2014 Official FA Thread

[NTB]

The most ideal thing would be to keep Bledsoe, trade for Love, and sign Marion for something reasonable. I'm not a cap nerd so I don't know if all that is possible but I think a starting lineup with Bledsoe, Dragic, Marion, Love, and Frye would be spectacular. Uptempo offense, very strong perimeter defense, all five guys can hit the three, and REBOUNDING.

It would be a Phoenix Suns Basketball dream lineup.

What about frontcourt defense with Love and Frye? And I still think PJ Tucker is better than Marion.

[bigfoot]

And PS, Bledsoe's second year won't be $17m, a max four year for a guy coming off a rookie deal is around $56-58m/4. It's basically what we offered Eric Gordon when NOH matched (adjusted for cap inflation, etc.) so it would be in the order of:

2014-15 $13.5m
2015-16 $14m
2016-17 $14.5m
2017-18 $15.5m

total approximately $57.5m or thereabouts.

Based on 2014 cap estimates by ESPN we will see a $63.2M cap in 2014. If Bledsoe gets a max contract he will get $14.9M in 2014/2015. The following season assuming only a 4% raise he will be at $15.5M. Closer to $16M if the raise is 7%. Also, you can dream that PJ will not be on the roster but the front office has already said they will sign him this summer. He will be on the roster in 2015/2016 because he will get at least a two year deal at numbers similar to Jared Dudley.

Bledsoe $15.5M
Len $3.8M
Goodwin $1.2M
Plumlee $2.1M
PJ Tucker $4.5M
Beasley $0.75M
Dragic Cap Hold $18.75M (250% of his salary)
2014 Rookies $3M
2015 Rookies $3M
Waive rights to Frye, Morri, Green

That's $52.6M tied up in 2015/2016 when Love is available. If Dragic signs for $15M maybe you have enough to bring on Love. Around $17M if the cap was $66M. Teams are going to be throwing $20M at Love.

[BurningHeart]

The most ideal thing would be to keep Bledsoe, trade for Love, and sign Marion for something reasonable. I'm not a cap nerd so I don't know if all that is possible but I think a starting lineup with Bledsoe, Dragic, Marion, Love, and Frye would be spectacular. Uptempo offense, very strong perimeter defense, all five guys can hit the three, and REBOUNDING.

It would be a Phoenix Suns Basketball dream lineup.

What about frontcourt defense with Love and Frye? And I still think PJ Tucker is better than Marion.

I don't care much about frontcourt defense. If I trust the guys on my team to make more of their shots than my opponents, I just want to make sure I don't give the opponents second and third chances. Rebound the ball and hit your shots.

[drewsprocket]

The problem as I see it is that our league has a terrible habit of maxing out mindless chuckers who hero ballhog their way into avg 20+ ppg while shooting 42% fg and we can have NO part in this while having all this money. Melo is playing ball in the wrong era, he's a 90's iso player and doesn't Co-exist with anyone. Pierce is done and has little passion left. Rudy Gay is washed up.

Hayward would be a fine pick, he was forced into playing haphazardly and free balling. Put him into a system like the Suns' and he'll shine.

Deng wouldn't be bad except he is getting old.

[SunsFanSSOL]

The problem as I see it is that our league has a terrible habit of maxing out mindless chuckers who hero ballhog their way into avg 20+ ppg while shooting 42% fg and we can have NO part in this while having all this money. Melo is playing ball in the wrong era, he's a 90's iso player and doesn't Co-exist with anyone. Pierce is done and has little passion left. Rudy Gay is washed up.

Hayward would be a fine pick, he was forced into playing haphazardly and free balling. Put him into a system like the Suns' and he'll shine.

Deng wouldn't be bad except he is getting old.

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

[drewsprocket]

The problem as I see it is that our league has a terrible habit of maxing out mindless chuckers who hero ballhog their way into avg 20+ ppg while shooting 42% fg and we can have NO part in this while having all this money. Melo is playing ball in the wrong era, he's a 90's iso player and doesn't Co-exist with anyone. Pierce is done and has little passion left. Rudy Gay is washed up.

Hayward would be a fine pick, he was forced into playing haphazardly and free balling. Put him into a system like the Suns' and he'll shine.

Deng wouldn't be bad except he is getting old.

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

Yeah, I wouldn't trust him. Too much bad shooting in his career. He gave 55 games of role playing on Sacto -- how, I have no idea he just turned it on but couldn't keep it together even in MEM. Watch, he's gonna get another big contract from someone and hero chuck on a crap team. I'd take him for cheap and build a bonus in his contract that he should not avg more than 12 shots per game.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-r ... principle/

[JMac1]

The problem as I see it is that our league has a terrible habit of maxing out mindless chuckers who hero ballhog their way into avg 20+ ppg while shooting 42% fg and we can have NO part in this while having all this money. Melo is playing ball in the wrong era, he's a 90's iso player and doesn't Co-exist with anyone. Pierce is done and has little passion left. Rudy Gay is washed up.

Hayward would be a fine pick, he was forced into playing haphazardly and free balling. Put him into a system like the Suns' and he'll shine.

Deng wouldn't be bad except he is getting old.

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

Why pick up Gay when you could just draft Hood?

[McStunna]

The problem as I see it is that our league has a terrible habit of maxing out mindless chuckers who hero ballhog their way into avg 20+ ppg while shooting 42% fg and we can have NO part in this while having all this money. Melo is playing ball in the wrong era, he's a 90's iso player and doesn't Co-exist with anyone. Pierce is done and has little passion left. Rudy Gay is washed up.

Hayward would be a fine pick, he was forced into playing haphazardly and free balling. Put him into a system like the Suns' and he'll shine.

Deng wouldn't be bad except he is getting old.

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

Why pick up Gay when you could just draft Hood?

Because they are NOTHING alike? Also Hood will be a bust, he is Wesley Johnson without the ahleticism.

[JMac1]

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

Why pick up Gay when you could just draft Hood?

Because they are NOTHING alike? Also Hood will be a bust, he is Wesley Johnson without the ahleticism.

2014 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Rodney Hood


Position: Small Forward

Size: 6-8, 215

School: Duke, Sophomore
Strengths:
All-around scorer
Smooth outside shot
Three-point range
Step-back jumper
Catch-and-shoot ability
Use of shot fake to create space for jumper
Great touch on pull-up jumpers in the lane
Capable of posting up smaller defenders
Solid athleticism
Can board and lead the break
Ball handling
Slashing ability
Rarely forces the issue
Length helps him defensively and on the boards
Can defend either wing position Weaknesses:
Physicality
Assertiveness, scoring at the rim
Relies too much on his jump shot
Defensive intensity


Summary: Hood has somewhat flown under the radar at Duke because of all the attention Jabari Parker has received, but the Mississippi State transfer will be a lottery pick. The lefty has a smooth, versatile offensive game and great size for the next level. If Hood can continue to get stronger and improve his dribble-drive game, he could be something special at the next level.

Player Comparison: Rudy Gay. Hood and Gay both have terrific perimeter games yet also possess the ability to get to the perimeter. Gay has the prototypical size for a small forward as does Hood. Gay hunts his shots more than Hood does, but I can see Hood being a high double-digit scorer per game at the next level while contributing on the glass as well.

Draft Express has him going #13. So you need to tell everyone he is going to be a bust because you compared him to Wesley Johnson to back-up your unsubstantiated opinion.

[McStunna]

Draft Express has him going #13. So you need to tell everyone he is going to be a bust because you compared him to Wesley Johnson to back-up your unsubstantiated opinion.

Wesley Johnson went #4.

[JMac1]

Draft Express has him going #13. So you need to tell everyone he is going to be a bust because you compared him to Wesley Johnson to back-up your unsubstantiated opinion.

Wesley Johnson went #4.

What does that have to do with who Hood compares to? Michael Olawakandi went no. 1.

[Fo-Real]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddWC_aAK7hk[/youtube]

[Split T]

Hood is nowhere near the athlete that gay is. I think hood ends up like a James jones-Anthony morrow type player. His peak to me is mike miller

[thamadkant]

Draft Express has him going #13. So you need to tell everyone he is going to be a bust because you compared him to Wesley Johnson to back-up your unsubstantiated opinion.

Wesley Johnson went #4.

Slin/Amareca/McStunna

Please elaborate why Wesley Johnson going #4 and your comparison to Hood, out of curiosity.

[Krush32]

The problem as I see it is that our league has a terrible habit of maxing out mindless chuckers who hero ballhog their way into avg 20+ ppg while shooting 42% fg and we can have NO part in this while having all this money. Melo is playing ball in the wrong era, he's a 90's iso player and doesn't Co-exist with anyone. Pierce is done and has little passion left. Rudy Gay is washed up.

Hayward would be a fine pick, he was forced into playing haphazardly and free balling. Put him into a system like the Suns' and he'll shine.

Deng wouldn't be bad except he is getting old.

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

Why pick up Gay when you could just draft Hood?

Cmon man. You cant compare the 2. Gay is a long, athletic, pure scorer. Hood doesnt look like he can get to the rim at all, and just settles for jumpshots. I dont really like Gay but, but they shouldnt be compared especially someone who hasnt even played a game in the nba yet.

[JMac1]

Rudy Gay just had the best shooting season of his carer in Sacramento and he's only 27.

Why pick up Gay when you could just draft Hood?

Cmon man. You cant compare the 2. Gay is a long, athletic, pure scorer. Hood doesnt look like he can get to the rim at all, and just settles for jumpshots. I dont really like Gay but, but they shouldnt be compared especially someone who hasnt even played a game in the nba yet.

That is your right to feel that way. I disagree; and it would be a waste of time to elaborate if after you read his scouting report, you couldn't see SIMILARITIES outside of Ray being a better athlete. How they play the game might be worth considering as well when you compare them... Not "oh, he doesn't jump as high so their styles are not similar."

Jump shooters who use their height to shoot over smaller players. Somewhat limited but decent slashing skills. Decent ball handler who settles for J's, but shoots very well off of the dribble. A good spot up shooter. Can create can does not do it on a consistent basis.

Gosh I swear you guys have not looked at his Draftexpress vid. Or his Miss St. Videos.

[Split T]

Why pick up Gay when you could just draft Hood?

Cmon man. You cant compare the 2. Gay is a long, athletic, pure scorer. Hood doesnt look like he can get to the rim at all, and just settles for jumpshots. I dont really like Gay but, but they shouldnt be compared especially someone who hasnt even played a game in the nba yet.

That is your right to feel that way. I disagree; and it would be a waste of time to elaborate if after you read his scouting report, you couldn't see SIMILARITIES outside of Ray being a better athlete. How they play the game might be worth considering as well when you compare them... Not "oh, he doesn't jump as high so their styles are not similar."

Jump shooters who use their height to shoot over smaller players. Somewhat limited but decent slashing skills. Decent ball handler who settles for J's, but shoots very well off of the dribble. A good spot up shooter. Can create can does not do it on a consistent basis.

Gosh I swear you guys have not looked at his Draftexpress vid. Or his Miss St. Videos.

They do have similar styles, but they also are at two different levels right now. If you watch Rodney hood against college athletes it looks similar to Rudy gay against nba athletes. But go watch a Rudy gay college highlight real and tell me it looks like Rodney hood, cuz the difference in athleticism is much more noticeable. I'm not sold that Rodney hood is gonna be anything but a shooter in the nba. It is his one good nba level skill

[letsgosuns]

I just read this and this would be completely unfair.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nb ... /10252731/

There article mentions that Lebron is interested in playing with Carmelo and that Carmelo could realistically join the Heat next year. A big four of Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Carmelo is just plain stupid. There would no competition in the league. That is like having a team of Jordan, Pippen, Barkley, and Drexler all together in their primes. If all of those players take a pay cut it can actually happen. I really did not think Lebron, Wade, and Bosh would actually end up playing together and they did, so I do not think this scenario is impossible. I think the league might have to step in here and do something about this. That is four fifths of the starting lineup for Team USA playing together. They might as well just hand them the trophy every year they are together before the season even starts. That team would make the league not even fun to watch. It would be a joke.

[Damkac]

Why they need Melo? There is only one ball. Solid center would be much more valuable for them.
It won't happen anyway. Unless Melo is so desperate to win that he will sign for few milions $

[lilfishi22]

Melo is getting desperate. He's the only one in the top 5 draft picks of the historic 2003 draft that hasn't won a ring yet (well, Darko as well but we don't talk about him).