That's why Morey is working on a trade to get a center. I think we do have a choice we just don't have one just yet. Patience there is still time. The season doesn't start till October.
If guys like Marvin Williams and JR Smith are indeed available for MLE contracts...I can bet they would love to play here as Morey would be able to give them any young player wants....A bigger role. I'd prbly sign Smith over Williams though because Smith has shown me some things you see from All-star players. Off-court issues though are not good...
I'd take Marvin Williams or JR Smith in a heartbeat. I have no idea if either of them is realistic though.
I like marvin but he plays the 3/4 and the Rockets already have Landry/Scola/Hayes/Battier/Ariza in those spots. If you sign MWilliams, its b/c you are planning on trading Landry (hopefully not Scola).
Yeah but Marvin is a Forward and you'd think we'd have enough of them. I'd like him, he's 22 and he can only go up. It's entirely possible that coaching has failed him, coaching plays a BIG part in how players develop. I think it may be him because of who else is out there... it's not going to be a Center because it says that will be filled through trade (if planned) so i'm thinking not PF because we have enough of those. SG? But who is out there? Luther Head (LOL no chance.) Allen Iverson (I hope not) Von Wafer (Possibly) So IMO Williams is the best one out there and as a rebuilding team one of the best things to do is just stock up on young talent.
we're gonna be small... but marvin williams is AN AWESOME idea. i have no idea how possible this is, but talk about a new young nucleus... who wouldn't want to come to houston in 2010? marvin williams has tremendous upside. maybe he needs the right fit to really blossom? and this year he could get that in houston.
I thought I heard Jannero Pargo's name out there. Is he available also or does he still belong to N.O.?
I love that we're just throwing as many names as we can out there, and NONE OF US is gonna end up being right because it's Daryl Morey lol. Having the MLE again with an entire class of players out there stranded thanks to the now lower cap and lux tax, plus the fact that there's just no teams left out there to spend money, makes me feel like we're going through the 2009 NBA Draft Part II. We have our pick of the unsigned litter, and restricted FA's if they don't get a half-decent offer are 99% staying with their original teams, so in my mind this market is not a buyer's market, it's a ROCKET'S market, with maybe one last expensive player out there for Portland to pick up (Odom?). In the end it wouldn't surprise me if Morey picked a chump off our summer league roster to be the backup C. Have you seen our roster? There's one guy below 6"4, and like five guys over 6"9.
Hawks signed Zaza and Bibby so are they over the cap? If so, a strong play towards Marvin and they may not match, especially if they are considering getting Childress back...and lets face it...the Hawks haven't been one of the more aggressive teams. They probably are done spending and they didn't have Marvin last season and it didn't really stop them from improving... I know a full MLE is crazy, but he's restricted, you gotta be aggressive and Adelman is a ELITE coach in the NBA. Yeah he looks like he never cares when we are down 15 and we don't make any changes...but he's a guy like Phil, Pops, Larry, Sloan etc that is going to bring out the best in his guys. He doesn't have a ring to show for it...but Phil Jackson has a lot to do with that. Plus, Morey said he's going to trade for a Center. Marvin makes Battier extra expendable with two SFs on the team, both are probably quick enough to play SG... IDK, if we're going to go after a guy it seems he'd be on the list right now. Bring another young player in as a asset.
So what are the realistic options in pursuing a C via trade? the criteria will be: (1) can exist alongside Yao; (2) will expire next season; (3) can run the floor (4) can protect the rim - ie blocks shots. I've heard Morey say a number of times that we're looking to run this season. Obviously if we're picking up a C via trade that has a contract into 2010, they'll need to be happy with 15mpg OR could play next to Yao as a PF. If they expire, then point (1) is redundant. Obviously we have 0 shotblockers on the roster at the moment, so we badly need one to deter the drive. So here are the options via trade with those criteria in mind: (in order of highest salary to lowest) (1) Jermaine O'Neal. Straight swap for Tracy McGrady - still leaves us with an enormous expiring to play with should we desire it - fits all the criteria, but is also well known as injured. (2) Amar'e Stoudemire. Trade involving McGrady and other peices on both sides. Hard to think of an appealing scenario for Phoenix - but he fits criteria 1 and 3 to a tee - not a terrible shot-blocker, but not known for his defence at all. Would fit well with Scola now (ie - they have contrasting skills). Well reported that he's keen to opt out if he doesn't get a max extension, so we'd be getting some super productivity out of him for the year! (3) Ben Wallace. I can't think of a reason why we'd persue Ben - is a shot blocker but his best days are clearly behind him. Makes $14million and expires - but I don't know how we'd make a trade work. Probably NOT an option. (4) Brad Miller. Would be a marginally viable 1 year rental - although doesn't run, and isn't a noted shot-blocker. His $12million salary would be hard to match without giving up either space next season or too much asset wise. Probably not a very good fit at all. (5) Eric Dampier. Probably be quite nice for jsut the 1 season - can rebound, play D, block shots and run the floor. Again, well paid at $12m and would be difficult to bring over. (6) Mark Blount. Not very good at anything - but he is 7' tall. Expiring contract of $7mill is probably the only point in having him - and Miami would want either expirings, or something of value in return. Pointless to pursue. (7) Etan Thomas. Similar contract to Blount - but can rebound and run. The fact that he's 6'10 and can block shots would be the only reason to bring him in. Can't think of anything worth giving up for him though. The list then collapses to the guys who are getting less than $4 million - basically those still on rookie scale contracts, or those who aren't worth trading for anyway (as if the above list is!) The standouts there are Marreese Speights, Jason Thompson and probably Marc Gasol. But I can't see their teams parting with them for our junk. Someone help me out with anyone I might have missed? A big guy with an expiring contract (or a continuing contract for under $5million) who can guard the rim and run the floor? Someone who makes more sense to play than, say, Chuck Hayes? Because as it stands, I can't see why we'd bother trading for someone who can't do much and play them in place of Scola, Landry, Hayes. Yet we desperately need size. I'll introduce a "dark horse" - Jason Smith. 7'0 and completely buried on the 76'ers bench behind their plethora of bigs. Missed last season with an injury (ACL?) - but if he's recovered, could be a useful pickup. He's mobile, can stick a 15' and isn't the worst shot-blocker in the world. Tremendously cheap too. I can't see him being worse than Blount anyway...
Ok just read Matt Barnes was not going to resign with the Suns...he is intriguing but kinda of a jerk at times. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/2009/07/07/20090707sunshill0708.html With the Suns' trying to keep Hill and how Jared Dudley played under Gentry, it appears free-agent small forward Matt Barnes will not be back. Barnes said his agent, Aaron Goodwin, told him Dallas, Cleveland, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers (before Ron Artest's signing) showed interest but the Suns have not. "I guess they're headed in a different direction," Barnes said. "It was a hectic year. I don't think anyone was at their full potential on the team with the coaching situation (Terry Porter's hiring and firing). After the season, Alvin Gentry told me he wanted me back and that I fit his style and he'd always wanted to coach me. Steve Kerr was honest and said they might not have too much money." Barnes came to the Suns on a one-year, $926,678 deal last year with the idea of a major role in a beneficial system leading to a better contract. He averaged career highs in points (10.1) and rebounds (5.5) but faces a tough market.
I think the rockets should go after AI if he can accept a one-year MLE. He is a great 2 guard, and I think he will be a good fit for Adelman's system.
I can't see the Hawks signing Zaza and Bibby if they anticipated it preventing them from retaining Marvin Williams. I would definitely offer him the full MLE but I can't see the Hawks not matching.
