By that I mean a guy that had a diversified enough set of offensive skills so that he can finish at the rim, shoot 3 pointers, create his own shot off the dribble. make FTs etc.. and get us 20 points per 36 on most nights even if it’s a tough matchup. He should also be efficient enough based on TS% to at least be mildly above average if he’s a #2 option and higher if he’s going to be #1. Finally, he should at least be an average defender, but if he’s better than that, break out the bubbly.

can you give a few examples of guys who fit this definition AND what you would trade for them if they became available. just saying we should trade for a very good player one level down from lebron and kawhi if available is not even technically considered communication under the geneva convention.

I like Anthony Edwards, but he’s the kind of character actor you can usually find in the later first round of most drafts. I’d trade up for a sure-fire star like Tom Cruise, though, and maybe even for a solid #2 like Val Kilmer.

There’s just so many prospects that can’t shoot in this draft that it scares me a lot. I’m done with drafting guys that can’t shoot, so Haliburton would probably still be my favorite, but it’s looking a bit grim.

This really isn’t the draft to package all your picks to move up. I’d rather have the two late picks than use all three to draft Anthony Edwards.

I agree. I’m not enamored with Edwards. However he is considered a cut above most, so I doubt whoever can pick him would make the trade anyway.

But yeah, we have two potentially foundational players and even that is pretty unclear. We need darts. No trade ups.

Until then, it makes a lot more sense to think about the draft picks we actually have and how we can maximize their value.

You never know when one will become available.

Very good players, even young ones that are in the process of becoming that kind of player, sometimes get tried of losing and push their way out the door (cough cough). It happens with guys in their later 20s all the time.

My point being, we are unlikely to get that kind of player drafting outside the top of the lottery. If we are lucky, we’ll get a very productive role player. That’s all well and good, but we need to get a #1 and #2 and we have to have realistic expectations about how good they are going to be and how much we have to pay. There are only a handful of guys like James. Giannis, Leonard, Davis, etc.. that are going to play great on both sides, Those guys are worth massively more than the max. Others are so ridiculously good on offense, you can sacrifice a little defense. Some are very good on both sides without being super elite on either.

If you want a very good player, you have to pay even if he’s not an all time great player.

We have picks and space. We have to make a move soon.

You worry about how to beat those other teams later with matchups, better depth, coaching strategies injuries, cheapness or mistakes on the part of other teams etc..

If you don’t, you’ll be buried in lottery hell and mediocrity for a decade waiting for your own savior to come.