Blow it up, don't look back ;)

[ilovemods]

Let's package Nash and Hill together and ship them for picks and young talent.
Don't resign VC.
Trade Lopez.
Trade Brooks.
Do anything you can to get Stephen Curry.
Trade warrick.
Keep Frye, Dudley and Gortat.
Draft athletic PF.

I expect 90% of this to come true this offseason.

[DBrimstone]

Let's package Nash and Hill together and ship them for picks and young talent.
Don't resign VC.
Trade Lopez.
Trade Brooks.
Do anything you can to get Stephen Curry.
Trade warrick.
Keep Frye, Dudley and Gortat.
Draft athletic PF.

I expect 90% of this to come true this offseason.

Assuming that's the other 10%...

[pidi]

solid first post..

[sunsfan3]

if we're going to rebuild, why trade brooks?
he's still a very young, fast, defensive, smart, 3 point shooting PG.

[ilovemods]

In all honesty, brooks is short, and it sucks. Awesome 3 point shot, I agree. Not a PG for the future, would make solid backup. I'm either way with him.

Not my first post, I had to rise like a Phoenix because I started a revolution on the general board 2 days ago lol

[lilfishi22]

Brooks? Defensive? Smart?

[Sun Scorched]

In all honesty, brooks is short, and it sucks. Awesome 3 point shot, I agree. Not a PG for the future, would make solid backup. I'm either way with him.

Not my first post, I had to rise like a Phoenix because I started a revolution on the general board 2 days ago lol

His first post was followed quickly by his last.

R.I.P.

[RaisingArizona]

Let me guess. That was the newly suspended poster?

[JohnVancouver]

if we're going to rebuild, why trade brooks?
he's still a very young, fast, defensive, smart, 3 point shooting PG.

I question your including defense as one of his attributes -

[DRK]

Dont tell me this is Jwillb/Jdubz again...

His name is hilarious

[King4Day]

Let's package Nash and Hill together and ship them for picks and young talent.
Don't resign VC.
Trade Lopez.
Trade Brooks.
Do anything you can to get Stephen Curry.
Trade warrick.
Keep Frye, Dudley and Gortat.
Draft athletic PF.

I expect 90% of this to come true this offseason.

Can't trade Brooks if he doesn't resign
Can't trade Hill if he doesn't resign
Can't trade Warrick unless he's part of a deal with Nash (which likely means not getting as much value back)
Not getting Curry unless you add one or more of Frye, Dudley, Gortat

I'd love to somehow swing Milsap. With Favors emerging, it makes Milsap expendable.

The part I agree with is keeping Frye, Dudley, and Gortat. Those 3 are our Core post-Nash era

[nevetsov]

The definite keepers are Frye, Dudley and Gortat. I'd almost be inclined to put Childress on that list for next year as he hasn't really had a chance to prove himself yet, and could be a surprise if given consistent minutes.

If Lawal comes back strong, that gives us an alternative backup PF to Warrick, which I think is important given Hakim is inconsistent and really only useful in certain match ups. Plus it gives us that extra depth that we missed up front this year.

So we have:

G ?
G ?/ Dudley
F Childress/ Dudley
F Frye/ Warrick & Lawal
C Gortat



I see no real reason to trade Steve unless it can get us a major upgrade, which probably will be unlikely. Plus I like that he expires at the same time as Chris Paul. We could become serious suitor for him next summer.

I like Dowdell enough to keep him around on a cheap backup deal. However I do think another part time PG should be available, perhaps chase a potential future starter in the draft and let him play with the starting unit in practices against Dowdell. Nash doesn't really need to be getting killed in practice, he already has the chemistry with the starters.

Pietrus will invariably pick up his option, so unless we can trade him, we may be stuck with him. I guess we could try him as a starting SG, although an upgrade here wouldn't be bad.

Lopez is still a minor asset and we might be able to parlay him into some sort of upgrade. VC is gone and Brooks I don't really see being kept after his little tantrum last night. Hill.. Love to keep him but I just don't think the front office will add another SF unless he is willing to be a bit player.

So the nice to haves are:

Higher draft pick (for PG)
Starting SG (pietrus upgrade)
Backup wing (shooter, defender)
Backup C (Lopez upgrade)

What we have to play with:
Cap space
VC expiring/ buyout
Brooks s&t
Lopez
Pietrus expiring
Mid round pick

So.. How do we do this? Any ideas?

[Frank Lee]

Good approach to this situation nevets.... I have been pondering parallel thoughts. This 'blow it up' mantra is no longer valid. At best, this old firecracker would just be a tiny bang. Be patient, this one has been soaking.

Nash : Nash's value has decreased with his injury and thus his play this yr. The predicted, age driven hit in durability has arrived. He is an expiring deal though. So we will keep him, listening to offers all the way. Worse case is he expires, moves on, and we bid a tearful farewell. Best case is a player and future lotto draft pick. I could see a mid season deal next yr if we are floundering... and Brooks (or?) has picked up his pace. However, If some team does come calling with pieces... and it seems ATL may be the only legit one, he could go draft day. Highly doubt it. In Steve we Trust.... for now.

Brooks : I am beginning to think this was a solid trade made with financial flexibility in mind as much as talent. We can match any offer for Brooks. We will, with in reason. Like the diminutive dasher or not, he is fiesty, can dump in some points quickly, and can only get better with more time spent with the rest. If he is offered 7-8 mil per... it becomes dicey on his value, but a sign and trade can still be arranged. This could be a subtle game of chicken, but count on him receiving attention from others.

Carter : Pure economics... VC gets bought out at 4 mil. If, huge if, the Front Office sees him as an integral piece, may be we dangle a Vet minimum... but some one else would and should offer him more. We can trade his 18 mill deal up through June 30 , but I dont see us absorbing the extra 14 mill or so in salary unless it is exactly what we need. I believe we'd be only left with a MLE (5-6 mil) to offer free agents... certainly an option, but the deal has to be tasty.

Hill : Plain and simple, at the Vet min or close to his deal this yr, money well spent. There is no price you can put on what he gives off the court.... and this yr, on the court he has been as valuable as anyone. Can he coax one more yr ? I think so.

Pietrus : This one may be somewhat out of our hands. I cant see the Front Office offering him a 3-4 yr deal close to our standard role player rate of 4-5 mill per. I would think other teams will though, and if so, we let him go and gain more flexibility to sign a impacting Free Agent. I like what he brings and worse case, we keep him and his expiring deal. What happens with other players may dictate what we do. This one is up to MP. But, for reasons below, I hope he moves on.

Lopez : Robin has played his way on to the completely expendable list. His little contract does not kill us, but his brooding ass on the bench may. At this point, an old Vet at the min would be equal to or better... Siler must have shown something to have kept him around as well. I think if we add the one piece we sorely need (IMO) a starting PF, Lopez goes for a future pick. The trio of Frye/Gortat/FA PF anchor down the paint with 32 mins each. Frye splitting time at PF/C. The Boy Blunder would be left with his comics and bubblegum to pass his DNPs.

Free Agent : This is the meat for the off season. If Pietrus opts out, and VC is bought out, our salary level is 47 mill. Trade Lopez for a pick and it drops to 44 and change. Brooks remains to be signed... and here is where I am not certain... *does this leave us 10-12 mil (assume the cap is 56 mil) to sign a Free Agent, then the ability to match offers for Brooks ? Does this make us a legit participant for some bigger names like.... David West. And that is who my target would be. He'll get some jack... probably 50-55 mill for 5... NJ will be calling and others. But this guy is a tough hard nosed inside outside guy who could be paired with either Frye or Gortat effectively. Carl Landry is is a baller, but he is West-lite. We sign West, and put him with this group of Gortat/Frye/Dudley/Hill/Chil/Nash/Brooks... well thats a pretty solid 8. And the unseen bonus with West is.... if he is happy and thriving here, with a solid supporting cast... How much easier will it be to make a strong pitch to his former team mate Paul ???

Draft Pick : If the above goes down, draft the best SG available. If we have a chance at a dynamic PG like Walker... he could be a 4 million less than Brooks... then we sign and trade Brooks to help fill in the other slots.

There is a few ways the chips can fall. But it all goes along with the Babby and Blanks wanting flexibility.
Thanks for stopping by.




* Not 100% on the sal cap stuff. Perhaps others could clarify?

[nevetsov]

Expert analysis as always Frank. Projecting caps are always iffy but I think you are around the money, with around $59m as the projected cap and $70m the projected tax threshold. Subject to change, of course.

Here's a thought - blazers have quite a bit of money tied up in Roy- Aldridge- Wallace- Matthews, and with a team option on Andre Miller, which from all reports they would like to decline, we could offer them some financial respite as well as some good young prospects:

Brooks s&t (6m starting) and Lopez for Marcus Camby (expiring) and a pick.

Portland get a capable young starting PG who fits their system a bit better than Miller, as well as another big body (which they never seem to have enough of).

Suns get a huge upgrade at backup C and a pick that they could combine in another trade or possibly use to move up in the draft. Plus, camby is more money off the books next year.

[nevetsov]

Or even try and nab Rudy Fernandez from them..? That's probably just being greedy..

Nash, Dowdell, Rookie PG
Pietrus, Fernandez
Childress, Dudley
Frye, Warrick, Lawal
Gortat, Camby, Siler

[Mac1]

Or even try and nab Rudy Fernandez from them..? That's probably just being greedy..

Nash, Dowdell, Rookie PG
Pietrus, Fernandez
Childress, Dudley
Frye, Warrick, Lawal
Gortat, Camby, Siler

and how is this an improvement?

comon..if thats what we have next year might as well just accept being bottom 4

[nevetsov]

Or even try and nab Rudy Fernandez from them..? That's probably just being greedy..

Nash, Dowdell, Rookie PG
Pietrus, Fernandez
Childress, Dudley
Frye, Warrick, Lawal
Gortat, Camby, Siler

and how is this an improvement?

comon..if thats what we have next year might as well just accept being bottom 4

For starters, there are 4 capable+ defenders in each unit (assuming you switch Gani for Hakim, you have the option of going offensive/ defensive). Nash and Fernandez are the only ones that are considered sub par, but putting Nash alongside Pietrus and Childress masks that to some degree. Same with Fernandez next to Dudley.

Nash has 2 shooters (3 if Chill can improve over the offseason) and a pick and roller in Gortat. Shooters like Dudley and Fernandez would only create more space.

Our centre rotation is solid for 48 mins now, which is a marked improvement on what it currently is.

Our wings would all be young and able to run solid pressure all game, as they would each only be getting 20-30mins per. Keeps them fresh. One injury would not ruin us as they could each step up and play 32mpg.

A young stud PG around pick 10 (our pick plus portlands to move up) would be able to spell Nash on some nights and pick up the slack in practice.

In summary, defense improves, offense can potentially improve too. Plus there is a higher resistance against injury.

I'd love to hear your reasoning for us being bottom 4.

[Mac1]

Or even try and nab Rudy Fernandez from them..? That's probably just being greedy..

Nash, Dowdell, Rookie PG
Pietrus, Fernandez
Childress, Dudley
Frye, Warrick, Lawal
Gortat, Camby, Siler

and how is this an improvement?

comon..if thats what we have next year might as well just accept being bottom 4

For starters, there are 4 capable+ defenders in each unit (assuming you switch Gani for Hakim, you have the option of going offensive/ defensive). Nash and Fernandez are the only ones that are considered sub par, but putting Nash alongside Pietrus and Childress masks that to some degree. Same with Fernandez next to Dudley.

Nash has 2 shooters (3 if Chill can improve over the offseason) and a pick and roller in Gortat. Shooters like Dudley and Fernandez would only create more space.

Our centre rotation is solid for 48 mins now, which is a marked improvement on what it currently is.

Our wings would all be young and able to run solid pressure all game, as they would each only be getting 20-30mins per. Keeps them fresh. One injury would not ruin us as they could each step up and play 32mpg.

A young stud PG around pick 10 (our pick plus portlands to move up) would be able to spell Nash on some nights and pick up the slack in practice.

In summary, defense improves, offense can potentially improve too. Plus there is a higher resistance against injury.

I'd love to hear your reasoning for us being bottom 4.

Pietrus, Fernandez
Childress, Dudley

this...

Perhaps an upgrade here..these guys are all 3 star players..we need someone like Kevin Martin here.

[DRK]

Wheres Hill?

[JohnVancouver]

re the 3-star gang - I see your point in that we have all the pieces to surround an actual star. Now - how do we get one?

Please, no -one bring up "we had one in Amar'e" - that ship sailed over the horizon a long time ago