Next year I really think we could use someone to come in behind Aldridge and play a somewhat tough presence. Joel is a vet but w/o playoff experience and I think the difference between Outlaw or Frye and a vet PF on defense would greatly improve our overall team defense and rebounding, not leaving the 5 playing on an island (whether it's Joel/LMA/or Oden). Having another 6 quality fouls wouldn't be bad either. My two picks: Antonio Mcdyess: plays his heart out, good on defense, very strong, amazing rebounder, and his game consists of a money mid-range J (like LMA), which would work well next to Pryz or Oden. He wants to win desperately and is probably getting out of Detroit after this year. Supposedly a high character guy too. http://www.freep.com/article/20090427/SPORTS03/904270368/1051/SPORTS03/McDyess%20still%20gettin%20%20it%20done Kurt Thomas: Still a year left on his deal so maybe not (we should've traded Frye for him at the deadline if money would've worked out) but he's another guy with a solid mid-range game and a nice defender. Less of an energy guy than Mcdyess and more of a patient position type of guy but used to be fairly good in the open court and has tons of playoff experience. Both of those guys are good passers too, and would be nice short term help while Oden/LMA/ and Oden develop and 6 more quality fouls from a quality defender in the playoffs.
My pick: Rasheed Wallace. That would be AWESOME. I'm actually serious that he would be a great acquisition, the best out there. I don't think he'd come, however, unless perhaps a ritual sacrifice of Jason Quick were made to appease him. I volunteer to help.
David Lee.. great rebounder - can finish in transition - plays good D. We can get him as a FA for a reasonable price.
Lee can play the 3-4-5. Plenty of minutes for a guy who rebounds, plays D and runs the floor hard.. or have you not been watching this playoff series?
The Knicks playoff series? Must have missed the start of the NIT tourney in the NBA this year. and yes I have been watching every minute of every game on tv and have attended both home games.. he is not the 3 we would need and his backup 4 minutes would not be enough. And he is not playing the 5 in the West.
No way. I don't want anything to do woth Wallace even if he was a great banger backup PF which he is not. Wallace is soft and doesn't bang down low which the Blazers need in the backup PF. Plus he is a jerk!
I agree that McDyess could add stability to the team. A hard worker his whole career, very stable, very smart. Another I would look at who I think still has game is Joe Smith.
exactly... and while I like Lee.. he isnt really what we lacked this series.. there is just too much pressure on Roy and LaMarcus to score... While I like Batum and he has exceeded my expectations this year.. His inablity to attack has made it very hard this series IMO.
Be wary of Lee. He is on the D'Antoni stat inflated team. Take his numbers, cut them in half, and that is what he would be on any team that ran at the pace we play at.
Gordon would be good.. he would add a hell of a scoring punch to this team I worry about him playing next to Roy though as a starter, and as a backup he would not get the minutes he would want with Rudy there.
I agree with some players his system inflates their numbers.. Lee however I dont think is one of those IMO.. Lee is a hell of a player who works super hard on the floor and plays all out. I just dont think he would be a good fit for our team.
There's not enough minutes for an established solid big like him, and he plays terrible defense, so no.
We can't only have two players on the floor anywhere near threats to score (like our starting lineup). I think once Oden grows this won't be as big of a problem, but we desperately need either a better PG or to throw Rudy in at PG and see how it goes.
Yeah Tell Lee he can have a bench job and tell him he will average 7 less minutes per game.. he'll be happy.
