As for the PG position, we might definitely land either barry, fisher, arroyo or jone. Does anyone of you guys know which FA big man the team had already contacted?
The only name that has been brought up was Brian Skinner. He was mentioend in a Feigen article last week. Other than that, nothing. I think the Rockets are looking at PG first and then see what is out there at backup C/PF.
I know this is veering of the topic of free agents but we should really look into trading for Tony Battie. He is a capable starter that is really the odd man out in Cleveland and won't be playing ahead of Zydrunas Illgauskas anytime soon. Understandably, Cleveland could have the same idea in mind for Battie that I have and could be reluctant to move him. Just an idea.
i heard the rockets had an interest in foyle.....it was in a thread about a week ago. we have to think like JVG... when picking players they need to be able to: (1) play defense! now that thats narrowed a little we can move on... (2) shoot ok for big men thats already hard to find. i only have a couple in mind at this point. lastly (3) ex-knick who did you guys think of?
haha would be ironic wouldnt it? J I wonder what Doleacs contract is like.. I remember he was cut and Denver picked him up.
I think the Rox are taking it step by step. I'm sure they will pursue a backup C immediately after they pick up a PG. Like above, Skinner is the name that is coming up the most. Foyle's name has come up, but will most likely get more money from another team.
I haven't heard any rumors about this guy, but I didn't want to start a whole thread just to talk about him, but I think we should take a look at Mark Blount. He played for the Celtics last season and he's prolly in for a big raise from the 1 million he earned last season. He's improved is rebounding and scoring each of the last three seasons and almost averaged a double double last year. ESPN.com recently had an article on him here it is Mark Blount
Pretty reasonable. His last contract season was for $1.5m and I doubt he's worth more. Doleac would be a decent pickup, but personally I'd prefer someone a little more mobile.
We need someone slightly better defensively, and a bit taller. Keon Clark comes to mind. Best case scenario? We get Barry, Clark, and Eric Williams using the TE and the MLE. The MLE should land us Williams and Clark, while the TE should land us Brent Barry. All we'd have to do then is trade one of our PF's (howard or MoT) for capspace. A good idea would be to send Howard to the Sonics for Jerome James or Vitaly Potapenko. Maybe to the Celtics for Mihm or Yogi Stewart. Maybe to the Jazz along with a future pick? Yao/Clark/Jerome James MoT/Clark/Spoon JJ/Eric Williams/Boki T-Mac/Barry/Pike Barry/Lue/Wilks Super solid team. Ofcourse I'd only sign 3 players if I could dump either MoT or Juwan Howard for expiring contracts.
I like the power forward for Mihm idea. Saw Mihm play a couple of times last year - nothing spectacular, but fundamentally sound and serviceable as a center. Plus he shouldn't cost a bunch. If it's a choice between MoT and Howard... I'd like to see Howard in a Rox uniform for a year to see how he does... I've always thought there had to be more to him than what he's shown - Maybe a JVG type of coach can bring it out. Cap room is going to be big. We need enough in the short term to get the right support players... and enough long term to keep them. Once the dust settles from this trade, I'd like to see where we are cap wise - assuming Max deals for Yao and TMac
Some things I have read but been too lazy to post and link: 1. Blount is likely to be overpaid based on a short stretch of games in a contract year. Philly is interested. 2. Etan Thomas is Washington's only free agent they have to resign. They will match the MLE. 3. The Jazz are interested in resigning unrestricted free agent Ostertag. Miami is also interested. 4. Foyle wants to be a starter. 5. Haven't heard anything about Mihm or Skinnner. 6. I would think Seattle would want to get rid of one of their three overpriced centers, especially with a lottery pick 4th center coming on board, but haven't read anything.
As for a backup Center how about Jason Collier. He came around last season in Atlanta. I know he didn't do much when he was here but he has matured since then....
ATL has a boatload of cap space and with the way he played for them (11.3 ppg & 5.6 rebs in 27 mpg), I can't see them letting us get him for the $1m Exception.
how about league minimum for Bateer on CNT? I know it has been brought up before, but we had Cato then. This guy rebounds well, and is as strong as Cato. The worst case is he collected a few rebounds and committ his 6 fouls in 12 minutes, but he can knock Kobe on the floor really hard a couple of times.
