Discussing Other Teams' Moves

pancakes3 · Post #341 » by **pancakes3** » Wed Dec 7, 2011 9:40 pm

and the amnesty axe whacks... Richard jefferson.

mhd · Post #342 » by **mhd** » Wed Dec 7, 2011 11:02 pm

NO should take the Clippers offer IMO (Kaman+Bledsoe+Aminu+Minny pick). That Minny pick will be in the 4-7 range. Add their own pick, and Aminu+Bledsoe, that is a good package for damaged goods (IMO) CP3. Say NO follows that up with my McGee trade, then their lineup is:

PG: Bledsoe/
SG: Ariza/Bellinelli
SF: Aminu/Pondexter
PF: Anderson/Ewing
C: McGee/Kaman

Say they get Anthony Davis+Brad Beal in the draft, they have a very bright promising future with no longterm cap space. Trade Kaman to a team for anything useful, and you are on your way.

Post #343 » by **LyricalRico** » Wed Dec 7, 2011 11:14 pm

^ But is that better than Curry+Thompson+Udoh? I don't think it is. Sure, they'll have to pay Curry sooner rather than later, but at least he's a stud. At this point, I'm expecting Paul to go to GSW unless LAC give up Eric Gordon.

That would then leave Dwight Howard to go to the Lakers soon after.

closg00 · Post #344 » by **closg00** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 11:09 am

Let's hope that Nene doesn't end-up with the Pacers, the East would really be a slug-fest with us looking up from the bottom.

verbal8 · Post #345 » by **verbal8** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 11:40 am

closg00 wrote:Let's hope that Nene doesn't end-up with the Pacers, the East would really be a slug-fest with us looking up from the bottom.

With Nene they look a lot like the Blazers team before the terrible injury luck. I think to be truly scary, they would need to make a blockbuster consolidation trade.

closg00 · Post #346 » by **closg00** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 12:54 pm

verbal8 wrote:
closg00 wrote:Let's hope that Nene doesn't end-up with the Pacers, the East would really be a slug-fest with us looking up from the bottom.

With Nene they look a lot like the Blazers team before the terrible injury luck. I think to be truly scary, they would need to make a blockbuster consolidation trade.

Per the Tap, the Pacers are trying to get Nene to accept less $$ so they can land one more big FA. A Nene /Hibbert front-court would be one of the best in the East. The Pacers really gave the Bulls a good run last year.

Post #347 » by **Ruzious** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 1:05 pm

LyricalRico wrote:^ But is that better than Curry+Thompson+Udoh? I don't think it is. Sure, they'll have to pay Curry sooner rather than later, but at least he's a stud. At this point, I'm expecting Paul to go to GSW unless LAC give up Eric Gordon.

That would then leave Dwight Howard to go to the Lakers soon after.

You do that if you're GS, because you want to win rather than lose. It's not just that Paul is a much better player - which he is - but he can attract great free agents.

Post #348 » by **Ruzious** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 1:09 pm

Ruzious wrote:
LyricalRico wrote:^ But is that better than Curry+Thompson+Udoh? I don't think it is. Sure, they'll have to pay Curry sooner rather than later, but at least he's a stud. At this point, I'm expecting Paul to go to GSW unless LAC give up Eric Gordon.

That would then leave Dwight Howard to go to the Lakers soon after.

You do that if you're GS, because you want to win rather than lose. It's not just that Paul is a much better player - which he is - but he can attract great free agents.

That'd be a great move by Indy. Both Nene and Hibbert are most effective near the hoop at both ends, but both can step out and hit the 15 footer, and Nene is quick enough to defend PF's.

Post #349 » by **nate33** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 1:23 pm

Bill Ingrim of Hoops World wrote:First of all, forget Dwight signing a contract extension this season. The Magic could add Chris Paul, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and Dwight would still not sign an extension, not because he doesn’t want to be in Orlando, but because under the new collective bargaining agreement it would be a horribly bad business decision.

The new CBA allows veteran players to extend their deal to a maximum of four years, meaning at no time can your extension push you past four guaranteed years. Dwight has two more years on his contract with the Magic, with an option coming this summer. As of today, Dwight can only sign a two-year extension with the Magic, as this season and next would count towards the four allowed. Next summer Dwight (and Chris Paul and Deron Williams) could opt out and sign a new contract for five years. BY waiting until July, Dwight can sign for two more years than he can sign for now.

So there will be no extension for Dwight.

Interesting.

So with an extension off the table, it is pretty unlikely that anybody will trade the pieces necessary to acquire Howard if they have no assurances that he'll stay. It looks like Howard will stay with the Magic until next summer.

That's perfect for us. By next summer, we'll have one of the best rebuilding trade packages available with our 2012 lotto pick, McGee, plus any of our current young players (Crawford, Vesely, etc.). All we need to do is convince Howard that Washington is a place where he can win. That pretty much boils down to John Wall. If John Wall pulls a Derrick Rose and starts looking like one of the league's best players this year, Howard will consider it.

fishercob · Post #350 » by **fishercob** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 2:28 pm

Excellent observation, nate. As a side note, this strikes me as a completely idiotic consequence of the new CBA that makes it **harder** for teams to retain their own guys. Top tier FA's have no choice but to opt out if they want to maximize their value. I really hope we've got a good team around Wall when his time comes.

As to Howard, yes, I think this puts us further into the mix. I know DC isn't LA, but Dwight need look no further than Alex Ovechkin and his reach as an international superstar (he literally has endorsements all over the planet) to see that he won't be limited here.

Post #351 » by **Rafael122** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 2:38 pm

And Dwight is a lot more charismatic as well. I just wouldn't count us out yet either. I'm a homer, sure, but John Wall/D12 combo and we have additional young pieces, plus cap room...

fishercob · Post #352 » by **fishercob** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 2:49 pm

Ugh, Battier reportedly joining the Heat. Great signing.

GhostsOfGil · Post #353 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 3:48 pm

fishercob wrote:Ugh, Battier reportedly joining the Heat. Great signing.

ya... the heat are gonna be one hell of a defensive team

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #354 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 4:18 pm

Greg Oden IMO would be wise to not return to Portland, but instead go to the Heat.

Oden could be injured 50 games a season and still wind up winning multiple rings with the Heat.

IMO they win it all, with ease now with Battier and any decent defensive C.

GhostsOfGil · Post #355 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 5:23 pm

looks like eddy curry will sign with the heat as well.

Illuminaire · Post #356 » by **Illuminaire** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 5:29 pm

Battier is good for the Heat, but I don't see it as a crazy good signing. He plays best at the two positions where they have possibly the best players in the entire league. His third best position happens to coincide with the Heat's best non-big3 player, Haslem.

So... he's kind of a redundant piece, honestly. He makes them deeper, but I don't know if he makes them better unless they get really creative with the lineup - like having Wade and Lebron alternate at PG/SG.

verbal8 · Post #357 » by **verbal8** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 5:36 pm

Illuminaire wrote:Battier is good for the Heat, but I don't see it as a crazy good signing. He plays best at the two positions where they have possibly the best players in the entire league. His third best position happens to coincide with the Heat's best non-big3 player, Haslem.

So... he's kind of a redundant piece, honestly. He makes them deeper, but I don't know if he makes them better unless they get really creative with the lineup - like having Wade and Lebron alternate at PG/SG.

If they signed a Center as good as Battier, it would be pretty hard for anyone else to win a championship. But Battier was pretty much the next best thing. He gives them a guy who can let them rest 2 of the stars with out a big defensive drop-off.

fishercob · Post #358 » by **fishercob** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 5:48 pm

Illuminaire wrote:Battier is good for the Heat, but I don't see it as a crazy good signing. He plays best at the two positions where they have possibly the best players in the entire league. His third best position happens to coincide with the Heat's best non-big3 player, Haslem.

So... he's kind of a redundant piece, honestly. He makes them deeper, but I don't know if he makes them better unless they get really creative with the lineup - like having Wade and Lebron alternate at PG/SG.

All good points, and they are still weakest at point guard and center -- which helps our Dwight sales pitch in a roundabout way. Convince Dwight that his best chance at beating Miami is joining up with a dominant PG.

Post #359 » by **montestewart** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 6:01 pm

Illuminaire wrote:Battier is good for the Heat, but I don't see it as a crazy good signing. He plays best at the two positions where they have possibly the best players in the entire league. His third best position happens to coincide with the Heat's best non-big3 player, Haslem.

So... he's kind of a redundant piece, honestly. He makes them deeper, but I don't know if he makes them better unless they get really creative with the lineup - like having Wade and Lebron alternate at PG/SG.

From what I saw, their weakness at PG hardly hurt them more than it did the Jordan Bulls. Their two primary weapons and primary initiators are decent handlers and passers, and they really just need competent, know-your-role PGs. What they really need is outside shooting and interior defense. Battier could help with the shooting, as well as depth, much as Miller was intended to do (maybe Miller's expendable now?). A solid post defender will really help. A solid post scorer helps that much more.

Illuminaire · Post #360 » by **Illuminaire** » Thu Dec 8, 2011 6:11 pm

Yes, Battier lets them rest their best two guys more often. That's good for the regular season.

Come playoff time, I think he does make them better... but it's by hairs. It's not the end of the world. Honestly, Lebron's odd tendency to fade into passivity and stop attacking during the end of big playoff series is a much more important piece to their championship puzzle.