Just what has led you to believe that Hinrich is gettable? BECAUSE OF BEN GORDON. REALISTICALLY HOW MANY SUPER YOUNG PGs CAN A TEAM HAVE? THEREFORE, HINRICH + BAD CONTRACT BECOMES 'DOABLE'. SAME WITH CRAWFORD. HOWARD AND TE FOR CRAWFORD AND JYD? COULD HAPPEN. I'D LIKE IT. BOBBY JAX MORE REALISTIC? NO, LESS. C-WEBB IS MORE REALISTIC. DOUGIE AND HIS WIFE ARE MORE REALISTIC. SAC WANTS TO SLASH PAYROLL TO UNDER 60. IT'S NOT MY MONEY SO I WISH LES WOULD PONY UP THE BIG $s (PROBABLY IMPRUDENTLY, BUT AS I SAID, IT'S NOT MY MONEY). KIDD WAS 'JUST KIDDING', BUT THE POINT WAS THAT TALENT IS OUT THERE, AND GET-ABLE. I SEE KIDD IN DALLAS (OR LA OR SA NEXT SEASON). AND, YES, I HAVE PATIENCE -- PROVIDED I AM NOT 'REWARDED' BY (IMO CRAP LIKE) WARD.
Good points, Jeff, however... I remember a time when it was said, "Wow! we've got Dream, Barkley, AND Pippen! We're gonna be unbeatable!" I remember a time when it was said, "Wow! We've got Dream, Barkley, And Steve Francis!" I remember a time when it was said, "Wow! We've got Francis, Mobley, and Eddie Griffin!" I remember a time when it was said, "Wow! We've got Francis, Mobley, Eddie Griffin, AND Yao Ming!" Recent history has taught Rocket fans to be wary. When we hear about the signing of big names, we're happy, but we also know we still have to look at our weaknesses and adjust them. Right now, our probable weakness is depth, so that's what is making us all nervous. The ultimate sports fantasy for Rocket fans is to be like the Bulls of old - when they were almost unbeatable. We don't want to be a team that's loaded with talent, yet struggles to make the playoffs. WE WANT TO DOMINATE. And the best thing we can do in the off-season to set up domination is to build a team that is talented, is deep, is hungry, and has chemistry. A flaw in any one of those areas could result in yet another year of underperformance. -- droxford
I have a quick thought that Id like to voice to see how reasonable it is to other people. I have been reading that Indiana really wants Damphier, but would have to unload salary to get him. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/213860p-184154c.html I would think that Damphier would love to go there and play along side of O'neal and play on maybe the best team in the east. If Indiana really wants to dump salary could they trade a guy or 2 for the TE and then not use it just to save $ to bring in Damphier? Tinsley and Foster for the TE?? Just Tinsley?? Tinsley was in the doghouse most of last year so maybe they would part with him if it meant getting a good center?? Just a thought, it may not even
Hinrich is not available. Not at any price, and any Bulls fan will tell you that. Unless we're talking Duncan, Kobe, McGrady, Garnett, Yao, Lebron, etc... Hinrich is not available in a package, and is NOT available alone. Ben Gordon is more available. But the truth is that they want both, and they want to split Gordon's timeat the 1 and 2. If Hinrich was even remotely available, the media would be all over it - something like that doesn't stay locked up.
Without a doubt, I totally agree with you Jeff, but if we can sign a backup center with minimium signing contract we might have a better chance.
What if they rersign Crawford? What if they could dump bad contracts? What if they could get a better fit for da Bulls? I will not say he's 'out there' but I am certain he could be had, particularly/especially if JC winds up back in Chicago.
According to RealGM... http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap.php#1090312020 Dampier lost? Hawks turn to Swift 07/20 - 5:10 AM Newsday's Greg Logan reports that even though Atlanta officials met with free agent center Erick Dampier yesterday, they are expected to leave him to the New York Knicks and shift their sights to restricted Grizzly free agent Stromile Swift. Meanwhile Chris Mullin, general manager Dampier's Golden State Warriors, denied published reports which stated an agreement was in place with the Knicks should that be Dampier's preferred location, with big men Othella Harrington and Nazr Mohammed heading to the bay area. "It's all speculation," Mullin told Bay Area reporters at a news conference introducing Warriors point guard Derek Fisher. "Nothing is imminent right now ... We're talking to several other teams. When something becomes clear, we're going to regroup and go from there." The Hawks have cap room to sign Dampier to a maximum contract but Logan writes they may be leery of his work ethic, which is why they are turning their attention to Swift. New York is offering Dampier a contract starting at $9 million per season. -- droxford
Yes I think New York wants him bad. It says in the artcile that they will not trade Bender, I thought maybe Tinsley would be nice. Looks like Atlanta is leaning toward Swift, thanks droxford.
I was thinking the same thing. A Dampier/Oneal front court would be nice and I thought I have heard more than a few times they weren't particularly high on Tinsley. I was kind of thinking along the lines of MoT+Wetherspoon+Pike for Tinsley+Pollard+Croshere. Both teams fill some needs especially if Ind. gets Dampier. We get a good point, an enforcer and maybe the change of scenery rejuvenates Croshere. Let them pick from the left over FA PG's. haha! Actually Mike james would fit well with them.
Jeff, Wonderful post. It just seems to me that a GM's job is to create and take opportunities that are available to give their team any legitimate advantage possible. The Tmac trade does just that. But there seems to be other opportunities to advance ourselves available and clearly there are holes in our lineup. As you point out there is now a weakness at the C position around the league and in the west. Taking advantage of that if there is an opportunity to do so would be a smart move, wouldn't it??
Jeff, I completely understand what you say. But one of the thing that I'm enjoying is that the Rox fans are not settling for less. I actually have been seeing some great objective analysis from a lot of fans on this BBS that I've never seen before. So, sure, you get the occasional, "the sky is falling thread" or "that player sucks, don't get him!" But over all, there's a lot of posters that know players. And not only the obvious, but the details and intangibles too. I think it's great that we are looking at each and every position and trying to FINE TUNE the TEAM. Leaving no stone unturned. From the most minute' detail to the most obvious statistic. In the past, I think many H-Town fans would have been happy to keep Yao (or Francis) and surround him with average role players, then let the chips fall where they may. You know, blind-rose-colored-homerism? You'd get the, "How dare you talk bad about our team! We're fine just the way we are!" or "Don't talk bad about my Yao (or Francis), he's my hero!" Ugh... Times have changed in H-Town BB. I want a dynasty (You know, your typical "bad-ass team!"). Not just a team that squeaks by and wins one ring (heart, determination, chemistry). Ok, fine. Yawn...But, a dynasty has it all; yes, I'm being stingy. I do agree with you that we need to be selective in the amount of money we pay out to older prospects. P.S. A good example of what I'm taking about and what I like is droxford's post of wisdom above and Hillboy's passion about getting things done. Of course, patience is a virtue. But doing nothing is not.
I'm a big fan of Yao, and I believe he will be the best center in the league shortly, but 17.5 and 9.0 are borderline all-star stats. The fact that there aren't very many solid centers in the NBA make these stats even less spectacular. I realize he's only played two years, so I'm not complaining about them at all. But this year will be a big challenge for Yao. He needs to step it up and show that he will be the league's next dominant center. I don't want him to be the second best center in the league at this point, or the best center in the league in years to come, by default. I'd like to see him play in such a way that it doesn't matter who he's up against, he will dominate. Yes, he played Shaq well last year; but he also let far too many mediocre players outplay him at other times. He hasn't been as consistent as I'd like, although I think that will come. From what I've seen up to this point, he is not yet ready to put a team on his back and carry them by sheer force of will. That's what guys like Hakeem, Shaq, and Jordan were capable of doing. Duncan is still capable of doing it. We traded away the guy who gave us the little bit of success we had in the playoffs this year by sheer force of will. I just want to see Yao step up and be willing to do that this coming year.
xiki - just because you want a player on your team doesn't mean that it is going to happen. In reality we all know chicago is not losing Hinrich with their big men in place. I would love to have him, he is one of my top three PG's in the league. But it ain't gonna happen, come back to reality. Hillboy - you represent the typical whiner who expects every year for his team to win the championship and to stock their roster like the Western Conference all stars. You can't squeeze blood from a stone. Also, sometimes discretion is more valuable to throwing money around. With the age of Yao and TMac we can be patient. That is the difference between this year and the ones you have been mentioning.
excellent post! the rox are doing the right thing by not (vastly) over-committing to these role players that are getting monster contracts. never has the mantra "you learn from your mistakes" been more applicable. CD has said that we're working on a trade for a PG, so you know something will be done. my only concern is obtaining a low post physical presence. i'm not sure who's out there, but the rox seem a little weak down low. but once again, overpaying for some no-name should not be an option. we need to stay the course..... just give it some time.
Reality check. OK, I am here. I have never stated it would happen, I merely point out the possibilities -- and the possibility of Hinrich moving is real. Domino #1 is the resigning of Crawford. Domino #2 is the emergence, if it occurs during SPL, of Duhon proving he belongs. Domino#3 is the willingness to take back a bad contract and offer good in return. Howard, to Chicago, is good. The TE to Chicago is good.
The TMac trade was a HUGE SPLASH, and I am still besides myself, I am thrilled beyond words. Now the search for the supporting cast. Barry and Fisher would have been nice fits, but, talk about "bloated" contracts, no thanks. The Rockets record on personnel is suspect, so some concern is justified. No, the "sky is not falling," but it would really be great if some timely strategic moves could be made before the season so that the Rockets could be a contender this year. When hope is kindled, expectations grow stronger, it's human nature. Thanks, Jeff, for the "fatherly" advice; however, I expect the board to be as diverse, frantic, outrageous, brilliant, ridiculous, insightful, juvenile, and impatient as ever. That's why I come here.
Crawford is more of a 2 anyway. I don't think resigning crawford has anything to do with getting Hinrich. Chicago does not need Howard and needs Hinrich. Explain why they would make such a trade. They don't need the trade exception that badly. They have young talent.
