Morey's Top Player Acquisition Targets/Changing my signature

I just don't think Morey is interested in Evans. He may pick him up as a FA where there is no downside risk. But to acquire him by giving up a pick or talent, just don't see it.

And I agree about JSmoove, Iggy, and AL Jeff. Don't see us acquiring them unless we have already got another alpha or one of our youngsters turns into an alpha. That's why I threw out Motie as a possibility. If he turns into the real deal, then one of these players becomes a lot more interesting playing alongside Motie.

 

Morey has a list of players, rated from #1 through 100 or whatever, players he'd like to have. Of course at the top of that list is Lebron, KD, and Dwight. But those guys are unacquirable right now. They're not on the market nor are they likely to be on the market in the next year.

I am going through players and simply picking out guys that I think are on the top of Morey's list that may be acquirable over the next year. Yes, Muhammed and Zeller are on the tops of everybody's list probably. But they are on Morey's list and they are acquirable most likely in the next year through the draft. That's why I put them on the list...because they are up there with the other guys on top of what Morey wants to do, I believe.

Bottom line is what I see is Morey maintaining flexibility going throughout this next season and just letting it play out. If one of Ibaka, Cousins, Harden, or Paul become available, then Morey will be involved in trying to bring them here.

Since the summer of Dwight and DWill is past, we are entering a new phase with this team. There doesn't appear to be any blockbuster type trade possibilities on the horizon that would transform us into a contender overnight like we could have been with the acquisition of one or more of Melo, Paul, Dwight, or even the combo of Pau/Nene.

The guys I listed are the guys I believe Morey likes a lot, that have big time potential to be franchise players, that are the most likely of all the franchise type players to become available over the next year, that we could possibly acquire. I don't think Morey is interested in Bynum. I may be wrong there. Bynum may put up a monster season and Morey might show that he wants him. Or Bynum may stink it up in Philly, hate it there, tell them he's walking after the season, and force a trade out, at which time Morey will most likely be able to hand Philly the best deal. I simply don't think Morey wants Bynum at a max contract for the next 4-5 years. I don't think he's on Morey's list. Same thing with a guy like Tyreke Evans. I don't think Morey likes him.

Guys like Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, I know Morey likes them. But the odds of them being on the trade market over the next year.....basically nil.

I'm watching guys like Batum and Aldridge. Portland is going to be interesting. Aldridge may get fed up and want out. If so, I'd have to shoot him up to close to the top of this list. But that's not happening right now. He's signed for a long time, like Love, and really can't force his way out. Both of those guys are under the control of their franchises. So, it's just not likely anything will happen in either case with them.

Batum, on the other hand, has animosity towards Portland. Wouldn't surprise me if he came out of the gates stinking up the place up there to try and get them to move him by the trade deadline. In that case, he's good, young player. I think Morey likes him a lot. Just not for sure what Morey would be willing to give up since he's on the books for $10+ mil per season. So, I didn't list him. And he also falls into that lower class on my list, a guy that really needs to be teamed with a franchise player.

Kapeche?

 

Well, so much for Ibaka. OKC is sooooo smart, so smart. They'll be contending for the next 5 years plus. I expect they'll break through at some point and get a ring, even in the face of Miami and LAL pulling their acquisitions.

So, Ibaka is gonzo. No chance OKC moves him now that they've signed him to an extension, at least not in the next couple years. And I really suspect Ibaka is there for the long haul now.

I'm going to move Al Jefferson up. He's approaching free agency. Unless Utah gets him to extend now, he'll most likely walk. He's a very good player and a front line rotation of him, Asik, Donuts, and Royce is probably about as good as you can get for now unless somehow we can acquire CZeller through the draft.

Al Jefferson only really needs one thing to his game right now....he needs to add the ability to draw fouls and get to the FT line. IF he could do that better, he could be one of the top 2 or 3 offensive big men in the league. And he's a decent defender besides.

I have overlooked Al for a long time. But the connections to McHale are obvious. Of course, I would expect Boston, if they are looking like championship contenders around the trade deadline, to go after Jefferson hard on the trade market. So, in his case, it may turn into a matter of what Morey is willing to give up for him. I don't think acquiring Jefferson is a deal where Morey would be willing to give up just anything. But if he came cheap, say Kevin Martin and Patrick Patterson for Jefferson, that would be the kind of deal McHale would probably bite on, but only if it came with a commitment from Jefferson to extend at a good price. Otherwise, Morey may just wait for free agency and try to sign him at that time to an undervalued contract.

In any case, Ibake out-Al Jeff moves up.

 

See, I really think 2014 is the year to tank. I'm all for figuring out how to get that Toronto pick as high as possible and possible trading it away to someone this season for an unprotected pick for 2014 and then tanking in 2014. If you are going to tank, might as well go after Wiggins with 2 unprotected picks in 2014.

I kinda hope you're right about Les giving him one season to tank. But I just really, really doubt it. This team, as currently constructed is somewhere between #8 and #11 in the West. For us to tank, Morey has to tell McHale to tank, and McHale is gonna have to dump Lin on the bench for long stretches. I just don't see it happening.