Alternatives to "Durant comin home 2016" plan

DSmoove · Post #1 » by **DSmoove** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 2:12 am

Hey guys,
Longtime lurker. i was thinking about how this team can get to the next level if the durant plan doesnt work.

1. We can trade nene for picks and give Jimmy Butler the max. He is restricted in 2015 and hope the bulls dont match. The bulls are cheap. Butler would put us over the top defensively and offensively.

2. Tobias Harris - Young, underrated player. This will make us a playoff team for a decade.

If durant stays in OKC, we still need one more piece....We should probably start planning that.

Kanyewest · Post #2 » by **Kanyewest** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:06 am

Welcome to the board! Butler and Harris are both restricted free agents whereas Durant at least can choose to take a little less money in DC. Maybe they could be backup plans if they sign their one year tenders and become unrestricted free agents.

Post #3 » by **nate33** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:22 am

If we are going to throw significant money at someone other than Durant, we should be targeting a big man. If could be someone like Kevin Love or Harford, or maybe a guy like Steven Adams, Ibaka, or Drummond.

Illmatic12 · Post #4 » by **Illmatic12** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:45 am

Tobias Harris seriously? Porter will be a better all-around player than Tobias Harris.

What the team needs is a legit PF/C. Durant coming here would slide to the 4 next to Wall/Beal/Otto. If not him the second pipedream would be acquiring Cousins after he gets pissed at Vivek and wants out of that craphole. Wall and Boogie reuiniting to take over the league

gambitx777 · Post #5 » by **gambitx777** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:21 am

Durant is not just a superstar. He is a once in a blue moon, potential MJ/Kobe/LeBron Type guy. Other than those kinds of guys the hardest thing to find are top 5 PG's (wall), healthy 2 way, starting Big's and, efficient star 2 guards (Beal). starting and serviceable SF's are a dime a dozen. If we miss out on Durant, We don't go for a wing, we make a play for a big.

barelyawake · Post #6 » by **barelyawake** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:15 pm

I am still of the opinion that Cousins is our most likely back-up to Durant (because he is trade demand happy and has ties to Wall).

Aldridge, Horford, West, Noah, Drummond...

Those are guys I would like here. If Nene and Pierce go, I still want a big man leader like that always on the team. After years of debating that leadership and mentors are important, no one will dissuade me of the opinion that our good start was spurred, in part, by Pierce getting that tech early and showing he meant business from the get (and so should everyone else). So, if we get Cousins or Drummond, I also want a guy like West or Noah to guide the team along with Wall. Aldridge or Horford are total packages.

Unfortunately, if we miss on Durant, I believe we will overrate ourselves and shoot too low.

hands11 · Post #7 » by **hands11** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:25 pm

My thoughts/posts always included a fall back of Cousins walking on to play with John in 2018.

If nothing else, they can end up with Wall, Beal, Otto, Cousins.

I have no problem with that as the core for a title run.

They can just keep drafting, pick up FAs, trades, and DL call ups, while building out a GS style team while they gain playoff experience and see if they can get deep using the model they have.

The core is Wall, Beal and Otto. That a young core. They have time. That's why I never understood people rushing things with trades or worrying about a dead end rebuild. With Wall and Beal, it should be pretty easy to keep adding assets. Every year over the last 4 years that has been getting easier and easier and I expect next year to be even easier.

Player want to come to this team. People should start including that in their projections. When that happens, assets are now cheaper because play want to be here. They also should include how good Wall makes shooter look and how player view him as a legit and solid leader they want to play with. I know its hard for people to adjust, but this is choice destination now for players. They will be in the conversation for the majority of good players available. Thank Ted for inking Wall early. That helped a lot in getting Paul, Hump and Blair this year and even Rasual who has turned out great.

Just need to keep adding pieces. Older players will retire. They just have to replace them with solid younger pieces. Younger player here will gain valuable experience from the vets they have surrounded them with and the playoff experience. And another year in the playoff is only going to make that better. As will a 50 plus win season. Beal is 21. He will continue to grow. Look at Wall. It took him until this year.. 24 years old to look this legit. Imagine Beal in 2 years. Let that since in.

I see no reason to panic. This is a big window. And the more time that passes on this path, the more long term legit this franchise becomes. There doesn't have to be any return to the old days for the next decade. They can get on top and stay there.

Keep your eyes on the big picture. The future looks very bright. And Cousins is always a fall back.

Durrant was a fun idea to promote when not many saw if as conceivable because why would a player at that level want to come here and how would our front office be able to pull that off. So was Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. But now, while I like the idea of Durrant and Ray ( we got Paul), its not what my hope ride on.

Not a lot has changed in my view since what I wrote in the link in my sig and before that.

barelyawake · Post #8 » by **barelyawake** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:03 pm

Hands, while I agree somewhat, we have no idea what our window is. Wall snaps an ankle and all of it is over. So, we have to keep pushing higher and faster every year, and we should not assume we have this large window. We must realize we based a team on a PG whose athleticism is his strength. That's a much smaller, and shakier, future than one built on a big man who doesn't need blinding speed to be effective. See the Bulls if Rose never came back. We need to build a valid contender this year, next year or the year after.

J-Ves · Post #9 » by **J-Ves** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:07 pm

Guys, clearly the next best player is Jeff Green.

Tobias Harris seriously? Porter will be a better all-around player than Tobias Harris.

I can only hope Porter becomes what Harris is today. The numbers Harris is putting up look like a in-his-prime Pierce, he just happens to be doing them on a bad team.

hands11 · Post #10 » by **hands11** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:15 pm

barelyawake wrote:Hands, while I agree somewhat, we have no idea what our window is. Wall snaps an ankle and all of it is over. So, we have to keep pushing higher and faster every year, and we should not assume we have this large window. We must realize we based a team on a PG whose athleticism is his strength. That's a much smaller, and shakier, future than one built on a big man who doesn't need blinding speed to be affective. See the Bulls if Rose never came back. We need to build a valid contender this year, next year or the year after.

Sure. Anything can happen. But I wouldn't base the rebuild on that. And if it does happen, you end up being like a CHI. Last I checked, they are a legit title team this year.

Those things could delay. But I see no reason to base a rebuild on that or plan on it. Wall looks like a strong, smart player. He doesn't take to many unnecessary chances. Actually, I think he drove less year on purpose so he could make it an entire season ( that was my position for him being such much under his career averages) and get that playoff experience. If he played ball out, we could have looked better in some games, but not as good for the season. Wall played a career high in games last year.

For me, I'm not overly concerned with Wall getting injured. He seems to be getting stronger. He seems like he has a solid build. And he is much less reckless now. I project him to play a lot of games over the next 5 years. I also think Beals major injury problems are behind him. He will keep getting stronger as well. Same with Otto. And as a team, they have gotten so much more patient with injured players. They pretty much wait as long as possible so they can ensure they are really healthy when they return. Look at our injury list. It pretty much just Webster, and he is about to return. Actually, he was supposed to this week but didn't. Why? They wait now. They lean toward 100% sure they can return. They limit minutes. This is totally different then the past with EFJ and that front office.

That's just what I see.

hands11 · Post #11 » by **hands11** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:17 pm

J-Ves wrote:Guys, clearly the next best player is Jeff Green.

Tobias Harris seriously? Porter will be a better all-around player than Tobias Harris.

I can only hope Porter becomes what Harris is today. The numbers Harris is putting up look like a in-his-prime Pierce, he just happens to be doing them on a bad team.

I have no issue if they add Harris. He was one of the player I wanted for them in that draft. If he got his training on another team and we can add him after he is seasoned.. Great.

I also wouldn't mind Markieff Morris.

barelyawake · Post #12 » by **barelyawake** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 10:09 pm

hands11 wrote:
barelyawake wrote:Hands, while I agree somewhat, we have no idea what our window is. Wall snaps an ankle and all of it is over. So, we have to keep pushing higher and faster every year, and we should not assume we have this large window. We must realize we based a team on a PG whose athleticism is his strength. That's a much smaller, and shakier, future than one built on a big man who doesn't need blinding speed to be affective. See the Bulls if Rose never came back. We need to build a valid contender this year, next year or the year after.

Sure. Anything can happen. But I wouldn't base the rebuild on that. And if it does happen, you end up being like a CHI. Last I checked, they are a legit title team this year.

Those things could delay. But I see no reason to base a rebuild on that or plan on it. Wall looks like a strong, smart player. He doesn't take to many unnecessary chances. Actually, I think he drove less year on purpose so he could make it an entire season ( that was my position for him being such much under his career averages) and get that playoff experience. If he played ball out, we could have looked better in some games, but not as good for the season. Wall played a career high in games last year.

For me, I'm not overly concerned with Wall getting injured. He seems to be getting stronger. He seems like he has a solid build. And he is much less reckless now. I project him to play a lot of games over the next 5 years. I also think Beals major injury problems are behind him. He will keep getting stronger as well. Same with Otto. And as a team, they have gotten so much more patient with injured players. They pretty much wait as long as possible so they can ensure they are really healthy when they return. Look at our injury list. It pretty much just Webster, and he is about to return. Actually, he was supposed to this week but didn't. Why? They wait now. They lean toward 100% sure they can return. They limit minutes. This is totally different then the past with EFJ and that front office.

That's just what I see.

You wouldn't end up like Chicago. We don't have a Noah or a Butler. And Rose is less dependent on quickness than Wall is. The fear is that we would end up with a slower Wall, which is not a super star -- while a slower Dirk or Timmy were. We have a smaller window than if we were based around a big. History and logic say so.

Anyway...

Post #13 » by **montestewart** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:02 pm

J-Ves wrote:Guys, clearly the next best player is Jeff Green.

Tobias Harris seriously? Porter will be a better all-around player than Tobias Harris.

I can only hope Porter becomes what Harris is today. The numbers Harris is putting up look like a in-his-prime Pierce, he just happens to be doing them on a bad team.

No, they don't. In his 4th year, his numbers look like Pierce's numbers in his rookie year, when he also played for a bad team. I will say this, Harris' numbers look closer to rookie Pierce than to 2nd year Porter.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... 4=&p5=&p6=

stevemcqueen1 · Post #14 » by **stevemcqueen1** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:10 am

Wall is a smarter and more versatile player than Rose. And Chicago doesn't have a second player with Beal's upside.

Sixteen · Post #15 » by **Sixteen** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:13 am

stevemcqueen1 wrote:Wall is a smarter and more versatile player than Rose. And Chicago doesn't have a second player with Beal's upside.

Jimmy Butler?

stevemcqueen1 · Post #16 » by **stevemcqueen1** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:18 am

Lurk Nowitzki wrote:
stevemcqueen1 wrote:Wall is a smarter and more versatile player than Rose. And Chicago doesn't have a second player with Beal's upside.

Jimmy Butler?

Is four years older and doesn't have Beal's upside.

MOrgil · Post #17 » by **MOrgil** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:48 am

I think we must look for a replacement for Nene. We will need a legit 4 to stay as a contender.

deneem4 · Post #18 » by **deneem4** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 2:05 am

il go after jimmy...all championship teams had an all nba defender. ..jimmy next to beal will mesh perfectly

thricethefun · Post #19 » by **thricethefun** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 4:12 am

I was thinking if we don't land Durant next summer we should push for Blake Griffin in 2017 when he comes an UFA. CP3 will be past his prime by then and Blake will really have no reason to stay in LA. Imagine Wall throwing oops to Griffin all day.

long suffrin' boulez fan · Post #20 » by **long suffrin' boulez fan** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 4:19 am

thricethefun wrote:I was thinking if we don't land Durant next summer we should push for Blake Griffin in 2017 when he comes an UFA. CP3 will be past his prime by then and Blake will really have no reason to stay in LA. Imagine Wall throwing oops to Griffin all day.

Gawd, could you have a sharper contrast between two personalities? I'd love to root for a guy like Durant. Griffin? It would be as if LeBron had taken his talents to the nation's capital during decision I.