keeping the expectations reasonable, here's my thinking:
under contract for next year: Kemba, Jaylen, Smart, Jayson, Theis, Romeo, Timelord, GWill, Edwards, Green, Poirier,
Players signed but with player options: Kanter, Hayward.
Players signed but with club options: Semi.
FAs: Wanamaker, Waters, Tacko --> different sites have Wanamaker as a true FA or a signed player with a player option or can be kept by offering a QO and him accepting. For the purposes of this commentary, will assume he's in control of his own destiny as a FA.
- 3 first round picks: 14, 26, 30 and a second round pick - 46
Personal view is that I didn’t expect them to contend this year but to get a good evaluation of who should be kept as a building block, who’s a serviceable role player and who’s trade fodder. The fact they’re back in the ECF under these conditions (not excluding team’s various health issues throughout the year and bubble) I feel highlights that they need to move from continuing development to fine-tuning for contention. To get there for next year, this is what I think could happen.
- No studs in this draft but it looks like someone serviceable can be picked up at 14. To me, this puts all picks in play as trade pieces.
- I think Danny realizes Poirier is a wasted roster spot and needs to be moved. His contract isn’t a big deal but it’s the roster spot that’s the more important issue. I can see Danny using either pick 26 or 30 with salary compensation to a team with cap room to open that spot. If he sees the need/opportunity to move Edwards in that same deal, it may require using pick 26 instead of 30 with some extra salary going out if the receiving team cuts more than just Poirier but I think whoever gets Edwards would want to kick the tires on him for what little he’s making.
- Hayward picks up his option. I see the same for Kanter. If the cap wasn’t likely to take a hit due to the pandemic, he might try for a bigger deal elsewhere but I don’t see that happening.
- I see Wanamaker moving on for a better deal elsewhere. the QO he’d get from the C’s is less than he could get elsewhere so I see him leaving for a better deal
- I think Semi is kept on hold until Danny sees who he can get through free agency. If Danny can land an established 3-D vet for the bench, Semi’s let go. if not, they keep him.
- Danny’s targets in free agency are that aforementioned 3-D wing, a backup PG vet to replace Wanamaker and an athletic big man that can mostly defend a pick and role and not get destroyed on the boards in the process. I don’t see him making a deal to get that player but not through lack of effort.
Next year, I think having Kemba one more year helps him gel with an improving Jaylen and Jayson. Fingers crossed for a finally healthy year from Hayward. Smart will be Smart — have us cheering one moment and screaming in frustration a moment later. I believe we’ll see real improvements from Timelord, GWill and Romeo to the point where they’re good rotation players. I think we’ll have that #14 draft pick that will get minimum floor time due to the team’s depth for next year - would anticipate #26 or #30 (whichever we didn’t trade away) will be used in a deal to move up a little in the draft to get Danny’s guy. Tacko will be back in Maine as an intriguing tease. Waters may be back on the 2-way deal if he can beat out the #46 pick for that spot. I like the kid but not seeing him as the guy to replace Wanamaker any more even though he looks like he can run an offense. With the team having the MLE and vet min options for free agency, I think Danny’s going to have to split the MLE to get more than one vet who’s not essentially roster filler
Starting next year: Kemba, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Theis.
Rotation Bench: Smart, Timelord, GWill, Romeo, 3-D wing FA, Vet Big FA,
Deep Bench: Kanter, Green, 14th pick, vet PG FA (if Danny can’t sign the 3-D wing, I think Semi is on the roster and Green is just let go and the C's eat his deal)
2-way: Tacko, #46.
