Obviously feeling a bit of a high after last nights game, but my feeling even before camp was that I'm not sure what the team should be addressing in the summer aside from just keeping their starters. Defense has been a concern.... but if you look at the pattern, in Stott's 1st season they ranked 29th in defense, last season 16th, so far this season 3rd. Bench has been a concern... But with the addition of Kaman and Blake and the (so far) perceived progression of CJ and Robinson, Bench is looking solid. From my perspective we need to keep the 5 starters and then re-sign Robinson. We will have another MLE type slot to use on a free agent as well as a 1st rounder. Our weakest position depth wise is the SF Who could we target either in the draft (too early to know really, but suggestions appreciated!) or as a MLE signing? Or.... How do you perceive it?
I wish we could get better at the backup 3 but there really aren't many obtainable good backup 3s this coming summer. We're looking at guys like Aminu, Daye, Fields (what happened to him?!?), Gee, Gerald Green (only good option), Xavier Henry, Wesley Johnson... Other than that it's old dudes and RFA's,
Everything I see has Singler as a UFA as he was a 2nd rounder who went to europe then signed using their MLE.
Restricted means that the team has the right to match any offer a player receives, and keep the player. The player has no say in it. Bird Rights simply mean that a team can exceed the salary cap to re-sign the player. If the player chooses to sign elsewhere the team can't do anything to prevent it.
We should have this discussion mid season. We may not even have to change a damn thing. If we can bring back Kaman, Blake and have our current players (CJ, Robinson, Will, and Leonard maybe) maybe enough. These young guys can and will get better. I can see Wright, Claver and Freeland either moved or just allowed to leave.
It's never too soon!! Mid season is when these decisions would need to be addressed more than likely anyway due to the trade deadline.
I know there is a lot of uncertainty with our roster, but it really is too early for these types of threads, because these questions are unanswerable at this point in the season. The blazers still have to assess where the young players are at leading up to the trade deadline, and then where they are at at the end of the season. The blazers might even trade their first pick for for a SF/sixth man at the deadline completely invalidating this whole thread. Who the hell knows at this point
I don't think that invalidates the thread at all. As I mentioned we have a depth issue at SF... We don't really have a young SF, unless Crabbe steps up. Claver isn't it.
I hope we move those three... Maybe we could do that and get Gerald Henderson, he isn't being used in Charlotte.
I don't understand the need to fill specific positions (like SF) for the bench. I think it would be smarter to address the roles that need to be filled. We have a facilitator (Blake), an inside threat (Kaman), an energy big (TRob), and a shooter (CJ). Seems solid enough for me. Wing defense on the bench might be a hole, but realistically, how many mins will Nic or Wes not be on the floor? I don't see specifically targeting a backup SF to play 10-15 mpg being be a priority. General improvement of talent on the bench-- absolutely! But this should be done regardless of position.
My thoughts exactly. Preferably that person would also be able to attack and finish at the rim, as well.
CJ is probably that guy, problem is when you have bench players that can create they usually become ball hogs (cough* Mo/Jamal Cough*) and inefficient.
