There's a couple of roster concerns that must be addressed. Here are two major ones.
1. Brandon Knight.
After the abysmal season he just had his trade value has plummeted. It's almost impossible to trade him. But that isn't the only problem.
The true question about Knight is does he decrease or increase morale? If he's just a bench guy who's contract sucks, well it seems just about every team has one of those. But if he's constantly whining or griping that he isn't being treated fairly then he will tear down the morale of this team. And I'm not saying he is. But there is no question he's unhappy here if you read between the lines in his media quotes. If his numbers continue to drop this won't just get worse on the basketball court, this will get publicly ugly. No one wins when that happens.
I think it's obvious that one of his major problems is how he meshes with Bledsoe. The fact that Eric's running the PG spot really takes away from Knight's game. They both pretty much played the same when they played PG. Hold on to that thought for a second.
2. Eric Bledsoe
He is coming off a monster year. He just finished a season healthy. He's actually pretty dreamy as far as team leaders go and he's done just about everything we asked of him. All that said, he elicits major questions:
First, is he going to stay healthy?
Second, will he ever lead this team to a title?
Third, will there ever be a better window to trade him than right now?
Fourth, is he a pass-first PG that will accentuate all that Booker has to offer?
Fifth, will we be able to, or even want to resign him after his contract is up?
I think the answer to all those questions is no. I like him as a player, but I don't see him as a part of the future of this team.
This reminds me of Larry Nance in '88. He was a great player, but it was in HIS best interest to be traded to Cleveland and it was in OUR best interest to land prospects and picks. (Just by way of reminder, we got KJ, Corbin, West and the draft picked used for Majerle in that trade).
And just like then we need to do the same with Bledsoe. In the long run, it'll help both of us out. He should be traded to a contender for the rights of some picks and/or prospects. I don't think we'll ever get a better time than right now. A good franchise always sells high and never sells low. Which brings me to...
So let's say EB is traded away. The added benefit is that Knight can now slip back into a role he's more comfortable with, PG. He starts the season as the starting PG and he gets the opportunity to showcase his talent. We all hope and pray he takes advantage of it and his production goes back to 15-16.
If he produces then the second his value goes up and we get a whiff of interest we send him packing. Sell high again. He doesn't help Booker or this team in the long run either.
If not, well, we're screwed and have to bench a $14M player and get to eat his contract. But he'll be less likely to whine if he was given the chance and blew it.
With both of them gone, I'd sign or acquire an aged PG who has always been a pass first guy and plays solid D. He doesn't have to be great still. Just a solid leader who sets up his teammates and is a bookend defender with Jackson to hide Booker. He splits time with Ulis. (This player could be signed preseason or acquired in the trade for Knight. Rondo comes to mind even though I don't like him. He'd be a rental anyway).
With our team leader in Eric gone and the headache of Knight with him, well then, the Booker era truly begins.
