re: The Historical Argument for Keeping AD

That’s a very narrow way of looking at things, just through the prism of a #1 pick. I understand the argument at its base, but it’s somewhat disingenuous.

The reality is that you need, in today’s NBA, either multiple elite players (regardless of where they were picked), or incredible luck in surrounding a transcendent player with the perfect mix of very good players at just the right time in all of their careers and contracts.

As much as I bitch about it, if AD wants to be here, it’s a no brainer. You have to try and keep him around, and have to trust Griffin to assemble the rest of the team. 2 superstars > 1 superstar. As much as I’ve tried to play devil’s advocate otherwise, this is a superstar league. If you have some, you’ll win, if you don’t you probably won’t, past 7 years not withstanding.

Regardless though, if he doesn’t want to be here, you have to maximize the return based around the ability to get at least one potential elite talent and then multiple pieces that are very good or complimentary. Trust your talent evaluators.

We may not have a choice regardless. We may have to attempt to surround Zion in a similar way to what the Bucks did.