Big 3 needed? Who is the target? Draft, FA or trade?

[breakchains]

Butler will definitely be getting the max from someone. My guess is multiple someones. Same goes for Kawhi.

I would strongly consider Dragic, depending on how Giannis looks at the end of the year. I think Jabari is already ready to take off on a consistent basis if we let him.

I would of course not bring Knight back for what it will cost. If we could get him at a 6th man rate and he accepted that role, he would be welcome, but my guess is the treatment he has gotten this year and the numbers he has put up will put him accepting that a couple years away at least. Wouldn't waste my dollars there.

[ReasonablySober]

This is where we'd debate definition of contention. The 2003-04 Nuggets went from 17-65 to 43-39 in one year on the backs of Melo at 19 and Nene at 21.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2004.html

That was the year then that started a decade long run of playoff appearances. Now did they hit massive playoff success? No, but I guess the question is would people here accept what the Nuggets had from 2003-2013 as worthwhile?

To me their example bodes more for the need for that third stud prospect than them needing more time for Melo and Nene to develop.

No, I don't consider one of the Melo teams contenders. HIghest win total was 54, they were better once he left.

Have you looked at the rosters the Nugs trotted out there? During their only legit run they had Melo (24, again age) he was playing in the WCF next to Billups, JR Smith, Nene, K-Mart and Birdman. Every other Melo team got wiped out in the 1st.

A bunch of early playoff exits and one token conference final before shipping our "star" away in a trade seems like a terrible thing to sign up for. We've been down that path before.

A 10 year stretch where our lowest win total is 43 games and we win 50+ games 5 times, 49 another and a 50 win pace in a strike shortened season another? All the while we have a indisputable top 5 player in the league?

Where the hell do I sign up? Did they draw the unenviable task of playing in the loaded conference? Definitely. But that does not mean we should pu pu what those Nuggets teams did.

Would I rather have a championship contender? Yeah but I would easily take a half decade of 50+ win seasons.

If they play in the East they are probably a 2000 era Pistons type team and does Carmelo leave that? Well yeah he probably does because he is an idiot but hopefully Jabari and Giannis are smarter.

LOL.

[Licensed to Il]

Chicago really, really likes Butler. He is one of the reasons they let Deng move on, he is among Thibbs favorite player of all time, and he embodies the hard practicing mega minute player they covet. With the aquisition of Gasol and the emergence of Mirotic.. I think the most likely move for them is to trade Gibson for the highest pick they cam get (basically dumping his salary). Gibson is a guy almost any coach would want.

Im sure some here will say Chicago's reluctance to extend Butler shows maybe they don't want him. But 1. Jimmy has said he is not going anywhere and 2. that tactic (letting the market dictate a player's value) is what we have always hoped our FO would do so its really just smart business.

I think Wes Matthews will be switching teams, if we are in the market for two way Marquette wingmen.

I don't think anyone other than M Gasol is worth a max contract. And hope that we roll the dice on a few value options, like Chi did in drafting Butler and Mirotic's rights. Thats what I am hoping for.. several gambles on rookies and stash guys.

[breakchains]

Chicago really, really likes Butler. He is one of the reasons they let Deng move on, he is among Thibbs favorite player of all time, and he embodies the hard practicing mega minute player they covet. With the aquisition of Gasol and the emergence of Mirotic.. I think the most likely move for them is to trade Gibson for the highest pick they cam get (basically dumping his salary). Gibson is a guy almost any coach would want.

Im sure some here will say Chicago's reluctance to extend Butler shows maybe they don't want him. But 1. Jimmy has said he is not going anywhere and 2. that tactic (letting the market dictate a player's value) is what we have always hoped our FO would do so its really just smart business.

I think Wes Matthews will be switching teams, if we are in the market for two way Marquette wingmen.

I don't think anyone other than M Gasol is worth a max contract. And hope that we roll the dice on a few value options, like Chi did in drafting Butler and Mirotic's rights. Thats what I am hoping for.. several gambles on rookies and stash guys.

Chicago took a risk in its offer to Butler and it back fired. Now they will almost certainly have to match a max offer to keep him. I think they will. I can almost guarantee he signs a max offer sheet from someone. Would be nice if it was us.

[Thunder Muscle]

No, I don't consider one of the Melo teams contenders. HIghest win total was 54, they were better once he left.

Have you looked at the rosters the Nugs trotted out there? During their only legit run they had Melo (24, again age) he was playing in the WCF next to Billups, JR Smith, Nene, K-Mart and Birdman. Every other Melo team got wiped out in the 1st.

A bunch of early playoff exits and one token conference final before shipping our "star" away in a trade seems like a terrible thing to sign up for. We've been down that path before.

A 10 year stretch where our lowest win total is 43 games and we win 50+ games 5 times, 49 another and a 50 win pace in a strike shortened season another? All the while we have a indisputable top 5 player in the league?

Where the hell do I sign up? Did they draw the unenviable task of playing in the loaded conference? Definitely. But that does not mean we should pu pu what those Nuggets teams did.

Would I rather have a championship contender? Yeah but I would easily take a half decade of 50+ win seasons.

If they play in the East they are probably a 2000 era Pistons type team and does Carmelo leave that? Well yeah he probably does because he is an idiot but hopefully Jabari and Giannis are smarter.

LOL.

All I'm really asking is to construct a roster with the goal that there will be an extended stretch of legitimate hopes it is a Final contender. I obviously want a championship, but first and foremost I just want teams that are in the conversation. NBA is a league where generally you can narrow it down to 5-6 teams/season that will win the Title --- I want to get into that grouping and hope in that 5-10 year window you end up with at least one.

[drew881]

I think it makes sense to throw down a big offer, even if it isn't a max one the minute free agency opens. If you get him, awesome. If not, you still have a Matthews and Brandon Knight consolations to match if the numbers are good there. But signing Butler makes this team better than signing Knight, so pursue that first, especially if the Bulls are having trouble clearing cap space. And this is a rare player with local ties, which rarely happens.

[ReasonablySober]

A 10 year stretch where our lowest win total is 43 games and we win 50+ games 5 times, 49 another and a 50 win pace in a strike shortened season another? All the while we have a indisputable top 5 player in the league?

Where the hell do I sign up? Did they draw the unenviable task of playing in the loaded conference? Definitely. But that does not mean we should pu pu what those Nuggets teams did.

Would I rather have a championship contender? Yeah but I would easily take a half decade of 50+ win seasons.

If they play in the East they are probably a 2000 era Pistons type team and does Carmelo leave that? Well yeah he probably does because he is an idiot but hopefully Jabari and Giannis are smarter.

LOL.

All I'm really asking is to construct a roster with the goal that there will be an extended stretch of legitimate hopes it is a Final contender. I obviously want a championship, but first and foremost I just want teams that are in the conversation. NBA is a league where generally you can narrow it down to 5-6 teams/season that will win the Title --- I want to get into that grouping and hope in that 5-10 year window you end up with at least one.

Agreed. I'd like to be in that 4-5 team conversation, ideally.

[Bucks_MacGyver]

Came wait until 2017 Packers, bucks, Brewers should all be contenders then... Should be a fun year

[SkilesTheLimit]

As far as Knight, the contract begins depreciating before the ink is even dry.

You know the moment he's signing that he's not a PG just as you announce in the press conference that we have in place our PG for the next 4-5 years. Makes absolutely no sense to me to waste that valuable cap space when you need to pay a true star to place next to Giannis and Jabari if we are to be a contender. Knight isn't it.

[Bucks_MacGyver]

Can anyone explain why a golden state Warriors scout was in town yesterday?.... Guy came through my job couldn't tell me why he was in town other than to watch the bucks

[TheWig]

Came wait until 2017 Packers, bucks, Brewers should all be contenders then... Should be a fun year

can't see the brew crew being contenders in 2017

[randy84]

What are the chances that Inglis is the third of the big three?

[Bucks_MacGyver]

What are the chances that Inglis is the third of the big three?

Hmm... If he wasn't injured he would of been a 1st round pick, so...... I wonder how high he could of went

[DanGadzuric50]

What are the chances that Inglis is the third of the big three?

We obviously haven't seen him play, but he is kind of redundant with Giannis and Jabari which makes it hard for me to see him ever as part of a big three. I feel like if we want a third all-star caliber player we should be targeting someone that isn't the same type of player as Giannis and Jabari.

[TroyD92]

What are the chances that Inglis is the third of the big three?

We obviously haven't seen him play, but he is kind of redundant with Giannis and Jabari which makes it hard for me to see him ever as part of a big three. I feel like if we want a third all-star caliber player we should be targeting someone that isn't the same type of player as Giannis and Jabari.

How do you know what kind of player he is if you've never seen him play?

[AussieBuck]

We need a Mike Conley and a Marc Gasol.

[paulpressey25]

What are the chances that Inglis is the third of the big three?

Cinematographer puts the odds at 99%....it goes to 100% as soon as his foot is healed.

[SkilesTheLimit]

Can anyone explain why a golden state Warriors scout was in town yesterday?.... Guy came through my job couldn't tell me why he was in town other than to watch the bucks

Was it Larry Harris? He's a GSW scout now who lives in the Milwaukee area.

[AussieBuck]

The Warriors could use a scoring guard off the bench.

[emunney]

The Inglis thing is triggering my Hobson reflex. I'd be happy if he can play next year at this rate.