2011 Cap Usage

[Starkiller]

So apparently the top three names out there are Melo, the Durantula, and Tony Parker. And from what I've been reading on here, it seems we are leaning towards...................Parker? Come on, does anyone actually WANT that to happen? Not w/ Melo and Durant out there. I say throw all the cash in the world at one of them, pair them with Danny and Roy. Trade up and try and get John Wall.

Tony Parker will more than likely require a huge contract, that he will not live up too. His style of play is going to take a tole on his body and by then, and the end of his contract he won't be worth it at all and we'll have another Dunleavy/Murphy situation on our hands. Sometimes, you just gotta quit trying to do it through devolpment and draft and just go out and get the big name.

[Dunthreevy]

Melo or Durant will not sign to play in Indiana. That is all.

[Starkiller]

Melo or Durant will not sign to play in Indiana. That is all.

Give them enough money, and see.

What makes you think Tony Parker will? With his Hollywood wife and his Championship caliber team he plays on?

[Dunthreevy]

Melo or Durant will not sign to play in Indiana. That is all.

Give them enough money, and see.

What makes you think Tony Parker will? With his Hollywood wife and his Championship caliber team he plays on?

I don't think Parker will either, but Melo and Durant are guarantees.

Give them enough money? Not sure if you understand how NBA contracts work, but Denver and OKC can both offer those guys more money than we can regardless of our cap space.

[Miller4ever]

Not if it's max contract?

[kdawg531]

OP, why would we want Melo or Durant when we have the 3 locked up with Granger. Sure, they would help, but right now we are in more need of a PG

[Starkiller]

OP, why would we want Melo or Durant when we have the 3 locked up with Granger. Sure, they would help, but right now we are in more need of a PG

Why would you not? Pretty silly if you ask me. You're looking at two of the top 5 SF's in the league, why wouldn't you want one of them? Play both at the same time. Granger/Melo can play 2 or 4.

[kdawg531]

OP, why would we want Melo or Durant when we have the 3 locked up with Granger. Sure, they would help, but right now we are in more need of a PG

Why would you not? Pretty silly if you ask me. You're looking at two of the top 5 SF's in the league, why wouldn't you want one of them? Play both at the same time. Granger/Melo can play 2 or 4.

So let's give a max contract to someone who plays the same position as our other star when we could fill a greater need (PG)... it just wouldn't make sense to try to get either two. I would even take a PF over either of them

[Reginald Wayne]

I think we should sign Melo....



...and then we can take Chris Paul a la "Celtic Pride." We could put a Pacer jersey on him and say "play ball or your family gets it."

[Starkiller]

OP, why would we want Melo or Durant when we have the 3 locked up with Granger. Sure, they would help, but right now we are in more need of a PG

Why would you not? Pretty silly if you ask me. You're looking at two of the top 5 SF's in the league, why wouldn't you want one of them? Play both at the same time. Granger/Melo can play 2 or 4.

So let's give a max contract to someone who plays the same position as our other star when we could fill a greater need (PG)... it just wouldn't make sense to try to get either two. I would even take a PF over either of them

When a talent like that becomes available, you don't just say, "Ehhh, we're solid at that position, we don't need them." They are cleaning house and cap room for a reason, use it. A bunch of role players never won anything. Every team needs a star, a leader, a Kobe, a Lebron. We've been w/out one since 31 and only left. Granger and Melo/Durant can be on the court at the same time and have no problems. Remember, Stephen Jackson was a 6'8'' SG for us.

Not the best analogy but the Yankees weren't like "Ehhh, we have Jeter, he's solid, we don't need A-Rod". Go get the talent if you have the ability.

[Scoot McGroot]

So apparently the top three names out there are Melo, the Durantula, and Tony Parker. And from what I've been reading on here, it seems we are leaning towards...................Parker? Come on, does anyone actually WANT that to happen? Not w/ Melo and Durant out there. I say throw all the cash in the world at one of them, pair them with Danny and Roy. Trade up and try and get John Wall.

Durant is a Restricted Free Agent in 2011, and he will get a maximum contract extension from somebody. No matter who he signs an offer sheet with, and for how long, Oklahoma City will match it.

Our only shot for Durant is for him to play out 2011 without signing an extension, and go into 2012 unrestricted, and we would have to not sign anyone in 2011 just to hold out for him in 2012. That just isn't going to happen.


As for trading up...well, nice idea, but how exactly do we do it? It would take Granger to move up to #1 in any draft as nothing else we really have is worth a team moving down from #1. If we end up with the #2-8 picks, we might be able to do a Hibbert + expiring contract + our pick for the #1 + horrible long-term deal. But even that's a stretch. It's often cost prohibitive to move up to the #1 in ANY draft, let alone one that has a hyped guy like John Wall in it.

[kdawg531]

So we could be absolutely solid at 2 and or 3 and 4 but be weak at PG? Especially when we're trying to develop Rush and have Jones and others behind him? Plus, I'm not comfortable with Murphy or Ford as starters so why not fill our needs? I can see going for the best possible player in the draft but when it comes to free agents, it doesn't make much sense in this situation.

On top of that, we might be able to get 2 free agents to fill our needs with the same kind of money to pay a guy like Melo.

[Scoot McGroot]

On top of that, we might be able to get 2 free agents to fill our needs with the same kind of money to pay a guy like Melo.

And this is most likely what we're going to end up doing. We've never been big players in free agency, but we've almost always made great team-based signings to propel this team.

[FreeRon]

PLEASE don't use the Yankees in any salary example. The Yankees have so much money they don't know what to do with it. On top of that, almost any position player in the majors can move to outfield and do well enough, so even if he doesn't work out at third they move him elsewhere. There's also the DH position, and did I mention they play just about every day during the season? In a 162 game season you have to rest everyone at times. Why would we go broke paying for another player that plays the same position as Granger just because he's the best available? What you're suggesting is more like the Vikings going after Chris Johnson when he becomes a free agent. You don't break the bank in a capped system for a player who plays a position you're strong at, especially when you have holes elsewhere.

[Gremz]

I keep stating it, but I honestly think our best bet is via trade and not through capspace. Alleviate other teams that could be concerned about their future finances and take on quality players on longer contracts. As mentioned above, I see very little chance of a star type player jumping ship for Indiana any time soon.

[rhino2004]

We will never get a big name player via free agency. We never have.

Our best bet is drafting players and trading. Thats how Donnie put together the great team from the late 90's. We drafted Reggie, Rik and Dale and got Mark, Christ and Jalen via trades.