Insert a star at 3 and this team is elite

[Jordan Evans]

Would Utah be willing to trade Hayward?

I'm sure they would. He hasn't been too fantastic this season but I still like him as a player and I feel he could be good for us.

[Nilanka]

What do you guys think of having Gordon Hayward as our 3? I mean, he's still young and he's a fine shooter and plus he's a good defender. If he can get stronger, I feel he could be our 3. Most likely, we won't get the 1st or 2nd pick in the draft so we can't draft Wiggins or Parker but I'm hoping with like the 5th or 6th pick, we can get Exum. So like our lineup would be...Exum, Derozan, Hayward, Johnson, Valanciunas. And/or if MU decides to trade Demar....Exum, Ross, Hayward, Johnson, Valanciunas. Also another shot(it's a long shot, kind of) But what if we get Greg Monroe as our starting PF and we just move Amir to the backup even though he's playing like Jesus at this point.

Would Utah be willing to trade Hayward?

[Jordan Evans]

What do you guys think of having Gordon Hayward as our 3? I mean, he's still young and he's a fine shooter and plus he's a good defender. If he can get stronger, I feel he could be our 3. Most likely, we won't get the 1st or 2nd pick in the draft so we can't draft Wiggins or Parker but I'm hoping with like the 5th or 6th pick, we can get Exum. So like our lineup would be...Exum, Derozan, Hayward, Johnson, Valanciunas. And/or if MU decides to trade Demar....Exum, Ross, Hayward, Johnson, Valanciunas. Also another shot(it's a long shot, kind of) But what if we get Greg Monroe as our starting PF and we just move Amir to the backup even though he's playing like Jesus at this point.

[yertu damkule]

....Harrison Barnes...

ah yes, that magical run to end the '11/'12 season. GS slipping just 'ahead' of us, doing the tank right, getting barnes. port nabbing lillard. BC passing on drummond to take a project SG after they'd JUST extended DD.

oh, the memories.

[Shrub]

Well said.
I should learn to avoid the forum after wins too, before I make too many enemies.

[S.R.]

That's all very true, but you have to be careful about going too far in the other direction.
I find that's the tendency around here, probably the by-product of the BC era you folks mentioned.

Getting over-excited about a small sample-size or dismissing it altogether:
One is no better than the other.

As a fan, after games like OKC and Dallas I actually avoid (or want o avoid) these forums for a bit just so I can revel in the great basketball I actually just watched my Toronto Raptors play. I just love good basketball.

I think you can be passionate about wins, cheer your head off, and still have some realistic long-term expectations/hope for your team. Following a franchise is, after all, all about the journey. You don't just show up for the championship season, but knowing that this isn't that season doesn't mean you stop watching/cheering.

Everyone oversimplifies. It's the Internet!

[Shrub]

That's all very true, but you have to be careful about going too far in the other direction.
I find that's the tendency around here, probably the by-product of the BC era you folks mentioned.

Getting over-excited about a small sample-size or dismissing it altogether:
One is no better than the other.

[RandomGuy]

^
True that, just few games and your opinions have changed, Im excited, Im happy but Im still cautious, dont want to repeat myself but we had plenty of such streaks throughout our previous stink seasons, the legendary 13, TOP defense, Rudy the saviour aka not this guy.

[S.R.]

People are overreacting to these two wins........ This same team just lost at home to the LOLcats and is 4-8 at the ACC.

This team is not one player away. That's the same deluded thinking BC had for years: always just one guy away.

The obvious conclusion is that everyone's on crack...

What psychotic mood swings. You're spot on - this is exactly what characterized the BC era. Get overexcited about small amounts of immediate success, mortgage the future because you always believe you're "almost there," ignore the fact that there is not an elite core of talent on this team, then after several seasons of no playoffs or quick playoff exits everyone can call for your head.

Don't take that path, Masai.

[slaw]

People are overreacting to these two wins........ This same team just lost at home to the LOLcats and is 4-8 at the ACC.

This team is not one player away. That's the same deluded thinking BC had for years: always just one guy away.

[Shrub]

What happens when Lowry gets paid and gets fat/injury prone again?

Beware the contract year

This is a thing.

I absolutely love Lowry's game, but this gamble is 100% not worth taking.
100%.
I don't think Masai would even consider it.

[saints91]

What happens when Lowry gets paid and gets fat/injury prone again?

Beware the contract year

Trust me, he's not my first choice. He's serviceable though.

[planetmars]

Why restrict 'eliteness' to the 3? This team needs elite players period. Doesn't matter what position they play.

[mcHAPPY]

SF has always been a position of need for us. I agree we are a SF away from being a strong playoff team. The problem is, the SF we need has to shoot the 3 ball well to make up for DeMar's deficiency.

IMO DeMar should be a mainstay on this team. He's a good 2nd option, a class act, hard worker and still has a lot of years left. We have great bench pieces with Amir, Ross and Vasquez. So there are few holes to fill. We need a starting PF, a SF and a PG (I am happy with Lowry if he would like to stay).

....Harrison Barnes, or Batum

What happens when Lowry gets paid and gets fat/injury prone again?

Beware the contract year

[mcHAPPY]

Didn't we just trade away a star SF? I highly doubt any SF drafted this year will elevate this team to elite. Is there an instant star SF available in the draft? Someone who can come in right away and take this team over. Someone that will demand the respect of the rest of the guys, someone they will defer to. If so, it looks like we may not be able to get that player with our own draft pick.

Jabari Parker

If they will defer to john salmons they'll defer to a rookie who has more talent in his pinkie than most.

Won't happen with Casey but would with any coach that enables him