Midranger's guide to the offseason

[midranger]

1. Establish a direction. As you will see, my direction is to build for the future. This means trading our established "stars" for prospects and picks. We'll take our lumps for sure over the next few years, but will hopefully come out better for it.

2. Clean up our cap mess. This doesn't have to be done in a single season, but with a crap team like ours, we shouldn't have 3-4-5 year contracts on non-core players.


Trade 1: If you're going to trade Michael Redd, you have to trade him first. This is the deal that establishes the direction of the team's future, as it's the biggest one you'll make this summer.

Michael Redd

for

Tim Thomas
Cat Mobley
6th Pick

The Clipps have stated that with Brand coming back, they may trade their pick for a star type player. This makes alot of sense for them. Redd complements their rugged inside players in Kaman and Brand, and their slashing/scoring wings in Maggette and Thornton. I think that this trade makes them dangerous in the West. Perhaps not to win it, but certainly a chance to win alot of games. It's essentially the Ray Allen return for us. Plus, we add two vets whose contracts expire the year before Redd's does. They also happen to expire the same season as Bobby Simmons. So here, we establish our goal for cleaning up the cap mess as the summer of 2010.


Trade 2: The Mo Williams trade.

Mo Williams
Charlie Bell

for

Martell Webster
Darius Miles
#13 pick


The Blazers could use a player like Mo as either a starter next to Roy who himself possesses quality playmaking abilities, or as the super 6th man off the bench. Charlie Bell gives them depth at the 1/2/3 which they could use. They also clean out the last piece of the Jailblazers persona and awful contract in Darius Miles. We do this to add a prospect and a pick. Webster is limited, but every team needs a designated shooter, and Webster becomes our guy. Plus, he is young enough to fit with the rest of the team and has legitimate size. As for Miles, guess what summer his contract expires? That's right 2010.


Trade 3: Dumping Gadz.

Dan Gadzuric

for

Tony Battie

Battie is old as dirt, and hasn't played basketball in a year. The Magic desperately need a backup center to go behind Howard. Gadz is a guy who will require no shots while giving you 6 PFs and a great game once every 20 games. For us, Battie expires in 2010. I'd add a future 2nd swap or even a protected 2nd to get this done.


Enter the draft with picks #6,7,13.

I see the draft working out 1 of 2 ways.

1a. Riley gets the 2nd with Beasley off the board and decides that he has his star (Wade) and 2nd banana (Marion) and he needs to fill several holes this summer rather than trying to nurture another All-Star type project. We offer 6,7,13, and CV for his 2nd pick. He sees the opportunity to add multiple pieces, including big men for a rookie PG. We end up with Rose.

1b. Alternately, Memphis ends up with #2 with Beasley off the board. They already have Conley. We offer them either the above package for #2, or offer them #6, #13, CV for Conley. I'm not sold on Conley after a pretty disappointing year, but whatever. That's up to someone else.

2. We are unable to make a move and have to draft where we sit. I'm (and looking at the Pistons, I'm sure will be Hammond too) taking smart guys with legitimate size and ability to defend their position. That said....

#6 Russell Westbrook: Athletic PG/SG who has the potential to play lockdown defense at either position.

#7 Kevin Love: Bruin #2. Super smart, rugged player with a great motor and legit talent. I'm looking to get a bit more uptempo, and with his ability to rebound and outlet pass, he's perfect for that system. He either ends up really good or really bad. Either way, he is worth a risk IMO.

#13 Brandon Rush: Jack of all trades, who has produced at the highest levels of college basketball. Good defender, good shooter, good on the break. He'll be a very nice pro player.


Free Agency: I sign nobody longer than 2 years. I probably re-up Mike Ruffin as a veteran backup C/PF and maybe Ivey as a third PG. I think everything else is pretty well covered.

Assuming that draft plan #2 happens, here is what we're looking at...

Westbrook
Rush
Webster
Yi
Bogut

Sessions
Mobley (expiring 2010)
Mason
Love
Ruffin

Ivey
Tiny Tim (expiring 2010)
Battie (expiring 2010)

Miles (expiring 2010)



There you go. Flame away.

[DanoMac]

Yuck.

[Chapter29]

No flaming, but I cannot see this as even being plausible.

My guess is that Redd and Bogut are the keeper pieces with Yi likely sticking around partially on potential but more so for the $$.

I know you hate the very thought of keeping Redd, but I honestly don't believe under the right coach he would be a problem in any way. He just needs to believe in the system and the players around him and he will fulfill his designated role.

[raferfenix]

I have a very similar philosophy about rebuidling our team, but I see us making a Redd deal with Cleveland and a Mo deal wtih Miami as more likely.

I really like the Clippers trade scenario, but I bet Tim Thomas goes to a team more likely to make the playoffs who would desire him. Especially if we're willing to take a mediocre guy with a few years left on his deal we might get some sort of prospect back that won't hrut us in the lockerroom like Timmy would (he's the antithesis of what Hammond wants here). Mobley however would be a good, cheap fit (at least compared to redd) too despite his less than stellar defense. He's a real good passer and we'd need a scorer of some sort, so I like it.

I also like the Portland scenario, but I think they'd be very reluctant to take on Charlie Bell. He is a Nate McMillan kind of guy, but with Roy and Blake they have a pretty stocked backcourt already. If he could go to a 3rd team (or Blake does) I bet they'd be more amenable to it though, as Mo would be a great fit and there are few teams whom they could outsource the Darius problem too (and we'd have to take the hit and buy him out ala anthony mason/jason caffey for me to consider this).

[InsideOut]

No flaming, but I cannot see this as even being plausible.

My guess is that Redd and Bogut are the keeper pieces with Yi likely sticking around partially on potential but more so for the $$.

I know you hate the very thought of keeping Redd, but I honestly don't believe under the right coach he would be a problem in any way. He just needs to believe in the system and the players around him and he will fulfill his designated role.

Whether Redd the player is problem remains to be seen. Either way Redd's salary is going to be a big problem. Detroit was built by not paying any one player too much. Redd is going to be making 5 million more than any Detroit player. With what Redd makes and Bogut is going to get paid, if they are our keeper pieces I see no way to afford two other 2nd tier players. Redd, Simmons and Mo combined only make a million less than Hamilton, Billups and Wallace combined. How crazy is that?

[whatthe_buck!?]

I like the trades, but I would want different guys drafted (of course, it goes without saying that I would jump at the Rose trade if the Heat or the Grizz would be dumb enough to accept it). Overall, good thoughts.

[Chapter29]

Whether Redd the player is problem remains to be seen. Either way Redd's salary is going to be a big problem. Detroit was built by not paying any one player too much. Redd is going to be making 5 million more than any Detroit player. With what Redd makes and Bogut is going to get paid, if they are our keeper pieces I see no way to afford two other 2nd tier players. Redd, Simmons and Mo combined only make a million less than Hamilton, Billups and Wallace combined. How crazy is that?

Redd is expensive, but we at least get something from him. Guys like Gadz and Simmons we get nothing from.

I would be ok with paying a 15M per year for a Reggie Miller. Redd can be that Reggie Miller.

I understand what you are saying in general, but Redd is at the very least a top tier scorer in this league. That can be quite useful.

IMO Redd, Bogut and Yi make for a decent core. We just need to find a good coach and a solid starting PG who can make others better.

[Max Green]

Yuck.

[jeremyd236]

Lottery team for the next 3-4 years

[smalls]

as soon as I saw Tim Thomas I couldnt even stomach to read the rest of ur post. Anything with even a mention of him or the remaining 2 years on his contract is not only a bad idea,but I believe in many cultures is subject to punishment by death.

[smalls]

OMG not only Tim Thomas but Darius Miles too, U R killing me. I like ur taste in draft picks but i just wanna pose one question if we did make this move how would we ever be able to resign these 3 players all in the same off season 4 years from now when this rebuilding project is finished.

TT and DM aside i get the idea and in theory it is a good one just not too practical. However I definitely can see a deal with one of either Clippers or Blazers and their pick. However I think there would be different players coming back.

[DH34Phan]

People need to realize that we won't be anything for a couple years no matter what. If, in the next 2 years, we can clean our capspace up and gather young talent, we will be in good shape. Unless we can land a big star (maybe Elton Brand), I am in favor of generally blowing it all up and watching young talent develop. We have had a huge payroll the last 2 seasons and look where it has gotten us. We can't get much worse.

If we can enter the 2010-11 (2 seasons from now) with clean books, and a young, developing core of Westbrook/Yi/Bogut, with other young guys such as Rush, Love, and in this case Webster, we will be in good shape.

By then, we will have FA money to either get a star, of to put role players around the Westbrook/Yi/Bogut core.

Hopefully we make the right choice in the draft. If we can hit a home run like Miami did in 2003 with Wade drafting at 5, hopefully we can do the same thing if we are picking 5th-7th. I think Westbrook, Gordon, and even Batum could be those types of home run picks where they can have an immediate impact and be a star.

[coolhandluke121]

Trading some overpaid players for draft picks and contracts that expire by 2010 is a great idea. Not sure you've worked out the details correctly, especially considering that Portland has the means to add a much better pg than Mo and the Clippers need a pg a lot more than they need someone like Redd, but overally your ideas are very good. I would be happy if the team had just Bogut, Yi, Sessions, a couple bargain role players, and whoever they draft the next few years under contract past 2010.

On the other hand, I really think this team has the potential to utilize trade chips like Mo, CV, Yi, or this year's pick to get quite a bit better now and for the next 3-4 years. Getting a superstar in the draft should be the priority but if you don't really believe there's a player like that available you might want to start talking about trading the pick - even if it means keeping Mo or Redd.

I think people know how Hammond must feel about guys like Mo, CV, and Redd. What I really would like to know is what he thinks about Yi.

[InsideOut]

-= original quote snipped =-

I would be ok with paying a 15M per year for a Reggie Miller. Redd can be that Reggie Miller.

The problem is Reggie was better than Redd, a leader and ultra clutch. As far as paying our Reggie 15 million a season....Reggie's top 3 salary years averaged out to about 11 million a season. We'll be paying our Reggie-lite an average of 17 million over the next 3 seasons. Detroit, Spurs and Kings are paying their "Reggie's" roughly 10.5 million a season. It's hard to make up that gap in the cap when you start with a $7 million disadvantage. It will be interesting to see how the new GM handles this situation.

[TheMadMongoose]

I think people know how Hammond must feel about guys like Mo, CV, and Redd. What I really would like to know is what he thinks about Yi.

Thats what I want to know too. I see us getting rid of Mo, and CV definitely. However I think Redd will be determined by which way we decide to go. If we try to win now I think he stays, and if we build for the future I'm sure he is gone. Yi is a big question mark. Do we keep him for the attention or do we try to deal him as well? What if we did end up getting like a JVG who did a good job with Yao. Would that have an effect? A lot of questions with him.

[DH34Phan]

He may keep Redd around just for his massive expiring contract. 2 more seasons with Redd, and more teams will be able to afford the 1 year $18 million he has left on his deal.

Maybe Hammond will form a better team around Redd, and he won't need to be the Alpha Dog.

I think there is a good chance of Redd staying for at least another year. Hopefully I am wrong, though.

[Nowak008]

The clippers deal makes too much sneseimo. I and think some others have made that proposal. High draft pick and gives us 25 mil in expirings in 09-10. Perfect. The Mo deal is pretty solid as well. Webster is a worth taking a flier and getting another lottery pick would be great for our rebuilding process.

[midranger]

OMG not only Tim Thomas but Darius Miles too, U R killing me. I like ur taste in draft picks but i just wanna pose one question if we did make this move how would we ever be able to resign these 3 players all in the same off season 4 years from now when this rebuilding project is finished.

TT and DM aside i get the idea and in theory it is a good one just not too practical. However I definitely can see a deal with one of either Clippers or Blazers and their pick. However I think there would be different players coming back.

Ummm.... by cleaning our books in two years with contracts like TT and Miles?

That was part of the plan after all.


It's not like I want to make TT and Miles integral parts of the team. They are strictly contracts.

[Wise1]

I strongly believe that Hammond will make every attempt to move Michael Redd. Two things going against Mike: Max contract & Lack of athletism and defensive length/ability.

Redd doesn't fit Hammond's profile imo.

I think Mo stays as a super sub and Mike is shown the door.


Midranger, I don't think Hammond will completely purge the team. He says he believes that the talent on the roster can make the playoffs. He also said that he's committed to putting the best product on the floor while giving his team a chance to win every night. I don't think creating cap space by 2010 will be the goal of the new administration. I think winning in 2008-09 will be the goal.

[Wise1]

Don't be surprised to see Hammond use some of his assets to acquire a pick that would secure a large interior defender like Hasheem Thebeet. Backcourt defenders like Westbrook are valuable as well, but they can't help you win in the playoffs when you don't have defensive depth in the frontcourt.

Perhaps Hammond would move down in the draft. Rush + Thebeet > Russell Westbrook.