It’s a good point and the reason why I’ve been pushing for a more sizable trade since the summer. It doesn’t really matter if we sign a really good defender with our 11th roster spot or whatever. We got our *** beat with our main lineups. That’s the root of the problem, and it can’t be solved with having a guy you throw in for 3 minutes.
I’m not sure how much improves if you put on Smart for Royce. Smart is a way better defender IMO, but Conley-Mitchell-Bogey will always be problematic. All three of them have had their moments here and there and are decent in certain situations, but come playoff time that trip is really going to set us back defensive. Smart is great on ball and still pretty good in rotation, but I do think someone like Robert Covington (or at least the idea of him) would help more.
We’re going to get cooked in our 1v1 matchups. It’s inevitable. I think you’ll see more improvement with an elite off ball defender than an elite on ball guy.
Maybe it doesn’t help much at all, but it depends on what we’re giving up. We definitely have an offensive minded guard/wing to spare. If we can find a trade with JC that would be the obvious one, but his value is tanking rapidly.
Honestly, we’ll probably have to throw in a first to make thugs type of trade…but I’m willing to do it. This is the only time I expect us to seriously compete for a ring in the next couple decades so might as well go all in.
