Out - Juwan Howard, Martel webster, Patrick Mills (?), Travis Diener IN - Wesley Mathewss, Armon Johnson, Elliot Wiliams, Luke Babbitt Probable depth-chart: Andre Miller/Jerryd Bayless/Armon Johnson Brandon Roy/Rudy Fernandez/Elliot Williams Nicolas Batum/Wesley Mathewss/Luke Babbitt Lamrcus Aldridge/Dante Cunningham Greg Oden/Marcus Camby/Joel Pryzbilla/Jeff Pendergraph Analysis: I don't know much about Wesley but he's looking good in interviews and looked good in the fan-fest. Being better than Martel was last year isn't that hard but we once had big expectations for him as well so who knows. Juwan Howard leaving is kinda sad but also natural, the circle of life - you know, he's old so he wants to go to Miami and we bring 3 promising rookies instead. But, of course, there's heirarchy (sp?) and most of Juwan's minutes, for the upcoming season would be shared by Dante and Jeff (unless a miracle happens and all our centers are healthy, and then Dante and Jeff waive towels). Patty Mills is probably a goner because he isn't as good or promising as our 3 other rookies, maybe we could trade him for a 2nd-rounder? Travis Diener.
If 2 or 3 of our centers are not playing, then Cunningham slide over to PF and Matthews may see some time at SF. But when 2 centers are playing, I think we'll see Cunningham at SF where Nate says he wants him and then Matthews will play mostly SG.
Minute distribution: As far as I'm concerned, whoever is having a good game should be playing, exactly like last year. If we're winning big, give the starters as much rest as possible. Important players such as Batum, Roy, Oden should be benched every time the game turns into garbage time (hopefuly, this happens a lot) - that'll enable them to stay fresh/healthy and give our bench players the playing time they deserve.
a summary of the off-season should have a mention of the Camby resigning... that was pretty huge STOMP
Since Dante has never played SF, and infact played more time as a Center, I'm going to go way out on a limb and predict he plays PF. But hey if you think a player with no 3point shot and poor lateral quickness can be an NBA SF then I don't know what to tell ya.
How many times do we have to point out that the 82games.com stat is silly and wrong before people stop referring to it? 82games.com also says Roy never played PG. Good luck with that argument. Don't tell Blazer Prophet... tell Dante and Nate since last week in Dante's interview he said he would be spending time playing SF, especially against the bigger stronger SFs.
I think that after Nate gets to see success with Bayless, Rudy and Mathews in at the same time, that you can go with any combination of big men. If one is a center great. If 2 are centers, great. If it is a smaller team with one center and Dante at PF, great. It will be all about the 3 perimeter players, so it won't matter. The big guys will just be there for the garbage.
While I like the simplicity of this, it would also be interesting pre- and post- cap numbers and draft choices. e.g. OUT, a 1st rounder and 2 2nd rounders, some cap space, some future cap flexibility.
