Can't believe how strong this fake news narrative has become. Rudy isn't the problem, it is the rest of the team. No defense and selfish offense. We replace Rudy and we fall to the very bottom on defense, combined with small easily-negated guards and that is a recipe for disaster. Rudy has been our floor raiser the entire time he has been here. We are about to see the floor drop right out from under us. Lottery here we come.
Step 1: Trade rudy
Step 2: Lottery next 2 seasons
Step 3: Donovan asks out
Step 4:....
Step 5: profit?
Unless they get a stellar package this is our likely trajectory. Sure hope they don't botch this like they did the Conley and Favors trades.
Rudy is not the problem. The problem is we did terrible work around the edges. We had a nice window at a championship run specifically 2020 but the front office didn’t do their job. It sucks but it’s true.
Outside of the Clarkson/Exum swap I’m not sure there was one good move we made. Maybe lucking into House? We wouldn’t even sign him to a multi-year deal either for some reason. We have absolutely botched our last two MLE signings. The most inexcusable moves was signing Favors, drafting Udoka and then using a first to get off of Favors salary.
Then we have Ingles expiring contract and we didn’t get a difference maker for it, a pick or anything besides future salary in NAW that who knows what we will do with. So many picks burned to dump salary and we still were in the tax this year. Just mind boggling work around the edges.
Now, Rudy’s value is at the highest it will be and that is why we should move him. He’s not the problem but we need to move forward and get a some assets for our empty cupboard. I don’t think anyone can say with a straight face that the Chicago package will make us contenders or even serious playoff threats.
We do that deal to get 18, hopefully a future first and most importantly Williams. We hope Williams takes a step forward and maybe we get a solid player at 18. Donovan/Williams end up in the lottery and maybe we get lucky at a top pick or a top-10 pick. At that point hopefully we have assets to make a move for someone that makes a difference.
Maybe Vucevic plays extremely and we deal him at the trade deadline for more assets. Once you embrace being bad you can can do quite a bit of different things.
Donovan may or may not ask out who knows. Nobody knows for certain. Lillard and Beal have been rumored to ask out damn near every year and yet here we are. If he does want out and does ask out he’s actually doing us a favor vs just leaving in FA like Hayward did. Donovan/Williams plus draft picks is our future and it at least gives us a shot at something vs what we have right now.
