How Would You Make Your Team Better This Summer?
Would you trade for this man?With all but two NBA teams having been eliminated from championship contention, the focus for everyone not in L.A. and Boston is on getting better this offseason. The Draft is in a little more than two weeks, free agents hit the market days after that, and teams can start making trades, buying out contracts and officially cutting ties with players next month as well. In today’s Smack we highlighted moves the Cavs can make to get LeBron over the hump, and they’ve been in the news lately along with Detroit, Denver and Miami as teams in line to make some big deals.
Looking at your favorite team, what moves do they need to make this summer? What do they need in the Draft, in free agency, or possibly through a trade? Who do they need to hang onto and who needs to be let go?
Tell us what you’d do if you were running the show…
June 10th, 2008 at 11:52 am
the_don_mega says:
str8 up…
for the cavs, imma get andre miller. if he aint available, then imma get saras back from europe. a good wing player in the draft would help… rush or CDR would do… then imma get a decent big guy with decent post moves ala brandon bass…
June 10th, 2008 at 11:57 am
daquest?on says:
My favorite team is the Denver Nuggets. If I was running the show I would re-sign J.R. Smith, I would let Anthony Carter go and sign a cheap but good point guard who could pass, either Carlos Arroyo or Luke Ridnour. I would deal Lenas Kleiza with Nene to Sacramento for Ron Artest. This would give my team another defensive force. My starting lineup would be this : Allen Iverson, Ron Artest, Carmelo Anthony,Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby. Coming Off the bench would be J.R. Smith, Carlos Arroyo, Eduardo Najera. The bench would be playing in any combination with the starters. If George Karl wanted to play small ball he could put carlos arroyo allen iverson ron artest jr smith and carmelo. George Karl has endless possibilities. But my final move would be to fire george karl and hire avery Johnson.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Brown says:
I have two favorite teams, so here goes.
Golden State:
- re-sign Monta Ellis
- let Mikael Pietrus, Matt Barnes and Patrick O’Bryant go via free agency
- trade Al Harrington
- acquire a backup PG
- draft a big man who can play the 4 & 5 (Mareese Speights maybe)
- lock up Baron if he opts out
Toronto:
- TRADE TJ FORD!!!!!!
- re-sign Jose Calderon
- acquire a big man who can play the 4 & 5, rebound and play defense
- acquire some depth at the 1 & 2
- acquire a slasher who can create his own shot and draw the defense to him
- get Andrea Bargnani to wake up and play with some fire, talent and laziness don’t mix
- draft the best player available, they don’t have enough talent to draft for need, just don’t draft another soft PF
June 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
doc says:
For the Sixers trade Iggy,dre Miller, and Willie Green for the 1rst or second pick and go from there.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
daquest?on says:
@ doc that is a very good trade for everyone…. can u imagine d-wade and iguadala!?!?! its like MJ and pippen not to mention shawn marion. plus the sixers get that franchise player that they have been looking for since allen iverson
June 10th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Shaun says:
Toronto
- trade Ford, Nesterovic and Graham + cash for Shawn Marion
- resign Jose Calderon
- sign Corey Maggette
- sign Back up PG (ie. Anothony Johnson)
- kick Bargniani in the ass to get him going
- Draft Robin Lopez
- Pay the Luxury Tax but make up for it with all the playoff revenue in the Second and Third round of the playoffs
Starting Line UP:
Calderon, Maggette, Marion, Bosh, Bargnani
Bench:
Delfino, Kapono, Moon, Parker, Lopez, Humphries, Back up PG
June 10th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Lamar says:
Seattle Super Sonics..
-Trade Ridnour & Wilkins
-trade the 4th pick to charlotte for their 9th and 1st round pick in 2010. Draft Russell Westbrook.
-trade 24 and 56 to move up and draft Nicolas Batum.
-Draft Kyle Weaver and DJ White with rest of picks.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
fallinup says:
Philly – Try to keep Andre Miller around. Build the bench with 1-3 dependable vets.
Toronto – Sign Jose, drop TJ. Repeat.
Nets – Let RJ free to play on a winning team.
Knicks – More Truck Parties!
Chitown – Crack John Paxson in the skull with a baseball bat and hide him in the trunk of his car. Draft Beasley. Sign and trade Ben Gordon to a team that wants an undersized, streak shooting SG for hopefully, a dependable back up PG. Let Duhon walk. Sign Deng, kiss his butt and make sure he’s in tip top health. Get Vinnie Del Negro to take some coaching classes before the season starts. And roll up a fatty for Noah.
Cleveland – Wonder why Mike Brown is still the coach. Try to get researchers to discover a way to clone Lebron James.
Detroit – No Need for Sheed. Build the young guns and bench.
Indiana – Trade JO for some over payed white guy like they’ve done for the past few seasons. Hope Granger dabbled in steroid use in the off-season. Find a dependable PG, get rid of Tinsley…(oh my bad, that last one was what I used about 4 years ago.)
Bucks – Find a patsy to break into Bobby Simmons house and try to steal back the money that he’s stolen from the team since his “break out” year. Wonder why Bill Simmons hasn’t been offered GM job yet.
ATL – Stand pat. Try to sign a veteran. You’re looking good. Don’t disrupt the core.
Charlotte Bobcats – Make changes according to what your coach wants to start off the season. Make changes according to what your coach wants in the middle of the season. Fire Coach at end of season for being a complete head case and always berating the players he had for said season until he quits. Post an amber alert for Adam Morrison.
Miami – Fulfill every want and need of your star player. Hope that he doesn’t bolt.
Orlando – Looking good here. would love to see a scoring PF come aboard. Sheed anyone?
Wiz – Sign and trade Gil. Yeah, I said it.
Denver – PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG PG!
Minnesota – Congratulate Kevin McHale for such a wonderful season (for the Celtics). Move the team to Hawaii to finally lure some damn free agents.
Portland – Pray to jeebus that Oden is ready to roll come start of season. And watch your team kick serious ass.
Seattle – Start packing. Firesale. Everything not Durant or Green must go!!!!!!
Utah – It’d be nice if you could find someone to actually guard the other team’s SG. Other than that, you’re looking good.
Golden State – Resign Monta. Hope Baron wants to stay.
Clippers – Does it really matter???
PHX – Terry Porter??? Terry Porter??? Really???
SacTown – Shop Artest to NY. They’ll give you the hookup. Maybe David Lee???
Dallas – Move Cuban to the upper suites during games. You don’t want him on the floor for this upcoming season. Try to re-invent time machine for Jason Kidd…tell him to not come back until he is Kidd of the 90’s.
Houston – Get some damn Ginseng for Yao. He needs to stay healthy (tough chance of that happening with the olympics this summer). Stop going after undependable PG’s. Find a good shot blocking back up center that isn’t in his 60’s.
Memphis – See Minnesota.
New Orleans – Get ready for one hell of a season.
San Antonio – Get younger and more athletic. Brush up against Eva’s butt when you try to walk past her with your crotch and smile to yourself privately.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
BmoreRvensFan says:
I root for the Nuggets and i agree that soome changes need to be made to this roster. They are exciting and can score points but they play one on one basketball and they need someone to mesh all of these guys and there talents together. But at the same time they need a serious shooter to open up the lane for AI and Melo. If T.J. Ford is on the market, i ‘d get him, he is quick and fast and unselfish with the basketball, plus he has a chip on his shoulder from times in toronto. I’m a fan of Linas Kleiz, I think he has a mazing upside, and some ridiculous bunnies, so I would keep him, but I’d try to deal Nene, or Kmart, or both along with anthony carter to the Bobcats or another team with cap space to clear up room to go after a youngin like emeka, that has offensive promise but defensive prowess. Also pick up a boobie gibson with the cap space opened up by dumping contracts. So my lineup is TJ Ford, AI (back at the two) Melo, Emeka and Camby. And the bench is Kleiza, Najera, Boobie Gibson, Chucky Atkins, and of course J.R.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
daquest?on says:
@BmoreRavensfan tj ford is unselfish!?!?!!? ahahahahahahhahah have u seen him play lately thats the complete opposite of what he is
June 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
DaPro says:
Draft Rose (I’d go Rose) or B’easy and find an idiot, um sorry taker for Duhon
Find a servicable big via free agency or trade a package that includes Gordon
Adopt an uptempo offensive and find a way to lure a good shooter who can space the floor (Mike Miller or someone similar) to help the half-court game
June 10th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
DaPro says:
Oh yeah, find out what the hell happended to John Paxton
It looked as if he knew what he was doing a few years ago after Krause but the management is screwed up still
June 10th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
pimpin says:
cavs should get redd. They shoulda got him when they got Hughes.
Chicago should deal rose, Thomas and Hughes/hinrich to MIA for wade.
Phoenix should trade up and get mayo.
MIA should also trade Marion for mayo.
Mayo is gonna be the #1 pick when yall do that “2008 draft do-over”, if he goes to the right team.
Beasley will be a bust.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Amar says:
Utah Jazz (last season payroll $59,060,636 — assets: 1 1st round DP, 2 2nd round DPs, Full-Midlevel as team is over the cap)
* Resign CJ Miles @ $2 mill / 3 seasons (scales upwards by 15%/yr, with bonuses)
* Trade Jason Hart (expiring contract) + 2008 NBA Draft pick 44 and 2010 NBA Draft pick (2nd round) to Chicago for Chris Duhon
* Spend rest of Full midlevel on: DeSagana Diop (FA, over $1 mill raise from last season), Andris Biedrins (RFA, $3.6 mill qualifying offer), if both fail, sign Dekembe Mutombo to a 1 year with another year player option worth $1.7 million per (he made $1.2 last season).
* save the rest of the money for future years as Deron is going to get a max contract, and guys like millsap and brewer will be off their rookie deals in a season
* 2008 NBA draft pick 23: Roy Hibbert or Ibaka, or some other big prospect
* 2008 NBA draft pick 44: traded to Chicago
* 2008 NBA draft pick 53: utah has good success with 2nd round draft picks (millsap, fesenko, etc), so I’ll let KOC handle this one
* [OPTIONAL] sign and trade Emeka Okafor for Charlos Boozer @ $12 mill / 5 years, the 5th year is a team option
PG: Deron Williams, Chris Duhon, Ronnie Price
Swings: Andrei Kirilenko, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring, CJ Miles, Morris Almond, 2008 NBA Draft pick 53
Bigs: Carlos Boozer (or ‘Meka), Mehmet Okur, [Diop, Biedrins, or Mutombo], Paul Millsap, Kyrylo Fesenko, Roy Hibbert, Jarron Collins
June 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
pimpin says:
oh yeah and phoenix should try and get kirilenko.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Amar says:
Charlos boozer, lol.
* [Optional] sing and trade Emeka Okafor of Charlotte for Carlos Boozer @ $12 mill / 5 years, the 5th year is a team option
June 10th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
boba says:
Lakers – Even though we are getting schooled by the C’s down 0-2, we don’t need to trade or get rid of anyone except maybe Kobe Carl and Mbenga. We may not win it this year, but the next 5 years is looking pretty solid for the Lakers.
Rockets – priority one, get a true tall power forward. Rockets lack height. Number 2, get rid of Alston
June 10th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Brado says:
Utah:
PG: Offer D-Will a max contract, hang onto Ronnie Price as backup, then get rid of Jason Hart (the dude is worthless) and bring Dee Brown back as 3rd string (i’ve never seen a 3rd string player become a fan favorite like he was)
PF: Whatever Millsap was on the 4th quarter of their last playoff game of the season (the dude was a beast inside), give it to Booze and hope he re-finds his touch and aggresion. Millsap, just keep doing your thing.
SF: Keep complementing AK47- keep him happy. Harpring to continue frustrating opponents.
SG: Teach Ronnie Brewer how to shoot, Korver how to defend, and give Morris Almond some playing time.
C: Keep teaching Memo how to take it to the hole. Get rid of Jason Collins and draft Hibbert. Let Hibbert & Fesenko battle for 2nd string.
Conclusion: Not much change needed, just better ourside shooting from the SG’s and a bigger defensive presence in the middle.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Amar says:
brado — deron isn’t up for a contract until 2009/2010.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Jeffrey says:
My team would be the Houston Rockets:
I’ll trade bobby jackson, chuck hayes and future draft pick for somebody like corey maggette or josh smith. Then draft roy hibbert and get somebody good in free agency
June 10th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
GEE...They said a country boy came through and then changed the game says:
Houston – Fire the strength and conditioning dudes along with health and wellness dudes cause apparently what they been doing aaaaaaint workin…just kidding …somewhat.
Anyway even though the GM prolly won’t be smart in the draft this is what I would do.
Deke is coming back and Alston, Mac and Shane all have had summer surgery. So the draft is the key thing.
With the first round pick, you have to get a pg that can score and be a floor general. Tracy must have another guy the can “create” his own shot and hit it. You also want some size on dude if you can get that too.
2nd pick is the quandry. Cause most would say get a big man to back Yao. I feel since you getting Deke back plus the play of Scola and Carl are sufficient enough to back Yao.
I am flippin the script and getting 3 that again can score and create his own shot. Most who watch know the Rockets got D and rebounding straight. Offensively is where they hurt.
Trade wise I am packaging up Hayes, a future first round pick and head and sending them on for a defensive dude who can play the 2 or 3.
Give Novack more pt. and pray for the health of Mac and Yao.
That first round pick is going to mean everything.
Denver – Fire George Karl. Done.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Brado says:
@Amir….I thought Utah had the option to offer him max money this summer while other teams had the options next summer. I could be wrong.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Icy says:
Utah:
Sign D-Will long term ($$$$$)
Develop Fesnko and draft a backup big man.
Trade Miles, Ak47, and Collins for a borderline all star who shoots the rock and can defend half well along with cap space (see above)
Hope that D-will doesn’t make team USA because he will play ticked the next year and demolish the Leauge.
Send a shrink over to Boozer and make sure he is really doing all right. The dude has a lot on his place.
Teach Memo how to dribble.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Martin says:
Nets:
Fire Lawrence Frank
Trade RJ for depth and the 3 and 4.
Let Marcus run the point and Devin at the 2. Small ball.
Start S Will at the 5 and Boone at the 4.
Pick De Andre Jordan, use him at the 5.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
shake&bake says:
Bulls: 1st make sure to draft Beasley or Rose. I would hope this didn’t get messed up, but I wouldn’t put it past the Bulls. Trade Gordon and maybe Deng if the return is good enough. Get someone who can score in the low post.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Amar says:
it’a Amar, not Amir — i’m not some arabic prince. (or future in the paint for the pistons) and secondly, I could be wrong, maybe the Jazz can put money on Deron now, but if that was the case wouldn’t someone be talking about that on 1320 kfan, or writing about it in the sltrib? I haven’t read/heard a peep about it.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
D-Rock says:
ok so I’m going with my Bucks
and since we just can’t request a do over on every single move we’ve made in the last 5 years we’ll have to settle for a youth movement.
*trade mike redd for draft picks and expiring deals
*trade mo williams for picks
*trade bobby simmons for a basketball (or have his legs broken so he cant play again like the blazers did with D-Miles), same goes for charlie v and b
*try and trade yi for sum other young guy from one of the last 2 drafts and hope some ppl, r still high on him like they were at the draft (cuz frankly he plays like a B****)
*hold on to Bogut (he a good roleplayer), sessions (he’ll be a decent backup not the savior that everyone else in milwaukee is claiming to be after that 24 assist game), and D-Mase (cuz he is the only crazy athlete we got.)
*trade ne1 else you can for w/e picks, young players, and expiring deals u can
*finally dont draft another wimp from over seas, draft a boss from here in the US like randolph, or sum other guy thats gonna give us some toughness and atleticism
June 10th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
MC Welk says:
Amar: http://deseretnews.com/cgi-bin/cqcgi_plus/@plus.env?CQ_SESSION_KEY=XTHWZDXFOYXI&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1&CQ_TEXT_MAIN=YES
Also, Duhon is a free agent (no trade necessary).
June 10th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Amar says:
MC — thanks for the link! I forgot to mention about the Duhon deal, a sign and trade for Jason Hart and the 2 DPs (2008, 2010)
June 10th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Celts Fan says:
My team doesn’t need too too much other than an infusion of talented youth around the Big 3.
I’d keep Leon Powe (Restricted FA after the year I think) and use the team option on Big Baby and Gabe Pruitt (who will spend next year w/ the Celtics not the D-League and hopefully prove useful as a backup PG.) I’d think about keeping Cassell and hope that a whole training camp/preseason/season with the team will get him more comfortable in the offense and less of a gunner (1 year deal, non-guaranteed, potentially gets bought out, but I’d want someone proven in case Pruitt doesn’t/until Pruitt proves he can handle the backup point in the NBA.) I’d also try to bring back PJ Brown for his very effective 10-15min. per game.
For our draft picks, we need a legit 2 guard off the bench that’s taller than 6′4″. Was hoping CDR or Brandon Rush might drop before the NCAAs, not happening though, so maybe Kyle Weaver? We also need a legit backup big man that’s AT LEAST 6′10″ so a Devon Hardin, JJ Hickson, Ante Tomic (may have to stash him overseas, but it could be worth a shot) or Serge Ibakaba. In the 2nd round, you grab the best available guy that fits whichever of those 2 categories that wasn’t addressed (maybe Richard Roby if we go big in the 1st round.)
I’d let Tony Allen walk (never been a fan of 2 guards under 6′5″ and now Posey provides D off the bench so Tony’s expendible) and may let Eddie House walk (if they keep Cassell, I’d let Eddie walk, if they let Cassell go, I’d keep Eddie.)
I’d also try like hell to trade Scal, who’s down to the last 2 years of 1 of the most inexplicable deals I’ve ever heard (5 yrs., $15M??? $3M per is insane but understandable (at the time he was young and w/ a little range) but for FIVE YEARS?!?! He didn’t even look good w/ JKidd, so why would anyone think he’d be worth committing 5 years to?!?) but of course no one would want him, so we’d be stuck with him…
June 10th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Brado says:
@Amar…I guess you’re just reading the wrong paper (Trib). Thanks for doing my homework MC Welk.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Tom says:
Lots of Toronto fans here. Here’s my take:
The biggest thing we need to do is fire Mitchell and hire someone who know’s what he’s doing (Flip Saunders would be excellent). Right now our offense is either give the ball to Bosh in the low post and stand still while he forces a bad shot (Bosh is not good in the low post). Give the ball to Bosh in the high post and stand still while he scores (Bosh is really good in the high post). Run the pick and roll way too far away from the basket and possibly score because Bosh and Calderon are really good, not because its actually a well-executed play.
We need to get Bosh the ball in the high post early in the shot clock and actually create opportunities for him to hit cutting players. Bosh’s low assist numbers are the result of terrible coaching, not any inability to pass. Have our centre set a back-screen for Moon so that Bosh can hit him cutting to the basket. Run Calderon off a screen and have Bosh hand the ball off to him as he slashes into the lane. Do something to get someone open somewhere other than the 3 point line. By making passing an actual threat, we force teams to play Bosh less aggressively, opening up more opportunities for him to drive, and if his drive is more of a threat, then his man has to play further off of him, opening up his jump shot.
A change in coach and strategy, would go a long way, but we also need a roster overhaul.
The following guys on the Raptors are actually good: Calderon, Bosh, Moon, Parker, Delfino, Nesterovich. Everyone else is expendable, and I think any or all of Parker, Delfino, and Nesterovich could be given up in the right deals, especially Nesterovich because his huge expiring contract has high trade value.
We’ve got a lot of guys who teams might want: Bargnani sucks, but people still see lots of potential. TJ Ford is a starting-calibre point guard, and it’s a shame that his ego got in the way of our incredible poing guard tandem. Kapono is the best pure shooter in the league. Nesterovich is a serviceable centre with a large expiring contract.
Aside from those guys, we’ve got lots of decent but not amazing players who can be squeezed into deals to make them work but we don’t really need to get rid of.
What we need most is athleticism and toughness. Starting at centre, we need someone who can play defence. We need someone who can hustle. Diop would be a great free-agent pickup. Otherwise we need to trade for someone. I’d really like to bring Dalembert home to Canada, but I have no idea whether we could work anything out with Philly. Similarly, bringing Camby back to Toronto would be incredibly, but I fear no one in Denver is stupid enough to let him go.
At the 2/3 we need someone who can take some of the scoring load and can guard big physical wing players. Right now any time we face a team with a physical wing, we’re screwed. Marion would be a good pick (imagine our rebounding with him at the 3 and Moon at the 2), but I imagine he’ll be really expensive. I’d be more interested in trying to pry a guy away from the Hawks. Either Smith or Childress paired up with Moon would give us a lot of athleticism on the wing. A lot of people are really excited about Smith, but Childress is actually the better player, so maybe we can steal him. I’m not big on Maggette, because I don’t think he’s really much of an improvement over what we have.
So my ideal lineup next year is
5: Someone who can play defense, like Diop, Dalembert, Camby, etc.
4: Bosh.
2/3: Moon and another athletic wing (Marion, Smith, Childress).
1: Calderon
The only defensive weakness there is Calderon, but he’s not terrible, and we’d have guys around him who could provide lots of solid help. Rebounding would be excellent (for the first time in Raptors history). Offensively, we’d only have one really solid 3-point threat in Calderon, but we’d have guys who could actually attack the basket, and hopefully a coach that would make that happen.
That’s my dream for the Raptors.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Miami Heat
Have Pat Riley use his mind control powers to get Chicago to draft Mike beasley and just roll with what you’ve gotmaybe try a sign and trade for brand or Okafor
-or-
If Chicago’s desire to screw us over again is great enough to break free of Riley’s grasp then:
Draft Mike Beasely but spend all your time on the clock shopping Matrix for a later draft pick ideally trade New jersy Matrix for Marcus Williams, Nenad Kristic( A slight upgrade over mark Blount) or if Riley can pull a Miracle Shawn Williams the No. 10 pick which could be used 2 snag Russel Westbrook,DJ Augustin or DeAndre Jordan depending on wheter they get Williams (In which case they would draft Jordan) or A Big (they would draft a PG)
-or-
As much as it hurts to say entertain Chicago’s play @ D-Wade bot only if u get to keep both the #1 & #2 picks
June 10th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
P.S. before u hate my 2nd option It makes sense both ways because NJ having Matrik makes RJ expendable which could draw them another big name player. Also I didn’t mention the option of encouraging Matrix to walk and using the cash to sign Brand/Okafor/Arenas
June 10th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
most of these suggestions suck.
good thing you all aint GMs
June 10th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
GEE..sue's rendevous took all his money says:
good thang you aint either pimpin if you wanna go that way ya young punk
June 10th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Daily boy says:
If I’m the Hornets try to go out and get a nice SF, Melo but i don’t think we have trade value to get a player of his level. Maybe Maggette would be a good look. But everything else let it ride with CP3 at the wheel
June 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
bigdoggchad says:
I think the Nuggets need a guy like Keyon Dooling big point guard that can shoot the three and big enough to guard twos. Resign Najera, Kleiza, and Smith the latter two should be priorites before they have great seasons and the price is too high.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
bigdoggchad says:
Oh yeah and Fire Karl!
June 10th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Austin Burton says:
For me it’s all about a move the Sonics DON’T make — obviously, the relocation to OKC. If they move this summer than I don’t care what they do. If a savior comes through (Steve Largent, you work for the U.S. Government; make something happen homie) then:
- Free agents: If they can re-sign Francisco Elson for cheap, do it. He’s got experience playing on good teams in San Antonio and with Tim Duncan, which has to mean something for a young squad that doesn’t know how to win. Damien Wilkins has a player-option for $3.1 million, and since I’m assuming no one else will pay him that much, he’s probably gonna stay put. Make the $3.5 million qualifying offer to Robert Swift to give him one more chance to do something. If he rejects it, let him walk. Re-sign Mickael Gelabale if it’s not too expensive.
- Trades: Get rid of Chris Wilcox while he still has some value and try to get a veteran PF who’s not a flake. Package either Earl Watson ($6M) or Luke Ridnour ($6M) in that deal and clear up the PG issue.
- Draft: Take Jerryd Bayless at #4 and a big man who can rebound at #23. Use the 3 second-round picks on guys with actual talent and not long-term projects; or maybe one long-term project (I just feel like John Riek will end up in Seattle/OKC).
June 10th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
g-man says:
People may or not laugh at this, but Toronto and Sacramento should make a deal. TJ Ford for Ron Artest straight up. I think it’s beneficial for both teams and has atleast a chance of happening. Only thing that makes me doubt it is all the reports i keep reading about how Artest wants to play with the Knicks, but then again, those are just reports.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Austin Burton says:
I think we get the impression Ron REALLY wants to play for NY because his name and the Knicks always seem to be mentioned together. But in reality, I think that’s more a case of every reporter who interviews Artest asking him about the Knicks. If every reporter who interviewed Baron Davis asked him if he wanted to play for the Lakers and Baron kept saying, “Yeah why not? Every kid growing up in L.A. wants to play for the Lakers,” it would start to seem like he was always talking about the Lakers. Same thing with Artest.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Diego says:
Hawks:
Resign both Joshes–particularly Childress. (If someone offers the stars and the moon for J.Smoove, consider sign and trade.)
Look into trading Bibby–he does not have much left in the tank. How about back to the Grizzlies for something like Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry? That would be huge. Cheaper, better point guards (like Lowry or Duhon) are readily available. Get one and trade Bibby later in the season to someone looking for future cap space. (Trade Acie Law too; he showed nothing last year.)
Let Damon Stoudamire go so he can get some pt, like he deserves. (Chicago, sign him and dump Ben Gordon. Damon is a poor, short man’s Gordon.)
Look into signing Diop. Look into signing Kwame (yeah, I said it, Kwame). Maybe a return to his roots in Georgia will do something–and he can’t be much worse than what Zaza has regressed to.
Get a new coach! (Woodson sucks!) How about Kenny Smith–with Charles as an assistant!
June 10th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Diego says:
I meant SALIM Stoudamire.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
doc says:
Bibby for Lowry and Miller?And then you woke up and it was still groundhog day.@Yall,Homie you said trade Camby for Etan Thomas and you downing our skills?
June 10th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Kooley High says:
Dear John Paxson,
As much as miss the old Bulls days, you’re really starting to piss me off. You signed Ben Wallace for 64 million and it only took you a year and a half to realize that Ben Wallace only looked good because everyone else on his team put him in position to make plays. Ben is a freakish athlete but c’mon…dude can’t hold the ball. He can rebound, blocks shots and pass the ball of to a guard, hes just not a offensive threat (You should have traded for Garnett). You made up for that bonehead signing up with not only trading for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, you went onto trade them to a team in your own conference that has Lebron on it. Duh, you simple minded…well here’s my suggestions. I hope Vinny runs and guns. You better have hired him to do that or we are royally screwed.
1. Draft Derrick Rose, we need a real point guard.
2. Move Kirk Hinrich to the 2 spot.
3. Trade Ben Gordon. Some contender needs a shooter, especially one who can create his own shot.
4. When you trade Ben Gordon, get a big man who can put the ball in the whole. Make sure he is a vet. Someone who wants to win.
5. Move Larry Hughes to the bench. He can play both guard spots and it might keep him healthy.
6. MAKE SURE VINNY PLAYS NOAH.
7. MAKE SURE VINNY PLAYS NOAH, the kids a winner and a bit of a head case but thats why you have coaches. Oh yea, tell him to burn one at home or in his car like regular people.
8. Keep Tyrus Thomas. I see alot of Stromile Swift in him, but he’s still a raw. Gamble for another year, why not.Let him dunk and run, play to the kids strengths, not against them. You have Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich.
9. Dump Duhon like your life depended on it. When in the hell was the last time you seen a Dukie win in the league? Biggup to Grant Hill and Elton Brand!
10. Run the Ball. Whats the worst thats gonna happen. They get a damn layup.
A healthy Deng, Hinrich peared with a “potential” superstar in his home city is something Bulls Fans need. And thats coming from a dude who isn’t even in the Chi.
John, look, you already traded away a all-star center in Tyson Chandler (Ben Wallace?..you’re smoking crack right?..they do the same damn thing and Chandler was younger…its meth right?..i know its meth). I don’t even want to get into the Elton Brand thing…Don’t turn the Bulls into the Knicks…Repeat after me..I am not Kevin Mchale…I am not Isaiah Thomas…I am not Danny Ainge (Thank God you know McHale because McHale probrably had some drug induced dream where he promised Red…RIP…to do anything to make the Celts good again)…just don’t mess up John. I hope you get fired if you do.
- Kooley High
June 10th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
bigpatty says:
Really? hard to believe.i heard this news times from many friends playing on a tall dating site: http://Tallmingle.com ,i did not believe, i think that they are know nothing but dating and love.
i am wrong.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
godfreyallstar says:
spurs–please draft an american!!!! courtney lee! devon hardin!! tiago splitter isnt gonna crack the nba until hes 58 years old!!!!!!! wtf!!!!!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 3:32 am
benjamin says:
Golden State: Resign Monta and Al harrington, Sign Gilberto(YES) and draft sine talent.
Portland. Draft rudy mbemba and prz rudy fernandez,
Denver: Sell Carmelo, get a good wing player(rudy gay?), get a good PG or a PF. Carmelo is a diva..
June 11th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Celts Fan says:
I take back what I said yesterday about Cassell and Eddie House (post 30). Keep Eddie House, let Sam walk. He can go to the Nuggets, where he’ll be in heaven with AI and ‘Melo taking turns jacking up ill-advised shots without the thought of a pass…
June 12th, 2008 at 6:29 am
jamesinva says:
WTF @ post #5. dre willie green and iggy for the #2 pick????
Dwade + iggy = jordan + pippen?? what are you smoking???
This lets the 76ers get the franchise player since iverson?? Michael Beasley?
so a team of Beasley, Dalembert and who? whos gunna run the damn team or whos running the wings?
smoking too much
June 12th, 2008 at 9:21 am
rathauneak says:
Celtics:
Moves to make -
1 – Let Tony Allen walk. His game had a lot of upside a little while ago, but the injury kinda ran him into a brick wall.
2 – If Cassell is a part of the team, it will be an assistant on the bench. He will have a bigger influence in developing Rondo from the bench instead of trying to tell Rondo what he should do as a good PG and then gunning everytime he steps on the floor. Like telling your kids not to drink while you’re tossin’ one back
3 – Scott Pollard is wasting a roster spot as long as we have PJ Brown. Get rid of Pollard and beg PJ to stay another year.
4 – Too much to type in regards to Brian Scal…basically, get rid of him and his contract, some how…some way
5 – I’d keep E.House because we need another dependable shooter besides Ray (PP’s long ball is not automatic and Posey has to be set for 2 secs before he gets his off). I can’t speak much on Gabe Pruitt b/c I don’t know his game like that so if he’s better than House, obviously keep him instead.
As we all know, folks like migrating to winners so we’ll get some interesting folks to fill the open roster spots. We definitely need to get a Ron Artest like (size and defensive mindset) who can guard the 1-3 spots. We don’t have a shutdown wing defender to compliment was KG brings to the defense in the paint. Rondo plays great D, but he’s undersized.
As far as developmental needs, I’d have Rondo watching all kinds of shooting tapes, running shooting drills, catching and shooting (from passes out of the post) and pull-ups. A good 3-ball would do soooo much for his game and our team right now.
Kendrick Perkins needs it hammered into his head that he doesn’t need to take a power dribble or drop step every time he catches a pass in the paint. KG hit him with nice high-low passes all the time, but his hesitation gives the D a chance to come foul (where he usually misses one if not both freebies). Dude stops taking that extra second, he’ll get at least 6 more ppg.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Arrogant says:
My Fav team is the bulls…
First draft D-Rose…. nobody on our team is better pg than him….
if you dont draft him i heard a rumor of the first pic and nocioni for Conley, gay, and mike miller…. i would definatly go for that…
Secondly trade a few guards for a post player. possibly Zach Randolph for hinirich or Hughes and a throw in player
D-Rose would make everyone better… especially tyrus Thomas. i see d rose being his cp3 and him being chandler… he blocks shots and get rebounds when he gets tick, and would get his points off oops and other set ups.
just get some of those guards off the team asap, make room for a great pg..
June 12th, 2008 at 9:49 am
92021SpurMD says:
Spurs:
Let Horry go. Resign Fin and Bones (minimums).
Draft Mario Chalmers with 26th pick
Draft Joey Dorsey with 2nd round pick
Whatever money, championship power, and overall drawing power is left (Timmy, Manu, TP), lure JOSH SMITH (you’re the future) from ATL!
Sorry Kurt, I like you, I really do…
June 12th, 2008 at 10:43 am
for real says:
SPURS should trade Finley, Barry and some other scrub for Arenas. Make the Wizards revolve around Caron and those shooters. The Spurs will get a selfish proven scorer, which is what they sorely lacked this season. Parker and Ginobili bust their asses, but they play way too many minutes. We need 26 year old Agent Zero to pare down our established stars minutes, to help stay fresh for the playoffs.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
speedcat says:
the most frustrating team, in terms of being a decent team and never improving, is the wiz. im sick of hearing taht all they need is a healthy big three, but that team is a donut team and will enver win anything unless it gets an enforcer in the middle. they need a junk yard dog.
it gets worse when gil gets selfish and decides to ask for more money when the team needs to have trade felxability. they also have a ton of unproven young guys…who wont be moved due to their potential.
i’d try to draft a good efficient pg (gil’s got hal a knee and ad is getting old) like ty lawson. then start trading the excess baggage for a a nasty pf/c….whihc also pretty much doesnt exist.
teh second most frustrating team is the bulls. they were so close to being an elite team and then last year happened. might as well start to semi-rebuild with rose being the face of the team/superstar/court leader. trade hinrich, gordon and somehow move gooden or deng.
they’ll loose games but they’ll have the peices for a superstar free agent in a couple of years or anothr good pick up in the draft.