RealGM

So, 'Melo wants out of DEN and it's now looking probable... but this thread is not about 'Melo - that's in another thread below. This discussion is to discuss other options on DEN.

Basically, if DEN trades 'Melo then they have got to tear it down and rebuild. The team is built around 'Melo and without him, they'll have to start reassessing the makeup of their team. The obvious 1st players to reassess would be players who could be an FA after this season. The 2 outright FA's, K-Mart (contract) and JR Smith (attitude... did he really try to choke someone in a pickup bball game immediately after demanding a trade? I guess stupid is as stupid does...), just aren't worth having on the team.

Next up is Nene who has a PO after next year for $11.6 mil. Personally, I want Nene. I think he'd be an ideal fit after Smoove and Horford in the rotation. He's quick, can D up (> 1 steal per for the last 2 years), efficient on the low block (59% from the floor last year), and has a decent jumper - 43% for long 2's 2 years ago... I can't find this stat any more recent (if you've got one, please post). He's (slightly) bigger than Horford and is more suited to play C. He's only 27 and a "young" 27 at that having starting playing later in life being from Brazil and he's also sat out a 2 seasons - 1 due to cancer 3 years ago, and IIRC the other was due to an ACL 5 years ago.

Thoughts?

I would love Nene, but we don't have pieces the right size for him. I think Marvin is about right, but I'd not sure Denver would want him, nor am I sure that I'd do the trade, for reasons of fit and Marvin still having potential, and Drew's new offense.

azuresou1 wrote:I would love Nene, but we don't have pieces the right size for him. I think Marvin is about right, but I'd not sure Denver would want him, nor am I sure that I'd do the trade, for reasons of fit and Marvin still having potential, and Drew's new offense.

I was thinking about moving Jamal through a 3rd team who'd pass an expiring + a prospect to DEN with us taking Nene. I couldn't really find that 3rd team though. The best I came up with is Houston (who'd part with Jeffries and either Patterson or J Hill... there would be other moving parts as well, but I hadn't hammered those out yet - depends on what HOU's priorities are in regards to the tax), but I'd assume that HOU would be immobile (as would DEN for that matter) until Melo's situation is resolved.

The obvious issue with all this would be what our financial position would be next offseason when Horford becomes an RFA, but I'm not sure if we can worry about that. Settling the low post should be the highest priority since JJ and Marvin have, at the very least, proven themselves durable. Sneaking a Mo Evans, Jo Crawford, a vet on the mini, or even playing lineups that overload other positions (i.e., putting Bibby and Teague on the court together or putting Smoove @ the 3) for 24 minutes is better/easier than finding a low post presence that deserves 30+ minutes per night. In the meantime, we can determine which positions would be easiest to "dump" next offseason if Nene decides to exercise his PO.