Championship: why not, or how. Strategy, tactics, best hopes

[nate33]

One more thing: if GIlbert didn't have huge revenue generating power, Abe would **never** have signed him to that $111M contract.

He did have huge revenue generating power when fans were essentially choosing between a team with no superstar or a team with one superstar.

There are diminishing returns with each additional superstar. Now, fans are choosing between a team with 1 superstar (Wall) and a team with one-and-a-half superstars (Wall plus a step-slower Arenas). I don't think the difference in fan appeal will make up for the additional $20M in salary.

[cdouglas]

I'm more excited about seeing how Arenas and Wall play together.

[fishercob]

One more thing: if GIlbert didn't have huge revenue generating power, Abe would **never** have signed him to that $111M contract.

He did have huge revenue generating power when fans were essentially choosing between a team with no superstar or a team with one superstar.

There are diminishing returns with each additional superstar. Now, fans are choosing between a team with 1 superstar (Wall) and a team with one-and-a-half superstars (Wall plus a step-slower Arenas). I don't think the difference in fan appeal will make up for the additional $20M in salary.

HA! Tell that to Pat Riley and Mickey Arison.

[nate33]

Whatever. You can twist my words if you want. Obviously, Miami is a different situation because they have 3 superstars who will inevitably compete for a championship every year. Do I really need to go back and amend my original statement with the clause: "Assuming a team isn't a contender..."?

[hands11]

While the thread my be redundant in some ways, it is a better title for what we have been posting across many threads.

Here is my last post for the "should we keep Gil thread " since that horse has been beaten to death.

For me, it's not all about a "Championship" as much as building a team that has a shot at one and building a franchise that you are proud to be a of because of the way the players play and the way the front office leads and sets the tone. It is usually a long road from an "organization" or lack there of, to being a top franchise "organization" For me, we have already been bless with the most important component. We have a quality owner who has the potential to be one of the best owners in the league. Everything is born of that. So with that, my best hopes have already been realized. And along with Ted, I see a quality GM, HC, Assistant HC and coach/leader on the court. Everything will fall into place based on that. This team/organization will soon be of the quality to get out of the first round. Once we are there, we will better know what we have, what we don't, and what is needed. No way to really tell until we are at least that good. Sure you can guess, but you don't really know what you have in players until they are put in that situation.

So I'm looking for a playoff this year. Once there, we can see what we really have. If Cleveland has shown us nothing the last two years, they showed us that the regular season is simply that. It doesn't get you deep in the playoffs even if you have the best record. That is something EFJ never realized either. You don't shoot all you ammo in the regular season, you keep some dray power for when it hatters.

Here is how I see it. ( from the other thread )

We have had two terrible years back to back, but in that time frame, we had lots of good thing happen that we have yet to see the result of. We have cleaned house and changed owners. There really only seems to be one remaining piece that I have concern about and that is us keeping Gil which I hope we do and it looks like we will.

Here is the list of good things we have accomplished and why fans should be pumped.

1-We got ride of EFJ and got the best coach we have seen here in many many many years.
2-We got ride of the bottle neck of GA, CB and AJ as our BIG THREE NO D - Is Dead
3-We got Dray solid minutes starting at PF where he was the focus and he excelled - long overdue
4-We got way under the cap and are in good position for whatever the new CBA brings
5-We got ride of dead wood and bad contracts - DSleezy, Mike James, AJ, ET, Ross
6-We got to see what our team would look like with a real PG(Liv) and PF(Dray) combo
7-We got the number 1 draft pick and selected what appears to be a mature leader great PG
8-We will no longer be running a team based on a SG as PG or at a min an AI type PG.
9-We drafted well and got some big players with upside.
10-We got our front offensive in order. New Owner with a long term plan, deep pockets, good image.

Of all these positive things that have happened, most can be credited to EG who accomplished most of these things while running a mostly rudderless ship without Abe or a misguided ship with Abe. The EFJ dump happened while Abe was still with us, but after that, he was operating in a difficult situation while the team was up for sell.

Hell, it was a touch and go there for a moment when we were not 100% sure Ted was going to get the team. Thank God that worked out the way it did. To me, that is the best thing that has happened to this franchise.

If you weed through all the things that have happened, there is lots of good stuff in there and the two most import are

(1) the team has a new owner and it is Ted. A guy who is youngish. He has experience owning a sport franchise more specifically the Cap who have turned it around through his leadership. He has money. He has a plan. He is good in front of a camera. Getting Ted is more important than getting Wall. But we didn't get one or the other, we got both.

(2) We got Wall - We got the #1 pick in the draft from the #5 spot. The BB Gods are shinning on us.

Just these two things along is a reason to be very very excited about the future of our team. EG under Teds leadership I believe is going to give us the best of what EG has done in the past without the moves happening that people didn't like. We will see more moves like not overpaying Hughes, Jarvis or Jefferies, and less moves like overpaying AJ, DS and Gil or trading our #5 for MM and Foye and missing out on a player like DeJuan Blair because we sold the pick for cash. Thats for you CCJ

I still believe the worst of what we saw happen with Abe and EG was greatly influence by Abe. I kind of view it as EG GMing with one hand tied behind his back. Who believes Ted would hire EFJ as the head coach, and then hire his GM ? I can't see that happening. That one move alone wasted many years in our rebuild by setting up complete dysfunction in the organization chain of command and by trying to build assets to support a coach that wasn't about defense. It had us building a loosing team because a team without defense being as important if not more important than offense is not going to win deep in the playoffs. Well we fixed that problem.

Does anyone here really believe if it was Ted and Ernie, that we could have sold the Blair pick ?
Do you really think we would have signed DSleezy bidding against no body ?

This league is to competitive to make mistakes and under Abe as owner, there is a long history of not only mistakes, but big costly mistakes. From many years Wes Unseld as a key front office person or coach to dumping our only decent GM in recent memory ( Nash ) to letting go of Wallace and Wallace.

This is new day and it ALL STARTS WITH TED being the owner of our team.

Again, most view EG as a decent GM with some questionable moves. I like his patience. I like most of his selections. Dray, McGee, etc. Even DS was a good addition for one year for almost nothing given our situation. It was the resigning of him longer term that was the wrong move. Well, again, imagine EGs good stuff with less of his back moves. I believe that is what we have in Ted and EG so I have more faith then ever that we will make more right moves than before.

Then add to that they have Flip. Then add we have Wall.

It is a great day to be a Wizards fan. We are finally REALLY REBUILDING. We have a solid foundation for the first time in over 25 years. I never believed in the first rebuild with Abe, EG, EFJ and Gil but

I believe in Ted, EG, Flip, Sam and Wall. That matches against the best that is out there.

[hands11]

I think people overstate the revenue generating power of Arenas. Arenas meant a lot to this team in the past because he was the only superstar and superstars bring in the fans. But now, the Wizards have John Wall as their superstar. The fans are going to show up to see Wall. I don't think there are a lot of people for whom the presence of Arenas will be the difference-maker in whether or not they choose to buy season tickets.

Sure, I think they will show up to see Wall, but more will show up to see a winning team.

More are going to show up to see Wall, Gil, and Dray than just Wall loosing.

[LyricalRico]

I believe in Ted, EG, Flip, Sam and Wall. That matches against the best that is out there.

Here, here! That's the spirit!

[fishercob]

Whatever. You can twist my words if you want. Obviously, Miami is a different situation because they have 3 superstars who will inevitably compete for a championship every year. Do I really need to go back and amend my original statement with the clause: "Assuming a team isn't a contender..."?

Not trying to twist your words, nate. Sorry if that bothered you. I don;t want to turn this into another keep "Gil for the time being or trade him" discussion, because it's in multiple other threads and the owner has said he's staying.

That said (and rico or miller, feel free to move this over to another Gil thread), we don't know what we have in Arenas. We may have strong guesses, but we don't know. Gil post-rust last year seemed every bit the "star" the Bosh is, but we're going to have to wait and see.

And what made Gil a superstar wasn't just his play -- it was his personality. Giving away his jersey every night (who does that?), Scores for Schools, personally taking Katrina relief to the Armory, taking care of kids in the community who had lost parents, etc. That's the stuff that got him national endorsements and on the cover of video games, in addition to his play. And once he finds his comfort zone (or if he finds it) and if he's healthy, I fully expect the fan base to fall in love with him again. The guy is special.

Hell, I just read that with The Decision debacle and Tiger's crazy year, Kobe Bryant is now the most popular and marketable athlete on the planet. Kobe Bryant!

First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado

It will take time, but Gil the star will be back if he can keep his head on straight and if his game mirror what we saw last year. He's smart and driven, so I'm betting on him. Wait, what were we talking about?

[Kanyewest]

I think people overstate the revenue generating power of Arenas. Arenas meant a lot to this team in the past because he was the only superstar and superstars bring in the fans. But now, the Wizards have John Wall as their superstar. The fans are going to show up to see Wall. I don't think there are a lot of people for whom the presence of Arenas will be the difference-maker in whether or not they choose to buy season tickets.

John Wall is not a superstar although I understand he can be a cash cow for this team. He still has to prove it on the court, and by the court, I don't mean summer league . Arenas in his hey-day was a superstar, although his stature has taken a hit with injuries and lockerroom incidents. Certainly, the casual sports fan in the DC area knows more about Arenas than John Wall, especially since Wall hasn't played a single game in the phone booth.

Wall can eventually be that guy sells tickets but he needs to actually play a few games to create some buzz. More importantly, people will come and see John Wall if the Wizards are winning, which Arenas is more likely to help contribute than your average expiring contract (see Eddy Curry). One is an established player whose hit game winners and the other is promise of a new hope, those are two reasons to watch the Wizards.

[hands11]

No D

I have posted plenty about the Wiz - Boston comparison so I see what your saying. Only...

Gil is not better than PP. I don't even think that is the right comparison. PP is a SF. He is longer and he plays D.

Gil needs to fill the R Allen slot and in that comparison, I think Gil does well. Ray is a deadly shot, so is Gil. Gil was a better driver to the hoop. We will have to see what he has left. Ray also had a fat contact just like Gil does. Only remaining question for Gil at SG is will be improve his D and maturity. I beat this is the year be plays more D and hopefully acts more mature.

So its.

Rondo vs Wall - I give the nod to Wall already. He has a better shot and FTs
Ray Allen vs Gilbert - Ray is the ultimate professional. Huge asset there. Gil has more overall skill.
PP vs ?? This is our biggest hole. We have no PP level SF. This is a huge hole.
KG vs Dray - I called him baby KG from the beginning. Said if he only played PF and started.
Perkins vs ?? No D McGee ? Seraphin ? Armstrong ? we need to see what we have here. I have little faith in McGees D but maybe Seraphin and Armstrong can fill in a defensive centers. If not, we need to add there.

The SF stud player is an amazingly huge hole on this team. This is usually one of your star players. Maybe your biggest star player. This is the one I have been talking about for a long time. Your SG/SF/PG or your SF/SG/PG This is your Kobe, Wade, PP, MGen, MJ type player. This is the player who can do it all.

Nick has all the physical skills of that player without any of the personality or brains to be it.
AT isn't it but probably the closest we have. Good enough to make the playoffs.
I doubt it is Booker but I hope I'm wrong.

We simply do not have this person or this potential person on our team as I see it today. As we talk about rebuilding, I have long said there are a hand full of these players in the league and if you want to win it all, you get them in their prime. Carmelo is one of them and he is who I thought we should target.

Rondo vs Wall
Ray Allen vs Gilbert
PP vs Carmello
KG vs Dray

By the time we would get Carmello, we could know what we have at center with Seraphin ( if he is here ), Armstrong and McGee.

That is how you build a championship team. You get really lucky and land Carmello. How do you do that. You keep Gil with Wall and show everyone this year how talented a team you have and what a great owner you have and how you are one piece away from being a contender. If you dump Gil, I don't think you have a chance to do that.

[GoneShammGone]

And what made Gil a superstar wasn't just his play -- it was his personality. Giving away his jersey every night (who does that?), Scores for Schools, personally taking Katrina relief to the Armory, taking care of kids in the community who had lost parents, etc. That's the stuff that got him national endorsements and on the cover of video games, in addition to his play. And once he finds his comfort zone (or if he finds it) and if he's healthy, I fully expect the fan base to fall in love with him again. The guy is special.

Hell, I just read that with The Decision debacle and Tiger's crazy year, Kobe Bryant is now the most popular and marketable athlete on the planet. Kobe Bryant!

...

It will take time, but Gil the star will be back if he can keep his head on straight and if his game mirror what we saw last year. He's smart and driven, so I'm betting on him. Wait, what were we talking about?

Kobe Bryant is an interesting case... I'm not sure where you read that he is now the most marketable athlete on the planet. Check out this link (pre-"decision"):

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/65957

Its true that Kobe's positive Q-score is moving back up... but notice that his negative Q-score is still extremely high. He seems to be a polarizing figure... with people feeling strongly about him in both directions. So seven years after Eagle, things are not completely rosy for Kobe.

What does this mean for Gil? Negative impressions are hard to reverse. Personally, I don't believe that what Gil did was comparable to Kobe's or Tiger's transgressions, but his actions, coupled with the fact that he hasn't played much over the last three years, has created a lot of negative feelings among the fanbase. I still love Gil as a player and a person, so I'm like you in hoping for a full-fledged Gil-the-superstar resurgence here in DC. But I'm somewhat more guarded in my expectations.

[hands11]

Whatever. You can twist my words if you want. Obviously, Miami is a different situation because they have 3 superstars who will inevitably compete for a championship every year. Do I really need to go back and amend my original statement with the clause: "Assuming a team isn't a contender..."?

Not trying to twist your words, nate. Sorry if that bothered you. I don;t want to turn this into another keep "Gil for the time being or trade him" discussion, because it's in multiple other threads and the owner has said he's staying.

That said (and rico or miller, feel free to move this over to another Gil thread), we don't know what we have in Arenas. We may have strong guesses, but we don't know. Gil post-rust last year seemed every bit the "star" the Bosh is, but we're going to have to wait and see.

And what made Gil a superstar wasn't just his play -- it was his personality. Giving away his jersey every night (who does that?), Scores for Schools, personally taking Katrina relief to the Armory, taking care of kids in the community who had lost parents, etc. That's the stuff that got him national endorsements and on the cover of video games, in addition to his play. And once he finds his comfort zone (or if he finds it) and if he's healthy, I fully expect the fan base to fall in love with him again. The guy is special.

Hell, I just read that with The Decision debacle and Tiger's crazy year, Kobe Bryant is now the most popular and marketable athlete on the planet. Kobe Bryant!

First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado

It will take time, but Gil the star will be back if he can keep his head on straight and if his game mirror what we saw last year. He's smart and driven, so I'm betting on him. Wait, what were we talking about?

As one that called the event fall of Gil while he was at the height of popularity, I am equally calling for his rise while he is at his bottom in popularity.

All the signs are in his favor for a return. He hit rock bottom - I mean rock rock bottom. He was arrested and did time. He lost tones of money. He has rehabed the knee and rested. He lost him fan love and his image. He lost his mother he though - one day - he may reconnect with. But he is only 28. He is still signed and able to play in the NBA. He is still at heart a good dude even if he did go a little stupid and out of control. He has a great owner and a good head coach and assistant. He has a great PG to run with. He has a young PF on the rise. He doesn't have to do it all himself.

This is as good as it could look for his to make a come back.

I have a $100 bucks that says he does it if there are any takers. But I warn you, I have never lost a beat because I only beat when I know I won't loose.

You can caulk it up. Gil will produce nicely this year and Wall and Gil along with Dray will be highly talked about around the NBA. We have three. Now Ted needs to bring us Melo so we have four. Then we can start talking about rings.

I would love to see our four again Miamis three or the Celtics again four.

Wall, Gil, Melo and Dray
Wade, LaDouche, and Bosh
Rondo, R Allen, PP, KG

Bring us Melo Ted.

[Wizardspride]

I think people overstate the revenue generating power of Arenas. Arenas meant a lot to this team in the past because he was the only superstar and superstars bring in the fans. But now, the Wizards have John Wall as their superstar. The fans are going to show up to see Wall. I don't think there are a lot of people for whom the presence of Arenas will be the difference-maker in whether or not they choose to buy season tickets.

Sure, I think they will show up to see Wall, but more will show up to see a winning team.

More are going to show up to see Wall, Gil, and Dray than just Wall loosing.

[fishercob]

And what made Gil a superstar wasn't just his play -- it was his personality. Giving away his jersey every night (who does that?), Scores for Schools, personally taking Katrina relief to the Armory, taking care of kids in the community who had lost parents, etc. That's the stuff that got him national endorsements and on the cover of video games, in addition to his play. And once he finds his comfort zone (or if he finds it) and if he's healthy, I fully expect the fan base to fall in love with him again. The guy is special.

Hell, I just read that with The Decision debacle and Tiger's crazy year, Kobe Bryant is now the most popular and marketable athlete on the planet. Kobe Bryant!

...

It will take time, but Gil the star will be back if he can keep his head on straight and if his game mirror what we saw last year. He's smart and driven, so I'm betting on him. Wait, what were we talking about?

Kobe Bryant is an interesting case... I'm not sure where you read that he is now the most marketable athlete on the planet.

Darren Rovell may have tweeted it? I'll look.

[penbeast0]

I think people overstate the revenue generating power of Arenas. Arenas meant a lot to this team in the past because he was the only superstar and superstars bring in the fans. But now, the Wizards have John Wall as their superstar. The fans are going to show up to see Wall. I don't think there are a lot of people for whom the presence of Arenas will be the difference-maker in whether or not they choose to buy season tickets.

People don't show up to see superstars, they show up to see "their" team or they show up to see a winner. Superstars are mainly relevant in one of those two ways . . . if they are class acts who stay around, do appearances, and become part of the community (like Wes Unseld/Phil Chenier did back in the day), that can generate loyalty . . . if a team of scrappy underachievers with no superstars starts winning like that Detroit team, they become stars (Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, etc. None of them were stars in previous stops). A superstar doesn't draw fans by himself except in very rare situations where the player is big enough to "transcend" the sport (Wilt, Magic/Bird, Jordan, Yao).

P.S. or, they show up if the games are reasonably priced entertainment, but that isn't usually the NBA though I used to wait for the specials and cheap deals to see them growing up. Otherwise I watched them on Channel 45.

[pancakes3]

people absolutely show up to see superstars. the diehards who went to watch whitney/jahidi/popeye are insignificant compared to the hordes of young gen z transplants that see a wiz game as a great excuse to go out and party. between the gilbachi returning, john wall having his own dance, and playing d12/miami/JJ 6x @ the phone booth and you're looking at a ton of tickets sold soley based on the drawing power of "superstars".

superstars are also the sole motivator of... JERSEY SALES. mesh t-shirts going for hundreds of dollars? not since the soda consortium has an industry seen this kind of markup.

[montestewart]

After buying only individual game tickets since the 70s, the 2004-05 season changed things for me. The team got exciting and I went to every playoff game, but by far the most important single factor in my buying a ticket package was the emergence of Arenas. I've renewed every year, and part of that was waiting for the reemergence of Arenas. They're my team whether he's injured or not, whether he's traded or not, but over that time, he provided the bulk of the special moments. Maybe that time has truly passed, maybe not. Maybe watching Wall lead the Wizards redevelopment would be enough even if they struggled. After all, they are my team.

I wouldn't sell short the potential draw of Arenas. If he is able to come back to a considerable measure of his former self but as a significant second fiddle to Wall, he could not only provide great excitement for the fans but actually help the team greatly on court and in its development, and maybe even remember that he once played some defense. The drama of such a comeback would certainly generate interest, and coupled with improvement on court by the team and Arenas, the options for the Wizards expand; under such a scenario, more trade opportunities will emerge, especially as time passes and the contract gets smaller.

We can debate endlessly the likelihood of realizing such a scenario, but I'm excited by the prospect of a motivated Arenas coming back and trying to show that he can be all that. I don't easily dismiss Arenas dumps to make way for BOYD deals, and some trade may come along that I would quickly embrace as part of the greater good, but I hope they try Arenas for a year, or at least a semester. I think that's a good tactic.

[VictorPage44]

I could've dragged this one out, but for now I'll keep it short and sweet...

1) Keep Everyone (Blatche, McGee, Arenas)
2) Perry Jones
3) Championship

[Hoopalotta]

It's worth putting this one in here as I don't see those who want to keep Gil for a contender address the point of our short cap space window with tangible ideas:

(yes, I'm quoting myself)

As fodder to feed assorted partisan pugilists on both sides, it should be mentioned that....

1) If we keep Gil through 2012 and or plan to build a proper contender with him
2) If We're also offering substantial contracts to Javale & Dray after the 2012 season

.....realistically*, we'll need to perform the 'big cap-space sexy' after the lockout in the signing period that comes right before the 2012 season. After those contract extensions, and accounting for our roster, the only money we'll have after that window will be in the MLE type range.

(obviously not everyone who doesn't want to trade Gil is advocating point 1, but I'm just throwing this out there)

If we don't manage to move Kirby Heinzerlich before the deadline - and we probably won't even try - I'm figuring we'll be at something like $45+ million during the post-lockout signing window if we renounce all of our restricted free agents (that would be Yi, Thornton & Young; I've got tissues if you need 'em).

Nobody knows what the cap is going to be after the new CBA agreement, but it is likely to come down at least bit. There's the possibility that owners force concessions in other areas, like guaranteed contract length, and it stays in the $56-58 million range. Radical projections the other way could see it at $50 million or even less** (that later scenario would screw us pretty good, as we'd then be looking at MLE type money in our supposed “big sexy” window).

But if anyone were hypothetically plotting a Gil contender under the above criteria, you'd want to have a fast ball pitch lined up for that $5-$13 million sitting there right after the lockout as it's almost surely our last chance to use that angle. That's the window for cap space in this particular scenario and any plan would need to account for that limitation. After that you've just got midround picks, MLE's and trades.

* One could argue that we could carve some cap room in 2014 by dealing Gil in 2013, but it would require a very diligent and probably counter productive holding pattern as far as adding other players who aren't on rookie deals between now and then. I'm also ruling out the idea that someone would simply absorb Gil into raw cap space in 2013.

** If the cap were to come in that low, it would be a fantastic time to have space, as a lot of teams would be desperate to shed salary to avoid buyouts, luxury taxes or what have you.

So you've just about got to retool rather than rebuild in that situation.

If anyone had a solid answer for how to bring in other elite talent while keeping Gil and rise to the point of competing within the life of Gil's contract, I would feel more supportive of the venture. After having gone over the possibilities myself, I don't really see much that I find compelling.

Within that next signing period, about the best I could come up with was the dual acquisitions of Anderson Varejao and Thaddeus Young while renouncing all our restricted guys (and even that would require getting creative, possibly sacrificing some assets and having a higher end sort of cap figure to work with).

McGee/Varejao
Blatche/Varejao
T.Young/Booker?
Arenas/Hiney
Wall/Hiney

It's not a bad squad (so long as Thaddeus can D-up like you'd want), but they'll get cooked by the top dogs. Needless to say I would have liked it a lot better had the free agent signings ended up with greater parity.

[gesa2]

Hoopa, you assume that none of our draft picks will contribute going forward, and that there's no chance of a trade using Teddy's hopefully open wallet - ie, trade Hinrich in year 2 for disgruntled star X, or trade future #1 picks and Blatch/McGee with Gil's contract for a 2 way big or something similar. If we accumulate assets, and have an owner who's willing to spend when the window is starting to open, we'll have more flexibility than you give us credit for.