Long post coming up... but I decided to put this on paper for myself to see pros and cons for different paths.
First off top 5 is really out of the question as is going for a chip... so our options are:
1) Full tank, offload vets without getting any playable guys in return and maximize current draft position and future assets: Lottery odds in 6-7 range
2) Semi-tank, offload key vets but try to get playable young guys (and picks): Lottery odds in 8-10 range (Lauri, Kessler, Ochai and Sexton likely prevent us from dropping lower than that)
3) Stay opportunistic, worst case get eliminated in play-in: Lottery odds in 11-14 range. Best case we end up where option #2 or #4 would lead us without pushing it:
4) Trade for upgrades and try to make the playoffs: Pick likely in 15-22 range, unless there is an unlikely series win. Not "win now" level investment, but clear buyer trades still.
So the list below has notes with + indicating best for this aspect, - indicating worst for this aspect and N means noteworthy but not best or worst. Please give me your thoughts about it
Notes for #1:
+ Best case is 37% odds for top 4 and 9% odds for #1 (6th in lottery odds)
+ We maximize our draft assets this way
N We give most playing time for all the young guys that we end up keeping. However this is not the best option for youth minutes (option #2 is).
- Silver is watching, and I doubt we would get away with blatant tanking
- Lauri and Kessler development suffers the most with dumping the vets
- We would have to sell at the worst value (as long as we sell them)
- We would end up only having players we dont want to trade away or who are not worth anything in packages, which limits our future trade options
- Likely worst on cap space planning, as would probably contain taking in unwanted contracts
Notes for #2:
+ We might find some new keepers from trading vets if we get young guys back, and we do this without "paying for them" (like in option #4, which is still better for finding future starters)
+ We get best youth minutes with this option
N We dont have to force offload and likely end up keeping some players with trade value for offseason
N Lottery odds for top 4 are still around 20%, which is twice as good as they would be in play-in. However only 1.2 teams in two years from this range reach top 4 according to the odds.
N We still get positive return on draft assets
N Lottery odds essentially mean 1 team every other year reaches top 4. Most likely pick is in that same 8-10 ranges as lottery odds, which means top talent is out of reach
Notes for #3:
+ We trade with best value and get to be picky what deals we choose
+ We can still end up in path #2 or #4 (so outside of play in and in playoffs) with this approach
+ Best option for future salary cap planning as we can plan our moves based on that without pushing either way
N We will have very low odds for top 4 in lottery. Still guaranteed 11-14 though (good players are also quite often found here)
- We might end up not making any trades, which prevents us from finding new potential keepers or starters
Notes for #4:
+ Best for information about where we are right now and what we need going forward
+ Lets us evaluate how well Lauri and Kessler (and others) fair in the playoffs, confirming (or questionning) the investment in them
+ Hardys system goes through the 7 game series test and we see if it holds water
+ Best option for development of Lauri and Kessler (keeping maximum talent around them)
+ Likeliest option to find us more future starters (targeted upgrade trades are more likely to be better than project youngsters)
+ Gives us the best pool of players to work with in the offseason
- We will not be able to add top talent through draft with our own pick at least
- Worst for youth minutes and Ochai and Sexton development for instance
- Worst for future draft assets
- Market prices are high so targeted upgrades might end up costly (risky if they dont fit)