This all assumes we decide to clean house of course. Trade Beasley (S+T) to LA for a future pick + TPE. Let someone else woo their fanbase with Randolph's "potential" and fill our holes with players that actually fit our needs.
In my opinion, our biggest needs are:
#1- A big, athletic, shot blocking combo forward who can start at SF with Love and Pekovic and can also shift to PF in a small ball lineup and create matchup nightmares for the other team (ala Josh Smith, Glass or AK47). Kind of like Tolliver, except...you know...good.
Ideal/attainable player available:
Hey look, AK47 is easily attainable with our cap space. A few players are better...but AK makes Pekovic and Love better by doing what they can't defensively. Plus he'd be reasonably priced.
#2- A starting, competent SG. Preferably one that can shoot the 3 at an elite level and defend the position.
Everyone knows I want C. Lee, but he isn't "attainable" unless we overpay (salary wise) or give up talent to get him. I would absolutely offer C. Lee a contract, but whether Houston matches or not I would offer this deal to New Orleans:
Belinelli (s+t) for Wes Johnson, Brad Miller (800k), Martel Webster (600k), New Orleans 2014 2nd round pick, and $1.5 million cash.
New Orleans basically gets "paid" Wes Johnson and their 2nd round pick back for giving us a chunk of cap space. The S+T is a formality, as we have cap space to sign a Meeks/Belinelli/Green/etc. And there are comparable players to Belinelli available, so Nola doesn't mind prying one of them off and giving them a trial run. But I do think Johnson is worth a look for a rebuilding team like the Hornets, and it's not like they're trying to contend next year. As a side bonus, Wes will help them get a top 5 pick again next year!
P#3- Backup defensive C to put in rotation with Love/Pekovic.
I just want someone with great help defense, tenacity, toughness, and all around solid post D. Asik seems like the best "attainable" option that isn't vastly overpaid. We'll have to trade for him as he's a Gilbert Arenas rule player, but who else is there? Okafor?
#4- A bench SG/SF that can hit the 3 at a high clip, and is generally competent.
Jodie Meeks is high on my list here at backup SG, but I think Philly likes him enough to match just like Houston matches C. Lee. So, as long as we're trading for Asik we could trade for Korver as well.
Something like a $5 mil TPE (from Beasely to the Lakers) for Korver and simultaneously Wayne Ellington + Randolph (s+t) + Utah's pick for Asik. Chicago ends up with a $5 mil TPE, Utah's pick, a cheap backup big and a 3 point shooter making $3 mil less than Korver next year.
More likely they'd want to dump Hamilton on us than Korver. But since we're going with a theme today I went with Korver. Could throw in Memphis's pick if needed to make Chicago happy.
And just to add insult to injury, my favorite vet minimum signing idea is Greg Steimsma, who I've rather liked as a #3 big for a couple years now.
Pekovic/Asik/Steimsma
Love/Williams
AK47/Korver
Belinelli/Lee
Rubio/Ridnour/Barea
Plus whoever we draft in the 2nd round.
