Mock Offseason from PJA123

[revprodeji]

PJA123 is a poster who actually has a good basketball mind. I have enjoyed reading his stuff for a while now. He made a mock-offseason for the wolves and I am curious what you think.

Trade no.1 (between Minnesota & Denver)

Wolves get:
Nene
Steven Hunter
Chucky Atkins

Nuggets get:
Marko Jaric
Greg Buckner
Antoine Walker

WHY IT COULD WORK FOR THE WOLVES:
They deal away some of their veterans who'd like to be in a playoff situation while getting some younger talent. Nene, when healthy, is a formidable big man. He'd pair nicely with Jefferson in the paint. Hunter and Atkins are both solid role players.

WHY IT COULD WORK FOR THE NUGGETS:
Jaric would be a great compliment to Iverson in the backcourt. He can handle the rock, but is tall enough to guard the opposing team's 2G. Buckner improves their perimeter defense. Walker would add some firepower off the bench.
NUGGETS LINE-UP:
PG-Jaric/Draft Pick(Chalmers, Collison)/Carter
SG-Iverson/Buckner
SF-Anthony/Kleiza
PF-Martin/Walker
C-Camby/Free Agent


DRAFT:

No.3 pick-O.J. Mayo
why?
He has star potential and can create his own shot. He could be the perimeter stud needed to compliment the inside presence of Jefferson.

No.31 pick-Lester Hudson
why?
He could turn into a servicable backup PG.

No.34 pick-Nikola Pekovic
why?
Tough big man who likes to play in the paint.



FREE AGENCY:

Re-sign Craig Smith-4 years/16 million
why?
Smith has proven to be a productive combo forward. Keeping him would help with continuity.

Primoz Brezec-2 years/5 million
why?
Prezec is a servicable big man with a decent offensive skillset.


NEW WOLVES ROSTER:

PG-Randy Foye/Lester Hudson/Chucky Atkins
SG-O.J. Mayo/Rashad McAnts
SF-Corey Brewer/Craig Smith
PF-Al Jefferson/Nikola Pekovic/Mark Madsen
C-Nene/Primoz Brezec/Steven Hunter

I made the response

PJA, Smith is a 4 only, Gomes is the hybrid 3-4. Replace the SMith Signing with Gomes and I could buy into this. Personally, I would like to bring both guys back, but Gomes is the priority.

Otherwise it is the worst kept secret that the wolves want to give Patrick O'Bryant a shot. Replace Brezec with him and it is accurate.


Goodjob!!!

Here is the original link.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=783445

[B Calrissian]

I have wanted Nene on the team for awhile so I like that. The stuff I disagree with you (rev) covered. Such as Smith not being a combo forward and signing POB over Primoz. Jaric would be great playing pg/sg with Iverson and Melo.

[theGreatRC]

I don't like the Hudson pick, and Nene is a big no in my book. Over his last four years, he has played 136 out of 328 possible games in a four year span.

I don't know about you guys, but I want someone on this team who is reliable to be on the court every day, I just don't see that type of endurance from Nene.

[deeney0]

Not a fan of Nene. Not a fan of giving Smith that much money. Not a big fan of Lester Hudson. I like the Mayo and Pekovic picks and Primoz on the cheap.

[Krapinsky]

I don't like the Nene trade, but with Jaric in there it isn't so bad. Then again if Nene becomes untradeable our team would be essentially screwed for the life of the contract. That's too big a risk IMO.

[the_bruce]

I dont like this at all

[john2jer]

Mayo is really the only thing I like out of all this.

I like Nene's talents, but not his lack of durability. It also seems to be in the lines of screwing our cap situation.

Not signing Gomes, but signing Smith to that big of a deal isn't smart either.

[shrink]

Marko Jaric........6,575,000 7,100,000 7,625,000
Antoine Walker..9,052,460
Greg Buckner.....4,010,005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL..................19.6............7.1.............7.6

Nene.................9,680,000 10,520,000 11,360,000 11,600,000
Chucky Atkins...3,240,000
Steven Hunter....3,862,600 3,696,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL..................16.8...........14.2............11.4...........11.6

MIN COST........ -2.8...........+7.1............+3.8.........+11.6

MIN TOTAL COSTS = $19.7 mil over 4 years

[Vindicater]

I hate the Nene trade, the guy is only a 50 game player a year... if that...

Mayo is a great pick

I would take mayo (for us) over Beasly.

In order of our draft choices this is how I would go

Rose (keep)
Beasly (then trade him for Mayo + assets)
Mayo (keep)

[GopherIt!]

^
I really like Mayo too & especially like how he fits our team. The consensus though seems to be that Beasley has more upside and will be a bigger star. He or Rose would instantly become our #1 guy. I would hope B-Easy could be our SF and Brewer could move to SG. That would give us plenty of size on the wing to battle Melo, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Andrei Kirilenko and all the other tall wings especially in the West. As long as we are in on Rose/B-Easy or Mayo I will be content.

[Devilzsidewalk]

The trade is the most exciting part to me, but even there we're getting herniated Chucky Atkins and Nene has had an ACL tear and a tumor in the past 2 years, I'm not 100% confident he's ready to contribute.

[Tekkenlaw]

I think the wolves really need to be careful with the cap situation, a big name free agent signing down the road in addition to our developing talent may end being exactly what this team needs to get over the hump and contend.

[TrentTuckerForever]

Love the trade. We get two bigs that complement Al, and one (Nene) has star potential. Atkins hasn't got a ton left in the tank, but he's on a one-year deal and would be an ideal mentor to Foye. The numbers cited by Shrink give one a little pause, but when you consider that under this plan you keep three potential all-stars:

Jefferson
Foye
Mayo

...along with young guys McCants, Brewer, Nene and Gomes (who I would resign, at the expense of Smith if necessary.) This is a .500 team with plenty of room to grow:

Gomes/Brewer
Jefferson/Smith
Nene/Hunter
McCants/Mayo
Foye/Atkins

I personally think Nene is going to have a good career; he's only 25 and some of his injuries (especially the cancer) aren't indicative of a lack of toughness. I can see him having a career like the Cavs' Ilgauskas - effective, but not a go-to big. Since you can't expect to get big-name free agents to sign here anyway I think this is a fine plan.

[Vindicater]

i just think Nene is paid way too much

[Devilzsidewalk]

thats true, but so is Jaric, Buckner, and Shimmyshakefor3

[Vindicater]

Yeah but Jaric and BUckner are not for 3 more seasons and are generally healthyl unlike a mr Nene

[theGreatRC]

Walker and Buckner won't be with the team next year, have faith in the dragon.

[chrbal]

Thats one of PJAs' better offseasons.

But i wouldn't ever give Brezec that much money, and of course Nene is a risk.

His numbers, when healthy, don't make up for his pay.

[Vindicater]

Nene will never be healthy, He is a walking accident waiting to happen.

We do need a big, I just hope it does not turn into Nene (injuries/overpaid) or Lopez (I just really think this guy has a big white sign around his neck saying BUST)