Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 3

[montestewart]

Man, I'd really like to find a way to turn Gortat into Asik and then extend Asik. I'd love to have our defensive center locked up for the next 5 years so we could then focus on the PF of the future.

Asik is a surely a better defender and probably a better rebounder too, but our offense would take a big hit. Right now i think it is a given that we are going to play out the season with Gortat and then try to resign him. His pick and roll ability really opens up the offense.

Agreed, this team's offense would go back to what it was before - Wall on the fast break and not much else. And Gortat has been solid at times 1-on-1 (remember him against Hibbert a week or two ago), he's just not a great help defender or shot blocker. Maybe we can find an Ibaka-type PF at some point.

But even with Gortat's defensive shortcomings, the starting unit is still playing elite level defense. Would Asik really help so much that it would be worth returning our offense back to the proverbial stone-age? I'd argue the answer is no.

When Gortat's defense looks in the mirror, it doesn't see Vesely's offense. If he's the weakest link defensively in a starting 5, that's not too bad. Wouldn't mind Asik instead, but not without a plan that includes scoring options next to and backing up Asik.

[hands11]

That assumes they have someone to replace Gay with. But yeah, they should get better just by getting Jonny V more touches. Maybe they can trade conferences with Denver. Now they have more pieces to trade for draft choices. Either way, it's a great move by Toronto, imo.

The Raps got 3pts & 8 rebs on 1-15 shooting in 59 minutes b/w Landry Fields and Steve Novak last night.... and won by 12. Unless they play 4 or 5... they've gotten better because Gay was such an ineffective ball stopper.

Not sure how many nights Amir Johnson is going to get 33 points. Plus the Lakers defense under D'Antoni is awful.

Just be glad he didn't land here as HC.

[hands11]

Non-Wizards Lowry trade scenario:

Raptors trade: Lowry
Raptors receive: Waiters

Bulls trade: Deng
Bulls receive: Lowry, Zeller and Clark

Cavs trade: Waiters, Zeller and Clark
Cavs receive: Deng

TRADE ID 6373606

Cleveland gets a starting SF to try to regain some momentum towards the playoffs. Chicago fills a void with Rose out. Toronto gets a young player in return for Lowry.

I heard Bulls are getting Waiters.

[verbal8]

Pondexter out for the season in Memphis. They're already not getting much from Prince at SF and Mike Miller is an injury waiting to happen. Any chance they make a move?

Paging Trevor Ariza...Mr. Grunfeld is holding on line 2

I wonder if they would go for Ariza for Bayless and Ed Davis. Assuming Porter can provide some back-up minutes, that finally gives the Wizards some decent depth. Bayless has struggled this season, but I am inclined to think it is a slump rather than a drop-off in ability. Ed Davis hasn't been getting much playing time, but has produced a decent at a decent rate(for a back-up). I think that Gortat and Nene are good enough offensively that either could play with him.

Another option would be a pick and Prince for Ariza. Might be able to get a 2015 with weak protection since Prince is signed for another year. Unfortunately I don't see the Wizards giving up Ariza for a long-term asset(the pick).

[LyricalRico]

I'd actually want a pick in any Ariza to Memphis scenario. Ariza would be a huge upgrade for them and has an expiring contract, both valuable to a team that's presumably contending for a title.

[miller31time]

Why can't we be the front-runners to sign DJ Augustin after he clears waivers? Damn Bulls....

[verbal8]

Why can't we be the front-runners to sign DJ Augustin after he clears waivers? Damn Bulls....

Maybe it is the opportunity to spend time with the Luv-a-Bulls.

DJ Augustin could easily win the back-up PG position on either team. Teague and Maynor have both done poorly this season. With the Bulls he has a chance to cut into Hinrich's minutes at PG either by outplaying him directly or outplaying the back-up SG and pushing more of Hinrich's minutes there. Also it probably helps that they have the roster spot immediately available.

[mohammed10]

Why can't we be the front-runners to sign DJ Augustin after he clears waivers? Damn Bulls....

It's called playing time...no D-Rose (and Luv-a-Bulls) vs. Verge of breakout John Wall (and the Polish Hammer)

[LyricalRico]

JVG taken off the Knicks broadcast. Is a coaching change in NY imminent?

[montestewart]

JVG taken off the Knicks broadcast. Is a coaching change in NY imminent?

Watch it end up being SVG instead ("We were looking for a wider VG"). But really, that looks like a pretty sucky situation to choose for a return to coaching. If Carmelo Anthony leaves, where are they? No cap room until 2015, no 1sts in 2014 and 2016 and no 2nds from here to eternity.

There's only one person who could possibly team with JVG and build a team that can turn this around. Someone who's been there before, someone who's already built the Knicks into a contender on the fly, someone with more hair on his face than JVG has on his head. Maybe Stern's last act of good will to the Knicks' storied franchise will be to convince Ted Leonsis to let Ernie Grunfeld out of his contract so he and the Knicks can return to glory together.

That would be a storybook ending.

[queridiculo]

What I like about Asik is ability to rebound in traffic (on both ends of the court) and that he scored 10ppg last season with virtually no offense run for him.

His defense and rebounding may not make up for his offensive deficiencies, but at $8.4 million a season Washington would certainly have much greater salary cap flexibility the next two years.

I'd make the deal, heck, with our offensive potential being diminished by this deal we might just barely miss the playoffs.

[hands11]

Man, I'd really like to find a way to turn Gortat into Asik and then extend Asik. I'd love to have our defensive center locked up for the next 5 years so we could then focus on the PF of the future.

Asik is 2.5 years younger, but Gortat is a MUCH better offensive player, and seems to be a great fit as a pick & roll big.

If Houston would trade Asik for Nene, I'd love that deal, and allow Gortat to play PF (on defense).

mhd - agree with that. But, we would need a dynamic SF to act as a 3rd scoring option (I am not looking at you, Otto).

Ding ding ding ding

Its feeling like the right time to make a move to change GMs. They crawled out of the gutter they were in. They added some assets. Now its time to build a long term team.

[hands11]

Man, I'd really like to find a way to turn Gortat into Asik and then extend Asik. I'd love to have our defensive center locked up for the next 5 years so we could then focus on the PF of the future.

Asik is a surely a better defender and probably a better rebounder too, but our offense would take a big hit. Right now i think it is a given that we are going to play out the season with Gortat and then try to resign him. His pick and roll ability really opens up the offense.

Agreed, this team's offense would go back to what it was before - Wall on the fast break and not much else. And Gortat has been solid at times 1-on-1 (remember him against Hibbert a week or two ago), he's just not a great help defender or shot blocker. Maybe we can find an Ibaka-type PF at some point.

But even with Gortat's defensive shortcomings, the starting unit is still playing elite level defense. Would Asik really help so much that it would be worth returning our offense back to the proverbial stone-age? I'd argue the answer is no.

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/playe ... asontype/2

11th in the league at shot blocking in pretty good. But he does drop to 25th per 48 mins. But tied for 10th in blocks per PF.

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/playe ... on/rookies

Here are some rookie that could have helped.

[FAH1223]

Duncan outscored and outrebounded the Bucks starting 5 in 24 minutes. LOL.

[dobrojim]

Why can't we be the front-runners to sign DJ Augustin after he clears waivers? Damn Bulls....

doesn't the opportunity for signing a guy off waivers work in reverse order by team W-L record?

Or is there a disincentive to signing them off waivers as opposed to waiting for them
to clear and become a UFA?

[Nivek]

Augustin is Someone Else, but in scant minutes this season he's been even less productive than Maynor, believe it or not. Last year, he was decently above replacement level, so he's worth a non-guaranteed minimum salary look-see on that basis. But this season, he's done even less with his minutes than either Maynor or Temple.

[closg00]

Malcolm Thomas Could Redefine Stretch-Four Position For Spurs

Malcolm Thomas is showing improved range on his jumper through three games in the D-League this season. Thomas has made 13 of 20 three-point attempts and is averaging 30 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

Thomas was signed by the San Antonio Spurs early this month.

“The early indications are that he’s expanded his skill set and was really shooting the three-ball well,” R.C. Buford said. “That has always been a valuable commodity in our system.”

Thomas has a shot at redefining the stretch-four position for the Spurs if he continues this development.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... -For-Spurs

I could have posted this in the Fire Grunfeld thread also, but I cannot recall the Wizards ever targeting a player like this^ The Spurs are a deep playoff team yet they work tirelessly to uncover potential "finds" like Malcom Thomas. Where are the potential Wizard players who have been scouted and are now playing with our D-League affiliate? Could this potential player be better than Singleton, Vesely, and Maynor? Could this potential player replace Harrington?

[LyricalRico]

LA potentially interested in Gasol to NY for Chandler+Shumpert, but if they're willing to do that I've got a better idea - Gasol for Asik+Lin.

The Lakers were willing to send Gasol to HOU in the CP3 deal that Stern nixed a couple years ago. He's clearly not fitting in with D'Antoni's style and I'm betting a lunch pail type like Asik would work better plus LA desperately needs a PG. They don't care about the balloon payments next year.

For the Rockets, Gasol gives them a guy they can actually run the pick and roll with, plus he'd be happy moving back to his natural PF spot and playing off Howard like he used to play off Bynum. And the move gives HOU some flexibility going into next summer.

[GeeWiz]

LA potentially interested in Gasol to NY for Chandler+Shumpert, but if they're willing to do that I've got a better idea - Gasol for Asik+Lin.

The Lakers were willing to send Gasol to HOU in the CP3 deal that Stern nixed a couple years ago. He's clearly not fitting in with D'Antoni's style and I'm betting a lunch pail type like Asik would work better plus LA desperately needs a PG. They don't care about the balloon payments next year.

For the Rockets, Gasol gives them a guy they can actually run the pick and roll with, plus he'd be happy moving back to his natural PF spot and playing off Howard like he used to play off Bynum. And the move gives HOU some flexibility going into next summer.

It could have just been the system, but given last years results, its safe to say Gasol and D12 will never play together again.


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[LyricalRico]

^ I'd be willing to blame it on the system. I'm sure McHale can figure out how to make it work. And I would think that Gasol wouldn't be opposed to a title run before he goes back to MEM to play with his brother.