Which Starting Backcourt Would You Rather Have?

Two guys who seem to be at their best driving to the hoop! What a great combo!

 

I sort of agree.

But we're not in a position to accrue enough star players to be a title contending team. We're just not. But teams have been very successful with a good collection ot talented players (this year's Philly team readily comes to mind). So I see our climb back to being a good team as a process that begins with collecting talented players, then making moves to acquire stars (if we can). With as little talent as we have, we need more talented players.

Let me put it this way. By adding Rondo and losing Batum (assuming all else that may happen like Felton leaving, who may retire or who we may draft...) we probably don't add more than 2 or 3 wins. But I think if we add a better than average PG (like a Brooks as an example) and keep Batum we add 5-7 wins because we have more positions covered with talent.

 

Nobody is questioning his talent (except free throws and shooting) it's his head that has people worried. There is a reason Boston is looking to get rid of him ... and it's not because Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge are stupid.

 

he's 26 years old. Again, if that's the thinking, might as well move aldridge as well. We can "get back to being competitive" by increasing the talent level on the team, not just looking to draft 12 year olds who might be here when you think we may or may not potentially be ready to compete for half a season before scrapping that idea.

 

To hell with 12 year olds, I want 10 year old prospects in fourth grade. And yes, I would consider moving Aldridge if the right deal came along a year or two from now when his contract is close to expiring and (if) the team isn't close.

 

BTW, I've greatly enjoyed the discussion. It's a breath of fresh air around here to really have a good and clean exchange of views.

 

Somehow, reading your post while watching your avatar was very appropriate.

 

If you trade Batum, breaking even is the best you can hope for.

If you want a title, you get Nash.

If you've enjoyed this ten-year "rebuild" and haven't learned from the mistake then by all means trade experienced talent for youth. Again.

 

My expectation is we'll get Ridnour.

Where is Bob Whitsett?

 

My preferred backcourt is Deron Williams and Batum. The only way to do this is to include a third team and try to get some young assets back for Gerald Wallace and/or Crawford and/or Camby to give to Jersey. Then we can say to Williams; we have a core of you, Aldridge and Batum, with Mathews as a good rotation player, and try to get him to sign with us. The team management would have to have everything set up to go at the deadline in case Howard doesn't go to New Jersey.
I much prefer Deron Williams over Nash, Parker or Rondo. He's only 27, great distributor, good driver and good three point shooter and works hard. Also shoots free throws at a very good rate (sorry, Rondo).

 

This team needs a little crazy. Sheed and Rider were two of the biggest head cases in the league and they led us to a WCF. Sure, Rondo has some red flags, but the guy is legit. He's an extremely talented point guard. I questioned his talent at first because of the talent around, but you don't just put up triple doubles in the playoffs simply because you have a couple of aging HOFers around you. I think it's unfair to put all his accomplishments on Garnett, Pierce, and Allen.

 

I've been saying since Roy went down that we needed to find a PG to build around with LaMarcus and Rondo is really that guy. A change of scenery, and playing next to a 26 year-old budding star could do a lot for his attitude.

Rondo
Aldridge

And let the rebuild-on-the-run begin.

 

That's what I'm thinking. I would love to keep Batum and pair him with Rondo, but if that's not possible I would make the move and try to trade up in the draft for another talented wing, or look for another young guy out there that could be available.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=89zx5vr

Even with Rondo I think we'd have enough cap space to throw max money at a player like Eric Gordon. I would try to get one more talented young guy to go with Rondo and Aldridge.

 

It really depends on other moves we make (cap flexibility) to make a real run at Gordon -- He's going to command a lot of money.

I'd also look hard at Brook Lopez. In fact, I'd probably prefer Brook -- In one year we could fill the two hardest spots to fill long-term: Center and PG.

 

Rider didn't lead nobody to Western Conference Finals. He was in Atlanta by then.

 

Can I ask why you want Lopez so much?

The guy is ultra-soft. A historically horrible rebounder for a 7-footer and loves jumpshots. He's very Channing Frye-esque and should actually be PF, not a C.

 

Is your memory that bad? How about 98-99? Lockout shortened season? Ring a bell?

 

Ah yes. Rider still didn't lead shit. He was hardly a leader and was probably 4th or 5th best player on that team.

 

I have thought about this question over night, and it's a tough one. I think for a team to be successful they have to have all star talent in the back court. I prefer PG over SG, but that's neither here nor there. The question really is this. We know what we have in Batum, and what we will probably have going forward. In Rondo we have a PG who is one of the elite players at his position. But is that because of the three future HOFers he is playing with, the system he is in or is he that good? This is also a tough question because of the coach we have. He simply can't continue to be the coach of this team after this year, so who do we bring in? What type of offense will they run? For example, a triangle based offense would benefit Batum more than Rondo. A pick and roll offense would benefit Batum as well because Rondo can't shoot. A motion offense based on cutting and diving would benefit Rondo. All that said, assuming Rondo isn't too big of a head case, which I believe he is, I would take the PG because I think it is easier to find a SG than a PG

 

No we can't. And that's what I've been saying.

If we completely deplete players with talent to just those two we have no one to trade. We will also be out of cap space and we have no first round pick next season. In other words, we screw ourselves out of rebuilding. By keeping Batum and taking someone like Brooks we still have room for another free agent. And who knows, maybe if we do this Wallace will exercise his option and stay for another season and then we have a trading chip. And in that trade we may get a fairly talented player and a first round pick. You see, that's how a team rebuilds. It's not being foolish enough to think they can trade a crap player (which is all we'll have left if we trade Batum for Rondo) for talent.