Sorry, was thinking more of yesterday's game with Kobe, and I guess could insert whoever in place of Kobe for that role. Similar to what Houston did(ineffectively) against Roy last season. Battier(Batum) comes out on him and plays technically sound defense, and makes you work to get open and get around him and get shots up. Artest(Martell) comes in and just beats you up physically, while also playing good D. Then, switch back to Battier(Batum), and a more tired, physically beat up player might lose the ball more against a rangy defender, make a lazier pass, a lazier shot attempt that would be blocked, etc. I think we have our rangy defender, in Batum, and if Martell isn't going to be it, we'd need that physical defender. Maybe Cunningham works on his speed to play some there. But I think Pondexter would fit more in the Batum mold than Martell, and for a pair, would prefer varying defensive styles. As for the offseason, I think there's a decent amount we might be able to do, with little. For one, re-signing Camby, we'd still have our MLE. We have the Bi-Annual Exception to use, which is estimated to be a starting salary of right around 2 million dollars. The MLE, at close to 6(sorry to, I believe, BGrantFan, you said 6 in a different topic, and I think I said that seemed high, but have now seen 6 elsewhere), and then the vet minimum, at, what, 1.3 roughly? I can see us using all 3 of those in some form or another.
Singler's body is better than Dunleavy's? Look awfully similar to me. Dunleavy's pre-draft measurements were 6'8" barefoot, 230 pounds.
Just going by my eyeballs. Dunleavy must have put on weight for the camp, because he's a stringbean these days.
We either need a reliable scorer off the bench or a decent point guard prospect. Bayless is not a distributing point guard. He is a lead guard.
I have to wonder what draft pick the Blazers could get in exchange for Rudy. If it's true that he wants out, his low salary would make him pretty easy to move for a scrub and a good pick.
And Singler isn't?? I'd say their body types are awfully similar. I think Dunleavy coming out had a better all around game, though. A better ability to put the ball on the floor, compared to Singler.
Yeah probably ... but honestly, I'd be more interested in adding a quality, youngish player with a few years under his belt at point guard; a consolidation trade like we saw with Steve and Travis for Camby, but for a guy not quite so old, but of similar impact -- and I have no idea who that would be
That's an option but you have to wonder if the Hornets are going to settle for just Rudy ... another guy who I like but has kind of fallen into Erik Spoelstra's doghouse is Mario Chalmers, he's pass first but can play off the ball, he's a pretty decent spot up shooter, but most importantly he's a ballhawk on defense; something this team probably still desperately needs. My pipe dream is to trade for Jrue Holiday, who struggled quite a bit early in the season, but has really started to hit his stride in the second half, shooting much better and starting to get the NBA game, but Philly seems pretty sold on him.
Joel and Rudy in a sign and trade for Mike Miller? Obviously contingent on us re-signing Camby. Gets us a MLE level player while still keeping the MLE, to use elsewhere, or in pieces. Could basically duplicate Rudy's role as a backup 2-3 for us.
Well, I'm hoping we could pair Rudy with JPEC and trade for Collison and James Posey. Posey makes roughly the same money as Joel, and he has been a horrifically bad signing for New Orleans. He has two more years on his contract after this season, so I'm hoping Rudy's talent and Joel's expiring deal would be enough to entice them.
Mike Miller is done. I think we could possibly pry away Darrin Collison from the Hornets if we use Joel's expiring deal and someone like Webster to take bad an awful contract like Peja or Posey. I'd throw in Rudy to get that deal done as well. If we keep the draft pick, Quincy Pondexter is my favorite in that range. Singler has nice length, but seems a little slow for the NBA game to me.
Peja is an expiring contract next season, so I don't see them trading him. Joel and Posey have nearly identical money on their contracts, so it's a perfect swap. Joel and Rudy for Collison and Posey. Make it so!
He's done? He's shooting 47% from behind the arc thiss eason. 40% for his career. Close to 50% FG% on the season. He's getting over 6 rebounds and 4 assists a game. He plays on a garbage team, and doesn't get scoring opportunities, but he certainly isn't done. I personally love Rudy, and don't want to get rid of him, but I know many do, and if Rudy doesn't want to be here, what other option would we have. I think Miller would make an excellent 6th man for us.
While I like that deal, we'll probably have to throw in something extra to get them to bite. Maybe it's just some Paul Allen $$$ or draft picks, but I have a feeling other teams could step up and offer more for a possible franchise PG. I guess the biggest factor is what happens with Joel's rehab. He might even have more value if his contract is getting paid by insurance ala Raef. I hope that KP is looking to make a home run deal like that in the draft to salvage his reputation with the upper management.
Another big issue is the potential sale of the Hornets. Will probably be sold sometime this spring or summer to a minority partner, and afterwards, will probably be less likely to move talent strictly for financial reasons.
