Free Agency Thread: Post Lockout Edition

[Nolan]

Andrei Kirilenko is out there... maybe for MLE?

I wouldn't mind AK but i'd rather have Dally for the MLE. If we're going to spend i'd like to see us spend on a position of need.

I was all for Howard cause I thought he'd come cheap (like vet min cheap) and because I thought he could solve our SF problem as well. I'm not i'd be happy to see us spend the full MLE on a SF while there's still a few decent bigs out there.

[Ballings7]

Fesenko could come in and contribute immediately on the inside, he's already shown this if you've seen Utah enough. He's huge, and not a plodder.

Brandan Wright, I'm pretty sure has signed with Dallas.

[Nolan]

^
I wouldn't mind Fesenko. He's a big body that can clog up the lane.

[Blame Rasho]

Well Jefferson is staying because no one else wanted to say with us it appears.

[Frankie23]

IMO, we need a PF or Center with good defense and rebounding to stop guys like Z-Bo, Kevin Love, etc.

Some FA still available: Fesenko, Dalambert, Kris Humphries.

Thoughts?

Maybe Dalembert will be overpaid, so we don't have the money to get him..

[Ballings7]

I'd definitely take Humphries or Fesenko right now... Dalembert's prob out of our range, though I'd love to have him on the team.

[co_laper]

I just can't believe we can't get anybody. I mean, anybody. We had the best record last year and thou we're older, I thought some guys would feel like they're exactly what the team is missing and hop on.

Although, I'm a little confused why we went after Butler as our first choice. I get that our weakest position is SF, but what Butler brings to the table isn't exactly what we're sorely needing.

If we're talking fit, I think Battier and Prince is the best option. Veteran, defensive stopper who could knock down the 3 pointer. That's basically what we want Jefferson to do.

Or if we're thinking with the future on hand, then go after someone younger like Mbah a Moute hoping that he got the defense down, now only need to start learning how to shoot the corner 3.

But why Caron Butler? Who would be the defensive stopper had he came? Are we gonna make him do what Jefferson does and ask him to play defense and spot up at the corner? If we wouldn't change our system to maximize RJ, i'm not sure Pop would to maximize Butler's isolation skills from the midrange. He doesn't give us size either. And while he's deadly from the 20 foot area, he's not a good 3 point shooter. A butler addition wouldn't have improve our hopes of being a strong defensive team. It's more like another attempt to gear our team as an offensive juggernut. At this point, I kinda feel Mike D'Antoni would've been a better coach if we're gonna start focusing on the offensive end rather than the defensive end.

[Ballings7]

I wasn't high on Butler... I mean, if we got him, it would of been mostly positive because he does have game... but he isn't strongest in where we need that position to be at. Like Jefferson hasn't been, only with a less active game. At least Butler would of played with more energy, but still probably not fulfill the role consistently well.

I think because there's been decline from the main core, that they've over priortized scoring in general. When really, defense has fallen off much more than offense, and the offense can be tweaked with the defense being the main focus.

But, they haven't had that mindset based on who's been brought in since 08-09 and foward. This has been another disappointing off-season from this front office.


Obviously the emergence of the Lakers since 2008 has played a part too, in a need for more scoring, and last season teams like Memphis.

Getting TJ Ford is fine, I like the move, but relying completely on Splitter, and then maybe consistent infusion from Leonard and/or Anderson? C'mon now. Blair's not a defensive presence, but will get rebounds...

Might as well tell Duncan "We really can't help you anymore with defense and rebounding - sorry...."

[Nolan]

Sounds like Kenyon Martin's going to be released from his Chinese team. I'd love to pick him up. He'd add some defense and some gritt, two things we really need.

[Ballings7]

Even though at a lesser ideal time, I'd love K-Mart on this team... he'd give us more edge which we could use... on both ends

Be the best defender Duncan's had next to him since 2005. We have an open spot for him, too.

[Donald Kaufman]

Would love K-Mart here, he'd add much needed toughness and D to our frontcourt.

[franktony]

Yeah i would love K-mart as well but there's now way he ends up here.

[Ballings7]

Duncan deep inside must feel disappointed


http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... purs_Depth


I know I am... hope the young guys can do decent enough, at least. Because if they do, then we don't have to worry much, they have a good foundation, but are just kind of questionable going foward.

[Blame Rasho]

Well we have not signed anyone... and that is **** stupid. We have no depth.

[franktony]

Nobody wants to play in SA. They don't see us as a contender and SA has never been attractive anyway.

Our front-court depth is really thin and I am worried about it, especially considering all the b2b games this season.

[Donald Kaufman]

We're old, and in the lockout shortened season the old teams need depth. Us and the C's are screwed.

[Nolan]

We're old, and in the lockout shortened season the old teams need depth. Us and the C's are screwed.

Yes we are. I have a bad feeling about this season.

[franktony]

I feel this season will look like the 2010 season. We're gonna struggle a bit in the regular season, we're gonna get a low seed and then we're gonna beat one of the favorites in the playoffs (The Mavs )

[Donald Kaufman]

It's not just us. The Lakers are old and have no depth either. They still suck at the point and they aren't going to run the triangle this year, which doesn't call for traditional points. Metta World Peace should've been amnestied. Odom essentially gets replaced by...McRoberts?! And Kobe is already hobbled.

Who is Boston's 5th best player? O'Neal? Brandon Bass? They're old and not exactly stacked either. If they lose one of their "Big 3" this season they are finished.

I can't believe TP wasn't traded. Not that I necessarily wanted him to be, but after all the mess that went down last season and the fact that he's probably our best trade chip it just surprises me a bit. I'm losing faith in our front office.

This season suits the younger deeper teams like Memphis and OKC. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see both of those teams in the WCF.