We are not getting Varejao if the likes of the Grizzlies are ponying up 5 year, $40 million deals. Joe Smith should be a stopgap deal, anything more than 2 years $6 million or so would be overpaying.
Joe Smith is the perfect antidote to hostile crowds in Utah. Nobody in Salt Lake City can boo a guy named Joseph Smith.
Good reference to the Mormon leader, Herrera. But unfortunately, you overestimate the Jazz's standards of respect.
I disagree. He is worth (by NBA standards) 5/40. If Cavs won't pay then give them Rafer (they desperately need a 1) and Sura. Please. Then the off season is great. This guy is a talented Najera, better than McDyess (at this stage) and would be a good starting 4/back up 5 for years. I agree. Smith would be a stopgap and decent value at 2/6. It will probably take too much, 3/12 to get that done.
Well, it looks like Ron Artest may be off the market as well: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2931266 Report: Artest doesn't want to leave friends in Sacramento ESPN.com news services Updated: July 10, 2007, 9:40 AM ET The Ron Artest-to-the-Knicks trade winds have been downgraded by the player himself to a slight breeze. Artest told the New York Post that he wants to remain with Sacramento and retire as a King. Artest's comments contradicted statements his agent made last week, indicating that his client, a Queens native who attended St. John's, wanted to return home. "I really want to finish my career in Sacramento because of my relationship with some of the players," Artest said, according to the Post. "I want to finish with Sacramento. I feel attached to Sacramento. I want to be their franchise player." Last month, Ron Artest told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that he was pleased by the hiring of Reggie Theus as the Kings' new coach and expected to remain with the franchise. Blog Insider Artest also said he was told by Kings general manager Geoff Petrie that he would not be traded, and Artest told Petrie he probably would not opt out of his contract after next season, the Post reported. "Ron is going to be a King," Petrie said Monday, denying he has had any conversations with the Knicks' front office. "People are having conversations with themselves." Artest has two years left on his contract and can opt out next summer, but he told the Post that was unlikely. "I'm not looking to break the bank. I probably won't opt out," he told the newspaper. "I'm not chasing the money too much. I'm worried about winning more than opting out. For $8.5 million [in 2009-2010] I won't complain." Artest, a mercurial forward and former Pacer best known for his role in instigating Indiana's brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004, is coming off a troubled 2006-07 season. After being accused of animal cruelty, which did not result in charges, he was arrested and charged in March with assaulting his wife. Artest pleaded no contest to the charge in May and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project. He finished the 2006-07 season averaging 18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Splash???
I don't believe Artest or Petrie. Artest's opinion is irrelevant. No one gives a damn what he thinks. He changes his mind every other day, so that's no big deal. Now Petrie apparently is asserting that he wont trade Artest but then again he said the same thing a few years back about Webber at the trade deadline and sure enough he ends up trading Webber. If Petrie gets a good deal, he'll make it. So far I guess he hasn't seen a deal he likes or a deal the Maloofs will approve of.
Then what would satisfy you as the 'answer' to our PF problems? Do you want a guy who can score or defend? It's tough in this league to find one that can do both at the same time. In fact, the only ones that can are perennial all-stars. So that narrows it down to choosing PF(a) Joe Smith & offense or PF(b) Varaejo & defense. Or we could just go with what TMac said regarding the PF situation. A dog who can rebound, block shots, and give us 10 or so ppg. But no, to most of you here the only way we get the answer we want is to have a KG clone drop out of the sky. Please be realistic.
gee guys, Joe Smith isn't the answer? really? We're not going to find a good PF out there that does what we need. Joe Smith rebounds and has length and height. I'd take it. Smith, Hayes, and Landry isn't that bad of a PF lineup.
Don't have time or desire to check if all are still available. Most are faster than Smith. Some can double at C. But then again...the Rockets are not going to over pay so that decreases the any list that might include Amir Johnson or Varajao, right? Lo Wright Mikki Moore Aaron Williams Lawrence Roberts (UFA) and/or (RFA) Alexander Johnson (since the Grizz have Warrick and are after Varejao) Louis Amundson Francisco Elson Melvin Ely
We have too many small chips put togther not to be trading for one big one in a starting PF somewhere... It wouldnt suprise me in the least to add some vet depth with the MLE or LLE at the 4, but it would very much suprise me to have said player starting for us at the 4. Look for Wilcox in a Rockets uni IMO, looks like they are gutting that roster big time now... Say what you will about his flaws and/or contract, but Wilcox is a quality, starting NBA PF.
Alexander Johnson would have been a nice 2nd round throw-in in the Battier trade. I'd be okay with a Lawrence Roberts pickup. He's a guy I could definitely see producing next to Yao.
Wilcox is personally my favorite as well. Same as Joe Smith, bit less coordinated but loads more explosive. And not to mention, far younger. He can develop alongside Yao. Just not sure if Seattle would do it. I know they've got Collison as their bonafide starting PF but who do we have that appeals to them for a trade other than cap space?
