IMO we should be attempting to acquire that game-changing stretch 4 thru the draft (which is why I still support tanking). We're unlikely to attract a FA of that caliber or acquire 1 without having to give up Gobert or Mitchell. But we're also unlikely to end up picking high enough to draft that caliber of player.
But Parker is an exception as we appear to have a reasonable chance of signing him. He's shown he is likely capable of being a go-to scorer, appears to fit well next to Gobert (+ the rest of the starting unit), & fits with our timeline. But the injuries are a major concern, even more so if he requires the max (which seems possible/likely).
If we are picking mid-late teens & unable to move up to acquire that potential elite stretch 4, assuming there are worthwhile plausible targets (I haven't been paying much attention to this year's draft class), without giving up Gobert/Mitchell, I think we have to do everything possible to attempt to pry Parker away from MIL (& pray he stays healthy) as this is a rare opportunity for a small-market franchise to acquire a young, potential star without burning assets (outside of cap space).
I strongly believe that acquiring an impact stretch 4 is the key to us potentially contending in the future. If it's not feasable to do so thru this year's draft, IMO we can't afford to pass up the opportunity to acquire a talent the caliber of Parker for just money (or a reasonable trade package if we can get a deal in place). Especially considering we already have 2 of the necessary 3 young impact players + a solid supporting cast (assuming we sign him outright/trade minimal assets).
PG would likely need to eventually be addressed (although using this year's 1st rd pick is likely the most economical route) as Rubio doesn't seem to be the long-term answer & Exum is a huge question mark.
Exum/draft pick
Mitchell
Ingles/Hood
Parker
Gobert
If any of Exum, Hood, or the draft pick develop into (atleast) all-star caliber players, we would have a young, complimentary, (potentially) championship caliber core. Although committing the max to Parker has the potential to turn into a long-term cap crippling mistake, IMO this is likely our best & possibly only possibility (outside of a 3rd DEN fleecing) of diverting from the path to 2nd-tier "contender" that we appear to currently be on.
