Yes exactly what I have been wanting, another year we make moves to clear cap space for a splash in NEXT YEAR's FA. :grin: We have been doing that for how many years now? lol Guess we will see.
Javale McGee for me as well. If we can't steal him from the Nuggets try to nab Roy or Brook Lopez from their teams. Then resign Camby.
Thanks for the list. Good work. IMO, there are some nice but unrealistic choices without a serious trade. For example, McGee would be nice but his price will be very, very high as will be the rest of the restricted FAs. Considering Morey's cheapness, they would all be matched. Had we really wanted Asik, we would have drafted Zeller. Again, IMO, the realistic center acquisitions start with Chris Kamen and Spencer Hawes and end with Kyrylo Fesenko and Aaron Gray. Of course, we will -- and must -- re-sign Camby but that's a given. BTW, I would love to pick up Fesenko. He could be a Marc Gasol clone.
It'll be Asik. He will be a good deal regardless of what happens with Howard. Camby will be resigned if we dont get Howard (and we probably won't). Asik/Camby is a big step up from where we started last year.
How about adding Kanter or Favors to our youth movement? Surely Lowry + Martin + one or two of our combo forwards would get the deal done. I would feel pretty comfortable with something like this as a rebuild: Dragic / free agent (or trade Scola for a PG) Lee / Lamb Parsons / White Motiejunas / Patterson Favors (or Kanter) / Camby
As some have said here before I believe Morey likes Pau Gasol. I belive this goes with his thinking. The Lakers want to get rid of him and reality is that no real contending team can take him and have room for his salary and no rebuilding team really wants a declining star with that salary to build with. On the other hand, a mediocre Rockets team who can absorb his salary with the right pieces going out will benefit. They will probably match him at center against most teams and they will open another roster space at SG and 1 of the PF positions( Scola and Martin dealt ). Furthermore, I think Morey sees him as fulfilling a star need here at a position of need and when his contract comes up in two or three years he is a big tradable asset because of his contract. The new tax will have GM's putting more value on big expiring contracts. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I think this goes along with Morey's thinking. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6s785au
Wasn't there trade talk a year or two ago involving Asik and Lee? If that was ever discussed, it is a shame that trade wasn't made, because I have a hunch the cost will be greater now.
Plan A - Offer Hibbert 4 years/$48M. Hibbert: "No thanks. You guys are headed nowhere." Plan B - Offer McGee 4 years/$30M. McGee: "I would...but I don't want to. I want to MAKE the playoffs, not watch them." What will Actually Happen - Offer some 6'9 1/2" Power Forward 4 years/$25M. Obscure, Random NBA'er: "Sure. Why not?"
Bring Oden in for minimum contract. He can't do any worse than Thabeet. I remember attending a game (I think Phx) where a fan bought a box of popcorn and tried to get the popcorn guy to give it to Thabeet. It was hilarious! On a serious note though, Oden is injury prone for sure, but he showed tremendous "potential" or "upside" when he was healthy. I'd say take him and pray he stays healthy! (Didnt Camby start off his career injured for a long time as well? and Grant Hill as well?)
They were speaking hypothetically last night on 610 about trading KMart for Al Jefferson. I'd do that deal in a second if we can't get Dwight. AJ had a 22.9 efficiency rating last year. We would probably have to throw in an asset in addition to Martin, which we of course have lots of.
