OT - Maurice Evans Still Available

[evildallas]

link here

I had seen him mentioned as a possible signing post-Childress. I had him #3 on the list of possibles, but it is a further shrinking of the pool. 3yr/6.4M were the terms.

[FCNATL85]

Tghat s....! I had him #1 for combination of talents SG/SF , defense, athletic, and decent 3 bust alos his price...confirmed by GS contract.

Who are your #1 and 2?

[evildallas]

I just went back and looked through the numbers, and Maurice Evans probably should have been #1 on my list based on the numbers.

I have Kareem Rush at the top of my list for offensive potential and I thought he would be even cheaper (minimum). My #2 guy was actually Kirk Snider because of his size 6-6 and strength. I'm not really considering restricted free agents like Delonte West, JR Smith, or Sasha Vujacic because of the unlikelihood of landing them and that it would probably eat all of the MLE which limits our options for landing a backup C.

[FCNATL85]

Rush sg will add scoring off the bench...when he is on but we would still need a back-up at SF. Ricky Davis? Finley?

[raleigh]

Vujacic and Smith are both RFA's for teams that will be over the luxury tax if re-signed. Plus, both teams (Camby trade, Turiaf's departure) have shown signs of wanting to minimize/avoid the tax.

I think either could be had for ~$4M starting.

[evildallas]

Rush sg will add scoring off the bench...when he is on but we would still need a back-up at SF. Ricky Davis? Finley?

Not sure Finley has much left in the tank and Ricky Davis hasn't proved to be much of a team player. I worry the impact he might have on chemistry. It seems there just isn't much available at SF.

However, the way I look at it we have Marvin, Jeremy Richardson, Joe and even Josh Smith (when signed) capable of playing SF depending on the lineup. Possibly Othello Hunter if he sticks from summer league. The key is Joe's flexibility. As such, we don't need a specific SF replacement in my eyes because of this overall flexibility. My primary goal is to add shooters so that when they are on the court they spread the defense opening things up for our inside guys.

Matt Barnes or Bostjan Nachbar would have been my SF replacement candidates, but they are gone.

[HoopsGuru25]

Vujacic and Smith are both RFA's for teams that will be over the luxury tax if re-signed. Plus, both teams (Camby trade, Turiaf's departure) have shown signs of wanting to minimize/avoid the tax.

I think either could be had for ~$4M starting.

So you're telling me Orlando gave Pietrus 5/30 when they could have had a younger and better player for less? I'm not buying it. I think there is a slight chance that you could get JR for the MLE but there's no way the Lakers wouldn't match an offer for Sasha.

[Rip2137]

There is so much stupidity going around for the NBA. Maurice Evans, for all his flaws, is a bettter player than Pietrus. They don't even know how good of a SF Pietrus is since Nelson has been playing him at the 4.

Evans for HALF the price makes alot more sense.

And JR Smith is Gerald Green with a bigger attitude. There is no reason to want him on your team.

[evildallas]

I still don't think we should overpay for a backup wing. We have a large investment in the starting 2-4 positions or we will if we resign Josh Smith. Using the full MLE on Vujacic or JR Smith might get a better player, but not help fill out the team unless we can get a big at the LLE. IMO, we have a greater need for another big than a wing and the MLE is probably necessary to fill. Evans for less than half the MLE was a good bargain. Matt Barnes for 928K was a great bargain. Players like Kareem Rush and Dahntay Jones can play minutes and should be closer to the minimum salary. Jeremy Richardson and Mario West should be able to play minutes at the minimum salary as well. Coach Woodson has to adjust to not having a 6th starter and use the whole bench.

If we can land a Dikembe Mutombo or Theo Ratliff for the LLE of 1.9M, then maybe we take a run at an RFA with the MLE like Vujacic or Gomes. My ideal scenario would be to get Kwame Brown for the LLE (I think he'll cost more), Kareem Rush for minimum (maybe) and then Ryan Gomes for part of the MLE (probably would take most or all of it), but it is highly unlikely.

[evildallas]

Word is now that the signing report was premature and now Evans wants a bit more money. I wouldn't mind a simple split of the MLE between Kwame and Evans if it could land both. I prefer Gomes as a talent, but I doubt being able to land him and a C both.

[raleigh]

there's no way the Lakers wouldn't match an offer for Sasha

I think there's a great chance the Lakers wouldn't match it, considering they just let a young big go for similar price. The Lakers can sign a veteran like Finley to replace him a lot easier than most teams.

Still, I think the biggest threat to the Lakers' re-signing Sasha is a European team.

(And, no, I don't think Vujacic has proven he's better than Pietrus).

[Lazy Panda]

by the way Evans has not signed yet....he is holdingout a little longer to try to get a better offer. So if you guys wanna offer more by all means take himoff our hands...i would like to keep azubuike instead.

The Riverside Press Enterprise reported he signed for three years, $6.4 million. But he has not signed the deal, the source said. The numbers were settled on before Evans backed out. Why? You’re right. He wants more money.
So, here’s the deal. If Evans wants too much, the Warriors will match Kelenna Azubuike, who plays the same position. If Evans takes the offer, they will sign him and let Azubuike go to the Clippers, who signed him to the offer sheet for three years and just over $9 million. The Warriors aren’t jumping too much higher, if at all. He certainly won’t be getting the deal Azubuike will. Evans turns 30 in November. Azubuike turns 25 in December.

[evildallas]

by the way Evans has not signed yet....he is holdingout a little longer to try to get a better offer. So if you guys wanna offer more by all means take himoff our hands...i would like to keep azubuike instead.

The Riverside Press Enterprise reported he signed for three years, $6.4 million. But he has not signed the deal, the source said. The numbers were settled on before Evans backed out. Why? You’re right. He wants more money.
So, here’s the deal. If Evans wants too much, the Warriors will match Kelenna Azubuike, who plays the same position. If Evans takes the offer, they will sign him and let Azubuike go to the Clippers, who signed him to the offer sheet for three years and just over $9 million. The Warriors aren’t jumping too much higher, if at all. He certainly won’t be getting the deal Azubuike will. Evans turns 30 in November. Azubuike turns 25 in December.

I prefer Azubuike as well, but since he signed an offer sheet he can only go to the Clippers or Warriors. Evans wouldn't be a bad consolation price although the age makes the last year of the contract a bit risky.

I brought up Kirk Snider and Kareem Rush because they should be relatively less expensive to sign. Which is why I think they should have been on radar in the first place. Per minute their numbers are similar to what Childress provided albeit getting their with different styles.

[evildallas]

Azubuike has been matched by Golden St. which likely means the Evans deal is off. Making Maurice Evans available as a possible backup SG.

[tontoz]

Azubuike has been matched by Golden St. which likely means the Evans deal is off. Making Maurice Evans available as a possible backup SG.

Evans backed out at the same time Childress bolted for Greece. I wouldn't be surprised if he winds up here and i would be fine with it.

[Great]

Evans will only dissappoint you.

[conleyorbust]

there's no way the Lakers wouldn't match an offer for Sasha

I think there's a great chance the Lakers wouldn't match it, considering they just let a young big go for similar price. The Lakers can sign a veteran like Finley to replace him a lot easier than most teams.

Still, I think the biggest threat to the Lakers' re-signing Sasha is a European team.

(And, no, I don't think Vujacic has proven he's better than Pietrus).

The Lakers are in the tax, right?

If they are, they probably won't match because they are deep as hell as it is.

[HoopsGuru25]

The Lakers have Bynum coming back and it's not like Turiaf was a big factor on their team anyway. He played 10 minutes a game in the playoffs. No one is dumb enough to pay their 3rd string center over $4 million dollars a year on a long term deal besides Milwaukee. Sasha raised his value ALOT in the playoffs and started to get national recognition. The reason no one is going after him is because they probably know the Lakers would match.

[FCNATL85]

Azubuike has been matched by Golden St. which likely means the Evans deal is off. Making Maurice Evans available as a possible backup SG.

Evans backed out at the same time Childress bolted for Greece. I wouldn't be surprised if he winds up here and i would be fine with it.

So would I.
As a big, I would prefer Theo to Kwame though. Would be cheaper, hence less of a risk, 2y at the MIN.
He would complement Josh and Al nicely inside.
I hope that Speedy will be K because I would have love to bring Royal back. Tenacious player who improved his offense a bit with more PT.

Bibby- Law- Speedy
JJ- Evans
Marvin- Hunter
Smith- Jones
Al- Zaza-Theo

Hunter could be moved at PF to get another SF vet back-up...or bringing back Mario or Rich (would prefer the second).
When you look at it yes you loose Chil but our starting five is intact and more experienced. I am hoping that Marvin will have a real break-out season.
On the bench, Law can only do much better than last year and Evans and Theo ould bring vet experience while not compromising our future financially.
If we find out early that Spedy cannot play and by miracle turns to retirement, get a cheap 3rd tring PG and sign someone like Finley, not so for the talent than for the exp and leadership.

what, why did you wake me up...no I was not dreaming...

[evildallas]

Royal Ivey has reportedly reached agreement with Philadelphia and will sign on Monday.