Why this thread: There's a fair amount of debate as to the future of this team. Some feel we don't have enough assets to do anything other than be perennial early playoff exits. Others feel we can re-load and if yao comes back healthy, we can be dangerous. Assumption: Let's assume (and not debate for the purposes of this thread) that Yao returns healthy next year and picks up where he left off last year. Also, let's assume we can bring in a starting caliber SG with Tmac's contract or in FA. Question/Poll: If we return the following lineup in 2010, what do we have? Brooks/Lowry SG akin to Butler quality/Buddinger Ariza/Battier Scola/Landry Yao/Dorsey/Hayes Standard Disclaimer: As always, my apologies if there's been a thread on this before, but I haven't seen it.
Good line-up....but there won't be a parade w/ that. Theres no telling how Yao will be when he comes back. I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back as a Big Z +
Need a true backup center. Last year we had a near championship team: Brooks / Lowry Battier at his best Scolandry Yao / Deke
It's a pretty good lineup, though I doubt you get a solid two guard and still get to keep Scola and Landry. Say bye to one of them. But right now, and probably for the next few years, everything goes through the Lakers. I live in LA, so I've watched almost all the games. They are just a step above everyone. A lot of that has to do with just how loaded they are at every position.
I do not believe that will be enough to make us a contender. We need a healthy Brandon Roy at the SG plus a consistent tough minded true backup 5,and another shooter to become a winning team IMO.
I know there's some debate as to whether we can land a solid SG. I just wanted to poll based on our upside.
Good lineup but the system does not fit this lineup. Butler needs the ball as well to be effective. He doesn't shoot the 3 well enough. Same with Ariza at shooting 3s. We need a 2/3 player who can shoot the 3 and create.
Not many people expected us to play as well as we have this season, so you just don't know. I think it would be fun to see what that team could do. They might not be the favorite, but I think they would be a contender.
We need a SG in the truest sense of the word...ie Kevin Martin, 08' Ray Allen, or a 6'6 Aaron Brooks...no Caron Butler/Iguodala types that are more like SFs but masquarade as SGs.
Worst case TMAC doesn't get dealt and rots on the bench well... 1) Yao returns 2) Mid 1st rd pick to upper 1st 3) MLE (Mike Miller :grin: ) 4) LLE (Probably a backup center) You have 4 new players right there and probably another as I don't think Battier and Ariza will both be here next year with my money on Battier to be moved. IMO and strictly IMO...on the 18th we trade TMAC/Bud/#1 for Butler/Haywood/Stevenson for 2010-11 1) Yao returns 2) Butler gets a training camp to get into the offense 3) Still have a MLE (Mile Miller please :grin: ) 4) I believe we would still have a LLE to get a nice backup center/veteran 5) Battier gets moved Brooks/Lowry/Temple or Conroy or 2nd rd pick Morey will surely aquire Butler/Budinger/Stevenson Ariza/Mike Miller/Taylor Landry/Hayes/Dorsey Yao/Backup center/Andersen Dam good team with attractive expiring contracts still in play for next deadline to find the last key missing piece if necessary like Stevenson, Dorsey or Andersen even Butler. :grin:
I'd say a playoff team not a contender, it's just to easy to take yao out of games with fronting. Which is why I don't think we will ever win a championship with him as the main go-to guy. Were atleast a all-star wing player away from true contention.
if you have a butler/igoudala level guy as your second best player, you're contending for a championship. you're a good team, but not title quality.
A step closer to being a contender, it really REALLY depends on the SG we bring in and Yao of course. Can Brooks be a really good 3rd option? I think so, it just depends on who the first and 2nd are.
Leebigez, where's your vote on this. I think you'd view this as a first round exit type of team, but I'm curious.
To be a contender you got to have closers man. Yao isn't a closer because they just double team him at the end of games. And Brooks is good but he doesn't have the ability to pass over people. T-mac was suppose to be that guy, so who will replace him? I don't think Butler will be the guy although he hits some nice late shots he's too inconsistent. I think we need to look to 2011 free agency.
