I know, I know, but what else are we going to talk about. It is a long off season when you don't make the playoffs, don't have a draft pick, and are over the salary cap (making it hard to be a big player in the free agent market). At least we got some excitement in the coach department, but that seems to have passed into old news already. Without further apologies, her we go. Two steps. Step one We trade Mobley and Cato to the Clips for Miller and whatever filler for it to work. I went to RealGM but I can't seem to make that work since they went to the percentage system. Besides Miller is able to negotiate his contract I think. The Clips like Mobley because he is a good player and a great contract. They like Cato, who is not wildly overpaid (believe it or not) because they need a center after letting Olawakandi go. I think, and it seems to be a fairly commom opinion, that LA will sign Brand and one other (Odom) and let the rest go, continuing to build with last years two high drafts picks. I am thinking the filler could be decent, maybe Piatkowski ( we will need an outside shooter soon enough) or somebody else who makes our roster. Obviously this moves Francis to the two, which has pluses and minuses that we have already gotten into. We clearly have a hole at back up center as I do not expect ming to be a 40 minute man yet. Step two We trade Rice and Taylor to Miami for Brian Grant and filler. They like getting Rid of Grant for anybody as his and Jones's contracts are killing all flexibility there. But specifically they like Rice because his contract expires in one year and he has to be popular in Miami. He will have more value knocking down the occasional three and letting his contract expire in Miami than anywhere else. They are not thrilled about Taylor, but he is servicable and cheaper than Grant. He does have potential, and Riley may get it out of him. For them this is about salary cap. For us Grant starts at power forward, and backs up at center. Griffin moves to the bench wher he can develope as he should. Griffin can still get 20 minutes a game or more as Grant gets pt at back up center. I think we would need filler from Miami to make this work. I don't really have any ideas. I know it will not be Caron Butler, who I love. They probably want to move Eddie Jones, who I don't mind getting but I think is just impossible under the salary cap rules. We will probably want a forward. Yes we are screwed by salary cap forever, but really we already are. Francis's extension and in three years Ming's will mean we will never be significantly under. Just get used to that. This is our depth chart Center Ming Grant Power Forward Grant Griffin Small Forward Posey Morris Nachbar Off Guard Francis Hawkins Posey (we can still run the 3 guard offense - Oh boy!) Point Miller Norris That is 10 players. We get two fillers. Again Piatowski and a back up power forward seem to work. Yes I see problems with our guards defense. But we can switch to Francis and Posey when needed. Also we do have a second line of defense with Ming, Grant and Griffin. I like it, how about you?
Was never a huge fan of Miller, in fact I'd rather have Cat, let alone giving up Cato for him as well. I think Rice + Taylor for Grant wouldn't necessarily be bad, but we'd need to make another deal to take on some of our own expiring contracts to make sure we'd be able to pay Yao (and maybe Eddie) down the line. So, in short, no thanks. I liked the Memphis trade better than this one.
Andre can't shoot a lick and he regressed last year. Brian Grant has seen better days. Bad trade for the Rox if there ever was one.
bad trade, brian grant is another overpriced player... Andre Miller was terrible last year, as the last post indicated, he regressed
Dear Pat - what planet are you from? Your suggestion, while well intended, falls flat and inconceivable. I think JVG will make minor adjustments to the present roster. We have good to great players that could excel under his discipline and methods .....and remember, we only missed the playoffs by one game. Look for a number 2, 3, and or 4 position change or addition. Other than that , look out league.
Miami, according to several newspaper articles that I have seen, is not looking to get rid of Grant necessarily. They are looking to get rid of their #5 pick though in order to have more cap room to sign a couple of FAs this summer. If they renounce Mourning, they will have $12-$15 mil to spend this summer. You pair Grant, Jones and Butler with say, a Gary Payton and a Michael Olowokandi and you have a legit playoff contender in the East. Rice's contract does not have a ton of value to Miami considering all the excess cap room they already have. The key for them is not more cap room next summer, but right now. Overall, I am quite sure that Miami would rather have Grant's production/contract over Mo's production/contract.
