Lets say we strike out on the Joe Johnson's and Chris Bosh's of free agency. Who will Morey try and go after if the initial plan falls through? My dream scenario would be.. Trade Ariza / Jeffries / 2nd round pick for Rudy Gay. Then go and solidify our back up SG by trading Shane Battier for Rudy Fernandez. It's obvious that Portland is wanting to part ways with Fernandez, and I think he is a solid energy player off the bench to compliment Kevin Martin. With our MLE I think we address the back up C position on a guy like Brendan Haywood. If all of those things were to happen our lineup would look something like this.. PG- Brooks / Lowry SG- Martin / Fernandez / Taylor SF- Gay / Budinger PF- Scola / Hill / Patterson C- Yao / Haywood / Hayes --------------------- Who are some others guys that Morey might go after in a potential sign in trade? Al Jefferson? Gerald Wallace?.. Discuss
You don't even want to trade Ariza for Rudy Gay straight up at this moment. Rockets will have enough offense, but not enough defense next season. Ariza for Gay would make the problem even bigger. Watch the playoffs, defense is way more important when it comes to playoff time.
I would look to swindle Kahn in Minnesota and try to get Al Jefferson on the cheap then either trade for Rudy Fernandez or Sign Mike Miller. With whatever's left go sign Brad Miller and that would be fine by me. Brooks/Lowry Martin/Fernandez or M.Miller Ariza/Battier Jefferson/Scola/Patterson Yao/B.Miller/Hill Bud, Jeffries, Taylor and picks would be the bait.
The thing about it is, by this point in the game, the players have conveyed a lot of messages under the table and there is a pretty good idea of the teams that have no chance. I don't think we have a chance with Lebron because he has made that known to his guys.
I think in this thread we need to focus on more of the non-superstar type players that can impact our team. There are too many teams veying for one or two of the few available superstars. I think we are best suited assuming we dont make a huge splash by adding a superstar. With that said, my number one target is Brendan Haywood. The dude was getting paid the mle, but with his lack luster performance, contributed by his lack of minutes, will really help us out to hopefully get him with less than the full MLE. As far as free agents go, i think that is the only realistic player we have to acquire. As for possible sign and trade... I love Gerald Wallace as a fit for this team. He would bring back that toughness we had with Ron Ron, and i feel he would just mesh with AB and Yao flawlessly. Problem is, Charlotte is on the rise, so we would have to give them instant talent as well as young developing talent. Perhaps an Battier/Hill would be enough to let him go. Battier would give them that veteran leadership that they really seemed to be lacking when they reached the playoffs. Bc Wallace is getting paid pretty much the same as Martin, and has 3 years left on his deal, getting him should leave us enough cap space to resign lowry/scola. Along with jeffries expiring the following year, we will be able to give brooks his legit contract. I just think this are the best fesible smart basketball moves to improve this team for this year, as well as making us a contender for years to come. Thoughts????
CP3 and Okafor for Jeffries, Battier, Hill, AB, and NYK 2012 pick. Might need to include a third team since NO has Collison and may not want AB. Move AB to the third team and a similar talent non PG asset to NO.
We can always stand pat, which isn't a horrible situation. Besides, there's always the Knicks pick watch next season to help with the future.
He's defense isn't GREAT but it's average, like most at his position. A 6'8 230 athletic wing can improve their defense when at 23 years old. Trev just comes at a much cheaper price. With that said, I like this idea.. Wouldn't mind Wallace though.. His defense is established
Taking Oakfor would be the reason the Hornets may give up CP3. He has a looong contract around 10-12M per year, but he is a legitimate double double backup center/Yao insurance. CP3/Lowry Martin/Taylor Ariza/Buddinger Scola/Patterson Yao/Okafor That is a championship caliber lineup.
I like the thinking outside the box on that but do we really think that CP3 with Yao will work??? I just dont see it happening. Not to mention the horrid okafor contract. With Martin/CP3/yao/okafor/soon to be scola contracts, we will be in a bind for years to come with a bunch of 30 year olds and the lightning CP3. I just dont like that thought. "meh" - i like where you're thinking. I have been very content with sitting pat with what we have. I think getting a summer and training camp to reassert yao and martin, and we will be a tough team to deal with. Unless we r going to be filling a need, or significantly making our team better, i dont see why we should use the MLE this year and overpay someone. Mike miller is the perfect example of that i think. Ya hes good, but we have C-bud people younger, more explosive, at least an equal shot, and alot cheaper.
