ExplosionsInDaSky wrote:mjkvol wrote:ExplosionsInDaSky wrote:
I definitely think Embiid wants to be here no matter what. He's not given any kind of indication that he wants to leave. With that said I think his road towards the Finals is going to have to be put on hold for at least a season (until we are free from Tobias Harris). I think you and I are at least in agreement on that. We also agree that another desperation move (Bradley Beal) would be far more detrimental as opposed to just standing pat for a season and evaluating things. I agree that this city and it's fanbase aren't exactly known for their patience. We overreact, we get angry, we get mean, we get spiteful. Hell, I remember even during the process years people suggesting that we hurry things up by signing mediocre free agents that are at this point no longer in the league.
Lets assume that we don't retain Harden. I mean, at this point as much as I'd hate to see him go, it's probably for the best long term. The guy is expiring faster than an over the counter Avocado. So...No Harden means we're taking a step back. It's important that this fanbase understands that (good luck with that idea). You're still going to get the idiotic, beer guzzling mozzarella cheesestick eating blowhards that troll just because they can. I do my best to ignore them (it's hard at times).
My comment about game 6 being the beginning of the end of Embiid's time here is hopefully an overreaction on my part. I badly want it to be. I look at Nowitzki in Dallas and it wasn't until he was like 12-13 years into the league until he finally got the Mavs over the hump. I highly doubt the Dallas fanbase was just silent and patient and steadfastly supportive of him through all the previous seasons where they came up short. Do you remember the 07 playoffs when they were beaten by the 8th seed Warriors after they had won 67 games in the regular season. I bet that fanbase was ready run him right out of town. The point being that this is a rollercoaster ride, but I think Embiid is talented enough to hitch a ride with despite all the let downs.
We have made some terrible roster moves in terms of surrounding Embiid (as did Dallas for many years with Dirk). I've tried to take that into consideration as well. I think as far as this offseason goes, the best roster move we can make will be letting Harden walk, and NOT making a desperation trade for an overrated chucker just because we feel we have to.
I think a desperation move like trading for Beal or Collins by trading our last remaining plus asset for someone not even mediocre but bad and hoping it can be better will lead him to ask out.
We dont know whats inside his head. But if i would have to guess i’d put his head similar to a level headed fan. And as long as you can sell the idea to a fan that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, he’d keep supporting the team. I see the same with Biid. If he does not see a light at the end of the tunnel, he’d want to spend his prime at a legacy market like the Heat or Knicks to play with Jimmy or Brunson.
Then for the best move?
For me our best move depends a lot on what we can get for Tobi. I like Tobi and how he’s been a good soldier, but we need to move him this offseason when his value is at it’s highest and with the new CBA kicking in.
Our second best move is getting a good deal for James Harden. I personally want a discount for retaining James, at worst is a short contract (2 year deal) where we can have some optionality in the future to rebuild or push thru.
And our third best move is not now, but what can we do with the cap space in 2024 offseason if we ever decide to hold unto Tobias.
our best scenario is retaining james at a discount or short contract, then trading Tobi for a lot of value that fills our need (not just any value like beal). Maybe end up with Harden (morey’s guy) and Siakam (Biid and Nurse’s guy?).
our mid scenario for now is not really bad either, this is the gap year. Where we let Harden walk, try to pump Tobias’ value heading to deadline of 2024, then go into 2024 offseason with a likely lotto pick and a big cap space. We might even send Biid again to the middle east then clone him again, where we can use his clone to play for us if he breaksdown again in the future.
Our worst scenario for now is retaining Harden at an overpriced contract then signing Tobias for a bad player like Beal or Collins. In this scenario we dont have any optionality while we take in some poison pill that we need a miracle to turn it around
There’s never been a time in history when we look back and say that the people who were censoring free speech were the good guys.
