Kahn: "[Y]ou can assume five or six players will be back."

[jscott]

Barea and Ridnour are both very solid bench players. It might seem redundant to keep both of them but they provide such remarkably different things for the team that I think it's a real asset to have them both as options. Barea provides instant energy and dribble penetration, Ridnour calms things down and is great at knocking down the open J. They are both affordable and very reliable. Barea was a key piece on a championship team and Ridnour just won the sportsmanship award for the year. Unless there's a very good reason to trade one, they should both be back.

This is how I feel.

The only way I look at trading someone is if Malcolm Lee develops into a dribble penetration PG/SG - then Barea becomes slightly more expendable. But for the record I have no problem keeping both of JJ and Luke on this team.

[Narf]

IMHO Rubio, Ridnour and Barea are all better than anyone we've had starting on this team since Cassell other than maybe Sessions (who vastly improved his 3 point shooting after he left). I'd take all of them over Foye and friends though.

I don't have a problem with having 3 solid PGs, especially since Ridnour and Barea are solid combo guards off the bench and play well with Rubio. How many backup SGs are better than Ridnour in the league? Certainly not 30.

Our problem is we don't have a starting SG/SF. But everyone knows that, including Kahn.

[AQuintus]

IMHO Rubio, Ridnour and Barea are all better than anyone we've had starting on this team since Cassell other than maybe Sessions (who vastly improved his 3 point shooting after he left). I'd take all of them over Foye and friends though.

I don't have a problem with having 3 solid PGs, especially since Ridnour and Barea are solid combo guards off the bench and play well with Rubio. How many backup SGs are better than Ridnour in the league? Certainly not 30.

Our problem is we don't have a starting SG/SF. But everyone knows that, including Kahn.

The problem is that there's a total of 96 minutes per game between the PG and SG positions. Rubio should be getting at least 30, and that leaves 66 between the SG (who should also be getting 30+) and Barea and Ridnour. That last 36 or less minutes is just not enough to keep both Ridnour and Barea happy. And that's not even mentioning minutes for Lee or Ellington.

There's also the problem of money. Both Ridnour and Barea are being paid like backups. Having a third stringer, who is playing less than 18 mpg, being paid like a backup doesn't make much sense.

I don't necessarily mind keeping Ridnour and Barea around while Rubio is recovering, but as soon as Rubio is able to play 30+ mpg again, then I don't see any reason to keep a guy talented enough to be a backup somewhere as our third stringer when we could be using him in a trade to upgrade the talent on the wings.

[Klomp]

The problem is that there's a total of 96 minutes per game between the PG and SG positions. Rubio should be getting at least 30, and that leaves 66 between the SG (who should also be getting 30+) and Barea and Ridnour. That last 36 or less minutes is just not enough to keep both Ridnour and Barea happy. And that's not even mentioning minutes for Lee or Ellington.

Barea came here knowing there were two other PGs on the roster ahead of him. If he were to be unhappy about minutes, he never would've signed here.

[The J Rocka]

IMHO Rubio, Ridnour and Barea are all better than anyone we've had starting on this team since Cassell other than maybe Sessions (who vastly improved his 3 point shooting after he left). I'd take all of them over Foye and friends though.

I don't have a problem with having 3 solid PGs, especially since Ridnour and Barea are solid combo guards off the bench and play well with Rubio. How many backup SGs are better than Ridnour in the league? Certainly not 30.

Our problem is we don't have a starting SG/SF. But everyone knows that, including Kahn.

I don't necessarily mind keeping Ridnour and Barea around while Rubio is recovering, but as soon as Rubio is able to play 30+ mpg again, then I don't see any reason to keep a guy talented enough to be a backup somewhere as our third stringer when we could be using him in a trade to upgrade the talent on the wings.

This is pretty much where I stand. Once Rubio is back to full strength and can play +30 mpg, then decide between Barea/Ridnour. Doesn't make sense to pay 8.5 mil for two backups at the same position.

[Vindicater]

Thats fair. I just get the impression far too often that it is not about positional need, and more that people just think either/both suck. Maybe I've just seen too many posts from Vindicator, though.

I don't hate Ridnour.

I just think he is a useless point guard with little to no ability at controlling an offense. That is why I want him gone.

Barea I would be willing to give one more season too as I think injury to both himself and Rubio did not give us enough to see what we really have in him.

In conclusion: Deal Ridnour now while his value is high from inflated numbers due to Rubio leaving.

[dukeknicksirish]

Pek
Love
Williams
Luke
Rubio
----
Barea

Those are 6 for sure...

Do they:
- amnesty Darko
-trade Wes and a pick for somebody else?

[Dewey]

sadly this is a real topic ... frick, we gave tons of minutes to wes, web, and beas and hoped for the best - we got nothing from it other confirmation they all suck more than we even considered at the start.

[Klomp]

Love
Rubio
----------
Pekovic or Williams
Barea
Ridnour
Johnson
Lee
Tolliver

[jade_hippo]

I hate to agree with Klomp on this, but Tolliver will likely be on of the guys, he's got grit, comes cheap and knows his role (and can do his role.) You need guys like that.

[Dan's with the Wolves]

I hate to agree with Klomp on this, but Tolliver will likely be on of the guys, he's got grit, comes cheap and knows his role (and can do his role.) You need guys like that.

Tolliver seemed to be in Adelman's doghouse most of last year

[shangrila]

He could be back, but I doubt he's important enough to be included in Kahn's comment. His hustle didn't add up to much this season and his offence was non-existant. I'd rather try out some other hustle guy from the D League.

[Klomp]

I hate to agree with Klomp on this, but Tolliver will likely be on of the guys, he's got grit, comes cheap and knows his role (and can do his role.) You need guys like that.

Tolliver seemed to be in Adelman's doghouse most of last year

Disagree. He was dealing with a wrist injury most of the year.

[Klomp]

BTW that quote sounds like its 5 or 6 in addition to Rubio/Love, not including Rubio/Love. Adjust your lists accordingly.

Rubio
Love
----------------
Pekovic
Williams
Barea
Ridnour
Lee
Tolliver still TBD

Hmmm, looks like he was right once again...

[dunkonu21]

Yeah, when I think of Klomp it brings to mind the ultimate truth speaker.

[Klomp]

Yeah, when I think of Klomp it brings to mind the ultimate truth speaker.

Well obviously...

[Basti]

Well Klomp says a lot so he has to be right every once in a while

[Vindicater]

Well Klomp says a lot so he has to be right every once in a while

This was the first thing I thought when I read Klomp's post. beat me to it.