Who are your ideal free agent targets for Indy next summer?

[chube]

According to this list of 2011 free agents from RealGM...http://www.realgm.com/src_freeagents/2011/...and apparently this list doesn't include players that have options and whatnot.

Is it safe to say that the biggest needs next offseason will likely be a power forward/a second center along with Hibbert (McBob may be much improved but in all likelihood not the long-term answer) and maybe shooting guard considering I doubt Dunleavy will be back.

So not counting rookie draft picks, who would you like Indy to realistically target next summer?

Some notables:
Al Horford (R), Jamal Crawford, Glen Davis, Tyson Chandler, Arron Afflalo (R), Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, Jared Jeffries, DeAndre Jordan, Craig Smith, Zach Randolph, Michael Redd, Quinton Ross (as I remember, a pretty good defender), Eddy Curry, Roger Mason, Jeff Green, Nenad Kristc, Jason Williams, Spencer Hawes (R), Jason Richardson, Greg Oden (R), Samuel Dalembert, and Carl Landry.

Personally, I'd like Al Horford and Carl Landry (and Michael Redd depending on how much of a pay cut he'd be willing to take.) Horford can play at the 4, which I've heard he'd prefer, but slide into the 5 when Hibbert has to sit. And Shane Battier is the ultimate professional guy I think any team would want on their roster, but not really a necessity roster-wise for us.

[aquatic92]

If Bird got Horford, I'd kiss his feet. Too bad he wont be leaving atlanta. After that Green or Landry.

[Indy2thaWindy]

Zach Randolph, Greg Oden, and Mike Conley

[aquatic92]

Zach Randolph, Greg Oden, and Mike Conley

I see what you did there.

[colts2004]

Zach Randolph, Greg Oden, and Mike Conley

Hahaha! They'd go well with McBob!

Horford is a long shot especially since he is restricted, Randolf I wouldnt mind if he stayed out of trouble and took a pay cut like Michael Redd, but question with Redd is how reliable is his knee gonna be?

It says Oden is restricted, they have also said they wont pick up his option

[Pacersike]

If Bird got Horford, I'd kiss his feet. Too bad he wont be leaving atlanta. After that Green or Landry.

²

But I'll leave the feet kissing up to u.

[Wizop]

too early in the year to know how the power forward position shake out. if McBob and PsychoT perform, we might not want to chase a max-dollar four. I expect Bird to want to spend some money on veterans who are worth more than the minimum though. yet another point guard is a possibility if TJ is gone and Price doesn't grow. I think a backup center is a definite. I'm not thinking a Horford who would fight Roy for PT. I'm thinking a younger Foster. someone like Rasho was two years ago.

[writerman]

Unlike a lot of people here, I thought we would be fine at PF this year--I was counting on the return of Tyler Hansborough, but the emergence of McRoberts is icing on the cake. I think between the two of them, we will be well manned there for the foreseeable future.

An above-average backup five is a necessity, though--Foster probably can't cut it anymore, and Solo isn't the answer IMO. Maybe a third-string PG behind Collison and Price...

[chube]

The reason I'm saying 4-5 is still important is because of how stacked the 4 is pretty much across the league. McBob and Hansbrough might do better than expected, but look at the PFs throughout the league - Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, Bosh, Amare, David Lee, Josh Smith, Kevin Love, Boozer, Jeff Green, Carlos Boozer, Rashard Lewis, Elton Brand, Aldridge, Luis Scola, David West, Cousins, Blake Griffin, Al Jefferson, etc.

So McBob and Psycho T might do better than expected, but there's a LOT of good PFs around the league to compete with. If we can happen to nab one of the overshadowed younger ones like a Carl Landry or Jeff Green (or ideally Al Horford), that would shore up one of the weaker links in the starting 5, possibly along with shooting guard (assuming Dunleavy won't be back, and hoping that Paul George pans out.)

Honestly, I wouldn't mind trying to sign perhaps a more natural PF, and draft a center if there's one available. Foster is pretty well-liked throughout the fanbase and I think it's safe to say he won't be making $6 million a year on his next contract. So maybe re-sign him at a cheaper scale, keep around McBob and let him slide into the 5 occasionally, draft a center maybe to groom, and see if there's a PF we can go get.

[Wizop]

don't forget we have two bigs in Europe. one may get a shot next year.

[Indy2thaWindy]

i think it's time for Foster to go and I'd like to see if we could draft Jared Sullinger. Strong 6-9 Pf with O & D.

[laydo]

don't forget we have two bigs in Europe. one may get a shot next year.

Ya! Erazem Lorbek can come to NBA next year. His low-post foot step is outstanding. He is also a good passer and can shoot from long range.

However, if you look at Nikola Pekovic of MIN T-Wolves, former Euro 1st team center. You know that those European players, especially for bigs, they need to work on conditioning and learn some physical adjustment to play 82 games.

[writerman]

The reason I'm saying 4-5 is still important is because of how stacked the 4 is pretty much across the league. McBob and Hansbrough might do better than expected, but look at the PFs throughout the league - Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, Bosh, Amare, David Lee, Josh Smith, Kevin Love, Boozer, Jeff Green, Carlos Boozer, Rashard Lewis, Elton Brand, Aldridge, Luis Scola, David West, Cousins, Blake Griffin, Al Jefferson, etc.

So McBob and Psycho T might do better than expected, but there's a LOT of good PFs around the league to compete with. If we can happen to nab one of the overshadowed younger ones like a Carl Landry or Jeff Green (or ideally Al Horford), that would shore up one of the weaker links in the starting 5, possibly along with shooting guard (assuming Dunleavy won't be back, and hoping that Paul George pans out.)

Honestly, I wouldn't mind trying to sign perhaps a more natural PF, and draft a center if there's one available. Foster is pretty well-liked throughout the fanbase and I think it's safe to say he won't be making $6 million a year on his next contract. So maybe re-sign him at a cheaper scale, keep around McBob and let him slide into the 5 occasionally, draft a center maybe to groom, and see if there's a PF we can go get.

We just agree to disagree...I think we're fine...we have what we need at the four, two energy guys with a fair amount of talent who play defense and rebound and score enough to be useful in that regard. OTOH, we have a luxury that most teams don't have--a GENUINE NBA five (there are a TON of teams that by default are starting pretenders at that position--we're very lucky!) who is going to get better for quite awhile to go with a productive three in Granger.

Some of the better guys you list (Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, etc) will be out of the league by the time our dou are going into their primes, and others I'm not convinced will in the long run shake out as any better than our guys. Others on your list get more love--like Amare, but it's overlooked that he's a just plain terrible defender. Yet others like Griffin are at this point still just maybes.

Could we improve ourselves at the four? I suppose. But unless we get a chance at a real game changer, I'm very comfortable with what we have, especially since I think those two young guys are not going to be static, but will get better too.

I still see the only crucial need as being a solid reserve five.

[Little Digger]

Amazing how fast the futures of Golden State and Indiana have turned bright..National media has no idea what's coming..Both team's have balanced solid, talented young cores and major cap flexability next summer. I'm going to love watching both teams surprise the crap out of the established teams.

Roy Hibbert looks amazing out there. I was a GIANT fan of his game back at Georgetown. Now that's he's in great shape, the kid is on the brink of a superb NBA All-Star career.

[Wizop]

hibbert is slowly taking over as the face of the team. Danny will still score the most but Roy is much more comfortable in the role of vocal leader than Danny is.

free agent need is more and more obviously a veteran backup center. we don't need a young project and we don't need a 4/5. we need an experienced player that can play 12 minutes a night without us falling in a hole when Roy needs to rest.

[chube]

^^^ Greg Oden!

[jowglenn]

free agent need is more and more obviously a veteran backup center. we don't need a young project and we don't need a 4/5. we need an experienced player that can play 12 minutes a night without us falling in a hole when Roy needs to rest.

^^^ Greg Oden!

OUCH. So true though.

[aquatic92]

Can Oden manage not to get injured playing 10-12 mins a night?

If yes, pick him up. If no, then we're stuck with Han Solo.

[chube]

Not necessarily stuck with Solo. His contract is up after this year.

[pockyy]

Al Horford and Glen Davis