Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 3

[pancakes3]

I don't think it's a sure thing, or anything close to a sure thing that Detroit makes it work next season. However, given the resources and talent they have in Smith/Monroe/Drummond, they owe it to themselves to at least experiment it and finagle the schemes to try and make it work. If it doesn't... well then Dumars comes out looking like a jackass (again).

[Ruzious]

It'll be a dilemma for opposing coaches against Detroit in close games where both Drummond and Smith are playing - which one do you foul intentionally? Drummond for now. But it's comforting to know that at least 1 of them will be available for your fouling pleasure... so to speak.

[pancakes3]

Sticky this for Ruz's observation as it'll inevitably come out of Skip Bayless's mouth sometime around... all star weekend.

[dckingsfan]

Knicks sign Beno Udrih which lets Mike Woodson run his 2 PG sets.

PG: Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni, Beno Udrih
SG: Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF: Carmelo Anthony, Metta World Peace, C.J. Leslie
PF: Andrea Bargnani, Amar'e Stoudemire, Kenyon Martin
C: Tyson Chandler, Jeremy Tyler

I like the Hardaway/Leslie signings. But the Tyler signing has me scratching my head. Having Wallace, Camby and Thomas last year should have helped them more but they couldn't stay healthy. So I think having Bargs and Martin to start the season actually makes them a better team up front than last year.

But Smith played the most minutes last year for NY and with the knee surgeries, my guess is it doesn't happen again this year. The question is, is this the 5th seed in the east?

[hands11]

but in today's NBA are 3 bigs going to be mobile enough to cover the perimeter?

edit to add - is being 3 only going to fuel Smith's enthusiasm for long jumpers
and 3s to the detriment of their team?

[Ruzious]

Sticky this for Ruz's observation as it'll inevitably come out of Skip Bayless's mouth sometime around... all star weekend.

I've been found out as that guy who writes Bayless' material. That is embarrassing.

[dckingsfan]

Orlando

Current Team – Big Baby went down and it didn’t make a difference, this team was never going anywhere. But it is a very young team with several promising rookies. This is the only team involved that didn't get hurt in the Howard deal.

Point Guard: Jameer Nelson is a solid PG. Can he take you to the playoffs? Doubtful. Udrih is not on the payroll next season. So PG depth will be an issue.

Shooting Guard: Arron Affalo played like he was a solid backup SG. Unfortunately, he is the starter. E’Twaun Moore and Doron Lamb have not played well. And sadly for the Magic, they will all be back.

Small Forward: A bright spot for the Magic, Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris have been very solid and look to improve moving forward. Turkoglu will most likely be back as just a cap eating bench warmer or bought out.

Power Forward: Davis has been hurt most of the season as has Al Harrington (knee and staph infection). And that has given Andrew Nicholson a chance to shine. My guess is that he will continue to start next season with Davis and Harrington as the backups – it will be interesting to see how that sits with the veterans.

Center: Nikola Vucevic has been the best part of the Magic. Arguably the best player on the team this year, the second year center has shined as will as his backup Kyle O’Quinn.

Coach: Jacque Vaughn - seems to have the attention of the youngsters. The vets don't seem to have bought in...

Draft Picks – The Magic own the 2nd pick in the draft. I would think a starting PG would be the first order of business but the best PG in the draft pulled out. A starting SG would be need number 2.

Cap Space: $53M in cap space has been allocated. I could see the MLE being used and then being done. With only two slots, that would leave a first round pick and MLE to round out the lineup.

I think they will improve but... I don't see them making the playoffs.

Doesn't look like Orlando will bring Turkuglu back. Only half his '13-14 salary is guaranteed.

According to sources, Orlando had its heart set on Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart until he broke its heart when he decided to stay in college. Ends up with the with the #2 pick. Looking for guards.

No. 2 SG Victor Oladipo, No. 51 PF Romero Osby

Oladipo looked good in summer league - good pick.

They got who they wanted sans Smart. Now the question is can they trade for a solid PG or do they wait until next year (my guess).

This team will continue to improve as the youngsters improve. But they will be deep in the lottery with tons of cap space next year.

PG: Nelson, Price
SG: Afflalo, Oladipo, Moore, Lamb
SF: Harkless, Harris, Turkoglu
PF: Nicholson, Davis, Maxiell, Harrington
C: Vucevic, Quinn

Harrington and Turkoglu are expected to be bought out...

[dckingsfan]

The real question in my mind is do they get lucky? Wiggins, Parker or Smart would be terrific... of course you never know who will surprise in the draft.

[pancakes3]

This is the only team involved that didn't get hurt in the Howard deal.

They got some nice pieces, but I'm sure in a perfect world they'd prefer to have Dwight.

[dckingsfan]

This is the only team involved that didn't get hurt in the Howard deal.

They got some nice pieces, but I'm sure in a perfect world they'd prefer to have Dwight.

Yep, no question... but I think that LA and Philly got the worst of it

If they get lucky in the lottery, they will be 2 for 2 following their loss of Shaq/Howard - fixed.

[dckingsfan]

I am also not sure the last day the Magic can waive Turkoglu - only $6M is guaranteed.

[Ruzious]

Nice write-up of Orlando there. All the stats guys who don't watch games LOVE Vucevic, and he is a good player, But I'm not sure there's a big man in the NBA with worse feet on defense. So, when Orlando finishes with maybe 30 wins, I'm sure they'll come up with a bunch of other reasons.

[closg00]

“My knee’s good,” said Oden. “I’m able to walk, jump, run. ... It’s been a while. It’s been a long road. ... Igot an old body. My body is not going to be what it was when I was 18. When I was 18, I was able to run all day and jump over people. I can’t do that now. It’s just not going to happen. But I’m going to play as hard as I can and I’m going to try to jump over people and I’m going to try to run all day. If my body lets me, I’ll do it.”

Well this^ certainly wouldn't inspire confidence if I were a Heat fan

[dckingsfan]

Nice write-up of Orlando there. All the stats guys who don't watch games LOVE Vucevic, and he is a good player, But I'm not sure there's a big man in the NBA with worse feet on defense. So, when Orlando finishes with maybe 30 wins, I'm sure they'll come up with a bunch of other reasons.

Add to that he still isn't used to the speed of the NBA game and the year before he used to bring his hands down on the offensive player -- causing him to foul at a high rate as well. Now he is more of a torro defender that tries to get defensive rebounds. But he is never going to be a "good" defender. But... he has certainly made more progress that Vesely or Singleton (drafted in the same year).

My real question with Orlando is - will they finish low enough to get a top 3 pick (or have a shot) and will their youngsters make good progress like last year.

Last year they won 20 games and only added Victor Oladipo - do you think they could jump to 30 wins?

[Ruzious]

Nice write-up of Orlando there. All the stats guys who don't watch games LOVE Vucevic, and he is a good player, But I'm not sure there's a big man in the NBA with worse feet on defense. So, when Orlando finishes with maybe 30 wins, I'm sure they'll come up with a bunch of other reasons.

Add to that he still isn't used to the speed of the NBA game and the year before he used to bring his hands down on the offensive player -- causing him to foul at a high rate as well. Now he is more of a torro defender that tries to get defensive rebounds. But he is never going to be a "good" defender. But... he has certainly made more progress that Vesely or Singleton (drafted in the same year).

My real question with Orlando is - will they finish low enough to get a top 3 pick (or have a shot) and will their youngsters make good progress like last year.

Last year they won 20 games and only added Victor Oladipo - do you think they could jump to 30 wins?

I'm a huge Oladipo fan, and they did get Harris at around the trade deadline - he and Harkless were essentially rookies - not to mention the 2 young PF's - who I both liked, so I think there are a lot of reasons to expect significant improvement.

[dckingsfan]

Nice write-up of Orlando there. All the stats guys who don't watch games LOVE Vucevic, and he is a good player, But I'm not sure there's a big man in the NBA with worse feet on defense. So, when Orlando finishes with maybe 30 wins, I'm sure they'll come up with a bunch of other reasons.

Add to that he still isn't used to the speed of the NBA game and the year before he used to bring his hands down on the offensive player -- causing him to foul at a high rate as well. Now he is more of a torro defender that tries to get defensive rebounds. But he is never going to be a "good" defender. But... he has certainly made more progress that Vesely or Singleton (drafted in the same year).

My real question with Orlando is - will they finish low enough to get a top 3 pick (or have a shot) and will their youngsters make good progress like last year.

Last year they won 20 games and only added Victor Oladipo - do you think they could jump to 30 wins?

I'm a huge Oladipo fan, and they did get Harris at around the trade deadline - he and Harkless were essentially rookies - not to mention the 2 young PF's - who I both liked, so I think there are a lot of reasons to expect significant improvement.

Agreed, I think they will all improve (even Vucevic ) but I am not sure it will translate to wins. Especially if Vaughn stays committed to the youngsters. They are the most puzzling team to me in the east other than Detroit.

[closg00]

Flip Saunders never learns, this time with public threats to send Shabazz to the D_League.

“In our league, you have to be disciplined and being ‘disciplined’ is being able to adhere to whatever rules are given and you gotta abide by the rules,” Saunders said on the local radio host’s show. “So that’s been disappointing. But when I talk to him, he’s either gonna learn the rules and learn to abide by things with the big boys or he’s gonna really quick learn a geography class: where Des Moines is in the NBDL down in Iowa.”

http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/10/timbe ... nba_t2_a10

What Flip said was of-course true, but why start-out a relationship with an org with a public call-out? Flip Saunders will never be a diplomat.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If Flip were a Transformer, his nickname would be Negatore. If he were the coach of Minnesota it would only be a matter of time before over half the team wants a trade.

[fishercob]

[Dat2U]

Flip Saunders never learns, this time with public threats to send Shabazz to the D_League.

“In our league, you have to be disciplined and being ‘disciplined’ is being able to adhere to whatever rules are given and you gotta abide by the rules,” Saunders said on the local radio host’s show. “So that’s been disappointing. But when I talk to him, he’s either gonna learn the rules and learn to abide by things with the big boys or he’s gonna really quick learn a geography class: where Des Moines is in the NBDL down in Iowa.”

http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/10/timbe ... nba_t2_a10

What Flip said was of-course true, but why start-out a relationship with an org with a public call-out? Flip Saunders will never be a diplomat.

Crazy thing is, I didn't see any references by Flip on how Kevin Garnett handled his rookie year.