bwgood77 wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:bwgood77 wrote:
We do need depth at C in case of Ayton or McGee injury with Saric and Frank out. No guarantee we keep McGee next year either.
Hopefully we can re-sign Smith on the cheap.
He looked a bit similar to McGee inside with easy dunks due to not being a defensive focus at all on offense. McGee is obviously more active an experienced and a better rebounder.
9 boards and 2 blocks in 22 minutes is pretty impressive for his first real game. He was 3-8 but was 1-6 from 3 so 2-2 otherwise.
In summer league it was the opposite..he was decent from 3 but bad from 3 but also played with a horrible group yet still made 1st team leading the summer league in rebounding.
He is a solid rebounder, looks like a good shot blocker, better on D than I thought, and can finish on offense inside if open. If he just improves enough from 3 to be a threat and be respected, he is definitely playable against anyone.
It would be silly to not resign McGee with how good he's been for us as a backup. We seriously need his length and experience at the 5 behind Ayton. We've had enough contractual concessions to make things happen honestly wherein ( if he's willing to resign for 5 million), his salary shouldn't make that much difference.
Resigning Smith would of course be optimal, As I still believe in his upside and trajectory ( IF we can just get him more" in game " minutes to acclimate to the speed of the game and find his rythym and confidence. Not picking up his option, along with not giving him actual legitimate playing time since drafting him of course had to be a blow to his confidence somewhat. But it appears he's working through it! He's still a bit too slight to realistically play outside the 5 with the exception of some small ball lineups. But in time he should beef up enough. I think on the right diet and training regimen, He can maybe get up to around 245lbs or so without losing much mobility.
It's a bit of a double edged sword that he's getting more minutes and progressing better now after us not picking up his option. I think that with a crappy/ really shallow upcoming free agency, There will be more teams willing to take a chance on him than before with any measurable improvement. And IF other offers do materialize ad a result of further development and improvements, I can't realistically see why he'd consider less to resign with the same team that didn't pick up his option?? Hopefully as you said, We can resign him for less. I just happen to think there'll be a few options from lottery teams needing size and willing to take a flyer on him for his upside and any noticable improvements made. What can we offer him vs, other teams again man?
McGee may come down to how much else he gets offered elsewhere.
He will be 35 but on the other hand, it is probably his best season. Look at his per 36 #s, particularly with pts and rebounds, and then 2 pt %...that likely has a lot to do with playing with Paul but still.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeeja01.html
Yeah! Very true on McGee's percieved value this summer. Something like 16/11/ 3 blocks should garner him maybe somewhere in the area of 10- 15 million + -. I'd definitely be somewhat salty if we lose him to another team given what he's shown in his time here. But I suppose it's just the nature of the business. Kind of crazy to consider all the decent ( but not great) free agents have come here over the years and have elevated their value immensely under then Naxh, and currently Paul. Still would hope to keep him though. Might be reasonable to really consider adding another big on a two yr (affordable deal) if possible just as insurance against McGee leaving? ( with Saric being out for the season and Kaminsky being better as a floor spacing mobile 4)?
I hope that Smith becomes that savvy move that you mentioned! But not right ready to trust our luck in free agency yet. Kind of wanted us to have leveraged control by picking up that option ( in case of marked improvements). But it is what it is.
Maybe we can trade for an insurance option? any of:
Moses Brown from Dallas, Drew Eubanks or Jock Landale from San Antonio, Hartenstein from Clippers, Queta from Sactown, Azubuike from Utah, Jay Huff from Washington ( Smith goes home)? Would really love to trade for either Garza or Tillie ( To be that Saric replacement). Or else in free agency from the unrestricted pool:
1- Mitchell Robinson.
Would he be willing to play a backup role on a short deal to compete for a championship. But also in knowing that if he plays with Paul, He'll likely see his value increase heading into a better, more lucrative free agency??
2- Thomas Bryant.
Bryant would be a solid get for the right pricetag honestly. Who wouldn't want to play with Paul and compete for a championship??
Would he come cheaper than what McGee will command?
3- Robin Lopez.
Lopez is a solid stop gap option once Orlando pays Bamba and even with 40 million in potential cap space, They may opt to look elsewhere in free agency.
Of course you always have extreme bargain options such as:
Dieng, Dedmon, Hartenstein, Whiteside, maybe even Zeller?
