EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
I don't know. The issue wasn't just last nights game, but it felt like a last nail in the coffin for this group of Tatum, Brown, Smart and Horford. It's unlikely that these guys are going to get it done in the future. Other teams have MVPs and also getting better. Jokic, Giannis, Embiid (even the Sixers can get better). The Celtics don't even have a player finishing top 3 in MVP voting (for the record: I believe Tatum can and will be top 3 at least once). Other superstars like Doncic and Ja Morant coming up and the older stars still exist.
At this point I am very close to sacrificing the future for a shorter, but more realistic title window. Translation: Trading Brown for an older star like Durant. The Suns may feel that they have a longer window with Booker and Brown and it feels like Durant to the C's is long overdue. Or a 3 way deal has to be found to bring a guy like Lillard to Boston.
The Tatum/Brown + Smart core may have very well reached its ceiling. That's why I have a hard time being angry. This group IMO has never been likable (minus Horford, whom I really feel sorry for and maybe Rob Williams) and players like Brown and Smart just don't have a much higher ceiling, probably not even Tatum.
If it was me, I'd shake things up, but it's gonna be difficult. Superstars trades rarely happen, but I'd deal Tatum for Doncic, even though both teams would never do it.
Five minutes away from going up 3-1 in the Finals last year on the most experienced team in basketball led by an all-time great.
I'm not ready to give up on them, yet. Let's see what a good coach does with them.
Doesn't mean I am opposed to any meaningful change, I'm just not as down on their future/potential together.