Nets hopes for Shareef take a hit Move #1 Houston trades: Taylor and Adrian Griffin New Jersey trades: Kerry Kittles Why Houston does it: I understand getting Kittles does nothing to address our primary needs (PG,C) but the chance to obtain a player with an expiring contract like the one Kittles has is too good to pass up. Not only that, but Kittles is a VERY smart player as well as a good shooter. He runs the fast break well and is used to being a complimentary player--so not much reason to worry about chemistry. Why New Jersey does it: As stated in the link, the SAR deal appears dead and if there's a better option for them at PF out there other than Taylor i'd like to hear it. Only thing that could potentially scare them off is Taylor's contract but for a guy that would average 17-20 PPG and 7-9 RPG in that conference, it might not be so bad afterall. Move #2 Sign Marcus Fizer to the 1.6 million exception. This is a guy I feel is being ridicuously overlooked by teams. He's very strong, athletic and can rebound. He was described as a "true warrior" by scouts. Granted, he didn't quite measure up to his Sir Charles comparasons, but he's a force underneath the basket. He can rebound, play good defense and is capable of scoring as well. Combine that with Spoon, what more do we need off of the bench at PF? Move #3 Try to acquire Skita from Denver The Nuggets are trying to sign Darius Miles. They are rumored to be interested in a shooter like Pike. There's no role on the team for Skita and at just 21 years old, is too good of a prospect to overlook. Houston trades: Piatkowski/1st round pick Denver trades: Skita At 7'0", 245 lbs he's big enough to give developmental minutes at any frontcourt position. I don't know about you but I would risk Pike and a 1st rounder that won't even be worth much anyways to possibly get the next Nowitzki or Gasol. Plus, he's got long arms and quick hands & feet so he's got the tools necessary to become a good defender...especially under a defensive-minded coach like JVG. Also, it gives you flexibility if there's any injuries. You can never have too many 7 footers so i'd be willing to take my chances on this one. Move #4 Split the MLE on Damon Jones -and either- 1) Keon Clark 2) Chris Mihm (restricted-so probably unlikely) 3) Jake Tsakalidis Depth Chart PG Jones/Lue/Gaines SG McGrady/Kittles SF Jackson/Nachbar/Skita PF Howard/Fizer/Spoon C Yao/Clark Move #5 What do you do with the trade exception? Do you let it expire? Do you go after a G/F defensive stopper? You tell me..... Overall though, I think these moves would do a good job of tweaking a possible championship contender as well as building for the future and giving us some flexibility for next offseason.
I think it could happen..possibly It would be a pretty good team..a great one. I guess we depend on Boki to improve and show his talent/skills/whatever...and Lue can handle backup.
I have a hard time believing that NJ will want Taylor, especially for an expiring contract like Kittles. And I'm guessing that Fizer is also looking for a half MLE type deal. I mean that's what Doleac got, and I figure he's got to be worth that much.
Portland doesn't need a PF they have Randolph who is far superior than Taylor. I like the idea of getting Skita but I don't think Pike and a 1st rounder will be enough. If Denver does want Miles the Rockets should try to explore any chances of getting Skita with part of the TE if possible. Fizer does bring toughness but he is coming off an injury and might sulk if he doesn't get many minutes. Splitting the MLE for a PG/C would be great but it's going to be hard to do.
I've been a Marcus Fizer fan for awhile and feel that he is one of those players that just keeps getting overlooked and undervalued. (Kind of like JJ). I think he's also comparable to another guy I have wished for the Rockets to go after: PJ Brown. If we could bring Fizer in and just let him bang grab a few boards at the 1.6 m I'd do it in a heartbeat. However with Spoon, Taylor, and Howard I don't see it happening. If we could trade Taylor somewhere anywhere and acquire a PG and then bring in Fizer, I say offseason complete lets go to war.
I completely agree with you guys on the Fizer deal. I saw him in college and I still believe he has what it takes to excel in the NBA. Although his he is an undersized PF, I still believe he can be effective for any NBA team at the offensive and defensive ends of the court because of his hussle, athletic ability and high basketball IQ.
If ONE of those deals happens the way you lay them out, it would not necessarily be a surprise. Two would be a shock. Anything beyond two is pure fantasy.
Can someone please explain the Skita fantasy to me? Why, again, do we want to wait 2+ years for this guy to potentially develope into a decent role player?
As a starter I would agree with you. But as a bench player I think he would be a great addition. He's 6'8'' 260lbs. which is very comparable to Howard 6'9'' 260, Spoon 6'7'' 270, and Taylor 6'9'' 255. Zach Randolph 6'9'' 253 Elton Brand 6'8'' 265 Kenyon Martin 6'9'' 240 Antoine Walker 6'9'' 245 Heres four more undersized PF, and mind you these are starters which fizer would not be. Would you call them abused in the west? Considering Brand and Randolph average 20 and 10, and Walker 15 and 8, you may want to put them on the abuser list. Martin we will have to wait and see how he adjusts.
Low risk, high reward. And since Yao is 23 and T-mac 25 we have the two years to wait. I would love to be in the finals next year. Probably won't happen. But considering we have two of the youngest and most talented players on the planet we have a huge window to get the right players around them.
Why would NJ want Taylor when they too can have Fizer for cheap? They can sign him and keep Kittles and still bring back a competitive squad. Is D Miles that good? Would he be willing to play behind C. Anthony? I doubt it. Plus, Denver has a gluttony of SF's. I think the rumor mill is spinning this one. Anyhow, if we wanted Skita we could offer a second rounder and probably get him. That way they free up space to sign a SG, what they really need.
Taylor is a proven scorer. Fizer is not. Darius Miles has played a lot of 2 guard and has been a very good defender. He was once seen as the player with the most potential in his draft. Perhaps Denver wants to take a chance on him and put him in the same back court as Miller instead of backing up Anthony at the 3.
Fizer hasn't drawn much interest. Most likely due to the fact he's coming off of an injury and people are writing him off. If the Nets went out, signed him, and he was their starter on opening night I would be a bit shocked to say the least. Thorn wants to stay an elite team in the conference so he's more likely to take a sure bet like Taylor than to risk on Fizer IMO. Plus, this is all besides that fact that Taylor is a much better player than Fizer anyways so in this case Kittles & his contract is what they have to give up to get the better player. I'll say it again, name me a better deal New Jersey can do for a good PF and i'll shut up. I don't know what D Miles wants to do. He obviously wouldn't start in Denver unless they want to move Melo to SG and bring Voshon Lenard off of the bench? I'd imagine he'd come off of the bench though and since Jon Barry is a free agent, with them acquiring Pike that makes up for letting Barry go.
Point taken. However, NJ likes to run. They are built to run with Kidd at the point. They can only run if they have someone who rebounds. Not Taylor. Sure, I would like to get rid of Taylor's contract, and if you could convince NJ to do this, more power to you. As for better PF's out there that they can get? Well, I am not sure number wise, but as a matter of fit, I think Stromile Swift would do very well in their system. Tyson Chandler would, too. You don't have to be a gifted PF in their system. You have to have good hands, want to rebound, and finish the break. That doesn't sound like Taylor to me. As Miles, maybe they just want to stockpile talent. Who knows... I would like him on our roster, too. Now as for sending them Pike, would you want Pike or Barry? I would prefer an energy guy like Barry who seems to consistently prove himself wherever he goes to be a good locker room guy... a player you plays hard... a guy who wants to win. I say sign him ourselves.
I agree NJ is run-and-gun type team with Kidd at the helm but Kittles is an integral part of their style of offense as well. Kittles is notorious for being one of the best in the game at running the fast break. That being said, with their attempts to move him and after losing Martin...they could be changing their style of play? It should be interesting to see, especially after we see how they fill out their roster. You're right about Swift, he would fit in very well. Only issue with that is Jerry West probably isn't going to give him up since he's restricted. Can the Nets offer him enough for JW to let him go? As for Chandler, he's going to be good but he's still a project. He's been injured a lot as well, plus what would NJ have to give up to get him? Miles and Mo on the same team? Imagine that.... During a game..... Random fan: "Hey, why are Mo and Darius' eyes red?" I agree that Barry is better than Pike but i'm working under the impression that Denver is interested in Pike as it has been discussed. I don't get it either but maybe Kiki thinks Pike is better? I haven't heard much talk about Barry either.
They did not keep KMart - for financial reasons. And now you think they would want to throw all that money at Mo, who is not even a third of the player Martin is? I wish!
Yeah, but NJ really screwed that one up. To let an overall number 1 pick who was an integral part of their plans in exchange for draft picks. Maybe we can send them a reminder of how much of a flop EG was as a condolence. I think NJ is trying to prevent a tailspin. If they don't appease Kidd and Jefferson, then you know they're in trouble because RJ isn't going to resign until he feels they've amended this and put the organization back on track.
