What's the point?
Well, I think the point is, this team could still win games. And I think there is a decent chance Danny is working under a directive from ownership to not tank unless absolutely necessary.
Humphries doesn't really help the C's, but if you swap him for Gordon, that is actually interesting.
They would be a center away from having the chance to be a scrappy team that could actually be a hard out in the East, if their chemistry can come together (and Wallace can get hooked up with Pierce and KG's HGH dealer).
Everyone seems convinced that this team is tanking, but the reality is, if Rondo is still on the team, they are way too talented to have much of a chance at a good pick. But, they are only another player or two away from fighting for maybe the 4th or 5th seed in the East.
Let's say they swap Humphries for Gordon, and then maybe Lee and a future #1 for Gortat.
Suddenly you have this roster:
PG: Rondo
SG: Bradley, Gordon (who could be great with Rondo)
SF: Green, Wallace
PF: Wallace, Sully
C: Gortat, Olynyk
That isn't a championship roster by any means. But in the East, they could be a very solid playoff team, and perhaps even more importantly, kind of entertaining.
Meh, if Danny wanted to put out a mediocre middle-seed quality team next season he could have held onto Pierce and Garnett and not taken on additional long term salary in the form of Gerald Wallace.
As the team is currently constructed I just don't see how they're going to win very many games. They could be a decent team if they exhange some of their assets to get players like Gortat to shore up the rotation, but what's the point?
I think ownership is okay with a tank job as long as it only lasts for a season or two.
If he held onto KG and Pierce, he wouldn't have gotten 3 future first rounders that could be very valuable going forward.
While I am not positive, I think there is a good chance that Danny is trying to collect assets, and still put a quality product on the floor at the same time. I think that is what he has been charged with by ownership.
I really do not think Wyc wants them to tank, unless there is no other choice.
And the other key is that if you are going to tank, it is for Wiggins. And you are about as far behind in the tanking race, as you are in the race to be a true contender right now. The C's would have a LOT more work to do to even be in the discussion for a bottom 7 pick next year.
I really think people underestimate how bad some of these other teams are. And don't get it twisted, they will all be trying just as hard as the C's would to tank...but they will have a huge head start at having a truly terrible roster, rather than the mediocre one the C's have.
And when it comes down to getting playoff revenue, or getting the 11th pick...I think Wyc prefers going for the revenue.