Trade IT if you want to build a long term contender

[CsBanner18]

Not sure if I'd pull the trigger but IT for Boogie makes some sense. Both are all stars entering the final year of their contracts. We'd be adding a star at C, while allowing Fultz to start.

The Pelicans get a star PG to pair with Anthony Davis

[slamtheking]

Seems like folks are looking at this all the wrong way.   

Opening up a starting job for Fultz might not be the best way to teach a 19 yr old how to win.  This team has 50 win expectations, and that's too much to saddle a rookie with year one.  He'd feel a ton of pressure if we move IT.   You could end up stunting his growth, if you don't recognize the unique situation this team is in.   

Keeping our vets creates a safety net for the rooks to make mistakes and learn; without costing us too much in the W/L column. 

And it also needs to be said-- going to go up against IT every day in practice, playing on the 2nd team, getting beat time and time again by his hesitation ....  that's the kind of stuff that forges champions. 

Don't forget how young Fultz and Brown still are.   They need structure, aren't ready to take the league over in year one like Magic or Timmy D once did. 

Why not make them earn their mpg?    Make Brown beat out Crowder.  Make Fultz beat out Thomas.    The fact that we have solid vets is really a huge benefit when you factor in that 2-3 year 'growth' window that the young guys truly need to become great NBA players.   

You keep this band together, even if it means we can't afford Hayward.   Fultz can plug that hole anyways. We've got a good thing going here, and it can be a Spurs-east type run for us as long as we stay patient.

Exactly. Look how talented Mini is with Towns,Wiggins,LAvine,Dunn,Muhammad. But because they don't have any vet leadership, they're records aren't great. How many promising Rookies come out and don't pan out because they don't have vets teaching them how to be a pro? Even Jordan had strong vets when he came in. Barkley had Doctor J.

We also don't need many more young guys. We get a top 5 next year, that will give us 4 high draft pics under the age of 25, and two Euro pics to work with and build for the future, and still compete with IT,Horford, and possible FA.

I have no issue trading IT in the right deal which for me would be to get someone even better, not take a step backwards.  the bolded part is a key piece some people forget when assessing this team and thinking we have to either go "all in" or "build for the future".  the team is in a great position to both add a top FA this year (we at least can make the cap work for us to do this, getting the player to leave their current team is another effort) AND add another top prospect this year and next (not to mention still having Yabu's rights and our own first rounder next year).  not to go crazy here but Danny's got 3 picks in the second round this year and he tends to do very well finding someone talented late in the draft.