Nice write-up. I haven't seen Daniels much this year, but he looks to have the energy and JVG might see tons of potential with him.
Good read Clutch. I really like Daniels alot as a player. I actually got into a scuffle with him during a pickup game in San Antonio, the guy is as strong as a bull. AD would probably be JVGs favorite player if the rockets got him, he kinda of canceled Tony Parker out of this last series, so there are going to be alot of teams after him.
As a backup PG, I would take him and move Mike James because he does know how to pass and set up other guys and he is careful with the ball. He is also a spirited player who can inspire teammates with effort plays. I don't have a good grip on his basketball IQ, but I assume he won't make as many brain dead plays as James. Does he bring as much on the ball defensive pressure as MJ and does he gets steals? Bottom line: AD is one of the few backup PGs better than what we have at backup PG. Switching MJ for AD wouldn't be a big upgrade and may not make much difference. As an UFA, maybe his price is too high. I do not see him as a starter for our team. We've got to do better. Thanks Clutch. Please mention more PG possibilities.
"However, it was in the Sonics-Spurs playoff semifinals matchup where Daniels rose to the occasion, and likely made himself a lot of money in the process. Seeing increased minutes (36.5) in the absence of Rashard Lewis, "A.D." averaged 17.8 points on 53.2% shooting to go with 4.2 assists and 1.17 steals" ----------------- I may be falling victim of the above as well, but how can you not be excited by what this guy brought in the playoffs. The drop in 3 pt. % for the year isn't cool, but the guy is tall, clearly understands the value of protecting the ball, can get to the rack against anyone apparently (if you look at this series), which should mean he can be a good distributor. Hustled, played good defense, etc. He really reminds me of a more athletic, younger, better Bob Sura. Which is good, since when Sura was playing a step or two quicker, the team was really good, even if Yao or Tracy was having a bad night. I still think addressing PF concerns has to come first, if only to keep Yao out of foul trouble. But if that can be done via sign and trade with expiring contracts, a pick and the TE, and you can pick up Daniels via FA, it would be nice.
AD could be a great choice. He was excellent in the Spurs series. He took it to the rack at will, drew fouls, and simply hit his FTs at a high %. I think he actually played better than Rashard could have even if he was healthy (not to say Shard wouldn't have played well). The bottom line: AD is an extremely efficient offensive player who can defend very well. He simply doesn't turn it over, and still manages to set others up pretty well. He isn't a traditional setup PG, but he still can run a pick and roll pretty well, and he defintely won't hurt you with mistakes. He is a productive two way player. Question is, I don't know if he would fit in perfectly as the starting PG, because he is not really a great 3pt shooter. He would be an excellent combo guard, and is good enough to finish games as he did over Ridnour in Seattle. But I do think he could be an upgrade over Mike James.
If Daniels is pursued, it's as a starter, not a backup. I really like AD. I like other guards ahead of him as possible additions, but I would not be dissappointed in the least to "settle" for him. He's really stepped up his game the last two years, so I wouldn't label him as a player that came out of nowhere.
I think Clutch is right...he's may have played himself out of the Rockets budget. Unless we do a S&T for him, I'd rather us use our MLE on a PF.
If you wanna do numbers, MJ has him beat in every statistical category. For all you people pissing & moaning about us needing a "pure PG....blah blah blah" does it really make sense to pursue a converted SG to run our offense? Sure, he takes care of the ball but then again so does Sura & MJ. Unless he's going to pull a Chauncey Billups and finally step up his game, i'll pass and stick with going after our bigger need at PF.
A regular Sonics' fan criticism of Daniels over the regular season has been that he's not a great playmaker and isn't really a pure PG. I don't consider it that big a deal for us, but then there is the question of how much AD will bring to us that we don't have already. Chiefly is athleticism and a generally good fit. I like him and would like to have him, but if he's going to cost the entire MLE, I want an almost perfect fit, and the lack of consistent perimeter shooting concerns me.
If you can swap Sura and James for Daniels, you have to do that. Daniels is a real talent, an experienced veteran, a JVG-type. The others are expendable. Mike James can run and score, but he's not a starter and needs other passers to help and targets that can get their own shot. He's a good fit for Seattle as a replacement behind Ridenour. Maybe they'd take Bowen or someone else with Mike James, or maybe we have some TE left we can use? Seattle will get some talent back from Daniels and Radmanovic, but I'd think both try to leave to start and get starter pay somewhere else. I'd think they try to swap Radmanovic for a big man. I could see a sign-and-trade deal involving SAR, Swift, Marshall - any of our other targets. That's an example of the competiton we have for our target 4s. Radmanovic is a nice 3. However, those teams with our target 4s will also need a new back up 4 - so to get our target starting 4, we will likely have to 1) demonstrate value to the other team by taking a bad contract for our expiring, 2) deliver a useful backup like Wesley or Sura), 3) part with Howard. Looking at the other team's roster helps me sort out the possibility. Ridenour/M. James Allen/Murry Lewis/ (target back up) (target starter)/Evans Fortson/J.James
It seems the most sensible way to get AD, if we're pursuing him is a S&T for Mike James and someone, because: 1. Ridnour is their point guard of the future. They don't need someone of Daniels' quality as a backup, especially since he'll want more minutes and prestige than they can give him. James is good as a backup though. 2. With the money they have to spend to keep their team, they can't afford Daniels. James is on a friendly contract for a couple more years. They can at least delay having to spend big bucks on a backup point for another season or two. 3. Daniels is strong in many of the same ways James is. So, we don't want James and Daniels. We want our second PG to have a different skillset. Sura has that. Someone like Knight would have a different one again (not that I think he's available). 4. Daniels is probably better than James, so he's worth trading for. That someone else might be an expiring contract if Seattle can be content with getting a good backup PG who won't cause them cap trouble. If not though, I don't know if I'd want to give up anyone more significant than say Scott Padgett. The obvious pair would be Wesley and James, but I'd rather not lose 2 rotation guards for one.
I'd rather not give up James, but you guys are probably right that that might be the most realistic way to go. I'll float it on the RealGM Sonics board and see what sort of we response we get. I could see us using Charlie Ward or Moochie, depending on exactly how much Daniels gets signed for.
Somebody please explain this preconceived notion everybody seems to have that Antonio Daniels is easily a better player than Mike James and getting AD would be some kind of significant upgrade. Somebody PLEASE explain this to me because I don't see it at all. MJ may not be the best option as a starter but my question is who says AD is any better of an option? I got news for anybody making this argument, Daniels hasn't been a starter either! And don't give me this "He's a FA" crap because Seattle is a playoff team. You don't make yourself weaker at a position by giving a starter backup minutes just because Ridnour is the long-term option and you want him to start. You start the player that gives you the best chance at winning. Ridnour is by far the better playmaker hence the reason he gets more minutes. MJ's numbers from this season are better than AD's in every single category except assist-to-turnover ratio. MJ's was 3-1 as a Rocket---not bad for a guy everybody likes to brand as reckless. Would I give AD the MLE, no. I really think a healthy Sura with MJ coming off the bench is adequete for the time being and since we have an actual, glaring need at PF we should focus on that 1st. AD simply isn't much of an upgrade IMO.
AD finished games for the Sonics. Ridnour didn't always finish, and never did over AD from the games I have seen.
I like AD, I REALLY liked him for us before the trade deadline. But the advantage of AD+Sura or AD+MJ OVER MJ+Sura is much less than the difference between any of the half dozen potential FA 4s + JH than JH+Padget/Bowen/Spoon/Baker. AD is probably better than either MJ or Sura (mainly b/c he stays healthier than Sura), but the difference is not that much and we have much greater needs elsewhere. Remember AD shot 30% from 3 land last year and only 32.6% over his career. Even Sura hit 36% last year and 32.5% on his career (same as AD). I only consider him after we have squared away the 4 spot.
If we get AD it is not to be a backup. AD would start and MJ would backup while Sura would move to the two. But I can't see us having two subpar 3 pt shooters spotting up while T-Mac drives to the hoop. So Sura or MJ would probably be moved. And this stuff about AD not being a playmaker... It doesn't matter with T-Mac on the team. We want T-Mac making the plays and setting people up not our point guard. I was very hot on AD until we got MJ. Now I think SG is a much greater need than PG. Bobby Simmons anyone? I read Clippers will go after Joe Johnson so maybe they will let Simmons go if they get JJ.
