The solution is to play Harden less minutes, let him get back to 100%, and hold him accountable for his defense every single night and instill this work ethic into him. Because with Harden, it isn't whether he has the ability to be at least an average defender, it is his commitment. Otherwise, we've just got an upgraded version of Kevin Martin. Or Jamal Crawford. Just an interesting stat. If Jamal Crawford played 38.2 min / game (same as Harden), he'd be averaging 22.7pts, 3.3reb, 3.8 assists on 45.2% FG and 38.6% 3pt. Not quite Harden's numbers but close. Kevin Martin would be outscoring Harden with similar efficiency numbers given the same minutes, but lower rebounds/assists. If Harden doesn't improve his D, he will never be considered a superstar. Rather, just a glorified offensive player.
we definately need a battier-in-his-prime type, and a rondo-type at the 1 to be championship calibur. and NO parsons is not it. battier's D would run circles over parsons. But clutch and others are giving parsons a suckfest right now, as if he's close to Battier on D. would parsons have been able to stop all three of those guys on the perimeter? He couldn't even stop hayward the first time. At least today we were truly exposed. Even without parsons, if howard and harden were superstars, as some ppl on this board claim we should have still beaten the jazz. they're not.
If I recall correctly, the knicks are unique in that their cap hit for getting Lin back would still be 15M in year 3. Which is the poison pill they didn't want in the first place.
Nope, if anything Bulls are trying to shed salary. That's why they haven't given Deng an offer, and why Boozer could still be on the amnesty block.
Shed salary, yes. Not shed all salary. Amnestying Boozer would solve all their tax issues. Including, it would allow them to re-sign Deng or add a different long term piece.
Well Deng is $14M/yr, whereas Lin + DMo add to $10M in cap space and $17M/yr in salary next year. And $15M in actual salary for Lin when Rose is expected back next year and with Jimmy Butler playing well at SG. Remember, for the Bulls with a cheapskate owner, it isn't just the repeat offender tax that matters. It is every million. That's my opinion anyway.
Well, they kept Rip Hamilton and paid tax the year when they had little chance to win the title. They are paying a lot of tax this year although they could've easily been under. They are actually choosing to lose close to 10 mil this year on Mike Dunleavy, they didn't have to sign him. So yeah, this is an owner who prefers to make a lot of money but his boundaries aren't that clear. There's also a layer of biased journalism involved too, i.e. Chicago journalists who feuded with the ownership/management during Jordan days and probably went a few extra steps to paint an ugly picture.
I do think they are getting under luxury tax next year, btw. It only makes sense. Now is the time to avoid repeater tax, besides they need to get under apron if they want to offer full midlevel to Mirotic. But I'm not convinced at all that they are suddenly going to be a 55 or 60 mil team.
Chicago certainly thaught that Rose would be back this year and kept the salaries. Now, that Rose is out again, I doubt if they have any intentions to become repeated offenders and pay tax accordingly.
I think Asik for Robin Lppez + C.J. McCollom works (it's been my projected Asik trade for 2+ months) and I can see Deng winding up in Houston but I'm not so sure that Chicago will want Jeremy Lin. Chicago can get the production it needs from the PG spot for cheap as witnessed by Nate Robinson's play last season. If Lin is traded to Milwaukee for Caron Butler + a protected first round pick then I can see Butler (expiring contract) and McCollom getting flipped for Deng, if it allows Chicago to dodge the tax. So: Luol Deng, Robin Lopez, and a protected Bucks first round pick to Houston; Omer Asik to Portland; C.J. McCollom and Caron Butler to Chicago; Jeremy Lin to Milwaukee Maybe Donatas Motiejunas is shipped out her, and maybe some more Bulls filler gets shipped out, too. Note that Houston would likely re-sign Deng this summer which allows Houston to package Chandler Parsons with Terrence Jones, along with draft picks, for the next big name to hit the trading block. The smarter move may be to use Parsons and one or more draft picks to acquire a relatively high 2014 first round pick which can be used to draft a future star at the PF or PG position.
My Random Trade idea #45672 Houston Out:Jeremy Lin,Omer Asik Houston In: Arron Afflalo,Chuck Hayes,Greivis Vasquez Orlando Out:Arron Afflalo,Jameer Nelson Orlando In:Jeremy Lin,Marcus Thornton Sacramento Out: Chuck Hayes,Greivis Vasquez,Marcus Thornton Sacramento In: Omer Asik,Jameer Nelson -Houston Does it to get a back up C and PG in Hayes and Vasquez and get there perimeter defender and 3 ball shooter. -Sac does it to get its Big Man in the middle to move Cousins to the 4, and get a back up PG in Nelson,also they become two expirings next season. -Orlando does it to get a starting PG and now can move Victor to develop correctly as a 2 Guard, also get a backup scoring 2 guard in Thornton Potential New Lineups/Rotations for teams involved. Houston: Bev/Vasquez/Brooks Harden/Garcia Afflalo/Casspi Parsons/Jones Howard/Hayes Sacramento: Thomas/Nelson McLemore/Jimmer Williams/Outlaw Cousins/Thompson Asik/Patterson Orlando: Lin/Moore Victor/Thornton Harris/Harkless Nicholson/Maxiell Vucevic/Davis
