Mitch will very likely finish outside of the playoffs (3-8) in both of the first two seasons of the dynasty era. I know I am projecting a little to far ahead but the path for this outcome, outside of Luke and Mark plummeting, will likely take shape. He will have a chance at chasing Luke (5-6) who faces the top seeded Kyle this week while Mitch has the bye week (alec). But, if he does he only has bragging rights on finishing 7th back-to-back years in that scenario and would miss the playoffs by just one spot once more. So tank for a top 3 pick next year and rebuild, right? No. Mitch doesn’t hold his 23’ pick in the mystery of when/where/how that pick landed in Alec’s lap (maybe a further investigation would suffice). We really can’t put our finger on how the records show that Alec has it. We believe it was in a trade but we don’t really know for sure…
Anyway. Mitch is in an very peculiar spot. He has mountain movers in Embiid & Giannis but only prototypes elsewhere.
Prototype 1: The Support ling Star
-this list only really holds one player: Jalen Brunson (24/game). Brunson is a great supporting star to the Mountain Movers but he is alone in the support boat.
The Future Stars:
-This list is long. I think that’s both good and bad. Mathurin (13.45), Poole (16), Vassal (19), OG (20), Ayo (12), Stewart?, Smith Jr. (13.65), Holmgren. You never can have enough Supporting Stars but I do believe you can have to many Future Stars. Especially when your trying to compete now as Mitch has been. This is kind of his achilles heel. Mitch only has 4 players who average 20 or better. For comparison, Luke just one spot ahead of him, has 10 players that fit this bill. And Luke isn’t exactly the gold standard. There is just to much mediocre play in the thick of his weekly lineups. The stars will shine but his week is predominantly decided by these 6 players. Are they close to averaging 20+ that week or mid-teens? Take week 4 as an example of this: 908.50 to 835.50 Mitch defeats Eric: Giannis was banged up (21 total points that week) // Embiid had 182.50!! Durant had 147!! Brunson had 100! Almost no supporting cast though. Eric had 6 INJ tags that week and the scenario worked out for the win. But it had to be done by the play of the Mountain Movers and Supporting Star.
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My questions:
1) You’ve kept the big stars through the early struggles (Embiid, Giannis Brunson), do you see yourself keeping these guys and working a rebuke through the draft (3 1st round picks over the next 2 years) or what are you looking at to improve the current roster? 2) You also have a strong young core (Mathurin, Holmgren, Smith Jr., Anunoby), is this a run-it-back type young core or would you look to deal a couple of them for a star at the deadline? 3) are you looking to push to the 6th seed and make the playoffs or stay at the 8th seed and squire the 3rd overall draft pick in 23’?
His responses: “Losing this week will probably push us into gearing up for next season…. But not so fast on trading big names, more likely to move Math, and Smith Jr. I think Embiid, and Giannis have a lot of tread left on the tires.”
I believe he is right about the mountain movers. I know that he has regretted the Durant trade. But, even in that one it wasn’t a bad load to get back now that he is pursuing a rebrand. He gave away a supporting star in McCollum in that one that kind of solidified his standing. He does currently hold the 4th best draft spot (luke) heading into 23’ but I’d actually like to see Mitch do the heavy listing of the rebrand on the active roster side rather than through the draft. He had to much star power to not and his draft selection isn’t predicated on his record or seeding. So, why not do all of the rebranding this season? Work the trade market, specifically to those who aren’t in the playoff hunt (colt, Alec, maybe Luke 😎) and see if you can’t form a reliable set of supporting cast members and unload your young assets as he alluded to in his responses. Trade away Smith jr. (Albeit a trade low scenario) and a Benn Mathurin who is beloved in this league. He was in talks just yesterday to acquire a star in Ja Morant.
Mitch could move both of Luke’s picks (23’ and 24’ 1st) and all of his tour. Assets for 2-3 supporting stars or mountain movers. Ja Morant, Trae Young, Harden, LBJ, Harden, Ayton, Butler. Big names on a team already with a few mountain movers. I know he wants to compete NOW. This is the closest thing to that. Go get crazy on the trade market. Make some fine tuning moves along with grabbing a few big names and turn a rebuke into a right-now-relevant team. Can’t wait to see it!
The dynasty 