Assuming we acquire a new starting PF in the offseason...

The only player of the above mentioned that's already clearly better than Juwan is SAR and probably Marshall (even though i'm not much of a fan on his.)

Swift is a giant gamble and who says Simien will pan out?

Point is a guy is only going to start ahead of Juwan if he's actually better than him. Juwan is a true professional, I don't see any problem with him coming off of the bench, if need be.

My best case scenario is trading him to NY for Kurt Thomas.

 

It matters who the new starting PF is. If it were SAR, Howard's gone. Period. If it were Simien however, I don't see him starting over Howard right away if at all, so I could postpone the decision for several months at least.

I also wonder if Howard is as effective as a backup, although I'm confident that he'd be professional about it. I'd personally be looking for opportunities to trade Howard regardless as long as there are easily acquirable power forwards available to take his place.

 

If we got SAR then I'd want to get rid of Juwan's contract while he still has some game left, and go after a rebounding/defensive minded scrappy backup pf, if at all possible.

With any of the other additions mentioned, Juwan could still be okay in a platoon and fill a decent role on the team.

 

Unless you have Duncan, KG, Amare, Dirk, or J Oneal, you need two PFs in this league who can play.

I see JH being able to go all out for 24MPG regardless of any of the possible PFs we might bring in. Most of the possible FAs mentioned can get at least 24 minutes as the starting PF and get additional minutes in the 3 spot (SAR/DM) or 5 spot (Swift). JH can even pick up some minutes at the 5 given favorable match-ups or if Yao/Deke go down do to injury.

I don't think JH would be a bad back-up, I think the fact it didn't work out well early had more to do with the overall team having problems. JH is 32 and coming off an injury, he is going to have to get accustomed to being a back-up in this league sooner rather than later anyway. This is also why DM is my last choice of FA 4s, as his age is the same as JH.

 

Good post.

 

As much as I love Juwan's attitude, we gotta trade him for an expiring contract if we get a better PF. He'd be expensive backup when there are better, cheaper backups out there. That's money we can use over the years to strengthen our starting lineup. Honestly, I'd rather have Anderson or Horry as backup and they'd be cheaper.

 

Trade him along with Wesley for Mobley at 7.5 million starting. Throw in a 2nd rounder to sweeten the pot.

 

2nd rounder seems like excess. I'd also hesitate to sign Cat to anything too long-term. Hopefully the new CBA will shorten max contract lengths.

 

I don't think we need a starter right away. We either need a guy that will become a starter in the future and play important/contributing minutes now or a guy that can backup both the PF and C position as a free agent signing. I doubt swift would play that many minutes at 4 if he is who we go with. He would be a starter most likely, but Howard would get the most minutes there and swift would be an all-arounder. The draft would be the best place to get a developing PF. If we do that as our only PF move then we have to know that Howard will play in the playoffs next year. I think we need to draft a contributing 2 and grab a free agent PG that has the ability to shine in the playoffs.

Alright, I'll take off the GM hat now.

 

I don't think that we pay the majority of Howard's contract. I think it is split between several teams. Is this correct anyone?

 

We pay it all, but his contract isn't as bad as people make it out to be. People act like he's still on that max deal he caught so much flack for. He's not. He's on an MLE deal. The guy is making the same money guys like Brian Cardinal and Adonal Foyle are making. Considering what he gives us and what guys like that give their teams, it's not too bad. I don't know why everybody refers to it as a bad contract. It could be better, sure, but when you take a look around the league, it's not that bad.

I actually think you're thinking of Deke. Much of his salary was paid by other teams last season.

 

The reason people have issues with JH's contract and call it "bad" is because it still has like 3 or 4 years left on it. 5 mil a season isn't THAT bad. It's not an albatross like Cato's. It is doubtful, however, that Juwan would be "worth" 5 mil in 3 or 4 years.

 

It seemed to me that Howard was more effective when he played longer minutes. He clearly played better when he didnt have to "share" minutes with Taylor. Howard just seemed to take some time to get into the flow of the offense.

I do feel we need 2 quality PFs so I would keep Howard unless you could move him for a shorter contract or for another PF that perhaps would fit better.

 

The year they tanked games to get the number one draft pick. Elvin Hays and Calvin Murphy coming off the bench in their last year, the team being down 12, 14 points, Calvin and Big E score too much, back to the bench so the team could lose.

 

Well what if we signed SAR, traded Howard away,and then get into the playoffs, only to inexplicably have SAR hobbling away from an injury? Who would take his place?

Even though he'd be an expensive backup, I would like to keep Howard. Like Relativist said, you'll need more than just your one starting PF if you want to go into battle. I think everyone would have a problem if we see bowen or spoon coming off the bench to play major minutes for us again in the playoffs.

 

Howard became more effective when Taylor went to the bench and Juwan got all of the minutes. He may not be his best as a bench player. I think you draft a rookie who compliments Howard by providing energy off the bench, then use your money to upgrade the backcourt. The Rockets were unstoppable when Howard was healthy and starting. Why mess with that?

 

I like Howard and wouldn't mind drafting a PF that JVG could groom to replace JH in a few years.

Of course the backup needs to be defensive minded with power and a great eye for the ball. Passing skills and a midrange jumper would be icing, but not totally necessary as that is what JH would provide.

Of course that just my opinion.

 

What is funny is people thought Posey's contract was bad, and Posey was much younger than Howard and had only a 4 year MLE, not 6 like JH, BC and Foyle with the extra last two years with additional 10% compounded raises.

JH contract is OK overall because it was good value the first few years, but the last couple of years it will be of bad value (e.g., 7-8 mil for 35ish 20MPG back-up PF). However as long as he is still contributing something and being a good locker room guy I see no reason to spend (picks, take on bad contracts) just to move him. I think we do need at least two PFs a notch above Padget.

 

1) because JH will be 33 during the next season and coming off an injury. The last thing you want to do is pin the whole season on him and that is short term thinking anyway.

2) I think JH effectiveness more had to do with Tmac and Yao leading the team better anf the overall team finding an identity than whether he started or came off the bench. There is no reason JH could not be a very good bench PF (he seems like a team first/role player type guy), even if next year he is a starter at his age soon his lot in the NBA will be a back-up so he needs to prepare for that.