I honestly think morey's philosophy here is to add a true 3rd star be it melo or love since those are the only ones realistically available this off season. He won't able to fill out the roster until he adds either player since defensive players are easier to come by than those star players. So I agree we need more defense than anything else. I'd personally like to have something like milsap and Lowry rather than a third star pure scorer like love or melo. But I also get what morey is trying to do. The best "value" is the max player. Get three of those and then fill out the rest with the role players and defenders that fit the star players. So I think if and when morey gets melo, he'd look to use whatever assets he has left and exceptions to upgrade with a solid wing defender and possibly at the pg spot as well. But not until he gets his third big fish.
What we need is more floor spacing so that our offense is elite in crunch time. You can look at all the numbers you want to. Most of our scoring is because of pace, running up and down the court. When you get to crunch time in the playoffs, it's all about half-court execution on both sides of the ball and having elite half-court offense is half the battle. Our half-court offensive execution in crunch time when we aren't racing up and down the court and having to run a play is not good because we lack spacing. With our 2 lead dogs being Howard and Harden, BOTH GUYS need spacing for them to be ultra-efficient. Carmelo Anthony is a better defender by far than any power forward we have on this current roster besides Omer Asik. Carmelo is a superstar. He can play both ends. Now.....like Parsons and Harden.....he hasn't always given maximum effort on the defensive end.....but to say he doesn't improve our defense when we are running out guys like Jones and DMo at the 4.....plain wrong. He would upgrade our defense as well. Oh, and you can't look at stats, even the latest/greatest new-fangled RPM advanced stat in a vacuum. Here's some more DRPMs for you. Nikola Pekovic 2.19 Spencer Hawes 0.43 John Henson -2.35 Now if you believe that Pek and Hawes bring the D and Henson doesn't then ............ you're simply not watching games. Yeah, I know, I know, DRPM accounts for bad teams and the teammates, etc. But here you go. I guess Milwaukee should sign Hawes and trade Henson to improve their defense. Gotta take those stats with a huge grain of salt fluors.
Boom. It's much easier to fill in the cracks around your big 3 or big 4 than it is to try to win a championship by piecing together the "perfect" team of role players.
Was thinking about creating a new thread for this question, but I'm not really that type of poster so I'll see if anyone is thinking the same thing as me in this thread. I've tried hard to not really let this thought obstruct my view too much about the idea of signing Melo but one thing I just can't get out of my mind is- Is there concern about signing an elite jump shooting superstar wing (At His Age) that relies on elevating over his opponent using his elite athleticism to raise above his opponent? I say this because remembering T-Mac's later years, and how fast he declined with just one major knee injury because T-Mac's scoring abilities dropped mainly because he could no longer elevate as a jump shooter from the high post & how he became so much easier to defend without the threat of the quick first step to drive to the basket. Also, T-Mac was able to affect the game in many other areas with his passing & facilitating abilities. Melo can still facilitate an offense from the high post & P&R, but he's been much less of a facilitator throughout his career and McGrady. Are we not at all concerned about signing a 30 year old superstar who is effective primarily because of his ability to elevate over his defender & have the threat of the quick first step? Not saying I dont still go for Melo (He's got no history of knee injuries), but I can't help but see the way Melo scores the basketball as a jump shooter as a similarity to T-Mac and get a bit squeamish.
Carmelo's birthday today (30 years old) <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>As Carmelo Anthony turns 30 (today), has his career trajectory peaked? Projecting the next five years: <a href="http://t.co/GAndkDhVzn">http://t.co/GAndkDhVzn</a></p>— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) <a href="https://twitter.com/alanhahn/statuses/472007070539988992">May 29, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Good question and it should be considered. But to what degree? The truth seems to be it's a crap shoot. Look at Derrick Rose. Basically 2 whole lost seasons now and no telling what he looks like coming back in the third. And he's young. Deron Williams has looked like crap the last couple seasons. Rondo just lost a season. And those guys are all younger than Melo. (I think. Didn't check DWill's age.) Things we do know: 1. Our championship window is opening right now. 2. Melo (and Love and Bosh and Lebron) is a fit. 3. Melo has arguably the quickest release in the NBA. 4. We need spacing in our offense like cows need grass. 5. Melo is a superstar. (This means he can win games by himself at times and he can carry a franchise on his back at times.) 6. Melo is available. I think obviously for age and salary reasons we would overwhelmingly prefer Love. But if Love doesn't want to come here and we can't shake him loose by the draft or before July 1, then...... here's our choices. 1. continue to pursue a trade for Love until he's off the table. 2. Go after Lebron. 3. Go after Bosh. 4. Go after Melo. 5. Go after Dirk. 6. Go after Millsap and other assets. 7. Stay put with Asik and work on the Twin Towers lineup for another year. Rather than worry about health, my #1 concern is: Dwayne Wade voluntarily signing a minimum salary contract for one season before going in to have a knee scope. Miami signs Melo outright. Then Wade comes back with about 20 games left in the season running full bore.
I see the argument you're making. Smith (both as a player and trade asset) + current talent (TJones and DMo) > MLE. I'd agree if we were still trying to build a contender, but if you've got Harden/Melo/Howard, you're in contending mode. Too many holes on this team. We need some defensive and veteran depth more than we need young and offensive talent. In order, our priorities are likely.... 1) Shoring up the defensive front court 2) Adding a wing defender 3) Adding a distributing guard #1 will take at least 2 players. I like your idea of adding Emeka Okafor, but only at the vet minimum. He's coming off a major injury, and wasn't producing at an elite level before last year. I'd offer a Garcia-like player option in year 2 to give him more security, but no more. The other player that would fit well in our front court is Boris Diaw. He's proven to be a very solid defender at the 4, can shoot the 3, and has played in a system we are trying to replicate. 3 years, $11.4 million (majority of the MLE) Papanikolaou has the potential to be a very good complimentary role player for us. 4 years, $6 million (remaining MLE) Still need a defensive oriented wing, but he can't demand too much. Shawn Marion is 36 y/o, and fits that model perfectly. 2 years, 4 million (BAE). Beverley / Canaan Harden / Parsons / Marion / Papanikolaou Melo / Diaw Howard / Okafor Under this scenario, you aren't devestated if you lose Parsons to a huge contract. You've still got a hole at PG/SG, but I think Morey's plan would be to fill that with Sergio Llull the following year.
Would he still keep his Bird rights? I know we did this with Barkley (a $1 million contract so we could sign Quitten, followed up by a $9 million payback contract), but I thought they closed this loophole with an 80% rule; i.e. new salary had to be at least 80% of the prior years salary to maintain Bird rights. But I did not see it in the FAQ: http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q41
Serious questions to you and other members of clutch fans. It seems like everyone agrees we need a WING defender. Why do you guys suggest the guy needs to be a backup (10-15) minutes a game player? How will this address the team’s defense problems? Teams primary 2-3 offensive player starts the 1st half and 2nd half (plays with the starters) and usually plays (38-40mins per game) usually more in playoffs. After the 13-14 season I feel as if these are our wing needs, keep in mind this varies from team to team other teams they may need a offense first at their wing spot. 1. BENCH WING PROBLEM - lack of offense 2. STARTING WING PROBLEM – lack of team defense & 1on1 wing defender
As far as I can tell....as long as it is initiated by Wade and not by the Heat then it is legal. However, I do have a severe problem with it being legal. For all the crappy decisions the league has made concerning circumvention....I would think this would be blatant circumvention. However Pincus was making this possible suggestion about Kobe's contract before Kobe signed his extension. Pincus was arguing that Kobe could offer to take a minimum salary deal for one season to allow the Lakers to bring in 2 max free agents....and then Kobe re-sign after next season for max dollars. Don't get me started on circumvention, please. Would appreciate Bima's thoughts on this.
I am curious as to which FA or available player has Dwight Howard been lobbying for, either with the front office or in private meetings with the player himself. The same goes with James Harden. Last year, Parsons was rumored to be lobbying hard for Dwight ever since he switched agents. And it was obvious who the team's target was. This time around, not so clear.
Miami has an interesting situation with 3 interesting contracts/Players, but I just have a hard time believing that in the situation they are in now (unless Indiana makes a miraculous comeback this weekend) that they don't just opt in for maybe even the final two years. Bosh, IMO, would look like the first shoe to drop with breaking apart the big 3 because he'd have the most to gain by opting out, and signing as a max free agent to a team that would give him that deal. -The Wade taking the minimum deal you propose as a possibility..... You know how I feel about crazy circumvention conspiracy, and when you are asking an aging veteran to give up 20 million dollars next year for the sake of a legacy that might still exist without Melo, you are asking a lot. I know the guy has already made a ton of money, but even with a handshake deal (which will obviously circumvent the CBA) to "Make-up" for the previous year with a longer deal, I dont see Wade nor his management taking the risk on good faith... even with the Miami Mafioso. A Miami breakup and free agency mix up would be the equivalent of packing the swim trunks for a trip to Alaska. Maybe you stumble on a magic hot spring pool that changes the plans of the trip on the fly, but I think in this case Morey is probably making his plans assuming the Miami trio stay together and dont screw up the entire NBA's July plans. I think Morey plans for "cold weather" on this one, but I'm sure in the back of every GM's head in the league there is the thought of "what could happen" if the big 3 shake up everyone's summer by opting out. It would put a screeching halt on everyone's plans this Summer for sure.
Shawn Marion is a good suggestion and could be acquired possibly in a sign-and-trade involving some of our expiring non-guaranteed deals and a future second round pick or two. Something like Jones, Powell, and Casspi's salaries x 150% or 125%. Boris Diaw is a good suggestion too but unnecessary if we acquire Melo. If we acquire Melo we need a big 5 to back up Dwight. If we acquire Love then we possibly could use a guy like Diaw since Love can play backup 5. And I've been thinking about Diaw as a possible safety valve play if we can't make any moves for a superstar and we have to play out the last season of Asik's and Lin's contracts. I think Diaw at the MLE for one guaranteed season with a minimal or no-guarantee for next season would be a great get for us. And I think he'd play substantial minutes as the 3rd big alongside Dwight and Asik. But just to be clear if we acquire Melo....we need another big center. Dwight and Melo are going to get 70-72 minutes at the 4-5 slots. That leaves 24-28 minutes. We'll need a good backup 5 man that is actually a defensive difference maker since we will most likely fill the rest of the minutes at the 4 with either Harden or Parsons. I really don't like Okafor at this stage of his career. In my opinion, Okafor at the minimum is a desperation move if we can't get anybody else. I think he's on the extreme downside of his career. And he's always been undersized in the middle relying on his athleticism, hops, along with a good iq. With his athleticism and hops mostly gone, I just don't think he can be very effective. I really think Haddadi or Whiteside would be superior to Okafor because of their length. And either of those guys could be acquired at the minimum. Whiteside has a 9'6" standing reach and he's like 270 lbs. now. He is better than half the backup centers in the league right now. Haddadi is probably a better player than Whiteside and basically just as long. I'd also take a flyer on Brendan Haywood in trade. He's another guy with plenty of length and he's been a defensive menace throughout his career. And he's got the contract that we want going into 2015 off season. It's a unique contract. The only one in the league at present. A small $2 million salary for 2014-15. And then a huge $10+ million NON-GUARANTEED salary for 2015-16 that doesn't become guaranteed until 8/1/2015, thereby allowing a team until August 1 to try and use that contract to turn a trade. If the Rockets have their big 3 in place then that contract represents a ton of trade flexibility for them to be able to bring in a player or two or three without sending back very much guaranteed salary. I'd send Charlotte a prospect and a second rounder for Haywood if they would move him after we acquired our 3rd superstar.
The more I think about it. We need the Heat to win the ring. If they lose, I doubt they split up but it makes the FA period hell.
If I knew Silver would rule circumvention to Lebron, Bosh, Wade signing under market contracts....then I'd be all for them not winning the championship. But I have no idea what Silver would do. In my opinion it should be considered circumvention for Lebron, Bosh, and Wade to sign for $14 million and then Melo to sign for $14 million. And in my opinion it should be considered circumvention if Wade volunteers to take the minimum on a 1-year deal in order for them to bring in Melo at a near-max deal. Like I said.....I really don't want to discuss circumvention. It makes me fume every time I think about it. Kinda like studying the consistencies/inconsistencies of NBA officiating.
Backup center discussion I see from earlier (If the Rockets move Asik in a deal to acquire a 3rd star)- Haddadi or Whiteside???? Come on now.... We can do better than that any day of the week. Haddadi is a capable 3rd string backup center. He's disciplined defensively, and can rebound, but that's about it. He's horrible at basketball but can use his size somewhat. We can do better than him though. Whiteside.... I'm just guessing you haven't seen anything more than a couple youtube clips from draftexpress. The guy couldn't even cut it in the D-League... a league where Tim Olbrecht is arguably a top 3 center, and can't even beat out Tibor Pleis on the German National team. Lets just put that into perspective for a minute about how badly Whiteside has performed at organized basketball. So just stop. If you are obsessed with the size and length he has, focus on the guy who is already in the Rockets system down in the valley and has similar length and actually better athleticism.... Jordan Henriquez. Maybe he's not as tall and long, but he's still proven to be way more effective at the D-League level in the short time he's spend down there. -Spencer Hawes with the MLE is the ideal target (after a deal is made) -Gustav Ayon with the MLE is a decent option -Lavoy Allen is a better target -Steimsma is available -Aron Baynes is a RFA and looked promising at times -Jordan Hill is a better target with the lower MLE or part of the MLE -Chris Kaman for the vet min or low MLE is a better option -Ryan Hollins can give you a few minutes here and there but is a vet min guy -Cole Aldrich had a few good minutes for the Rockets but is a vet min guy -Biedrins is a vet min guy Just to name a few guys who are WAAYYY better options than Whiteside or Haddadi. If you are looking at unknown upside draft one of these guys like Porzingas, Tavares, Isaiah Austin, Klimenko, or Jokic in this years draft. Also there are guys like Kristic over in Europe too that could be brought back. The Rockets have two picks in the years draft. You can get unknown upside potential backups rather than signing a known un-realized upside center. Anyone.... ANYONE other than Whiteside would be better. I can't think of a worse player to bring in to be your trusted backup center next year quite honestly.
We don't need an Ibaka we need our guys to commit to a) funneling their man into Dwight and b) securing the rebound before leaking out. Dwight is fine as a rim protector. When the penetration unfolds in front of him he alters a TON of shots. We just give up too many rebounds because nobody puts an ass on Dwight's man to keep him off the glass after he cleans up their mistakes. We give up too many offensive rebounds because our other guys just want to run. Terrance Jones in particular needs to focus more on defensive rebounding. If he's still getting major minutes next year the coaching staff needs should give him the carrot of being able to push the ball up himself so long as he secures the rebound. We can still push the ball and get easy transition buckets when he secures the ball based on his ball handling and speed. TJ should average 9+ rebounds a game with his length/athleticism that alone should improve our defense drastically. Ibaka truly is a great defender who covers so much ground but guys like him don't grow on trees and he truly is one of a kind. His effectiveness is amplified because of the havoc that OKCs wings cause on the perimeter. They close out on threes like mad men and are constantly ball hawking, inducing the ball handlers into penetration. Those seemingly open 3pt attempts get ran off of the perimeter and into the teeth of the defense where Ibaka is waiting. Our defensive rotations suck and our guys are not nearly as athletic/long as westbrook, KD, reggie jackson, sefalosha, lamb, etc. to challenge those open 3's. OKCs defensive scheme isn't necessarily great, their guys just go all-out all the time. If our guys did the same we'd look like a much better team too.
I know Whiteside's game quite well. Thank you. And I'd take him over a guy like Biedrins every day of the week and twice on sunday. Whiteside is not in the league because he's a loner, has a dopey personality, has low bball iq, and has a difficult time fitting into team chemistry. His on-court game is NBA worthy however if he simply runs up and down the court using his massive size and athleticism to defend the rim, control the paint, block shots, and grab boards. Like I said.....he's better than half the backup centers in the league. Somebody is going to sign him to the minimum for a couple seasons and their bench unit is going to kill it because he'll dominate the defensive paint for them against second teamers. Biedrins is NBA worthy defensively however. But he doesn't fit on this team because he is ONE OF THE WORST FREE THROW SHOOTERS OF ALL TIME. We simply can't afford that nonsense in games when we struggle with Dwight clanking so many freebies. Our backup center has got to be able to knock down free throws and play D. He may not need to do anything else offensively but he's got to be a positive free throw shooter (at least 60%). Biedrins is like around 35%. Spencer Hawes - while I like his offensive game....he brings nothing to the table defensively. If we're going to have Melo or some other scorer at the 4 then we don't need Hawes offense. We need defense from the backup big spot. He's not a fit in a Melo/Love scenario. And besides that...some team is going to offer him $8-$10 million per season. Ayon is a possibility at the minimum but not for MLE money. He isn't that good. Steimsma is a possibility. I already mentioned Hill and Kamaan in previous posts. Yes, they are possibilities. But once again.....at this stage of their respective careers Haddadi and Whiteside are better than Kaman who has made his money and is floating around the league and hasn't shown a propensity to dig in on the defensive end in a while now. And Hill will most likely go for $3-5 million per season. Ryan Hollins is nothing. I'd rather have Whiteside or Haddadi. Lavoy Allen is a power 4. He's not a paint and rim protector in any shape or form. Aron Baynes has shown some promise, yes. But he's restricted, nobody is going to offer him a big contract, and the small contract he is offered will be beat by San Antonio on the front end. Cole Aldrich has simply proven that he isn't an effective player in this league, not even enough to get meaningful backup 5 minutes. I'd rather have Haddadi or Whiteside or a dozen other guys. And those big guys you mentioned in the draft are all projects. I like Tavares in the second round as a nice big man project. But I dont see him being able to play a meaningful role on a contender as a rookie. I'll stick with guys like Haywood, Haddadi, and Whiteside who all have experience to go along with great length.
That's not really how I would frame the issue. It's more the idea of being "multiple"....being able to attack teams and defend in different ways. Like you, I'm not too afraid of Parsons regression on the defensive end. I think it's a factor of offensive workload and minutes. Once he gets his new contract, he will be fine. As I mentioned earlier, the minutes for Harden, Parsons, Melo, and Howard will be heavily staggered. "Bench scoring" won't really be an issue, since 2 of those 4 will likely always be on the court. Everyone else simply needs to fill a role. Marion, Diaw, Papanikolaou, and Okafor do that. They all provide defense, and Marion/Diaw/Papanikoalou provide 3-point shooting.....which keeps the court open for your playmakers. Like San Antonio, we need a bench that allows our starters to get more rest during the season and that provides solutions to the various matchups we may face during the postseason. TJones, DMo, and JR Smith don't give you that. They give you the "run and gun" style that doesn't get you near as much in the playoffs as it does during the regular season. Give me vets that can shoot the 3 and know where to be on defense. The minutes will work themselves out.
I like your idea of signing Diaw to a one year deal with the MLE if we strike out this summer. Makes a lot of sense from multiple angles. Still though, I want to lock up Papanikolaou long term, which means using a portion of the MLE. There aren't many good options for us at backup center.....there rarely are. Haywood isn't bad. I like Okafor on a vet min contract, so long as he checks out physically. I recognize that we would probably need a 3rd string true center.....your suggestions are fine.
