2014 Free Agency Thread

[Elden Payton]

Aside from the passing, McBob's best asset is his jumper.

I'm a Monroe fan but he has no range at all.

[Liver_Pooty]

I think Monroe would be like a McBob on steroids, depending on what the going rate for him is, would be worth exploring.

He is terrible on defense, and can't stretch the floor like McRoberts, and isn't as good of a passer. Monroe is a fine player, but he doesn't fit here.

[HornetJail]

I think Monroe would be like a McBob on steroids, depending on what the going rate for him is, would be worth exploring.

Nah. For one thing, he'll probably make 8 figures, plus he'd be a horrific fit with Big Al. No defense, and not good enough offensively to make up for the fact that they play the exact same game, Al just does it five times better.

[Snidely FC]

2 more under the radar good fits:

PJ Tucker, solid 3 & D Raleigh native
& Xavier Henry, showed this yr he can play, still only 22
both would come cheap.

Also, with rumors targeting Carmelo to CHI, CHI will have to ditch Dunleavy to make it happen. Dunleavy hits the market, we should grab him asap, great fit here.

ps Pooty, I'm big on Lance, but I'm just pessimistic we can lure him vying against IND, CHI, LAL, MIA & NYK.

[MasterIchiro]

They already committed 9 million to the SG spot with Henderson and Neal. I don't see them pursuing Lance Stephenson and tacking on a Tyreke Evans contract on top of that. I just can't fathom 20 million for the shooting guard position.

Don't get me wrong - I prefer Lance to any free agent but I think Luol Deng or Evan Turner is far more likely. The difference is, only Turner can cover minutes at two positions and thus why I think Charlotte showed interest at the trade deadline. If their plan is to draft and develop a SG you need a player who can mount a challenge to the young draftee and MKG.

I honestly feel they will keep their PF situation in tact with Zeller emerging and McBob being the glue guy.

I still think our offseason will be Gary Harris + Evan Turner.

[gehenherzog]

2 more under the radar good fits:

PJ Tucker, solid 3 & D Raleigh native
& Xavier Henry, showed this yr he can play, still only 22
both would come cheap.

Also, with rumors targeting Carmelo to CHI, CHI will have to ditch Dunleavy to make it happen. Dunleavy hits the market, we should grab him asap, great fit here.

ps Pooty, I'm big on Lance, but I'm just pessimistic we can lure him vying against IND, CHI, LAL, MIA & NYK.

PJ Tucker would be a good fit here. I think Phoenix resigns him though

[serengeti]

Tucker or Ariza would be good fit here (PJ cheaper). If we don´t select a SF at the draft they would be a good oprtions for this position.

At the PG I think with Kemba + S. Livingston + Pargo would be enough.

At the SG I would sign a new guy at free agent or via draft (Harris?) + Hendo + CDR. Trade Neal.

Them, this is something more sentimetal: For the C Big Al and Biyombo continue + if he accepts a low salary and he´s kinda healthy, Okafor. I would like see him again in Charlotte with a very different role from his previous stage, obviously.

[MasterIchiro]

From Big Al's ESPN radio interview after the Pacers win (transcribed by me):

I hope I open the door to let other free agents out there to understand, to know, coming to Charlotte is not a bad thing. We could come here and do something special, you know regardless if it's small market. There’s great fans here…you know…the Hornets coming back next year…there’s great fans here who want to see great basketball like they used to see back in the 90’s when Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning was here…you know and I just think that it’s time to put Charlotte back on the map…we have a great group of guys here.

Golden.

[JDR720]

From Big Al's ESPN radio interview after the Pacers win (transcribed by me):

I hope I open the door to let other free agents out there to understand, to know, coming to Charlotte is not a bad thing. We could come here and do something special, you know regardless if it's small market. There’s great fans here…you know…the Hornets coming back next year…there’s great fans here who want to see great basketball like they used to see back in the 90’s when Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning was here…you know and I just think that it’s time to put Charlotte back on the map…we have a great group of guys here.

Golden.

AL and Kemba one All-Star (Al) and a border-line AS playing in CHA should attract players maybe not superstars but other borderline All-Stars

[serengeti]

We have to continue building around Kemba-Al-McBob. This guys are the key of this team. When they work the team works too.
I wish McBob opt out and re-sign a new contract with us for more years.
At this point the rest of the players are assets IMO.

[JDR720]

We have to continue building around Kemba-Al-McBob. This guys are the key of this team. When they work the team works too.
I wish McBob opt out and re-sign a new contract with us for more years.
At this point the rest of the players are assets IMO.

replace McBob with MKG, McBob is good and all but he is just a good role player/ low tier starter, MKG has great potential on defense and when his offense improves (mainly gets aggressive consistently) he will probably be our best all-around player with elite/very good defense and average offense in a few years

[BobsBuddy]

Here is BobsBuddy predictions on Free Agency /Playoffs/Draft. All are connected.
1. We will overtake Brooklyn or Washington for this season's sixth seed and beat Toronto in the first round.
2. We then lose in the second round.
3.McBob (PO)will accept more money from another team, opt out, and Zellar will start next season.
4.Detroit will finish the season poorly and keep their top 8 protected pick in 2014. (We get it in 2015.)
5. We then will trade Hendo and Portlands 24th pick to somebody who needs a defensive two guard and move up into the mid/late teens in this years draft. We then pick somebody who can contribute immediately like Gary Harris or PJ Hairston. Neal will remain a backup at 2. JT will recover and Backup MKG at the 3. CDR will leave for more money.
6 .FA Anthony Tolliver will resign with us and may backup Zellar at the 4 along with a Pure PF from Dleague?
8. Atrains contract will be extended and BIZ will be BIZ as always.BWOOD will be bought out and replaced with Dleagurer.
9. Both backup PGs, Ridhour(FA) and Pargo (BO) will be gone and replaced by another veteran FA point Eric Maynor?, and a Rookie PG drafted in 2014 second round. Russ Smith Louisville? Both would make great backups to Kemba.
10. Next Season 48-34 ......3rd in the east....Beat in Conference finals by Indiana

[HornetJail]

:roll: Here is BobsBuddy predictions on Free Agency /Playoffs/Draft. All are connected.
1. We will overtake Brooklyn or Washington for this season's sixth seed and beat Toronto in the first round.
2. We then lose in the second round.
3.McBob (PO)will accept more money from another team, opt out, and Zellar will start next season.
4.Detroit will finish the season poorly and keep their top 8 protected pick in 2014. (We get it in 2015.)
5. We then will trade Hendo and Portlands 24th pick to somebody who needs a defensive two guard and move up into the mid/late teens in this years draft. We then pick somebody who can contribute immediately like Gary Harris or PJ Hairston. Neal will remain a backup at 2. JT will recover and Backup MKG at the 3. CDR will leave for more money.
6 .FA Anthony Tolliver will resign with us and may backup Zellar at the 4 along with a Pure PF from Dleague?
8. Atrains contract will be extended and BIZ will be BIZ as always.BWOOD will be bought out and replaced with Dleagurer.
9. Both backup PGs, Ridhour(FA) and Pargo (BO) will be gone and replaced by another veteran FA point Eric Maynor?, and a Rookie PG drafted in 2014 second round. Russ Smith Louisville? Both would make great backups to Kemba.
10. Next Season 48-34 ......3rd in the east....Beat in Conference finals by Indiana

Not bad. I can see that happening though I'd like to see CDR stick around if Hendo leaves or vice versa.

[MasterIchiro]

Free agency becomes far more of a focus for the front office if the Pistons retain their pick. If this team wants to hit the big time as the Hornets, they will have to woo a big time player.

[Liver_Pooty]

:roll: Here is BobsBuddy predictions on Free Agency /Playoffs/Draft. All are connected.
1. We will overtake Brooklyn or Washington for this season's sixth seed and beat Toronto in the first round.
2. We then lose in the second round.
3.McBob (PO)will accept more money from another team, opt out, and Zellar will start next season.
4.Detroit will finish the season poorly and keep their top 8 protected pick in 2014. (We get it in 2015.)
5. We then will trade Hendo and Portlands 24th pick to somebody who needs a defensive two guard and move up into the mid/late teens in this years draft. We then pick somebody who can contribute immediately like Gary Harris or PJ Hairston. Neal will remain a backup at 2. JT will recover and Backup MKG at the 3. CDR will leave for more money.
6 .FA Anthony Tolliver will resign with us and may backup Zellar at the 4 along with a Pure PF from Dleague?
8. Atrains contract will be extended and BIZ will be BIZ as always.BWOOD will be bought out and replaced with Dleagurer.
9. Both backup PGs, Ridhour(FA) and Pargo (BO) will be gone and replaced by another veteran FA point Eric Maynor?, and a Rookie PG drafted in 2014 second round. Russ Smith Louisville? Both would make great backups to Kemba.
10. Next Season 48-34 ......3rd in the east....Beat in Conference finals by Indiana

Were going to need a very solid free agent signing if were going to get close to 50 games next season, in my opinion.

[Elden Payton]

We need to worry about reaching .500 first.

[BobsBuddy]

I think we will finish this season near .500 and if we don't make the 6th seed we will at least win 2 -3 games in first round. Our coaching staff is good and if we play like we did against Indiana we will get some playoff wins this year.

[serengeti]

For the next season we must continue to develop the winning culture we've done this year.

My roster would be something similar to:

PG: Kemba- Sessions or Livingston- Jannero
SG: G.Harris-PJ.Hairtson-CDR
SF: Ariza-MKG-Tolliver- (Doubt about Jeffery)
PF: McBob-Zeller
C: Big Al- Someone veteran?-Biz

Get rid of Neal, Hendo and Haywood if he can´t play.
With that we would improve the long range shoot (Harris, Hairtson and Ariza). They´re good defenders too.

[yosemiteben]

Come on now - we aren't getting rid of Neal, we just traded for him.

Also think it'll take more than that to take MKG out of the starting lineup.

[Thaliontil]

I don´t think we are adding a SG via draft, but a PF instead. I think it´s easier to find a guy who can score from 3 and give the team 13-16 points per game in the free agency or via trade (Afflalo/Lance Stephenson come to my mind) than someone who is an upgrade over McBob and also gives us the abilities Clifford is looking for (Stretching the floor, shooting the three, good passer). Following this line of thought we would draft a good PF (Living in Spain I can only watch the promises in videos or reading the descriptions in Mock Drafts), resign McRoberts as cheap as we can and then trading/hiring someone better than Hendo at the "2" spot.

Perfect situation would be Stephenson/McBob in Free Agency + a Power Forward in the Draft. Then using Portland´s pick to grab a backup PG (Or even Stephenson could lead the team when Kemba rests)

PG: Kemba-Pargo-Portland´s Pick
SG: Stephenson-Hendo-Neal
SF: MKG-Tolliver
PF: Draft-Zeller-McBob
C: Jefferson-Biyombo.

Another possibility, perhaps more realistic, is seeing Portland´s pick and something else traded to the Magic for Afflalo if Stephenson decides not to come.