This scenario is very unlikely and if we can improve our team while still holding on to everybody, why wouldn't we?
Hopefully get a top 3 pick this summer and take Shabazz Muhammad (currently #3 on nbadraft.net). Sign A. Jefferson to play C and J. Smith to play PF. Trade assets for a good SF (I think R. Gay is attainable). Hopefully both Lin and Lamb play up to expectations. 2013 line-up: Lin Muhammad Gay Smith Jefferson I am leaving out Lamb, DMo, White, Parsons, Asik, and Jones because we will have to use some combo of them to get Gay and possible S&T for one or both of Smith and Jefferson to get them max money.
1) Never said I was "confident" that they'd pan out. I said we have guys who are projected to be long-term starters if they pan out at those positions. 2) I believe the upside of those guys is higher than Lin's to be high-level starters in the NBA. Because Lin has played well in a short-stretch, he may be "more proven", but that doesn't equate to being more likely to become a certain caliber of player
Ahh I see. Thanks for the clarification. Wasn't quite sure what you were trying to get at. I am curious, what is it about Lin's game that makes you feel that he won't be a high level starter? And what is it about the other guys game that makes you feel like they will long term starters? What did you see that helped inform your opinion? Once again not attacking just trying to drive a discussion.
Hey Carl, You don't think our overload of PFs makes Taj Gibson a redundant acquisition? Especially considering the fact that we have a couple who could (low probability, but still) turn out better than Gibson? I guess it's all dependent on what happens w/ trades, but as of right now Gibson would be low man on my totem pole...but that's me!
I think the thing with FA's are as always, overpaid. Max guys will likely stay with their own team if they can aford them (except Dwight). Those below that level will likely have to be paid max dollars even though they are not superstars (that's what max should be for in my opinion). I like guys like Harden, Smith, even Ibaka, but I think they will require max dollars and I don't think they are worth that much. I'd just keep building with what we have and go through the draft. When you start developing and need to add a certain piece to get to the next level, then you go after a FA.
He's going to get a max contract, so he better be at least good enough to be a second option. And he's not, so no thanks. Ppl are just enamored by his rare combo of flashy stats in blocks and steals. He works well for fantasy bball - as long as you aren't competing in 3pt% - but forget him as a centerpiece of my rockets
Let's see what we get out of this year's crop of new players before we worry about trying to land a big name next year. Hopefully, more then one of our new guys will develop into a full blown star, while we tank and get a great draft pick and we won't need anything other then a mid level to vet minimum type of player to help the your guys take the next step.
I say that because Lin, in a non-D'Antoni offense, does not project to be a guy who can make his teammates better and post an efficient A/TO ratio. And while he can score, he's not the caliber of scorer that can make up for his inconsistent/erratic playmaking ability. I do think he can (and will) improve in both areas, but his style of play (and natural talent level) does not suggest he will be a both a high-production guy and EFFICIENT, all while running the show effectively. Face it - more is asked of a PG, and with the many, many high-level PGs out there, you can't help but compare Lin on their standard. I'll let the season play out first, but it's natural to compare.
Dantoni's offense is predicated on the pnr. The pnr is run by many teams. This notion that he is just a product of MDA's system doesn't make sense. After Dantoni left and the new coach changed the system up a little bit, he was even more effective than he was under Dantoni, still put up solid numbers.
