I think JC's value was really high this summer. People really valued him, that's why he won 6MOY over Ingles who was a much better player. I think he was held in similar regard to Hardaway and Fournier who got paid significantly more than what JC is getting paid. It's impossible to know and it wasn't a real option the FO was considering so not worth a huge discussion. I just hope we called NOP every single day this off season. Hart was a player we could have absolutely used and Griffin was on tilt. You think not signing Lonzo is bad? How about giving up a first round pick to go from Lonzo to Graham. I think reality has hit NOP and we may have missed our window, but I know Hart probably doesn't want to be there. I'm hoping they had some kind of agreement to trade him because that is how the contract is structured.
I see Kenrich and Temple as more in the Paschall realm and not nearly in the same tier as JC or Tucker. Those guys aren't real options to play instead of our existing rotation, so all you're really doing is changing our bench unit. Are we a better bench unit with those players? I don't think so. Even with JC's struggles the bench is working. Maybe his role gets cut in the playoffs, but I like him for 15-20 minutes more than those other guys. If you're shooting for that level of player, I think you're better off going for a Galloway type or looking for a buyout guy.
I get what you're saying though, we just don't have many realistic options. If a change was going to be made, it needed to happen in the off-season. There are so many more options when teams are still setting their rosters. Nothing that has happened this season should have changed the team's stance on this. If they didn't want to trade then, they won't trade now with worse options available to him.