Danny believes that the NBA rules favor super athletic, fast, talented PG's. Look at his drafting history (e.g., Rozier), his fascination with IT. His earlier fascination with AI (pre KG trade). His prior fascination with Chris Paul (two times, once when we tried to trade Pierce to Portland, and more recently when he was leaving NO).
I agree with him.
IT was definitely our engine the last couple of seasons. He made us click.
But Danny also has to project out a couple of things: When will GSW be vulnerable? And when will our top picks (Brown, Smart, Tatum, Rozier, Yabusele) be developed enough to really compete?
The answer to both questions is: not this coming season; maybe the season after. That's when things get real interesting for us.
IT just doesn't fit into that window. He is peaking now, turning 29 soon, and will be 33/34 when his max contract (which he will get) expires. Danny wanted to trade up for a younger player (Irving) who is likely more durable, has his best seasons ahead of him, whose peak will coincide with the above time table of our maximum competitive value as a team; i.e., starting with the 2018/19 season, and continuing for the next 5-7 years afterward.
The price of that upgrade was the Brooklyn pick. It was expensive, for sure, and most pundits are saying that CLE won the trade for that reason. But I feel that the best way to judge this trade is not wait for this coming season, but wait to see what happens for the next 5-7 years. I really think we have built an incredible nucleus. I would have loved to have gotten another top pick next draft, but we are so close now to competing, that it was worth cashing it in for the upgrade in youth and talent we are getting at the most important position in today's NBA.
Timing is everything.