they look pretty close to me... until you look at Blocked Shots. Isn't one of the main complaints of Blazer fans that their interior D was regularly shredded? Per minute Gortat blocked 2.4x as many shots as JJ and I'm sure he altered a whole lot more. Having multiple shotblockers along the front line is a good way to deter guys from driving in the first place, and Batum LA and Gortat averaged 1.1, 1.2 & 1.6 per game respectively last season if Jared Dudley is a team's 2nd or 3rd best player then yes, they're in deep shit and in need of a new direction. That said, I'm not exactly pining for Marcin. While I do like him on D, his addition would relegate Aldridge to the high post on offense. I'd much rather see someone who's capable of operating from the top of the key as I think that would help them maximize LA's worth. While MG isn't the rabbit I want to see pulled out of the offseason hat, he'd be better then most of the halfway realistic ideas I've seen bandied around here STOMP
Just keep both and we have our perfect bench big in hickson! Also if gortat or Aldridge goes down; at least hickson is capable of starting. Let's get gortat and sign hickson for 6 mil; using freeland in the gortat trade to shed the salary needed to keep hickson. Gortat is a much better one on one defender and shot blocker. We really need that in a big way. The other advantage of gortat is he is smart. He plays team ball and doesn't have that "I'm awesome so I want all the attention" mentality.
That seems a little unreasonable, considering if Dwight goes there, they will look to move Asik for pure cap space, essentially.
Simple: Our #1 this year for their 2014 #1, 2014 #2 and 2015 #2 all unprotected. We're likely to lose our 1st to Charlotte next year in a very strong draft, and Phoenix is likely to stink on ice next year, which means a high pick in a much stronger draft.
I seriously doubt Howard will go to Houston. I just don't see it. That's why I say getting asik is highly unlikely. But hey; if they somehow manage to get Howard; asik will be obtainable. I just don't see it
So where do you think he will end up? I would say LA has about a 50/50 chance of keeping him. Which is better than anyone else, but I don't think he ever want to go there and there is a pretty good chance he will not re-sign. So if he doesn't you have to think Houston is the front runner.
I would rank them HOU, ATL (only if he takes Paul or someone else with him), LAL, then DAL. He has no reason to pick DAL over HOU imo.
Atlanta would be a huge upset to land Howard. He has never indicated much of a desire to go there even though it is his home town. Cuban is a good salesman when he wants to be...so maybe Dallas. But weren't Houston and the Nets at the top of his list last time? The Nets can't compete with what Houston can offer. I think the Asik fans have a legitimate argument. The Rockets have an excellent chance. I think they are right there with the Lakers. And they could use a little more cap space......
I think Phoenix is going to tank in hopes of a top pick for 2014 and build around that player. I do not see a scenario where they change philosophy. I will be shocked if anyone trades a 2014 first round pick without it being heavily protected.
Dave at Blazersedge is also exploring this one and came up with an interesting twist. http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/6/9...ter-javale-mcgee-marcin-gortat-denver-phoenix His first trade is the same Freeland and #10 for Gortat except we are sending cash to Phoenix. While I would like to have McGee over Gortat, I do not think the difference is Wesley.
Ugh that's even worse..... I actually like Gortat more than McGee. I would definitely take Wes/Gortat over McGee.
Dave's idea of sweetening the #10/Freeland offer with cash is a good one. That puts Freeland's cost to the Suns at about $1.5M per year, which is cheap even if he's just a bench player. Given some PT, he may actually develop into a decent role player. The idea of Wesley, #10 and Freeland for McGee does nothing for me (well, maybe give me gas). Even if we end up with an extra $3M in cap space, the cost of a decent SG to replace Wesley is going to take the bulk of our money, leaving not much for a backup PG and other needed bench pieces. Plus McGee is a certified bonehead.
I think the 10 and Freeland is slightly over paying, so adding money makes it less attractive to me. What if we gave Dallas a heavily protected pick for the 13 and traded that to Phoenix instead?
