FAs created by Amnesty?

jowglenn · Post #1 » by **jowglenn** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:43 am

Bill Simmons has a nice article on his site http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7026680/welcome-amnesty-20-nba about what players various teams should or would amnesty if there is, in fact, an amnest clause included in the new labor agreement.

The amnesty clause essentially allows teams to buy out the contract of a player at full price, and that player's salary no longer counts against the cap.

In many ways, this sucks for Indiana - we have actual cap space. Now these other teams will have all this extra cap space from amnestying the rashard lewises, etc, of the world, and will be able to sign FAs that we should have gotten. This could also drive up the price a bit of some FAs.

On the other hand, it opens up some players for us to sign as Free Agents who would not have been free agents otherwise. Their salaries would be set by the market.

Anyone see any on the list here that they'd be interesting in signing?

I really like the following:

Emeka Okafor - If New Orleans amnestied him (possible, though more likely they amnesty Ariza) he'd be perfect in our frontcourt rotation.

Elton Brand - It's possible Philly amnesties him. He quietly put together a decent season last year, and would be a great player for us.

Memo Okur - could be a nice 3rd big for a temporary time, until we find a more permanent solution.

Brandon Roy - Guy used to be a star... could be worth the risk.

Darko - if Minny amnestied him, he could be a decentish third big, and not too expensive (like okafor would be)

Moooose · Post #2 » by **Moooose** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:44 pm

I'd like to have either Okafor or Brand. We need to guys to play alongside Hibbert.

Post #3 » by **Miller4ever** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:03 pm

Brand used to be David West with more rebounding and defense. However, Okafor would be more ideal next to Hibbert. The name that I like the most out of all of these is Roy. I know he's had injury issues and it's very possible that he won't be able to play basketball ever again. I imagine many other teams are willing to take that risk.

Moooose · Post #4 » by **Moooose** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:08 pm

^ Brand was a tougher David West, plus he can play 5.
Okafor, yeah, someone like him would be the most ideal frontcourt help we need.
Roy, hmmm. i'd like him if he can come in with a decent, shorter contract, and if he passes the medical..
I think we're fine at the wings with George as the starting 2. We actually have a good depth at the wing position. It's the 4 and 5 positions that need reinforcing.

Post #5 » by **Miller4ever** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:03 pm

Brand is pretty much all PF. He's like 6-8. George is also a wing, and should be taking all of the backup SF minutes, about 12-15 a game, plus time at the 2 with at least 20 minutes there. Hill should take all of the backup PG minutes and some minutes at the 2. Roy would start off in that 10-15 minutes slice at SG, ahead of Rush and Jones, and if he's actually still good, then we can let George develop more.

Post #6 » by **mizzoupacers** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:32 pm

Okafor looks like the best fit to me. We need frontcourt defense. I think he could give us that, especially if they kept his minutes in check.

Agreed that amnesty would/will work against the Pacers. Dumping the last year of Posey's contract is far less help to us than the help an amnesty would provide to other teams.

Would any of you guys do the Posey/George for Rudy Gay swap that Simmons floats for Memphis? Not sure I would want to do that, even getting Rudy Gay at a discount--I really like Paul George.

Post #7 » by **Miller4ever** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:41 pm

Yeah, and that would also mean we have to get rid of one of Granger or Gay.

chube · Post #8 » by **chube** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 11:08 pm

Rudy Gay is a great player but he got a pretty big contract and has had his share of injury woes. The downside to him is that he is pretty much pigeonholed into the 3 spot, as is Danny Granger (unless we have to go small out of desperation/necessity and he plays the 4.) Plus, like you, I really like George's upside and versatility.

I would love if the amnesty clause could deliver us Okafor. He's basically a quicker, bigger Nene, who most of us can agree would be a great fit for us.

Okur would be a nice backup big as long as he was cheap. In recent years, neither he nor Jeff Foster have managed to stay healthy a full season. If we signed Okur, we could not only split the Hibbs' backups' minutes, but they would give us a nice 1-2 punch at the backup 5 - Foster for physicality, Okur to stretch the floor with his perimeter shooting.

Darko? Meh. I'd rather take a stab at one of our overseas bigs.

Brand? If we was worth the price, maybe. Between injuries and age, not a fan.

Brandon Roy? Only if he was willing to take a nice cut in minutes and salary. With guys like him, Danny, Paul, Dahntay, George Hill, and Brandon Rush (somewhat) all deserving of minutes at the 2/3 each bringing something fairly unique to the roster, he'd have to make some sacrifices.

Which brings me to the point where I agree with Moooose. Concentrate on the 4/5 depth first and foremost, then work on the rest of the roster. Honestly, if we could get that figured out, our roster would be pretty set. The only holes are the backup 4's and 5's. The wings and such would be upgrades.