Most of us are familiar with what we are looking at going into the offseason. Dragic and Lee the big hot ticket guys, but lets focus in this thread on the center position. First and foremost, I think you have to see if Dwight Howard is available via trade. Slight chance the Magic are tired of his antics and are looking to cut thier losses. A Lowry/Dalembet/Morris/pick package is pretty strong offer for a rental imo. Unlikely, but atleast possible...anyway moving onto our free agents. Camby is expiring but has expressed an interest in playing 3-4 more years in Houston. I think we can all agree that Camby is a great player and we would love to keep him. What salary will he take though? He currently makes 9 million dollars. Would he play for min? Does he want years? How about 4 years 12 million? How much longer can he sustain this level of play? Dalembert is interesting. I honestly don't know how much I like Dally. He is so up and down. Some games he is huge, others he is non existent. We have an important decision to make regarding his buyout option in which he essentially can be a free agent. Not picking up his option adds 5+ million in cap room to spend. Not sure on the timing, but its likely we have to make that buyout decision before a certain day, likely before free agency, so there is a gamble there. Normally keeping Dally would be a no brainer, but theres a very raw defensive ace in Chicago by the name of Omer Asik who will be a free agent. Its unlikely Chicago can afford to keep him with with four players making 56 million dollars on thier payroll already and also Taj Gibson to take care of. Would you let Dally walk and use his money for a chance to lockup a good young defensive center in Omer Asik for 4-5 years? Make no doubt about it, Asik is a stud defensively, and will get better going into his third year. He is currently averaging 13 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1 steal per 36 minutes. Look for that to improve in year three which is traditionally players become the player they will be for thier prime. He has a jaw dropping Defensive rating of 93 points allowed per 100 possessions (for reference Howard is 94, Sammy 100, Duncan 99, Noah 96, Camby 97, Bogut 100) Keep in mind, we will likely also be bringing in Montejounas who could spend time at the center position, not mention whomever we draft.
I want Asik/Camby/draftee PF/C for our Center position next year...another solid SG to relieve Lee and a solid backup PG for either KLow or Dragic..
Dalembert is a tough decision, and you give the main reason why, which is his inconsistency and periodic brain freeze. Which Dally are you going to get? The guy who had an impact last night off the bench, or the dude that seemingly doesn't know what the hell he's doing, and ends up back on that same bench, with everyone frustrated with him. Camby is a no-brainer. Keep him, if he'll be reasonable when it comes to money. I think he will be reasonable. Another thing to consider with Dally, and that's the impact of Dalembert playing as Camby's backup. That has to be a plus for Dally's consistency, when Camby is bringing it every game. At least one would expect it to be. I wonder what difference stats-wise Camby has made on Dalembert on a per minute basis? A plus (my guess), a minus, no effect? Inquiring minds want to know! I have no idea if we could get Asik, of course. That's an unknown. Camby and Dalembert are reality.
Agreed with above posters. 1) Trade Lowry for Beal or Jeremy Lamb 2) Sign and trade Dalembert + Lee for Asik + Fillers 3) Resign Dragic and Camby 4) Trade Martin + Scola + Patterson + whoever for an upgrade at the 4. Dragic/1st Round Pick or whoever Beal or Lamb/Whoever, maybe Martin if he's still here Parsons/Morris Better PF/Donuts Asik/Camby Contender status in a year or two.
i'm almost sure camby takes around 1.5 mill or less...he's made enough money. Why risk having to leave again, possibly farther than ever, when you can stay home and be with the family? Give him a 2 yr deal. Just keep dragic, lee, parsons, and Camby. Everyone else goes on the block for a starting 4 and 5. I'm sure LA would love to have lowry straight up for Pau, after they lose again this year...not sure i'd like that a year later, but you could get creative and take a gamble, get gasol, convince KG to take a large paycut to chase another ring..just need to trade for a 4 or 5 and slide Gasol over.. Dragic/lull Lee/zoran? parsons/rookie trade for PF/KG/Dmo gasol/camby/Dmo
If we can get better, do it. But at present the tandem of Camby and Dally is impressing me. It is making a huge difference to be able throw two seven footers at opponents. Been awhile, right? Dally is playing better since Camby has come. I haven't looked at the numbers, but it "seems" that way. Camby is rock solid consistent. The Rockets are swatting balls in the seats with regularity. With Parsons locking down the other teams best player, Dragic putting huge pressure on their defense, Scola nipping at their heals this combo is becoming surprisingly irritating to other teams, even the really good ones. And I "feel" they are gelling at just the right time. Hmmm, didn't expect this, getting interesting.
We can get Camby as a back up for cheap because he wants to live in H-Town and still play in NBA for 2-3 seasons. Need a starting beast.
THIS!!!!!! Whether Howard or Asik, I would love to see Garnett playing alongside either in Rocket Red.
- I know will catch some heat for this; Robin Lopez is a RFA for the Suns he is not the best player but is young, seviceable and most of all available, IMO. With Camby we done not need much more. We should be able to pick him up on the cheap, too. In time he will a nice fit with Montejounas. - Kevin Martin trade to Utah for Derrick Favors (the perfect fit with Montejounas) and filler would work out well in time. He should be available if they plan on keeping both their bigs in FA's in 2011 and 2012, IMO.
I always thought you kept an aging center while you groomed your young big man, not to be a backup to an even older center. Dalembert's position on this team will most likely depend on who we draft. Buyout friendly contract makes him an asset, and Camby's need to play close to his family makes Morey in complete control of the situation. I don't care to speculate much further because the organization owns the cards with a couple 1st round picks, D-Mot, and some change to spend.
