Ok, we'll see how this goes. First of all, I'm going to make a choice and go with Sergio and Batum over Bayless and Webster, for my "future" PG and SFs. First step is trading Ike's TPE, along with a second round pick to each team, for some 3 man combo of Terrance Kinsey(Cle), DJ Mbenga(LA), Josh Powell(LA), or Anthony Roberson(Chi). I trade Outlaw and Blake for Hinrich, and include a 2nd with the understanding that Blake will be released before June 30th. Package Bayless and Webster along with the 3 players acquired for the TPE(this would have to be one giant deal, since those three wouldn't be able to be traded together in a seperate deal) and our 1st rounder, possibly, for an upgrade at SF. One of either Prince, howard, Butler, or Gerald Wallace, preferably. We can all vote on which of those might be available for that package. (Receiving team would waive 3 low contract players). Look to purchase 1st round pick from NO. Most likely grab B(European)PA(provided it isn't Hansborough. Yuck.) Do not waive contract exceptions. After trades for Hinrich as well as let's say Howard, we would be better off using MLE and LLE, as opposed to keeping cap space. Extend 4 year, 10 million dollar offer to Channing Frye. He will most likely have better options, and what happens with him will determine, I believe, whether it makes mroe sense to waive exceptions, or keep them. But, extend 4 year, 10 million dollar offer to him. Let him know he will likely see very little playing time, but it's an insurance offer for us, and gives him some somewhat long term security. I dunno if he takes that or not. But character matters. If he was more interested in the financial security of a long term deal, I would absolutely love to have him back. Offer LLE to Antonio McDyess. Combine the MLE on Blake returning, and on signing Grant Hill. Grant for 2 years, 2.5 million or so, Blake at maybe 3 years, 9-10 million perhaps. Bring over Kopponen. Bring over Freeland. Hinrich/Blake/Sergio/Kopponen(D-League) Roy/Rudy Howard(or whichever)/Hill/Batum LMA/McDyess/Frye/Freeland(D-League) Oden/Przybilla If Frye doesn't take the contract, leave the roster spot open or give it to drafted rookie. I have 4 players whose PT I am worried about on the roster, and only one other that I truly worry about keeping happy. I worry about the PT for Roy, Rudy, LMA, and Oden. And I want to keep Joel as happy as I can. I let Sergio know I envision him as our eventual starter, but it isn't going to happen yet, and I want a reliable veteran starter and backup. He needs more work, hopefully he can understand. If he doesn't like it, then in a year he can leave. Fine. I let Batum know we envision him as our longterm answer at SF, but right now, he isn't as good as player X acquired. Hopefully, he understands it is a business, and also enjoys being on a succesful team enough to not pout. Again, if he doesn't, and wants out, so be it. I don't want to lose either of those players, but neither are as improtant to our future success as the 4 I mentioned being worried about. I know many don't see Rudy in that same group. To each their own. My thinking is, with those 4, and Hinrich and SF under contract for at least two years, ideally, they jsut become expensive backups the last year or so of their deal, and then go on afterwards as Batum and Sergio claim those spots. But, if Sergio adn Batum insist on moving on, I feel that team legitamtely will win a title within 2 years, and then you can always fill in those slots through people looking to latch on for a title, if need be.
Interesting. My off-season plan is to go to lots of Bar-b-ques, drink a lot of beer, do some backpacking and some mountain biking and hopefully get a nice tan.
I like it, but this is more along the lines of what i would like to see: Trade: Outlaw, Rudy, Sergio to OKC for Jeff Green and Nick Collison. OKC does this deal because Green and Durant play the same position, which leaves a big hole at the two. We give them Rudy to step into their starting two, Outlaw is their backup small forward, and Sergio is a backup point guard. We get Green, who would be awesome as our starting small forward, and Collison, who would be a great backup four. Once we cut Frye, Ruffin, and Blake, we'd have the cap space to do this deal. Sign: Andre Miller to a four year, 32 million deal. Von Wafer to a four year 16 million deal. Roster next year: Miller/Bayless Roy/Webster/Wafer Green/Batum Aldridge/Collison Oden/Przybilla
The OKC deal makes a small team much smaller. They already like Westbrook at the point, so Sergio isn't someone they would want. I just don't see OKC making that deal. I would love to steal Collison from them, though. Green I am not so sure about. I would rather they bring in a vet at that position to either backup Batum or mentor him as the starter.
I'm not even convinced that Webster will play next season. We will just have to see. I think Wafer would be great as our backup, if Rudy were to be traded. Webster might be the backup small forward. Who knows.
They love to run, and Sergio would be perfect for that. Right now they have Earl Watson... I don't see how it would make them smaller. I don't even see a starting quality shooting guard on that team, and with Durant, Green is redundent. Rudy starts, Outlaw and Sergio come off the bench.
I'd cut Outlaw and Blake, leaving us with 17 mil in cap space. Then I"d sign Miller to a 3 year 27 million dollar contract, and Ron Artest to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal. Bayless, Batum, and Rudy's contract wouldn't be due until Miller and Artest expire(they'd be old anyway). I just don't think we're going to get anything to get excited about by trading guys like Outhouse and Blake. Better to cut them, and sign a player we want without having to give up one of our young prospects. Next year's starting lineup Andre Miller Brandon Roy Martell Webster LaMarcus Aldridge Greg Oden Bench: Jerryd Bayless Rudy Fernandez Ron Artest Nicholas Batum (if we can play small with Outlaw, we can play small with Batum) Joel Pryzbilla
So...back to the cellar and lottery picking? 'Cause that is one messed-up roster with gaping holes and no chance of chemistry.
You guys are trippin'. I'll see you at the barbeque and on the mountain bike trails, Nik. If you're in Hood River, skip Full Sail and check out Double Mountain Brewpub.
