That's a good point, that alignment would work great if Oden proves not to be a factor going forward. But as I've said in other threads, I haven't reached the point where I think the team should be building with the assumption of no Oden. If Cho could parlay Miller, JPEC, picks, Babbitt into Josh Smith and then send Aldridge out for someone like Devin Harris (plus a little more, perhaps, but I'm not necessarily sure Aldridge is worth more than a Devin Harris)...I'd be pretty happy with that long-term. Yes, if Oden never returns (in any meaningful way), the team has a hole at center. But if you subtract Oden and Miller, the team will have a hole somewhere. At least by my ...well, can't call it a plan, but my wish-casting, the team is set if Oden does return and is about as well off, IMO, if he doesn't.
Now this, I can get behind. If we can successfully acquire Smith, without giving up Batum and then parlay Aldridge into a PG like Devin Harris. That would be awesome.
I'm no huge LMA fan, but I'd take him over Josh Smith at PF every day of the week. If we went after Smith it should be to play starting SF and backup PF. He's tallied 18 blocks so far in 4 games. Dude is a stat stuffer. Batum would be a small price to pay in a deal for him.
I'd probably rather have LMA over Smith at the 4 too. But, if we can get Harris and Smith, while keeping Batum. I'm all in favor of that.
Yeah, but I'm saying maybe we could get Smith without giving up Batum. The only sacrifice would be Batum's minutes, which right now aren't that high anyway. I'm merely saying I wouldn't trade Aldridge at this juncture because we simply don't know what will happen with Greg. If we added Smith without giving up Batum, and had Nico come off the bench for a couple more years, I don't think it would hurt him THAT much.
He's a pretty good back up 4. Who would you want to give up? I don't think they want to take another Spaniard from us.
Nik, I like your comparison of him to being our Lamar Odom. Obviiously different players, but playing that similar role, where you have him in at PF sometimes, and at SF with bigger lineups. I'd love to see an end of game lineup needing stops of Roy-Batum-Smith-Aldridge/Camby-Oden. Good luck. I think, if you can get a player of his talent, along with Bibby for Joel and Andre, Babbit, and NO pick, you do it. You could likely turn right back around and trade Smith for something else if you really wanted to.
Unlike Josh Smith, at least Lamarcus hits his outside shots. Josh Smith is a power forward who likes to drift outside, but who has no outside game.
He is one of my favorite players in the league to watch, but his outside game is def his weakness! He is AMAZING on the weakside defense!
I think at this point in their careers, I'd rather have Armon starting over Bibby. Bibby has been flat out bad for a couple years now. Jeff Teague is just salivating to get out there.