Looking back at Yoki's trade, who would you rather have:
Lillard/Gay/Monroe
or
Harden/P Gasol
For me the answer is easy. I would rather have Harden/Gasol and have the patience to see someone drop in my lap at the end of the 3rd like gasol and a couple of other players have dropped in this round.
Harden/Gasol, and it's not even close.
And who will I put next to Harden and Gasol at 3.22? Again, I worked on the assumption that the big men talents are going out fast, I had to do something.
You're right, Harden and Gasol seems to be a good pairing compare to Lillard/Gay/Monroe (who BTW is not bad, at all). I already told this to Commish, if I had info that Gasol would drop, I would wait. But I don't and quality big men are being snatched like candy from a piñata early. I decided to rebuild instead of the risk of waiting.
It turned pretty good, great actually. Solid core of star players.
Its one of the risks of drafting top 5. But luckily the talent gap is pretty significant that teams with top 5 players can survive the wait. You too could have survived even if you didnt get Pau.
Not without a big man who either is a low post threat or a rim protector.
And the way the board shaped up early this round, I thought there the quality bigs will be gone by the time I pick 2.22.
Had to do something. And I disagree about the drop off from Harden/Gasol.
Lillard is in the same mold as Harden, not as efficient but in the same mold. He's a scorer who can light it up and also a solid playmaker. Whatever Harden does, Lillard can in a level down a notch.
The Harden trade gave me Greg Monroe though, an ultra skilled Center who's always a dual threat in the midrange or in the post. Lillard ran the pick and pop well with Aldridge, well, he can as well with Monroe, who by the way, also rolls (compare to LMA who only likes to shoot midrange). I got my scorer, playmaker, inside presence and rebounder from that trade.
And then I get Rudy Gay, who's a weak #1 option but a great #2. Solid defender, can score on his own. CLUTCH. Can I get that level of talent in 3.22? I don't think so.
I think I did good with my trade.