we don't need a big scorer at the 5 backup spot. we just need someone who can run and hold the post with D a little better than deke.
I would perfectly fine with Ely for the rest of the MLE. He can play center in a pinch against smaller fives and give us a bigger body than Battier against larger fours. He also would make Howard possibly expendable, but not sure how happy I would be with a Battier/Ely/Hayes rotation. Well, not sure what to make of that last suggestion.
Well being that he only played 22 minutes those numbers of 10 points 5 boards is pretty nice. And we are not going to get any one better with the Te. Most other people want Lorenzen Wright and Elys #'s are a hell of a lot better than Wrights.
Brian Skinner would be perfect. Portland has a pf log jam and Skinner is very unlikely to play. Skinner can probably be had for the TE and a little something else. Skinner is in the last year of his contract so Portland would like to trade him and get something for him, but would prefer to not add salary since they are so above the salary cap. The Western Conference is the land of power forwards with Gasol, Brand, KG, Duncan, Dirk, and Randolph. Skinner is a good defender and would be a good backup for Howard....
Only .4 rebounds better than Hayes, playing 10 minutes more. Of course, he's at least 4" taller, lol. He'd be better than Skinner. I don't want anyone on the team who only makes half his free throws.
You mean, like 36-year old Gary Payton, Shandon Anderson, Derek Anderson, and Michael Doleac? How about Adrian Griffin, Desagana Diop, D.J. Mbenga, or Darrell Armstrong? Maybe Lindsay Hunter, Dale Davis, Antonio McDyess, and Tony Delk? Brent Barry, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel, and Robert Horry were probably the best of the lot, but I didn't see anyone beating down their doors for those player with anything above the MLE. The fact is, we are talking about limited spot/role players, maybe at best rotational players like a Snyder. Spanoulis, Lucas, Snyder, possibly Ely, Wright, or Battie would be at best expected to give us 20 mpg in the 8-man rotation, while at worst occasionally providing occasional rest to the starters if the matchups are beneficial. Take Ely: Give him 5-10 mpg in normal situations, with maybe 15-25 against larger and more physical fours who Battier cannot guard well or the same number of minutes against a more uptempo team with a smaller five so Yao can get better rest. That probably equates to less than 15 mpg, but the guy could maybe even give you 6 and 4 in that situation. Not a bad scenario for $3 mil on the MLE. Besides, that's what a sub-2 mil TE (Snyder) and a 3 mil remainder of the TE will get you.
he would replace stro and nearly half the cost. he could be out backup C against quick teams and backup PF against big ones.
