Would prefer Dwight Howard, but Al Jefferson would be an acceptable alternative. Zach Randolph carries the Grizzlies, but I think Al is better than him.
Come on...you know we have one of the worst benches in the league. And you're right , upgrading those other positions should be the priority.
We need someone else that can generate offense, particularly from the post. But besides that we need other options that can play defense, spread the court, and provide other aspects. I think our bench is fine, tbh. We need to cut out some pieces on it-- like Delfino's useless defensive behavior. We can really only afford 1 defensive liability and that may be James Harden. If we can get a Love, Aldridge, or low post PF threat that can be a p&r guy with Lin & James, we're deadly. Asik Love/Aldridge Parsons Harden Lin Beverely Garcia Smith TJones or Brooks depending on matchup in our rotation That's a very strong 1-8/9. On defense, on offense, with height, with shooting and with offensive options.
Off topic question that I'm sure has been answered before, but whatever: If the Rockets find a way to clear Lin, Asik, and Delfino off the books, will we have enough cap room to sign Josh Smith AND Dwight Howard?
Yep...and there's a report on Yahoo that he's having problems with one of his knees and may need surgery. He's too risky right now.
Can't see them amnesty him since Dwight is wishy washy on his commitment. Just read gasol tore his ligament on his finger the past game. He would have been great when morey was going for him but now I'd rather let these bigs develop or realistically go for Jefferson or millsap. Love isn't going anywhere with the new gm, his job is to make love happy with good players surrounding him. Flip would lose his new job quickly if he traded love. LMA isn't getting traded because lillards emergence. David west is gritty but I think he wouldn't solve the problem too much of a nice stop gap. Josh smith, if pass he's not back to the basket of we need not can he stretch the floor. Sure miss Scola and ppat right now.
No to Jefferson/Millsap, yes to Howard, Gasol or Smith (depending on terms). The premise of the thread is accurate, but it's not just any big man... it's a big man with length and/or quick elevation around the basket. Millsap is too small, and Jefferson is too plodding. I think the general structure of the offense is here to stay. We don't need an Al Jefferson, dump it down, inside-out offense. The ball movement on the perimeter, the pick and rolls, attacking the basket... all of that is great. Where we run into trouble is when quicker teams switch on everything. That is, they close out hard on every 3, get away with a few bumps on Harden, and things get "sticky", to use a McHale-ism, because we don't know how to respond. The problem is Asik. He can't handle lobs, which are monumental in today's game, and that allows big men like Ibaka to come out and help on Harden, because they know a guard can switch to Asik. Even if the guard is a step slow, it usually takes Asik a second to gather himself, and that allows the defense to recover. Combine that with Lin/Beverley being only so-so from 3, and we're basically playing 3.5 on 5 down the stretch. This team would be absolutely lethal with a big that can score on lobs and make defenses respect that possibility.
I know there's another thread about this, but I just want to reiterate that LaMarcus A. is perfect for this team. He is a great end of game option as well on the post up, where he can either turn and shoot, get to the hoop, or kick out to someone. Don't know if we have enough to get it done. They would probably try to force us to take Batum.
To tell you the truth, I still think DMo may be our best hope. I know he sucked really bad this year and gives us no indication he'll pan out, but.....the guy has a real post game and range on the jumper - hope it actually falls one day. Jefferson might give us a post game, but I fear he will ruin our up tempo game. He also is too slowwww to play any D. I don't know about him. I too miss PPat. Morey may be a genius, but that was one stupid trade.
Disagree. The general structure of this offense is a significantly watered-down version of Miami's offense, and since they have a lot more talent than us (even if we did acquire Josh Smith), there's no way we could ever beat them in a 7-game series. Miami's biggest weakness is their interior defense, and I don't see anyone beating them unless they can exploit that weakness.
Eh, Miami may not even be around past next year, given LeBron's free agency and Wade's aging body. I don't think we need to be building our team "in contrast" to anyone... Miami has the offense it has because it's effective in the modern NBA. It can be here, too. I agree Smith isn't the end piece, but I think he makes you better and even more desirable down the line.
I think it's important to be able to drop the ball down low post up and score it def drags the defenders from the shooters as they have to see when to double team and allows a new game plan if run and gun isn't working. Remember watching Yao go to work and have open guys along the perimeter. I know Jefferson isn't at that level but I could see him playing along side asik. Bosh would be a great player for the team we have assembled but chances are he's gonna follow lebron in 2014. Not sure where they go buy someone's gotta have room for 2 max contracts that year.
I would be shocked if Morey signs Smith (unless its a cheap deal). Morey is big on advanced stats, and Smith's are underwhelming....not to mention he'd stunt the growth of Dmo & Trob. Wade's aging body isn't an issue since the Heat have Lebron, Bosh, and a ton of veteran role players to pick up the slack. I think Lebron stays with the Heat. Where else would he go? The Cavs would be a nice story, but they don't have the right personnel to complement Lebron. Irving will be a great player, but he doesn't offer much when he doesn't have the ball.
Is there anyway to get Chris Bosh? I like smith at the four just dont throw the max at him, so we can get better bench guys. Lin Harden Parsons Smith Asik Go after Kyle Korver to back up Parsons,Go after Tony Allen, and Zaza or Dalembert for back up C, and thats just all assuming if we dont offer Smith the max. and the FA guys have low market value since I don't know there values right now ha. Lin/Bev Harden/Allen Parsons/Korver(Delfino if we bring him back) Smith/Jones/Smith Asik/Zaza(Dalembert)
Trust me. We will try again and again, as long as Miami faces some serious salary implications, we will try. And it becomes that much more feasible if Miami loses in these playoffs, because all hell would break loose. I just doubt they do it, but if we could.....we would. And we would pay a pretty penny to get it done.
This. Jefferson fits very nicely with what we need offensively, a consistent low post option that's another 18-20ppg threat and doesn't slack on the boards. But defensively, we are awful. If we land him and go the Asik & Al frontcourt, I'd be fine with it. I'd be pissed with Smith or Millsap, but I'd love Aldridge, Love, or as someone mentioned before Bosh. The PPat trade was great. We got financial flexibility(Garcia is gone after this year, PPat is due for a bigger contract soon) and we got a relatively valued asset in Trob, plus got an additional asset in the absence of Doulgas(with Beverely).
I dont think Howard going to leave L.A. So it be nice to have a big that can score down low and also hit the jump shot.
Agreed. Dude has put up 2 triple doubles in his last 4 or 5 games. He can still play and would be a perfect fit for what we need.
I agree with you guys saying LA would be perfect, but I don't see Portland trading him, same goes for Love. If we were to get lucky enough to ad one of these guys, without giving up to much, I think we'd be right up there with OKC and SA as the best teams in the west. Maybe closer to Den/LAC/Mem but still western conference contenders. I still have my doubts that Denver will stay this good next year, but I say that every year. Personally, I dont want Jefferson. I would take Milsap but I dont think he makes us anything more than a 6-seed next year. I mentioned Josh Smith in the OP simply because his name has been linked to Houston for years it seems like. I do think he would make us significantly better, but probably still a couple steps behind OKC and SA. I think Smith puts us in the 4-5 seed range. Not sure if that qualifies as "contender". The idea of David West is growing on me. I'm not sure how likely it is that he re-signs with Indiana, But I think he makes us possible contenders, maybe not quite up to OKC's level but I think we could challenge for a top 4-seed, as long as everyone else make the improvements that I expect them to make. Bynum is another guy that will be talked about. As of now, I dont want him. If he was healthy and could stay healthy, I'd be all in. I think if we sign Bynum, we'll have to also sign one of the PFs mentioned. Which means no max deal for anyone. But a healthy Bynum next to David West down low would be dangerous. I also think West could keep Bynum out of trouble. I know West is kind of a douche on the court but he's supposedly a good guy and I wouldn't be worried about an attitude problem at all. And he would bring a MUCH needed toughness. As for Gasol, same as Bynum. If he's healthy, than he'd be great. I wouldn't trade for him though, so they would have to amnesty him. Im not sure what he would do to our financial situation but I think he can still play at a very high level if healthy. And if he's not healthy, his contract is up after next year anyway. Lastly, Dwight Howard would obviously be the 1st choice in free agency. I think getting Dwight would put us in a situation where we could be right up there with Miami and OKC in the next couple years IF we can address the PF spot as well. Bottom line is that we have tons of options, here they are in no particular order: Josh Smith---FA LA---Trade David West---FA Dwight Howard---FA Keven Love---Trade Gasol---Amnesty Milsap---FA Big Al---FA Bynum---FA It would be really hard to strike out on all of those options, so im pretty confident that one of these guys will be in Houston next year.
