karl malone
Well-Known Member
Even considering trading Favors for any prospect in this draft other than Towns is absurd. The only reason you even consider that trade (so long as it's straight up or only requires including an additional minor asset or 2) is because Towns has similar or better 2-way potential, is younger, & is cheaper/cost-controlled longer (although I would only do so if we were also able to make a similar deal involving Hayward). Neither of those things are likely to happen, but I believe that it touches on an important subject.
Right now we have a core that consists of Exum, Hood, Burks, Hayward, Favors, & Gobert. Out of that group Hood, Burks, Favors, & Gobert are all under contract for at least 3 years & ready to contribute now. Hayward is obviously ready to contribute but able to leave in 2 years, while Exum is cost controlled for several years but still likely a year or 2 away from being ready to contribute.
Imo, this means that there are 3 directions in which we can go:
1. We can stay on our current path, hope Exum develops quick enough to retain Hayward, & use the upcoming salary increase in order to keep our core together & build around it.
2. We can trade Exum for a starting caliber player who is ready to contribute (or add a starting caliber PG by other means, while benching Exum), add veterans to help us win in the short-term, & attempt to speed up the process of becoming legitimate contenders in order to retain Hayward.
3. We can trade Hayward for prospects/future draft picks, focus on the long-term, & continue to develop & add to our core of young, cost controlled players.
The 1st seems to be the safest & most likely option of the 3, but I think that it's something that warrants a discussion/consideration. I'm not suggesting that we completely overhaul the roster, I just believe that we are at somewhat of a crossroad in which we need to either prioritize the long-term, short-term, or attempt to balance the 2 (which isn't always the best option as doing so can lead to an unbalanced roster). Personally, I would probably hold on to both for now, attempt to upgrade Burks with an elite offensive prospect, & try to put the team in a position to win next year by filling our holes (backup PG & C) with young veterans. If we don't appear playoff bound by the trade-deadline next year, I would seriously consider moving Hayward (if the right deal were to present itself) so as to not risk limiting his value when he is essentially a FA-to-be in a year or losing him for nothing.
Right now we have a core that consists of Exum, Hood, Burks, Hayward, Favors, & Gobert. Out of that group Hood, Burks, Favors, & Gobert are all under contract for at least 3 years & ready to contribute now. Hayward is obviously ready to contribute but able to leave in 2 years, while Exum is cost controlled for several years but still likely a year or 2 away from being ready to contribute.
Imo, this means that there are 3 directions in which we can go:
1. We can stay on our current path, hope Exum develops quick enough to retain Hayward, & use the upcoming salary increase in order to keep our core together & build around it.
2. We can trade Exum for a starting caliber player who is ready to contribute (or add a starting caliber PG by other means, while benching Exum), add veterans to help us win in the short-term, & attempt to speed up the process of becoming legitimate contenders in order to retain Hayward.
3. We can trade Hayward for prospects/future draft picks, focus on the long-term, & continue to develop & add to our core of young, cost controlled players.
The 1st seems to be the safest & most likely option of the 3, but I think that it's something that warrants a discussion/consideration. I'm not suggesting that we completely overhaul the roster, I just believe that we are at somewhat of a crossroad in which we need to either prioritize the long-term, short-term, or attempt to balance the 2 (which isn't always the best option as doing so can lead to an unbalanced roster). Personally, I would probably hold on to both for now, attempt to upgrade Burks with an elite offensive prospect, & try to put the team in a position to win next year by filling our holes (backup PG & C) with young veterans. If we don't appear playoff bound by the trade-deadline next year, I would seriously consider moving Hayward (if the right deal were to present itself) so as to not risk limiting his value when he is essentially a FA-to-be in a year or losing him for nothing.
