Can we get to 50?

[NyCeEvO]

^^As I put in my post, (if MIN was down for it) I'd swap Lopez for Love and see if HBAP+Bogs/Euro Stashes can land us Pau.

Put Pau at the C, where he should be anyway, and have Love run the 4.

But if there's no deal for Love, I wouldn't trade for Pau.

[Paradise]

If we were to get Love, I'd rather go for a Center that defends and rebounds next to him rather than a Gasol addition.

In terms of the record...It is what it is. We should have been a 55 win team actually which is amazing after a 3-13 month if we actually won the last second games against Chicago x2, OKC, NY, Milwaukee, etc.

I predicted a 50-32 record, so I'm happy they were atleast able to come close to that because if you told me we would have Deron with screwed up ankles, Lopez injuring his foot again, Wallace/Johnson having medicore seasons, I would call it a 44-38 season.

[NyCeEvO]

If we were to get Love, I'd rather go for a Center that defends and rebounds next to him rather than a Gasol addition.

I would too but who can realistically get for an HBAP package?

DeAndre Jordan? Maybe but his middling BBIQ worries me. And I'm not sure if leaving Griffin will make him focus more on individual development or if he'll just get worse because he no longer has his close buddy with him.

Also, he's a horrific shooter at the line. If the opposition ever goes hack-a-Jordan and we're forced to take him out of the game during crucial moments, it could negate the very reason why we need him on the team.

Omer Asik? He's a good defensive player, good IQ, better FT shooter than Jordan. He could be good.

Horford? - The only way I see ATL looking to get rid of him is if they lose out on Dwight and really want to clear all major contracts. Other than that, there's no shot.

[Paradise]

I'm not sure we really need a big name center to pair with a Love or Lopez...I honestly wouldn't mind HBAP package for Okafor/Ariza.

[vincecarter4pres]

DeAndre Jordan isn't likely to be available for that package.

I don't mind the idea of Gasol whether paired with Love or with Lopez.

I can dig Okafor with Love, it's one I bandied about in the past.

Maybe Bogut would be available for that but he's such an obvious risk, or more so an inevitable long stint on the DL, you just have to hope he stays in one piece for at least around 55 games, the injuries he suffers aren't of the major reoccurring type and he's healthy when it counts in mid to late spring.

Again Nene is someone I'd really like next to Lopez or Love, but as E has mentioned, man is he honestly becoming such a big question mark.

I've thought about Javale McGee. He's so freaking dumb, but my god is he an athletic monster and adds such a nice element to pair with Deron and Love but even on defense with all his amazing shot blocking prowess he's a legitimately bad defender for the most part.

I'd prefer a young guy with upside but tangible likely instant potential as well though. Of course they don't grow on trees, but who is the next Larry Sanders and does that player's team know it or are they ready to pull the plug early for pick(s), Brooks, Euro(s) and us eating a bad deal with Hump's contract? I completely understand we're win now, but with Love if it happened, he's only what, 25? And more so it's just that with a lot of guys that might be available such as the above, like Gasol, Nene, Bogut, Okafor... or KG... these guys are so old and/or injury prone is there anything better about getting them when they could breakdown or fall off a cliff literally next year a la Gerald Wallace anyway and so be a complete botched deal?

Another name we haven't mentioned though I don't think, well in this thread cause we have in others, Gortat.

[NyCeEvO]

^Gortat expires next year and is cheaper cap hit than Hump.

I didn't include him because (unless PHX values Brooks that much) the deal would make absolutely no sense for them.

[vincecarter4pres]

^Gortat expires next year and is cheaper cap hit than Hump.

I didn't include him because (unless PHX values Brooks that much) the deal would make absolutely no sense for them.

They have a few other bad contracts we could eat and although I think Gortat has some solid value something like Brooks, a pick(s) and Mirza or Bogs is a pretty damn solid package for him or really a number of players. That package really is a reasonably solid value package no matter how much we tongue in cheek bash it.

I'd be hesitant to give all that up for Gortat TBH.

[NyCeEvO]

Gortat would be a nice piece but I just don't think that he's going to be the player that takes us to the next level, regardless of whether he's paired with Lopez or Love.

[NyCeEvO]

DeAndre Jordan isn't likely to be available for that package.

Idk...he's pretty overpaid.

He's making 3yr/$30mil and he only plays 24.4mpg.

There have a lot of rumors that the Clippers were looking to him anyway.

I don't mind the idea of Gasol whether paired with Love or with Lopez.

I can dig Okafor with Love, it's one I bandied about in the past.

Yeah, Gasol or Okafor would be pretty good, but Okafor expires next year as well and is only $2mil over Hump's deal.

Considering the Wiz have Beal, I don't know if they'd really be interested in Brooks.

Maybe Bogut would be available for that but he's such an obvious risk, or more so an inevitable long stint on the DL, you just have to hope he stays in one piece for at least around 55 games, the injuries he suffers aren't of the major reoccurring type and he's healthy when it counts in mid to late spring.

Again Nene is someone I'd really like next to Lopez or Love, but as E has mentioned, man is he honestly becoming such a big question mark.

Not touching Bogut at all. That dude can't stay healthy.

Also, I just read an article in which Nene said that he was contemplating retirement during the season because his injuries were so painful. I don't think it's a wise time to really invest him.

Read this: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-o ... f-the-year


I've thought about Javale McGee. He's so freaking dumb, but my god is he an athletic monster and adds such a nice element to pair with Deron and Love but even on defense with all his amazing shot blocking prowess he's a legitimately bad defender for the most part.

I'd prefer a young guy with upside but tangible likely instant potential as well though. Of course they don't grow on trees, but who is the next Larry Sanders and does that player's team know it or are they ready to pull the plug early for pick(s), Brooks, Euro(s) and us eating a bad deal with Hump's contract? I completely understand we're win now, but with Love if it happened, he's only what, 25? And more so it's just that with a lot of guys that might be available such as the above, like Gasol, Nene, Bogut, Okafor... or KG... these guys are so old and/or injury prone is there anything better about getting them when they could breakdown or fall off a cliff literally next year a la Gerald Wallace anyway and so be a complete botched deal?

Another name we haven't mentioned though I don't think, well in this thread cause we have in others, Gortat.

No to Javale. Denver thought they'd be the team that could change him and right now he can't even beat out Ezeli for the starting C position. For every good thing he does, there's 3-4 negative things he's involved with.

I'd prefer a young guy as well but every team wants a Larry Sanders-esque type of player on a low contract. Players like him are extremely rare to find.

I think the best case scenario for us (if Lopez was traded for Love) would be having Gasol or Okafor. But I think Gasol's value to a team is considerably higher, especially if he's the 3rd or 4th option on the floor. It's only a one year deal anyway.

[enetric]

Here is my list that I could make a case for their teams dealing. Not saying its a "good case" with all of them...just saying its a case.


None of these are as S/T guys as that we wont be able to S/T. But a few of them who are free agents I can see being traded at next years deadline under the heading of buyers remorse. I will indicate next to those guys if I think the qualify

Horford- If dealt I cant see us getting him. Someone with better assets will beat us out.
KG- I know he says he will retire but I can still see it regardless of all that has been said.
Boozer- Bulls seems to think budget all the time. I can see them selling before the bottom drops out.
Javale McGee (barf)- But yes I can see him being dumped
D.Lee- They have a good thing going right now. But they are as small market as it comes.
Pau Gasol- Yes expiring but if the amnesty Kobe I can see a dump coming. Why try to win games?
Nash- If they do Amnesty Kobe I see absolutely no reason to keep Nash
Zach- I can see them still dumping him rather than being on the hook to him for the final 1.5 years.
Monta (buyer's remorse)
Bargnani (barf)- I want no part of him and he screams King's last hope.
Derozan- When they cant deal Bargnani I can see them dealing him
Al Jeff (buyer's remorse)
Millsap (buyer's remorse)


Of all these players the guy I see as most realistic is Gasol. Kobe's injury changes the entire rebuild in 2 years thinking. Why have this payroll? Even their fans will cut them slack if they start thinking for tomorrow. And Gasol's contract for next year is such a mega beast then even expiring I dont see many team lining up to take it on. So picture Kobe gets amnestied or even injured/retirement. Nash is dealt over the summer possibly. And then Kupchak holds King up for Teletovic and Bogdonovic and even a pick! We scream and go nuts...he takes back the least amount of salary he needs to and done.

Basically I am saying that I can see LA dumping anyone they can for future assets and I dont see many teams giving up much in talent for Gasol where I think King would. And honestly? Its a deal I would make. Gasol has enough left to fit right in with us for the next 3 years. He will be good for maybe 2 of those if we are lucky.

And that's about the best I think we can do. And I know some will lament the idea of giving up assets for an older expensive player. But I wouldnt. We are going no where as is. We are a win now team. What little youth we have isnt going to be developed for us. Its the assets to throw into the deal to get us another veteran. That's what we are built to do. Why fight it?

Where would you put Gasol in our rotation?

I would start him at the 4 and I would change the offense to suit the talent we have. There is no reason you cannot thrive with two offensive big men. Pau is a complete guy for as many years as he has left.

I think he makes the most sense for the Hump contract plus prospects. I read plenty of bigs in the last few posts who interest me like Gortat...but that isnt a Hump contract move. Love...no one I could want more but I dont see us getting him this year if ever.

I was specifically looking at ways to use Hump's contract that seem realistic on some level for both sides to me and I wanted a list of players I think could be salary dumped costing less true assets.

[enetric]

So we finished with 49. Indy with 49. The Tuesday game didnt need to be made up because of the loss to Toronto. So close.

I dont want to get into another round of the lack of mental toughness or sense of urgency these guys have...but ARRRRGHGHGGHGH! The Craptors? That is the ONE game they couldnt win?????

OK. Just had to vent...

[MrDollarBills]

I was telling a friend yesterday the same thing. We should at least be a 53-54 win team at WORST.