2014 Free Agency Thread

[LamarMatic7]

He's strictly a C because that's the only position he can really defend.

And even that sentence sounds funny enough.

[mrknowitall215]

He's strictly a C because that's the only position he can really defend.

And even that sentence sounds funny enough.

Exactly. Hawes isn't a complete player, defensively lacking, but he has game, and that's why he's more of a change of pace type that should come off the bench with a leash instead of a player that you'd entrust with critical minutes as a starter

[Cheeze]

Good list. I advocated for Raldolph, Frye and Meeks in another thread. Raldolph, I think, is working on a new deal with the Grizzlies. I like Blake (always have) and CDR for what they bring to a second unit. I'm probably in the minority in not wanting McRoberts back. Hawes would be a good pickup.

Overall, with the exception of Stephenson, Gasol, Bosh and the two forwards who are out of reach, I see mostly reserves (just say NO to Monroe). And that's probably what the Hornets should be looking for in free agency...assuming, that is, that they keep Henderson and arrange a new contract for McRoberts (or he opts-in, unlikely).

I'm in the minority with you in trying to find a upgrade to McRoberts rather than just re-signing him as if he's a surefire starter at PF

I would like for the Hornets to look into signing Spencer Hawes as well, but he's not a PF. He's strictly a C because that's the only position he can really defend. The only thing I dislike about a possible Hawes signing is that it would take minutes away from Biyombo, because I'm sure Clifford will value Hawes ability to stretch the floor and pass more than Biyombo's ability to protect the rim, defend the pick-and-roll, and set screens, but if he was more flexible with rotations it could work

I wonder about that. Biyombo and Hawes can share the same floor since they would, theoretically, occupy different parts of it.

Steve frustrated me with his lack of rotation flexibility, but I can't fault him for sticking with that coaching ethic. Consistency in playing time is a core love of players and it's proven to be effective if used correctly. All want to play as much as they can. And of course match-ups can dictate playing time. But players prepare for a season where they have an idea of when and how much they're going to play. Depart from that too much and a coach can quickly lose a locker room.

If Hawes was added this summer and had time to work with Biyombo on the second team, I believe they could work together. I don't see them as rotation players, but as platoons - always playing together. The Hornets need a backup to Big Al and Biz ain't it. Biz works better coupled with a space-creating big.

[mrknowitall215]

Good list. I advocated for Raldolph, Frye and Meeks in another thread. Raldolph, I think, is working on a new deal with the Grizzlies. I like Blake (always have) and CDR for what they bring to a second unit. I'm probably in the minority in not wanting McRoberts back. Hawes would be a good pickup.

Overall, with the exception of Stephenson, Gasol, Bosh and the two forwards who are out of reach, I see mostly reserves (just say NO to Monroe). And that's probably what the Hornets should be looking for in free agency...assuming, that is, that they keep Henderson and arrange a new contract for McRoberts (or he opts-in, unlikely).

I'm in the minority with you in trying to find a upgrade to McRoberts rather than just re-signing him as if he's a surefire starter at PF

I would like for the Hornets to look into signing Spencer Hawes as well, but he's not a PF. He's strictly a C because that's the only position he can really defend. The only thing I dislike about a possible Hawes signing is that it would take minutes away from Biyombo, because I'm sure Clifford will value Hawes ability to stretch the floor and pass more than Biyombo's ability to protect the rim, defend the pick-and-roll, and set screens, but if he was more flexible with rotations it could work

I wonder about that. Biyombo and Hawes can share the same floor since they would, theoretically, occupy different parts of it.

Steve frustrated me with his lack of rotation flexibility, but I can't fault him for sticking with that coaching ethic. Consistency in playing time is a core love of players and it's proven to be effective if used correctly. All want to play as much as they can. And of course match-ups can dictate playing time. But players prepare for a season where they have an idea of when and how much they're going to play. Depart from that too much and a coach can quickly lose a locker room.

If Hawes was added this summer and had time to work with Biyombo on the second team, I believe they could work together. I don't see them as rotation players, but as platoons - always playing together. The Hornets need a backup to Big Al and Biz ain't it. Biz works better coupled with a space-creating big.

I agree that Biyombo and Hawes could compliment each other well in a 2nd unit

Regarding the red underlined part, "a space-creating big" is what Zeller is/was supposed to be

[BeesWax]

If he is being paired with Biz then he is most likely stealing Zeller's minutes as a backup. If we replace McRoberts we need to find a starter or if we do sign a new backup we need to move one of Zeller or Biz.

[Charlotte_____]

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/ ... 2990794753

[yosemiteben]

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/479004702990794753

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/479004702990794753[/tweet]
Chad Buchanan is director of college scouting for the Blazers.

[MasterIchiro]

Great sign. The Blazers rely heavily on 3pt shooting, so Stauskas/McDermott over Harris.

[JDR720]

he worked for Cho when he as the Blazers GM

[JDR720]

It has been nearly a full year since Blazers owner Paul Allen fired Rich Cho as general manager, after just 10 months on the job. Chad Buchanan, the team's director of college scouting, was named acting general manager after Cho's dismissal and has been in the role ever since.

Buchanan, who is in his eighth season with the franchise, also served as co-GM with director of NBA scouting Mike Born prior to Cho's hiring, playing a key role in the signing of guard Wesley Matthews in July of 2010.
In his first move as acting general manager last summer, Buchanan selected Duke guard Nolan Smith with the 21st pick in the 2011 NBA draft, while also trading away veteran Andre Miller (along with Rudy Fernandez) for Raymond Felton.At the time, Buchanan felt the team was getting the point guard of the future in Felton, and a versatile backup in Smith. In making the trade, the Blazers also made an agreement with the Denver Nuggets not to select Morehead State forward Kenneth Faried -- the NCAA's leading rebounder.

As the season slipped away, and the playoffs fell further out of reach, Buchanan orchestrated the trades of Gerald Wallace (and his $11 million player option for 2012-13) to New Jersey for a lottery pick in the upcoming draft; Marcus Camby for the expiring contracts of Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet and a second round draft pick.

The moves gave Portland salary cap room (upwards of $20 million) and mutiple draft picks to bolster the rebuilding process. The roster changes were not complete following the trade deadline as the Blazers also picked up forward J.J. Hickson, swiftly claiming him off of waivers and giving Portland the ability to make him a restricted free agent. Hickson averaged 15.1 points (on a team-best 54.3 percent shooting) and 8.3 rebounds in 19 games with Portland.


http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index ... -2012.html

[vorbis]

i think you can levy legitimate skepticism with Buchanan's record with Portland, but nowadays the moves the Hornets are making at least seem parts of a cohesive strategy. it's a refreshing difference from years past. if Cho really can be a challenge to work with, getting someone who worked with him in the past and has a versatile array of skills (stole a line from my resumé there) makes a lot of sense.

[TheKingofSting2]

So he is responsible for Lillard? I like this guy already, maybe he will have the ability to tell Cho that it is time to reboot the computer or at least the ability to where Cho will listen to him if he has a different opinion or a different favorite prospect than Cho.

[yosemiteben]

Remember, we're all pretending like Nolan Smith never happened...

[mrknowitall215]

Uh oh, Charlotte is about to hire the guy that traded Andre Miller away for Raymond Felton, and then drafted Nolan Smith in the 1st round less than 3 years (who's no longer in the NBA), while making a agreement with the Nuggets 'not' to draft Kenneth Faried...

...whoopty doo

[countryboi]

Uh oh, Charlotte is about to hire the guy that traded Andre Miller away for Raymond Felton, and then drafted Nolan Smith in the 1st round less than 3 years (who's no longer in the NBA), while making a agreement with the Nuggets 'not' to draft Kenneth Faried...

...whoopty doo

he also helped draft LMA, Roy, Batum and Lillard...its some good and some bad

[mrknowitall215]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/KButter5/status/479650221199458304[/tweet]

I wouldn't mind him as a cheap alternative at backup PG if all of the money is spent elsewhere

[HornetJail]

Uh oh, Charlotte is about to hire the guy that traded Andre Miller away for Raymond Felton, and then drafted Nolan Smith in the 1st round less than 3 years (who's no longer in the NBA), while making a agreement with the Nuggets 'not' to draft Kenneth Faried...

...whoopty doo

He also traded Gerald Wallace for Damian Lillard

[mrknowitall215]

Uh oh, Charlotte is about to hire the guy that traded Andre Miller away for Raymond Felton, and then drafted Nolan Smith in the 1st round less than 3 years (who's no longer in the NBA), while making a agreement with the Nuggets 'not' to draft Kenneth Faried...

...whoopty doo

He also traded Gerald Wallace for Damian Lillard

Not essentially, but if we wanted to use revisionist theory after a series of fortunate events then I guess we can give him a lot of credit for that

What ever happened to that GM that traded Mo Williams for Kyrie Irving (and Baron Davis)?

[HornetJail]

Chad Buchanan Interviews in Charlotte: Why You Should Care

2004

Sebastian Telfair – 13th overall
Sergei Monia – 23rd overall
Ha Seung-Jin – 46th overall
2005

Martell Webster – 6th overall
Linas Kleiza – 27th overall (traded with Ricky Sanchez for Jarrett Jack)
Ricky Sanchez – 35th overall (traded with Linas Kleiza for Jarrett Jack)
2006

Tyrus Thomas – 4th overall (traded for LaMarcus Aldridge)
Joel Freeland – 30th overall
James White – 31st overall (traded for Alexander Johnson and two future second-rounders)
*We’ll get to the Randy Foye for Brandon Roy trade a little later
2007

Greg Oden – 1st overall
Josh McRoberts – 37th overall
Derrick Byars – 42nd overall (traded with cash for Petteri Koponen)
Taurean Green – 52nd overall
Demetris Nichols – 53rd overall (traded for a future second-rounder)
2008

Brandon Rush – 13th overall (traded with Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu)
Joey Dorsey – 33rd overall (3-team traded with Darrell Arthur for Nicolas Batum)
Omer Asik – 36th overall (3-team traded for three future second-rounders)
Mike Taylor – 55th overall (traded for a future second-rounder)
2009

Victor Claver – 22nd overall
Dante Cunningham – 33rd overall
Jon Brockman – 38th overall (traded with Sergio Rodriguez and cash for Jeff Ayres)
Patrick Mills – 55th overall
2010

Elliot Williams – 22nd overall
Armon Johnson – 34th overall
2011

Nolan Smith – 21st overall
Jon Diebler – 51st overall
2012

Damian Lillard – 6th overall
Meyers Leonard – 11th overall
Will Barton – 40th overall
Tyshawn Taylor – 41st overall (traded for cash)
2013

C.J. McCollum – 10th overall
Jeff Withey – 39th overall (3-team traded with cash and two second-rounders for Robin Lopez)
Grant Jerrett – 40th overall (traded for cash)
Mirko Todorovic – 45th overall (traded with Kostas Papanikolau and two second-rounders for Thomas Robinson)


[snip]

Traded draftees:

Linas Kleiza, Ricky Sanchez, Tyrus Thomas, James White, Derrick Byars, Demetris Nichols, Brandon Rush, Joey Dorsey, Omer Asik, Mike Taylor, Jon Brockman, Tyshawn Taylor, Jeff Withey, Mirko Todorovic
Acquired draftees:

Jarrett Jack, LaMarcus Aldridge, Alexander Johnson, Petteri Koponen, Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum, Jeff Ayres

Not going to lie, this list blows monkey nutsack, but it gets a bit better when you see the draft day trades he makes.

[mrknowitall215]

He traded Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack, and Josh McRoberts for Jerryd Bayless?!?