Hopefully we're making offers now, before the fire sales begin and we're competing with other teams. As for this year, I like Big Al, but whoever it is, I hope Morey is working the phones right now! Plan A, is over with, confirmed. I'm sure Plan B is in a Knicks hat. So, whatever Plan C is, be aggressive, but don't overpay!!
Nobody at this time. I think Morey waits for Lebron to make his decision and for the secondary FA market (Boozer, Lee, etc.) to settle a bit while looking for opportunities that open up. Could happen soon like Ariza last year, coudl be something that won't be consummated until later. Why, because it's his nature. According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moray_eel Daryl "the Eel" Morey is an ambush predator.
I agree, let's go to war with the same group of guys. Martin will play a full year, Ming is back, Hill is improving, Bud will only get better. I think all we need is Brad Miller to give Yao some rest, as it was noted that Yao would play less minutes in the beginning of the season. But our team was a good team w/out Yao. Don't mess up the chemistry in my opinion, and add PPat in the mix, we should be well off, plus its not like other teams have made any real good changes, The lakers i hate to say it will still be the team to beat, but with more size this year we can accomplish that, because our team has more heart.
To: Everyone who wants Lee or Jefferson From: The Facts Re: Defence Um, we went from a top 4 defensive team under JVG + Thibodeau, with Yao, McGrady, and Alston to a bottom half or so team last season. Brooks and Martin are known to be bad defenders but they look like like Batman compared to Jefferson and Lee. A team starting 3 poor defenders plus a limited mobility Yao (you though his PnR defence was bad before) and a you pickem of Ariza or Battier would be torn to shreds. We'd give up 100+ every game.
JVG's team also had YAO and DEKE defending the basket and a younger, quicker, and more agile Shane Battier (before the injuries). If you're starting a 6'6 center can't block shots or intimidate in the paint, the rest of your defense will suffer.
Put down another vote for Al Jefferson...dude will make a big comeback this season, being his second year after surgery.
Also forgot to mention...with RA's uptempo pace, more points will be scored due to more possessions per team. JVG liked to use 20 of the 24 seconds of the shot clock. RA likes to score as quick as possible and score on fast breaks. The key stat to look at here is what the opposing team's FG% is and how many points they end up scoring PER POSSESSION. HOW MANY POINTS a team scores is irrelevant IMO.
Re-sign Scola and Lowry, use the MLE on Brad Miller (hopefully only part of it). With all of our young talent just getting better, we should be a pretty good team. Not Championship caliber yet, but pretty good... conference semis good.
So you would not count Ariza and Battier as guys that can D up and shoot the three ball? I would take either one over Raja, even if he does have a slightly better stroke.
If we can't get B. Miller, we should go for Tyson Chandler..i like his shot blocking and can start for Yao...but another injury prone player
Three options: 1.) Trade Yao + Battier + Scola to a contender, build through the draft and pieces we got back. 2.) Trade assets for another "B" piece, ie Jefferson, Iggy, etc. and go to war. 3.) Keep the vets and try to compete with an undermanned team while still improving through the draft via Knicks picks.
