Problem with Speights is that he can't play C... I do like him a lot though... He is listed at 6-10, and he has shown flashes of dominance. Maybe a Nene/Al Jefferson alternative? He is about the same size and he plays with passion. Can McHale make him a C?
Hmmmm... Daryl did show some interest at one time, I remember that. I could see a Jordan Hill/Mareese Speights swap...
For me a dream scenario would be Marc Gasol. I would not mind us overpaying to ensure that Memphis can't match our offer. I'm thinking somewhere in the $12 million to $13 million range at the most. I've read mixed reports that Memphis will for sure keep him and also that they only want him if he wants to be there and he reportedly does not. I don't see how they can match an offer of that size. That said, Gasol is the ONLY player I'd be OK with us overpaying for. Not Nene and not DeAndre Jordan. IMO if we can't get Gasol we should sign a relatively cheap FA center like Kyrylo Fesenko or Aaron Gray. Fesenko has fantastic size and strength and I think he fits that "diamond in the rough" mold that Morey is known to acquire. Gray had a very solid season last year and would provide some much needed size on the inside as a rim protector and rebounder. I wouldn't mind acquiring Speights either.
Hill and Speights are pretty much the same player, though and the Sixers ran somewhat similar of an offense to the Rockets. An offense Jordan Hill like Speights doesn't really fit in. So I don't think there's much there, if not for a bigger deal. Would you want to s&t Chuck for Speights? No. Would a second rounder be enough to get Speights? Probably not.
I think between Thabeet and Fasenko if signed, the rockets could get 13ppg 13rebs and about 3 blks which is good enough to improve the team without being delusional about it. That alone would add about 3 more wins to the team.
As have been mentioned, Jerebko and "Fresh Prince" Mbah a Moute. If the Rockets somehow attain a franchise player. Then the Dunleavy and Foster combo would be a nice pick up for 1-2yr minimum level contracts.
I'm thinking Al Jefferson still. With Cantor and Favors the Jazz obviously have the frontcourt of the future leaving Milsap and Jefferson lost in the shuffle. Maybe Utah won't be willing to deal with us but I think we can work out a deal that benefit both teams since they are in full rebuild mode they might be one of the more willing teams to take on our young talent.
Not quite sure how exactly high profile FA's like Gasol, Chandler, etc all qualify as under the radar. To answer the real question, I'm with leebigez. If you're looking for a guy that's potentially truly under the radar, it's a Kyrylo Fesenko type. He's young, huge, incredibly under-appreciated in the defensive +/- categories and most importantly he's an unrestricted FA.
Yes! Sign Fesenko and start him alongside Thabeet. They can be called the "Bash Brothers"... as in they'll bash into each other on the court.
Saying Hill and Speights are the same player is an insult to Speights. Hill is weak, can't play defense, gets abused in the post, foul prone, gets lost in the scheme of the offense, and has a very low IQ. Speights at least has potential to be a solid role player in this league. He just needs out of philly. Speights for Hill wouldn't work straight-up though so a 3-team trade would need to be made to land him. Chuck may not come back if he gets a good deal with another team (I'm going to guess Boston after they let go of Glen Davis). Obviously Chuck is better than Speights, but we need options. And Fesenko is the cheap low-risk option if all else fails.
I brought this up the other day and was ignored, it was reported that the Jazz are looking to trade Millsap and Jefferson so they can develop Fesenko and Kanter (sp?). Al Jefferson is pretty solid and knows McHale very well. How he feels about Coach McHale I am unsure of, but if they had a good relationship it could help us land him. On the other hand he is a bit overpaid IMO. But I feel Jefferson is better all around than Nene and brings a great shot block. It would take a massive trade to land the guy.
If we get al he better not play center 4 us we would still need a center I dont like him playing da C spot
I said pretty much the same player. There obviously are some minor differences, but bad defense, lots of fouls, getting lost in the scheme & low basketball IQ is pretty much what you get with Speights. He may be a little smarter and a little better defending the post, but let's not act like those are things he's great at.
