re: Dejounte Murray as a potential trade target

Some relevant points:

-You are never contending for a championship if Brandon Ingram, a one time all-star alternate, non-three-point shooting wing who doesn't defend is your lead player, getting the most shot attempts and costing you the most money, $50+million a year. What's left to discuss? It's baked in. You move him, sooner than later.

-Addition by subtraction, you move in a shooting wing like Trey into Brandon's spot, creating more floor spacing and more shot attempts for Zion and more three-point scoring for the team.

-Murray, unlike CJ, has played the point for most of his career. He's a big guard who can get downhill, gets steals and shoots about 38% from 3 on more than 6 attempts a game. He's a much better fit than Brandon and has comparable production. Plus, he's a whole lot cheaper and good with the ball in his hands at the end of games.

-Unless you have a star, center does not matter. You fill the slot with competent role players on cheap contracts who can rebound and block shots. Call it the Miles Plumlee rule. You don't chase a center. You don't pay a center. Unless it is a star center.

-By rule and choice the NBA is phasing out defense. Great defensive ability does not matter as much as it once did. Accordingly, stop emphasizing defensive ability in roster construction and use and start emphasizing shooting. Period. It's Paul Westphal's league now.