re: Let's say you make the Trae/Center move...is trading CJ a "must"?

Yup, but the key is showing other teams we don’t have to trade him at all.

An Ingram trade that keeps us well below the tax line and able to use the MLE and BAE to sign FA’s would do that, or a trade that fills all holes, and then Griff can tell opposing GM’s “Why do I need to trade him? You’ll have to overpay if you want him”