This feels like a fumble by the front office in that they had to eat Kanter's contract but should have demanded Ferguson or Abrines to do it. At the very least they should have gotten a first round pick out of this. That said, the real value is that we're back in the running for a top five pick and looking like a strong contender in that sweepstakes.
This trade doesn't give me much faith in the new management. The two biggest FO moves of the offseason were a serious overpay on THJ which means that if he plays up to his contract he'll hurt our tank position and if he plays below it, he's just another albatross; and then this trade in which they just spent yesterday talking about being willing to wait for a deal that actually has benefits then settled on Kanter, McDermott and a second round draft pick. All that said, they're in a position where if they manage to fail it will be a huge indictment on them. They've got a top young prospect, Willy on a great contract, movable contracts in Lee, Lance, Kuz and KOQ...and they should be in the top of the lottery again. Do I trust them to bring this all home? Ehhhh...jury's out, nothing they've done sans Phil has given me faith that this is the front office to rely on when the team is one move away from being a perennial contender or a treadmill squad. Hopefully we land Porter, Doncic or one of the other studs and that becomes enough without needing to make any risky decisions.