Off Season Priorities

[eathy]

Bogans can hit open shots? His offensive stats are terrible.

I'd like to get Battier though... TE + Kleiza's rights for Battier, followed up with Balkman for their TE (so we don't get too far over the luxury tax).

[pickIBL]

With the pre season approaching I suppose we can start to closeout these off season priorities. For the most part it has been a quiet off season and the Nuggets have made a few shrewd moves.

Birdman was retained. The plus side is his salary is on the low end starting out. But the final figure I predicted is fairly accurate considering how backloaded the deal is. Those that thought he'd sign on for 3 million a year were off. But he could have got a little more if he left Denver. He sells tickets, so good move.

The organization also let Jones walk. With the Afflalo deal it makes sense. AA has an outside shot which is a bonus.

The FO also brought in Malik Allen and retained Petro. Allen has a mid range J and the team needed the extra body. good move.

Finally, they let Kleiza walk so to speak... as he went overseas. That's fine.

What the Nuggets need to do.

Well it is fair to note that several teams have done some upgrading. Without adding salary the only real deal I see out there (and there is risk involved) is the KMart for Brand idea. Considering the talent the Lakers have and the moves others have made... the Nuggets may need to roll the dice.

With Kleiza and Jones gone (and JR suspended early on... and likely to move into the starting lineup) the Nuggets need to sure up the bench... and make sure they have offensive firepower.

The Nuggets have interest in Flip Murray and it appears mutual. The issue is money.. Flip wants the LLE and the Nuggets want to give him less. Wally Szczerbiak would appear to be the backup that could replace Kleiza in the lineup.

My conclusion would be at the very least the Nuggets need to complete a deal with Flip or Wally. Ideally both are fairly inexpensive and they could retain each of them.

With Kenyon Martin's recent radio comments you have to admire the belief that the team can beat the Lakers... but as always talk is cheap. The Nuggets need to consider the Brand deal.

If the Nuggets add Flip Murray & Wally Szczerbiak plus trade for Brand... a championship is a possibility. The Nuggets shouldn't expect the LA Clippers Brand... but he should have enough to be an upgrade over Kmart. There is risk in taking on his longer contract... but he makes less than Kmart this year which would help pay for the addition of Flip Murray.

going on 650 posts and over 10,000 views... pretty sweet... at least for a Nuggets forum.

[DaFan334]

Mark Blount would be great if he can be had for the min... Give us a big who can hit a decent jumper and who is big enough to move Nene to the 4.

[pickIBL]

Nugget fans might be at little to hard on Flip. Just a comparison for thought here. Flip was with the Hawks... so he did this on a decent team last year.

Flip Jr
24.7 MPG 27.7
12.2 PPG 15.2
.447 FG .446
.760 FT .754
.360 3p .397
242 3P-A 453
1.60 TO 1.85
SPG 1.1 1.00

I do think bringing in Flip cheap makes sense based on the JR situation and with AA being new to the team.

[J Smitty]

You don't sign a guy like him to be your backup two guard for 7 games, and then move out of the rotation for the rest of the season. He is too much of a cancer to accept sitting on the bench all year without causing problems.

[pickIBL]

So we hate on Flip and love Afflalo? AA has a lot to prove IMO. I like the move and letting Jones go. But that being said the Nuggets are trying to win a title and they need scoring off the bench. Flip is inexpensive. If Flip becomes a problem you can always show him the door. Lawson, Carter, Balkman, White, and Allen are the off the bench punch. Hard to disagree with a cheap pickup with Flip. And the team appears to be moving in that direction.

[The Rebel]

Flip wants a guaranteed deal, you cannot just show a guy with a guaranteed deal the door and keep an owner happy, as that is just wasted money.

As for the Nuggets trying to win a title, I will agree they are trying to win a title, but if this offseason has shown us anything, it is that they are not going to overpay for anybody that thy do not believe will put them over the top, and obviously Flip is not that guy in their eyes. If he agrees to the minimum that they offered him a month ago, then he may be here, but after a month I doubt they are planning to go to the BAE amount that he wants.

I think at the end of the day we will run with the current roster we have
Billups/ Lawson/ Carter
Jr/ Afflalo
Melo/ Balkman/ White
KMart/ Rose
Nene/ Andersen/ Petro

Depending on what White shows in training camp the guy put up some great stats in the d-league last season. 25.9 ppg on 54.9% shooting 36.8% from three , with 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists is nothing to sneeze at, and he may just be the scoring punch we need off the bench.

Lawson should add scoring from the PG slot plus should be a guy who can create shots as well, both things that Carter has not been good at.

An underated addition that many people seem to be overlooking is Rose, who can spread the floor from the 4, giving the 2nd team more room to drive, and allowing Karl to have an offensive player to throw on the court with Balkman at the 3 and doing the dirty work.

Depending on White and Lawson I am fine with how the team is currently constructed, while I believe that we needed a more complete player at the 4 slot and would have liked more proven players to fill out the roster, obviously the front office did not seem to find anybody they felt could fill the roles at a price they felt was a fair deal.

another thing that many seem to be missing, is that these moves were designed to be long term. If White and Lawson work out, we have a good young still developing core all 27 or younger, with the only major pieces who are getting up there in age being Chauncey (who Lawson should eventually replace) and kmart who can be replaced next year.

[pickIBL]

Flip wants a guaranteed deal, you cannot just show a guy with a guaranteed deal the door and keep an owner happy, as that is just wasted money.

Depending on what White shows in training camp the guy put up some great stats in the d-league last season. 25.9 ppg on 54.9% shooting 36.8% from three , with 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists is nothing to sneeze at, and he may just be the scoring punch we need off the bench.

Lawson should add scoring from the PG slot plus should be a guy who can create shots as well, both things that Carter has not been good at.

Ok a couple of things. Your argument against giving Flip guaranteed money is because of a guy with limited PT (AA), and d leaguer, and a vet PF who also has played limited minutes in recent years?

Again I liked the AA move, like the white trade, and liked picking up Malik Allen. I liked the Lawson deal too. But I'd rather not put all my chips down on the rookie, d-leaguer, and AA.

That being said Flip Murry has already been offerred guaranteed money from Denver. He is holding out for the LLE.

My point about possibly removing Flip from the team was based on comments that if he wouldn't get enough minutes he'd be a cancer. I don't think you'd have to remove him from the team via waiver or trade. That was in reply to another's opinion.

Last year the Lakers had a payroll of 91 million... the Jazz and Celtics at 84 million, the Hornets at 73 million where higher than us. The Bucks were less than 3 million below us.

If the Nuggets are serious about winning they could spring for Wally and/or Flip. If they swapped Brand for Kmart they'd even have an little extra cash to play with this year.

[pickIBL]

I may take some heat for this, but I also think the team should pick up Stromile Swift to a non guaranteed deal. The guy is 29 years old and isn't hurt. He's never been a heady guy, but his style of play fits the team. I'd be interested to see how he fit in during some pre season games.

[The Rebel]

Ok a couple of things. Your argument against giving Flip guaranteed money is because of a guy with limited PT (AA), and d leaguer, and a vet PF who also has played limited minutes in recent years?

Where did I make an argument against giving guaranteed money to flip? I did make the statement that you do not give guaranteed money to a guy knowing that there is a large chance you will have to send him down the road in a few weeks, due to a bad attitude that he has displayed throughout his career. You either believe he can help the team or you don't, i you think his attitude gets in the way, you do not sign him, regardless of size of contract.

Again I liked the AA move, like the white trade, and liked picking up Malik Allen. I liked the Lawson deal too. But I'd rather not put all my chips down on the rookie, d-leaguer, and AA.

Are you not the same guy who has spent all summer advocating the signing of every Euro player under the sun? You know the Euro leagues, where most experts agree the top leagues have an equal amount of competition, talent, and skill as the d-league. Leagues where guys like Sani Becorovic played in last year where the top players are let go as soon as the comand a salary of 700,000 Euros, or less then the veteran minimum in the NBA? The place where American busts go to hopefully one day make it back to the d-league?

So your problem is that you would rather not depend on a young SG that has proven to belong in the league, a young Prospect that many believe was the most NBA ready of all PGs in the draft, and a D-leaguer who has always had all world talent but may now be finally putting it together, but if they had played in Europe then it would be all good?

That being said Flip Murry has already been offerred guaranteed money from Denver. He is holding out for the LLE.

Like I said in the 2nd paragraph of my last post, obviously the front office does not feel like he is worth more then the minimum, so let him hold out all year.

My point about possibly removing Flip from the team was based on comments that if he wouldn't get enough minutes he'd be a cancer. I don't think you'd have to remove him from the team via waiver or trade. That was in reply to another's opinion.

The guy cannot get more then a minimum offer, yet you are going to trade him for what exactly? a bad contract, or a worse player does not make up the fact that if you are planning on signing a guy with the chance to move him down the road, it is your ass on the line for wasting the owners money.

Last year the Lakers had a payroll of 91 million... the Jazz and Celtics at 84 million, the Hornets at 73 million where higher than us. The Bucks were less than 3 million below us..

So is your statement pointing to the fact that this front office seems to find deals, where others miss? Or the idea that they refuse to overpay for role players who will not make a difference with the team?

Now if the point is that you are trying to hint that Kroenke is cheap, you hsould look at the numbers from 06-07 where the Nuggets payroll was well over $84 million, or 07-08 where the Nuggets had a payroll in the neighborhood of $88 million while losing $20 million more then any other team in the league.

Of course that only matter when you figure that spending money equals wins, yet the saddest part of your list is that exactly one of those teams reached the same level orhigher then the Nuggets last year. If spending money was the issue, then we would have won two years ago.

If the Nuggets are serious about winning they could spring for Wally and/or Flip. If they swapped Brand for Kmart they'd even have an little extra cash to play with this year.

So two guys who were ran off their previous teams are the difference in winning this year? Are you serious? Wally has looked like a old man that would need a walker here soon. Hell his former team still needs outside shooters to go with Shaq and Lebron, yet they could care less what happens to the guy. In fact it looks like most of the NBA feels the same way as Wally has been begging for a contract from everybody, and yet he seems to be struggling to gt a deal from anybody.

Flip's previous team went out and traded an insurance covered contract and a prospect for a notorious overpaid chucker as opposed to resigning him. Of course if they had given him hat he wanted he would also be an overpaid chucker, so I see why they made the deal. That is not even bringing up the fact that the Nuggets made their jump in the standings through improved defense, why overpay to bring ina player that does not believe in defense? Now Flip seems to be having trouble finding anybody to give him anything over the minimum, and even then interest seems to be limited. But they are the difference in the Nuggets doing anything in the playoffs this year or not.

As for Brand and KMart, I must wonder what you are smoking? Brand is going to get paid a very long time, after sitting out most of the last two seasons with injuries. Although I must admit when he did play last year he looked.... like crap. The last thing the Nuggets need to do is trade Kmart for another overpaid cap killer, who has injury problems, especially as KMart seems to be past his.

Maybe what you need to do is turn the channel from the Euro leagues and spend a little time watching some basketball in the US, as your posts throughout this thread show a clear bias towards players who were decent 3-4 years ago, played well in Europe, or were considered decent prospects at one time.

[pickIBL]

Where did I make an argument against giving guaranteed money to flip? I did make the statement that you do not give guaranteed money to a guy knowing that there is a large chance you will have to send him down the road in a few weeks, due to a bad attitude that he has displayed throughout his career.

Well you did state Flip wanted a guaranteed deal.

Flip wants a guaranteed deal, you cannot just show a guy with a guaranteed deal the door and keep an owner happy, as that is just wasted money.

Why mess with pretend scenarios? He has already been offered guaranteed money from Denver... just not the figure he is looking for.

So your problem is that you would rather not depend on a young SG that has proven to belong in the league, a young Prospect that many believe was the most NBA ready of all PGs in the draft, and a D-leaguer who has always had all world talent but may now be finally putting it together, but if they had played in Europe then it would be all good?

Can't say I agree with that statement. I already said I approved of those moves. I'd just prefer with JR moving to the starting lineup (and kleiza leaving) that the Nuggets sign somebody that has a proven history of scoring the rock. As a team competing for a championship I don't think that is too much to ask at a low salary level.

Like I said in the 2nd paragraph of my last post, obviously the front office does not feel like he is worth more then the minimum, so let him hold out all year.

A guaranteed min. level contract was their first offer. It would be silly for Flip and his agent to just accept that and not try and work a better deal. Sometimes late in the FA period these things can drag out a little.

The guy cannot get more then a minimum offer, yet you are going to trade him for what exactly?

No idea... injuries happen though and teams have needs. I've seen what the Pacers did to Tinsley. Doing it to a much lower contract guy doesn't seem far fetched really. But again Flip's "cancer" issues are another poster's major concern. Not really mine.

Now if the point is that you are trying to hint that Kroenke is cheap, you hsould look at the numbers from 06-07 where the Nuggets payroll was well over $84 million,

Not my point at alI. I actually have confidence in the FO based on how things have turned out since last summer. My point is we need to get off to a good start and ensuring some firepower off the bench should be a priority. I think the FO understands that... which is why White might not be the last signing or move.

As for Brand and KMart, I must wonder what you are smoking? Brand is going to get paid a very long time, after sitting out most of the last two seasons with injuries. Although I must admit when he did play last year he looked.... like crap. The last thing the Nuggets need to do is trade Kmart for another overpaid cap killer, who has injury problems, especially as KMart seems to be past his.

KMart's injuries are chronic. I'm very happy he bounced back, but I do believe they will shorten his career. True Brand's contract is longer, but on the plus side Brand is younger. Brand never fully healed which commonly leads to poor play (that's why rushing him back was a mistake). Finally Brand is back to 100%. I don't expect LA Clippers Brand, but I do expect a Brand who plays on another level compared to Kmart. And... smoke free is the way to be. Don't worry about what others smoke... just stop smoking what you smoke.

Maybe what you need to do is turn the channel from the Euro leagues and spend a little time watching some basketball in the US, as your posts throughout this thread show a clear bias towards players who were decent 3-4 years ago, played well in Europe, or were considered decent prospects at one time

Spoken like a true American. Did you have "Proud to be an American" blasting on your MP3 player while you typed this? Shame on me for understanding and following international basketball really? And you tell that to a guy who lives in the Midwest, gets the Nuggets on satellite, and buys the NBA.com internet package just so I never miss a Nugget game?

I highlight international players that most posters don't follow or have never heard of. You make it sound like I advocate giving them minutes without them earning it... or giving out big contracts or something like that. I do appreciate the skills the young european players are taught and what the American player seem to develop overseas. When Marcus Haislip shows his new handles or 3 point shot it will surprise those that just remember the pre Spain Haislip.

If anything my highlighting international players should be edcuational. Mark Cuban should take notes... why offer Gortat 36 million when you can send a 2nd rounder to the Spurs and give Javtokas a low ball contract. IDK if Javtokas will ever come to the NBA... but Andersen who I've been dead on about on his contract and what it would take to acquire him is slated to start for the Rockets. Haislip could start for the Spurs or at least make the rotation. Listen... take notes... stop complaining about my bias. If you want bias hit up InterBasket or even the international forums at RealGM.

[pickIBL]

Leagues where guys like Sani Becorovic played in last year where the top players are let go as soon as the comand a salary of 700,000 Euros, or less then the veteran minimum in the NBA? The place where American busts go to hopefully one day make it back to the d-league?

If you are going to lecture me at least be correct in your points. For 2009-10 the nba min. level contract is $457,588. 700k Euros is equal to 1,025,025 million USD. An nba player would have to be on his 6th year in the league to get that deal at the min. level.

Becirovic was recovering this summer from a minor injury. He had a nice season in Italy and was a EuroLeague MVP last year. He gave his current team a pretty nice discount to sign him. Olimpija got the hometown discount because he wanted to go back home this season.

[eathy]

Rebel you mean Allen right? (not Rose)

[The Rebel]

Can't say I agree with that statement. I already said I approved of those moves. I'd just prefer with JR moving to the starting lineup (and kleiza leaving) that the Nuggets sign somebody that has a proven history of scoring the rock. As a team competing for a championship I don't think that is too much to ask at a low salary level.

Funny how your opinion has changed now that the Nuggets got a d-league scorer, as compared to a Euro prospect, as you wanted.

As for a proven player on a low salary, I would rather they take fliers on young guys in the D-league and Euro players trying to find someone who will not only feel lucky to have the chance to be here, but will give everything he has every moment he is in the game. Much like Andersen and Jones did last year, and several ex dleaguers do every year.

Like I said in the 2nd paragraph of my last post, obviously the front office does not feel like he is worth more then the minimum, so let him hold out all year.

A guaranteed min. level contract was their first offer. It would be silly for Flip and his agent to just accept that and not try and work a better deal. Sometimes late in the FA period these things can drag out a little.

Once again, as I have now posted 3 times, after a month Flip can find someone else to give him more then the minimum as the front office does not seem to think he is worth more then the minimum. Let his agent poster, or let him go elsewhere, I don't care and neither do any of the teams he has played for recently
.

The guy cannot get more then a minimum offer, yet you are going to trade him for what exactly?

No idea... injuries happen though and teams have needs. I've seen what the Pacers did to Tinsley. Doing it to a much lower contract guy doesn't seem far fetched really. But again Flip's "cancer" issues are another poster's major concern. Not really mine.

Once again the only real contension I had with your post, was the idea that teams should just do that to players. Reality is that owners that have been losing money, do not take kindly to the idea of paying someone to go home, and I guarantee free agents are going to think twice about signing with the Nuggets in the future if they go out and trade veterans they just signed for the minimun.

Now if the point is that you are trying to hint that Kroenke is cheap, you hsould look at the numbers from 06-07 where the Nuggets payroll was well over $84 million,

Not my point at alI. I actually have confidence in the FO based on how things have turned out since last summer. My point is we need to get off to a good start and ensuring some firepower off the bench should be a priority. I think the FO understands that... which is why White might not be the last signing or move.

So bringing up other teams payroll, is a way to show that the Nuggets need to add firepower to the team?

By the way did you stop to think that maybe White is that firepower?

As for Brand and KMart, I must wonder what you are smoking? Brand is going to get paid a very long time, after sitting out most of the last two seasons with injuries. Although I must admit when he did play last year he looked.... like crap. The last thing the Nuggets need to do is trade Kmart for another overpaid cap killer, who has injury problems, especially as KMart seems to be past his.

KMart's injuries are chronic. I'm very happy he bounced back, but I do believe they will shorten his career. True Brand's contract is longer, but on the plus side Brand is younger. Brand never fully healed which commonly leads to poor play (that's why rushing him back was a mistake). Finally Brand is back to 100%. I don't expect LA Clippers Brand, but I do expect a Brand who plays on another level compared to Kmart. And... smoke free is the way to be. Don't worry about what others smoke... just stop smoking what you smoke.

KMart may have chronic injuries, but he has shown he can contribute the last two years, and has two years left. While Brand has not shown to be healthy, looked real bad last year, has trouble in any kind of offense that is not the slowest pace in the league. Overall I would stick to the guy who was our defensive leader last year, and has played pretty much the entire season the last two years, as compared to a guy who really does not fit with the team, struggled when on the court last year, and has not been able to play much for two years.

Maybe what you need to do is turn the channel from the Euro leagues and spend a little time watching some basketball in the US, as your posts throughout this thread show a clear bias towards players who were decent 3-4 years ago, played well in Europe, or were considered decent prospects at one time

Spoken like a true American. Did you have "Proud to be an American" blasting on your MP3 player while you typed this? Shame on me for understanding and following international basketball really? And you tell that to a guy who lives in the Midwest, gets the Nuggets on satellite, and buys the NBA.com internet package just so I never miss a Nugget game?

Talk about hyperbole. Funny we are having a discussion about the NBA, and NBA players. You want to discuss europe players we can do that, much like we have all summer, however trying to act like you know what is going on with each player around the league and all Euro players just shows your ignorance.The truth is that outside of a few stats I cannot think of a thing that you have brought to the discussion about any NBA players. Go ask Cavs fans what they think about Wally, or Hawks fans what they think of Flip, you may be surprised at the responses you get from people other then me that have actually watched these guys in the last two years.

I highlight international players that most posters don't follow or have never heard of. You make it sound like I advocate giving them minutes without them earning it... or giving out big contracts or something like that. I do appreciate the skills the young european players are taught and what the American player seem to develop overseas. When Marcus Haislip shows his new handles or 3 point shot it will surprise those that just remember the pre Spain Haislip.

I stated an obvious fact, that is based on the truth. The whole summer you have advocating signing guys out of the Euro league with the expectation that they will be major role players on this team. In fact for every player brought up, you have continued to bring up several Euro players to tell us why we would be better off if they spent the money on that guy.

So when you have a limited roster with 8 players already under contract and specific needs to fill with the other 5 slots that will be used, then advocating bringing in someone to fill that role, is stating that they will be able to fill those minutes. Yet they are less proven then James White at this point.

If anything my highlighting international players should be edcuational. Mark Cuban should take notes... why offer Gortat 36 million when you can send a 2nd rounder to the Spurs and give Javtokas a low ball contract. IDK if Javtokas will ever come to the NBA... but Andersen who I've been dead on about on his contract and what it would take to acquire him is slated to start for the Rockets. Haislip could start for the Spurs or at least make the rotation. Listen... take notes... stop complaining about my bias. If you want bias hit up InterBasket or even the international forums at RealGM.

[/quote]

So now Javtokas is going to be a starter in the NBA? Andersen was traded for a 2nd round pick, with the idea that he may be a backup to a team that just lost their top two centers from last year, and had no replacements. AS for Haislip starting the only chance he has of that is if McDyess decides he does not want the wear and tear of starting, of course then the only guy Haislip has to beat out is a mid 2nd rounder, so he may have a chance.

[pickIBL]

Murray got the bi-annual exception at 1.99m from the Bobcats. Sounds like his agent gave up on the waiting game with denver and took the 2 million dollars. the downside of course being he has to play for the Bobcats.

Maybe the FO will turn their focus to Ime Udoka.

[The Rebel]

Leagues where guys like Sani Becorovic played in last year where the top players are let go as soon as the comand a salary of 700,000 Euros, or less then the veteran minimum in the NBA? The place where American busts go to hopefully one day make it back to the d-league?

If you are going to lecture me at least be correct in your points. For 2009-10 the nba min. level contract is $457,588. 700k Euros is equal to 1,025,025 million USD. An nba player would have to be on his 6th year in the league to get that deal at the min. level.

Which part of veteran minimum do you not understand? Which I believe this year is over $1.1 million.

Becirovic was recovering this summer from a minor injury. He had a nice season in Italy and was a EuroLeague MVP last year. He gave his current team a pretty nice discount to sign him. Olimpija got the hometown discount because he wanted to go back home this season.

His team last year offered him a pay cut to stay, what does that tell you about him? By the way for those that actually want what is happening with Sani from the sources, here is the link.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=933673

You see IBL, I have no problem finding the international board as well, and have found it funny the way you have pumped them for info all summer, while coming on this board and acting as if you are the expert. it has been entertaining to say the least.

[The Rebel]

Rebel you mean Allen right? (not Rose)

Of course I don't know why I have calling him Rose lately, other then the fact of Rose being another worthless PF.

[pickIBL]

Funny how your opinion has changed now that the Nuggets got a d-league scorer, as compared to a Euro prospect, as you wanted.

I wasn't the poster that gave him the horrible scouting report. I don't question White's skills. And I've seen him both on the internet and live in the D-League. Actually in this case it is better that White played D-League ball, because international is very team/system oriented. White has a rep as the dissappearing act so Europe might not have been as good for his development for the NBA.

As for a proven player on a low salary, I would rather they take fliers on young guys in the D-league and Euro players trying to find someone who will not only feel lucky to have the chance to be here,

9 times out of 10 I agree. But based on being a title contender and what moves other teams had done... I wanted Flip even at 1.99m.

Once again, as I have now posted 3 times, after a month Flip can find someone else to give him more then the minimum

Or he could just sign with the bobcats now. oh wait he did.

So bringing up other teams payroll, is a way to show that the Nuggets need to add firepower to the team?

The two are related. It wasn't a negative point. Based on past spending habits you can conclude the Nuggets might spend a little more.

While Brand has not shown to be healthy, looked real bad last year, has trouble in any kind of offense that is not the slowest pace in the league.

Brand's situation is all too common. It seems he is finally happy with his health along with the medical staff. I look forward to a much better year. Time will tell. It is a risk... but championship opportunities haven't come along often for the team.

Go ask Cavs fans what they think about Wally, or Hawks fans what they think of Flip, you may be surprised at the responses you get from people other then me that have actually watched these guys in the last two years.

You can't get lucky every year with former druggies and first round bust d-league comeback stories. I'm fully aware with both Wally and Flip we are talking about fishing at the bottom of the barrel. I was kinda wishing there was a way for Denver to get Marvin Williams Jr. so I did watch the Hawks plenty.

The whole summer you have advocating signing guys out of the Euro league with the expectation that they will be major role players on this team.

Actually I first brought them up because posters said... ok I want a 7 footer with some mobility and athleticism... and I want him to make 3 point shots.... and he has to be cheap as dirt. Well that is Lavrinovic. If he wasn't in our terms a sex offender... he'd be in the league.

If a major role would mean replacing Petro with Lavrinovic, or David Anderson, or Javtokas... then yes.

So now Javtokas is going to be a starter in the NBA?

Quote where I said that... or admit you just made that up.

You'll find plenty of international fans that actually prefer Javtokas to Gortat. I think Gortat was overpaid and would have gone after Javtokas if I was Mark Cuban. Especially considering the Mav's window.

McDyess decides he does not want the wear and tear of starting

That is the likely scenario.

Which I believe this year is over $1.1 million.

736k your 2nd year and tops out at 1.3 million after 10 years in the league.

His team last year offered him a pay cut to stay, what does that tell you about him?

That he's a EuroLeague MVP? Euro Teams budgets are hurting. I've talked to a lot of dissapointed imports recently too.

You see IBL, I have no problem finding the international board as well, and have found it funny the way you have pumped them for info all summer, while coming on this board and acting as if you are the expert. it has been entertaining to say the least

In a little of my traveling you'd think I'd have picked up more foreign language but that just is not the case. I like english message boards in general that discuss international basketball because they basically translate articles for me. I have the same problem with internet TV. The damn commentators aren't speaking english. Google Translator is a pretty decent feature... but it misses a lot.

The only question I've ever had about Becirovic is his perimeter D. One of the reasons I wanted to bring him over (I believe I estimated at 1.2 million USD) was because I thought that meant Carter would not be back. I do worry that Lawson (despite where he played college ball) might ride the pine due to Coach Karl.