/longer as he's easily the most misrepresented measurable guy since Isaac Okoro. He looks a good 6'5 to me and with his lack of burst and overall floor game (masked by Scottie Barnes and Moody in HS and masked by lesser talent with the whole offense running through him at OKSt) he's going to have a uphill battle to be better than average/replaceable as a pro on the perimeter. So grateful we didnt get stuck with him. His BEST CASE scenario to me, is if he can mature his body and the game slows down so that he can play like a smaller Steve Smith (post injuries).
I would not trade Sexton for him straight up, I considered it when I thought he was 6'8 and capable of being a slow SG with a solid jumper and above average IQ/passing. Not sure where the conventional thought came from that he was a cant miss. Weaver is now tied to him so he'll have to eventually make moves to highlight his skillset and minimize his limitations. We should keep Detroit on our short call list for the foreseeable future.
Contenders
Miami, Utah, GSW, Chicago, BK, LAL, ATL (Young is starting to adjust to officiating and will be fine by midseason), Knicks (trust me, league is playing Thibs ball)
Borderline, need to make moves
Bucks (replace Tucker), Philly (move Simmons for a PG and/or halfcourt shot creator), Denver (need to infuse toughness before deadline/Murray returns...Gordon doesnt fit), Phoenix (should have paid Ayton, need to upgrade Crowder)
Pretenders, no shot on contending this yr so make moves accordingly
Dallas, Portland, Clips, Boston, Indy, Washington