I question the system of grading, but I'll go along: McGrady - Francis +2 x 2 = +4: X factor is Yao(Tmac/Yao >>> Francis/Yao) Sura - Mobley -1 Mutombo- Cato - .5 Howard - Piatkowski +1 Lue - Wilks +1 Ward - M Jackson + .5 Overall grade +5 A- offseason
Tmac - Mcat (+3) Howard - Cato (+1) Sura - Pike (+1) Ward - Steve (+1) (Just on the basis on PG-ing skills and IQ) Lue - Mark Jax (+1) Gaines - Wilks (0) Deke - Backup Center (+2) Overrall = +9
B+ They added one of the best talents in the league and stabalized the overall chemistry of the team. They filled the holes they needed, in general, but were unable to upgrade their forward spots, did not add any perimeter scoring and are still missing a piece or two. They spent wisely instead of overspending on players that don't deserve it and, again, brought in T-Mac. Overall, a very good summer, but just below great.
I think people are seriously underrating Mobley and seriously overrating Bobby Sura. Sura's one of my least favorite players in the league, and I had come to grow very fond of Mobley last season. Sura's got nothing on Cat's spot up shooting, defense, and *gasp* (I thought I'de never say this about Mobley) disciplined, steady drives to the basket. -3 on Cat and Sura.
mcgrady - francis +3 sura - mobley -1 mutumbo - cato -1 howard - piatkowski +3 Lue - Wilks +2 Ward - M. Jackson +2 +8 actually dont mean anything i think our team as a whole is +101392875 well i dunno all i know is that we gnna rule
A+ over all. McGrady for Cat and Francis is a big plus. Two very good players for a legitimate MVP candidate is just huge IMO. JHoward for Cato is also a big gain for us. Howard is just a better power forward than Cato...period. Cato was a great back up center that filled in admeribly at the PF position last year put he was a huge thorn on the offensive end of the floor. Gaines and Lue as throw-ins is also nice. We added veteran depth in Lue and a young prospect in Gains. Sura and Ward are both nice additions to the team with Sura having real talent and can play at a very high level on both ends of the floor. Deke is old but can still play half court defense, block shots and rebound. We don't really need anything else from our back up center.
McGrady - Francis +3 Sura - Mobley -2 Mutombo- Cato -1 Howard - Piatkowski +2 Lue - Wilks +2 Ward - M Jackson 0 Overall grade +4
Based on your system: McGrady - Francis +2 Sura - Mobley -2 Mutombo- Cato -1 Howard - Piatkowski +3 Lue - Wilks +2 Ward - M Jackson +1 Overall grade +5 Standard overall grade: A-, based on what was available. This is not a great team yet, but it is a great first step.
What is so unreal is that we basically restructured our future this off season. Who would have thought at the beginning of last season that we would be starting this season with a swap of franchise players- TMac for Francis That is insane! We needed to move Steve and usually in that position you never get value in return. I posted over and over that we needed to move Steve but I never dreamed we would end up with McGrady. Look what LA got for Shaq, without Kobe they would be trash. 4 players I never dreamed you could get for Steve Francis- Duncan, McGrady, Bryant, and Garnett. Those 4 are the elite of the NBA. This team has taken a huge jump this offseason. Not that Steve wasn't a good player and he still has potential. He has oustandig talent but he is undersized for the 2 guard and he takes away from the PG position by poor passing, poor decisions, unforced errors and struggles with his outside shot. I hope Steve has a great career, but he will not ever be the player McGrady is. We stole McGrady The Heat stole Shaq And we could meet soon in postseason play.
This thing makes no sense unless you match the positions... Lue - Francis -3 McGrady - Mobley +2 Mutombo - Cato -1 Sura - Pike 0 Ward - Wilks/Jackson +1 So we basically did not get any better talent-wise by position. We probably are a better team though, because we got J. Howard out of nothing and all the players were signed and traded under JVG, so they should fit into his game plan better. The western conference is pretty tough though and our team might not make the playoffs if things go bad. We might as well be a top-4 team. Its all about effort and luck. I hope we'll get to see both.
This going to sound stupid but if I have TMac and Yao on my team I don't think Steve is a better PG guard for my team than Lue. Think about it, as someone to get the ball to TMac and Yao and execute the offense without mistakes. And D up on the point? Lue is as good if not better option. Keep in mind that is with TMac. And if Cato is playing back up center, he is a wash with Mutombo, age is the only advantage and health. But both healthy they are equal back ups. Mobley is no where near TMac- not even in the same sentence. Mobley is not even a top 25 player. He is good and he is a good fit as a role player, but TMac is not a slight upgrade, it is a huge upgrade. That's like saying LA loses a little starting Divacs instead of Shaq
another important aspect of this is how well these individuals are going to gel together. after all, bball is a team game, a good team always has good talent AND good chemistry. i'm looking forward to see the chemistry building among these telanted players.
A- (sorry adeelsiddiqui) I would love to say A or A+ but we had no 1st round pick and no obvious leader at PG. A significant upgrade, though.
If Francis and Mobley both went down, T-Mac could step in and match their points total of last season, suppose they were on the same team. He is that good. Grade A+.
Gotta agree with the Panda man for the 100th time. Triple A+ with a free bathroom pass to be used anytime CD needs to go. I mean we freaking traded Francis for Mcgrady. whoa, wake me up, I.. uh...I be dreaming.
