I can't start a poll or a new post, but could someone do this poll for our possible PF? Ike Diogu, Channing Frys, Amir Johnson, or Darko Milici?
Darko has the best combination of some production and upside, and is the longest of shots. If he is left with MLEs to choose (very slim possibility), we could be in there as we are a good team who can offer a starting spot. Ike and Sheldon Williams, very similar players on teams deep in PFs and maybe looking for guard help (start with Alston or Head), could be viable. Both are more similar than dissimilar, Ike is a little better offensively, Williams a little better hands/steals. Both could provide duty as 3rd back up C. Frye is very soft. (BTE Lee is a much better player than Fry, and played more minutes. Fry for Zach does reduce Lee's minutes and role, the poster was correct. That said I think Lee would be really hard to get. Probably more expensive than Diogu or S Williams, but worth exploring for any package that doesn't include Yao, Tmac and Battier, and maybe even with Battier) Cook is some soft too, but at least he can hit the 3 and add another dimension. I have him on the modest interest list. Amir is a fine prospect, the problem is the Rockets need someone now. Andray Blatche is another like this. Very high risk that you can sign him to a contract that won't be matched in which he earns (see Jackie Butler but costing more). I really think these options are nearly as unlikely as Darko, who actually is more proven than these 2 and appears to be unrestricted unless Sea and Orl work something out on th Lewis front (S&T). After that it looks like older, 32+ crew of somewhat proven folks like Webber, PJ Brown, Joe Smith, Mikki Moore. All have red flags but all would help at this point. I hope it doesn't come down to these guys but it might. Sweetney for the vet min (off a terrible year in Chi but not so terrible the 2 years before) and Lawrence Roberts for the vet min to maybe LLE could also add depth. Roberts in particular could be a fall back.
The problem with Ike is his constant fouling. Even though the stats show he has only 2.1 PFs in 12 minutes. He takes himself out of some games fairly quickly. Check out his most recent month of play, April. 04/18 4 fouls, taken out after 29 mins 04/17 6 fouls, taken out after 27 mins 04/15 3 fouls, taken out after 10 mins 04/13 6 fouls, taken out after 10 mins 04/11 2 fouls, taken out after 11 mins(good game) 04/10 3 fouls, taken out after 8 mins 04/07 3 fouls, taken out after 16 mis 04/06 0 fouls, 5 minutes of play(he wasn't used in this game) 04/03 4 fouls, taken out after 14 mins 04/01 5 fouls, taken out after 31 mins Yao has nothing on Ike when it comes to getting in foul trouble. Ike will deliver fouls 3 fouls in 1 quarter, 6 fouls in less than 30 mins.
Very good post...couldn't have said it better myself. We need help in the rebounding department so I'd be looking for a big that has awesome rebounding stats even moreso than the scoring stats. That is why I'd also look at Wilcox and Collison. Although for a long stretch there last season Collison just dissappeared but then so did Wilcox.
Travis Outlaw(Blazers)--they need SF like Battier Darko Milicic(FA)-- Tim Thomas(Clippers)--they need PG very much S.Swift,H.Warrick,R.Gay(Grizzlies)--they need PG Cook(Lakers)--they need PG Reggie Evans,Eduardo Najera(Nuggets)--they need PG because Blake will go.
I have to admit I was floored when they not only picked up a guard in the first round, but Arron Brooks, whom I know the Spurs were looking at getting with the 58th pick!!! Odd choice, but I think now it'll be interesting to see how the new staff handles the 4 spot. I know Chuck cracked JVG who doesn't often let baisically Rookies start like Chuck did, so obviously Hayes is an infectios type of player (seen at Modesto Christian, UK, and now in Houston). He's been described as every coaches dream, but Adelman's system doesn't use someone like him (unless we utilize his passing ability). The next couple of weeks will tell us a lot.
I have a deal, give me your thoughts Miami out James Posey Re-sign $7,500,000+ Antoine Walker $7,606,820 Jason Williams $8,250,000 second pick of 2008 in Corey Maggette $7,000,000 Shane Battier $5,393,300 Mike Bibby $12,500,000 The lineup just looks better. Rockets out Shane Battier $5,393,300 Bob Sura $3,840,000 Vassilis Spanoulis $1,800,000 John Lucas $700,000 Bonzi Wells $2,115,000 or Kirk Snyder $1,537,440 in Ron Artest $7,526,316 Anderson Varejao sign and trade 7m+ second pick of 2008 from Miami We have our Starting PF and a backup C, other starting PF and starting SF Sacramento Kings out Ron Artest $7,526,316 Mike Bibby $12,500,000 in Jason Williams $8,250,000 Antoine Walker $7,606,820 ???? Ask Huoston for Head???? Just want to dump Ron and Bibby, probably ask some teams for 1st round. Cleveland Cavaliers out Anderson Varejao sign and trade 7m or less. in Bob Sura $3,840,000 Vassilis Spanoulis $1,800,000 Bonzi Wells $2,115,000 or Kirk Snyder $1,537,440 Cleveland can do a other trade with Bucks for Mo Williams. cut first two players for extra 5.6m Los Angeles Clippers out Corey Maggette $7,000,000 in James Posey sign and trade 7 m and plus. Corey is going to be replaced by Al Thornton in any way. Los angels has a chance to get a player which has better D and plausible Offense. I think it is a good deals for all the teams and the real GMs cand do the salary matching.
Looks like Isaiah is considering trading David Lee for Ron Artest. Maybe we could get into the action by offering Battier. Something like Battier and Head for Jerome James and David Lee. Malik or Jeffries could work instead of James as well. http://www.nypost.com/seven/07042007/sports/knicks/artest_ing_the_market_knicks_marc_berman.htm ARTEST-ING THE MARKET ISIAH CONSIDERS TRADING FOR RON By MARC BERMAN <B>KINGS' RANSOM:</B> With the Kings making Ron Artest (left) available, the Knicks have to consider the value of trading David Lee for the troubled forward, who was coached by Isiah Thomas while with the Pacers. KINGS' RANSOM: With the Kings making Ron Artest (left) available, the Knicks have to consider the value of trading David Lee for the troubled forward, who was coached by Isiah Thomas while with the Pacers. PrintEmailDigg ItRedditPermalinkStory Bottom July 4, 2007 -- Rashard Lewis is off the table, Ron Artest is on the block, and Isiah Thomas must decide if it's worth trading David Lee to the Kings to put his former Indiana star on the Knicks. With Lewis agreeing in principle to sign with the under-the-salary-cap Magic, Thomas can concentrate his sights and trade assets on a run at Artest, who played three seasons for Thomas in Indiana but now is being shopped in Sacramento. Thomas, who negotiated with Lewis' agent July 1, also has spoken to the Kings about Artest. Lewis' signing in Orlando is a double blow to the Knicks, who could be fighting it out with the Magic for a final playoff seed. Orlando made the playoffs last season, in the eighth slot. When Artest was peddled by Indiana 18 months ago, the Knicks had tepid interest. Thomas had a brief conversation with Pacers president Donnie Walsh and told him he wasn't willing to give up any of his young players. The conversation ended there. Times have changed. The Knicks are in a different place following the Zach Randolph trade. The organization believes it is not that far away from competing for the conference title in the awful East and is willing to part with a young player or two. They now boast as much talent as any Knicks team since the 1998-99 version that went to the NBA Finals. The Knicks always could wait on Artest, 27, until next summer, when he may opt out of his contract for 2008-09. Artest is on record saying in his final days in Indiana he didn't care where he was traded, he'd still opt out in 2008 to sign with the Knicks. Thomas is comfortable with his roster, but said Monday, "I don't consider this a finished product by any stretch." "Let it be known Ron loves Isiah, always has," Artest's agent, Mark Ste- vens, told The Post yesterday. "Being a Knick, that's his childhood dream. He's a New Yorker. We'll see if it happens." If it was once, Artest's baggage is no longer considered a major deterrent, especially because Thomas has coached him. Owner James Dolan's philosophy is not to judge a player on his past but on what he does as a Knick. Dolan, a recovering alcoholic and former cocaine user, believes in second chances, as the Vin Baker signing showed and the Randolph deal confirmed. Artest's list of NBA suspensions, low-lighted by the brawl with the Pistons, will not scare away the Knicks. Small forward is their lone weak link, with Quentin Richardson, coming off disk surgery, and offensively challenged Jared Jeffries sharing duties. The Knicks need to improve their perimeter defense to make up for the poor interior "D" of big men Eddy Curry and Randolph. Thomas never has wavered on his belief Artest is an elite player, even when his image was battered. When Artest was traded for Peja Stojakovic, Thomas' lone comment was a subdued, "He's a great player." Offering Lee could seal a package with the Kings. But that may not be a popular move with Knicks fans, who loved Lee's rebounding and hustle. Lee averaged a double-double last season and is a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate. On the flip side, the Knicks have a Lee-in-the-making, Renaldo Balkman. For now, Thomas would rather make available Jeffries or Malik Rose and a prospect or two, either Randolph Morris, Mardy Collins, Nate Robinson or Balkman. First-round pick Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols also can be traded because they have not yet signed a contract. The total aggregate of salary going back to Sacramento would have to total in the $8 million range. marc.berman@nypost.com
Trading with Knicks for David Lee is not a option for Kings, b/c David Lee and Kevin Martin both get out of Rookie contract in 2008. Even 20 m is not enough for both of these two.
I would make a Battier for Lee swap in a heartbeat. Adding James' contract and Head would make me think a little harder, but I'd still probably make the deal.
Would the Kings inherit bird rights for David Lee? If not, they lose him with an offer of the MLE in 2008. Bibby has opted in and will be there for 2 more years. Miller has 3 more seasons. SAR has 3 more seasons. If Bonzi had accepted the $38.5 million contract, they would have been in even more trouble.
Artest being on the block means being a Rocket is a possibility. We have tradeable assets to get him. We've gone through this before. I was sure that the Maloofs were going to keep him so the rumors went away but now..we are back where we started. All we have done is trade Juwan away and added draft picks. Basically we are back where we started. Rockets could actually pickup Artest.
Rockets should really concentrate on trade. I don't mean they should stop askin' for FA but trades would make us better, one good trade. For me the best option would be to make a deal for Chris Wilcox or other similar PF.
* It has been said the Kings do not want to deal with the Rockets (Adelman). * Ron Artest said he would opt out of his contract next year to sign with the Knicks.
