Our starting lineup for 2006-7

OK, even better, keep head and use a future pick instead. Then:

C:Yao, Deke (SOLVED)
PF:Gooden/Wilcox/Radmonovic/Nene, etc., Battier, Howard, Hayes, Novak (SOLVED)
SF:Battier, McGrady, Novak (SOLVED)
SG:McGrady, James, Head (Defense could be an issue, but it always is)
PG:James/some other PG with MLE, Alston, Head (SOLVED)

V-Span could go somewhere in there too. Looks pretty good if you ask me.

 

TE isn't enough for those guys.

 

I think Chuck can help us against Dallas. Which player did the best job on Dirk in the playoffs? Udonis Haslem, an undersized, yet quick and strong PF with good intangibles. Granted, it helps when Dirk stops getting the calls that he got against San Antonio, but Haslem did a very good job, even though he was hurt.

Chuck is pretty much a clone of Haslem, except he could be stronger, and he doesn't have the mid-range shot yet.

 

are you sure? i keep hearing differing things about that. Gooden's contract is 4.1 million and the TE is 4.2. that should work out right?

 

his qualifying offer is $5 million

 

The trade exception has to be within 25% percent of the swapped players salary so it doesn't have to be an exact match, we can go higher or lower.

 

That would work. 5 mill is within 25% of 4.2. mill

 

1. What is a qualifying offer?

2. I thought you couldn't combine players saleries with a TE, so what does it mean that the TE has to be within 25% of the swapped playeries salary?

 

I meant the players salary that is swapped for the TE. The 4.2 mill TE could net a player that makes 5 mill per because it's within 25%. of the 4.2 mill TE.

 

Ahh. thank you. now i understand.

ok, now what exactly is a sign-and-trade and how does that help?

 

Gooden is a FA and is going to want more than 4.2.

 

we cant outright sign a guy cuz we're over the cap already. we have the trade exception worth $4.2 million, so we can trade the TE for a guy who's salaray is within the 25% range of the $4.2 million. The team we are going to trade with resigns the player we want, and then trades him for our TE. Hence, it is called a sign and trade.

 

his qualifying offer is around $5 million, the cavs can resign him for $5 million and trade him for the 4.2 TE

nene is a cheaper option, his qualifying offer is $4.1m. denver is over the cap and has fat contracts with kmart and andre, and carmelo is due for a raise. a big body who can bang down low.

 

thanks. what do you think of deshawn stevenson? good fit? could we get him?

 

also matt harpring has said repeatedly that he would like to play for a contender, and he can shoot lights out.

 

kmart is gone, so the nugs might want to keep nene around.

 

how can they get rid of him?

 

That's exactly why Heat and Mavs are good this year.

 

Historically though, a dominant 1-2 punch has proven more successful than a team that is 9 deep. Im not questioning the value of quality depth-- its an asset every team should attempt to acquire.

But for the Rockets, they have 2 elite players (T-mac, Yao) and are built more like the championship Lakers (as much as I hate to say it) or Bulls teams as opposed to the Pistons.

The Heat and Mavs each have 1 elite player (Wade and Dirk) and then above average players at every other position. And while that is a good way to build a team, at least in recent history, two-headed giants have done quite well in the playoffs.

So for the Rockets, you will be hard-pressed to see them constructed like the Heat or Mavs-- in fact I would argue that the Rox would do worse if they tried to look like them because that would minimize the touches of T-mac and Yao.

I would also argue that if the Mavs had Nash, Dirk, and only 5 other players similar to the quality they currently have, they might have won the championship.