What will we need to do to improve next year?

Leor_77 · Post #1 » by **Leor_77** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 6:49 pm

I have my thoughts about this, but am at work. I thought I'd start up a thread anyway to see what you guys think, and will give my opinion on this later tonight after work.

scoobs07 · Post #2 » by **scoobs07** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:42 pm

I think Clipps will try to improve the team as much as possible while holding on to that 2012 pick and maintaining cap flexibility for 2012. Optimistic that there will ateast be half season.
1. Draft day trade? Kaman, Aminu, Bledsoe, 37th pick to Portland for Batum and Camby. Clipps get a talented SF who's perimeter game compliments Blake. Camby would be solid back up and is an expiring.
2. Sign DJ for 5 years/ 50 million. He's a center and will get paid, it is what it is.
3. Clipps need to upgrade the bench. Maybe they could make a front loaded type offer to somebody like Afflalo or JR Smith. Example: JR Smith signs a 5 year deal with 12 million coming the first year with 6 million per year the following 4 years. That's 5 years/36 million, an average of about 7.2 million per year. That beets any other teams MLE offer and gets him big money right away. After this season, Clipps get a dynamic 6th man at a reasonable 6 million per year. Or maybe they will go a more reasonable rout for somebody like Barbosa, 3 years/ 21 million.

DangerCurtis · Post #3 » by **DangerCurtis** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:39 am

scoobs07 wrote:I think Clipps will try to improve the team as much as possible while holding on to that 2012 pick and maintaining cap flexibility for 2012. Optimistic that there will ateast be half season.
1. Draft day trade? Kaman, Aminu, Bledsoe, 37th pick to Portland for Batum and Camby. Clipps get a talented SF who's perimeter game compliments Blake. Camby would be solid back up and is an expiring.
2. Sign DJ for 5 years/ 50 million. He's a center and will get paid, it is what it is.
3. Clipps need to upgrade the bench. Maybe they could make a front loaded type offer to somebody like Afflalo or JR Smith. Example: JR Smith signs a 5 year deal with 12 million coming the first year with 6 million per year the following 4 years. That's 5 years/36 million, an average of about 7.2 million per year. That beets any other teams MLE offer and gets him big money right away. After this season, Clipps get a dynamic 6th man at a reasonable 6 million per year. Or maybe they will go a more reasonable rout for somebody like Barbosa, 3 years/ 21 million.

I approve this. The main pieces are in place for our team. We don't need an extravagent SF to be a consistent playoff bound team. And as the young guns start to grow and improve their game, hopefully it'll translate into an elite team.

While a lot of people have their opinions on the subject, I think it's more important to keep DJ and have him develop into that defensive anchor. I just don't think a scoring center in Kaman is a necessity.

scoobs07 · Post #4 » by **scoobs07** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:01 pm

^ not to get off the subject, but then in 2012 Clipps use the Twolves pick on the best possible point guard or wing player. I haven't had a good look at the prospects, so idk what direction the Clipps will go, but hopefully this player could shoot the ball. Gordan and Batum would be signed to extensions. Maybe Clipps go after Deron and CP3.

Post #5 » by **mkwest** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:13 am

The first thing we need to do is test the waters on Howard, Williams and Paul. Paul may be a little difficult due to the NBA owning the team. The Nets gave up a lot to get Williams, so they may not be eager to part with him. They do run a huge risk of him walking outright if he doesn't extend anytime soon. He has made statements that imply that he would be open to re-upping with them, but I believe that he's going to want to see them make a prior move to improve the team. Howard's decision for his future could very well depend on this series with the Hawks. If the Magic can't get out of the 1st round, then I'm fully expecting him to want out. If we were to make a deal before re-signing DJ, we could absorb a bad contract (e.g. Hedo), and offer them a package of expirings, draft picks and young players for their rebuild. Would they agree? That remains to be seen, but we have to make at least make an attempt.

Aside from that, I'd inquire about some of the usual suspects at SF (Iggy & Granger via trades, Prince & Kirilenko via free agency). I know that many don't like the idea of adding Prince, but I like it if it's a reasonable deal. He has nice size, he can defend, knock down open shots, has experience and is from LA. He's not the star SF that we'd hope could grow and be a key member of our core with Griffin and Gordon, but he's better than anything that we have and would serve as a glue guy with veteran leadership that can help our young players grow. If we don't trade our Minny pick (and the NBA doesn't raise the age limit), then there's going to be a ton of talented small forwards that can fit the bill as our SF of the future.

As far as Kaman goes, I wouldn't be in a huge rush to move him. He's an expiring contract that will be a nice trading chip between now and the deadline. If we're not getting significant enough offers for him, then I'd sit on him and move him when teams are looking to get some value for their impending free-agents (e.g. Howard, Paul, Williams, etc.) or to a team looking to shed long-term salary and willing to move a nice player to do so.