Follow up question: Can someone refresh my memory as to why it is presumed that Crabbe would be the one going out? Does Denver need Crabbe?
Well let's rethink this when we have our starting center and back up PF/C, who both our one of our best offensive rebounders and rim protectors
That's not our biggest weakness. We need another wing that can score. It would also allow batum and wes to rest more, which is important because 1) both are banged up and 2) our team was worn out last year vs the spurs. When Lillard, one of the best conditioned athletes in the NBA says he was worn out, you can bet everyone else on the team was as well.
I think we have one that can score, but he's still trying to get back to playing at the efficiency before he was injured. Having the offensive rebounders actually help our bench. The offensive board gives our team better opportunities to score. Btw, our bench isn't like last season. In a lot of cases, we've actually built on a lead when our bench comes in. Sometimes you don't need to score to be effective, especially when you keep a starter or two in with the bench at all times.
Not saying we don't need freeland back, as well as maybe signing another rim protector like Oneal. I just don't think that's our primary need. Are you talking about McCollum? Can't wait on him right now. We've got a window to win a ring. Let's go get it.
But as I look at Chandler's numbers, I question if he's the right piece. If we are to get a scoring wing off the bench, I would much rather have one that slashes, runs the break and gets to the foul line. Chandler hasn't shown this. You made a statement that Wroten isn't the player for this squad, but I think he's more the player of need than Chandler.
Wroten can slash but he can't shoot, and if you can't shoot, you won't fit in this system. Chandler can score in multiple ways. He can create his own shot. He can shoot 3s. He can defend multiple positions. He doesn't need the ball in his hands all the time like Wroten.
See I disagree with that statement. We need another player off the bench that can scorer without shooting the jumper. Wroten would have open lanes to the basket for the slashing score or the foul. This is essential when the outside shot isn't falling. We have plenty of shooters already. When they are hot, we cannot be beat. But we aren't hot every game, so having a player that can get scores in the paint or at the line will balance out our attack.
Or, we need another reliable shooter so that we have a lower probability of all of our shooters being cold at the same time. I wish Afflalo were available at a price we could afford. Is Olshey savvy enough to convince them to take McCollum/TRob/#1?
Of all the trade suggestions put out there, Afflalo is the one guy that I'd like to see as a 6 man off the bench. I'd trade CJ TRob plus change for him. Not sure I'd include the pick.
What about Kevin Martin. I'm sure we could get him from MIN for a combination of young player(s), expiring contract(s) and draft pick(s). He's a very good shooter, has improved his 3-point shooting in recent years, slashes, gets to the line and makes his FTs. The guy can still light it up - he scored 37 in his last game prior to the wrist injury. The timing is good as it looks like he's healed and ready to come back: "Kevin Martin (wrist) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) were full participants in practice on Monday. It's clear that Martin's wrist injury is healthy and he should be ready to go soon. There is talk of Martin going through a D-League stint, but the loss of Shabazz Muhammad (abdominal) may change that. If Martin is available, he's worth a look in standard leagues. Jan 12 - 2:36 PM" He seems to have fallen off the map in MIN, but the season before last he came off the bench and averaged 14 ppg for OKC. Last year he averaged 19.1 ppg and was averaging 20.4ppg through nine games this year before the injury. He continues to average over 20 PTS/36 for his career. I'd love to see him in an instant offense off the bench role. He'd certainly address our bench scoring issue. And, I bet he'd embrace that role, on a contender, as opposed to rotting away in the arctic loserville of MIN. The ONLY drawback is the length of his contract. The dollars are reasonable (~$7 million/year), but it runs through 2016-17 (player option). BNM
I'm quite certain that the Nuggets would insist upon it. And considering we're shooting for a title, I think it's the kind of move you have to make.
I agree that I would much rather have Afflalo then Chandler. I think the price would have to be higher though and I not even keen on giving them the price they are probably asking for the one so doubt either gets done. Kevin Martin gets hurt a lot and really doesn't shoot as well as he used to (some might be the injuries). I think if Olshey wants to dip into the cap space next year that he goes real big instead of a tweak. Otherwise he doesn't dip into the cap space at all imo.
Kevin Martin excites me way more than Afflalo and Chandler. He's got a history of being efficient as well as coming off the bench.
Now Afflalo would be the "slam dunk" acquisition! He can take it inside, post up, shoot from the perimeter and defend somewhat efficiently. I would give up McCollum, Crabbe, and T. Rob for him. And if Denver really wanted to play hardball, I would even give them our first rounder to boot
He is another player I would be seriously open to. I think getting to the line and slashing is so important. We really only have Lillard with that capability right now. We need just one more player to help from the bench
Would love to see Olshey make a move for Afflalo! I'd definitely give up Robinson, McCollum OR Crabbe, & our first rounder to get it done. I think Afflalo would be a STRONG addition... it'd basically be like adding a Wesley Matthews to our bench
He mostly suffers nagging injuries when asked to start and play a lot of minutes. He was healthy and played 77 games for OKC two seasons ago at 27.7 MPG - more than he'd be asked to do in Portland. Last year, he was a starter and averaged 32.0 MPG in 68 games for MIN - again WAY more minutes than he'd be required to play in POR. His 3-point shooting has actually improved with age. Coming off the bench in OKC, he averaged 14.0 ppg on 10.1 FGA. That's pretty damn efficient. Last year, he was 19.1 ppg on 15.0 FGA and this year (I know, limited sample size), he was a very impressive 20.4 ppg on 13.3 FGA. For the last 2+ seasons (one coming off the bench on a contender) he's averaged 1.33 PTS/FGA. Just to give you an idea how efficient that is, Damian Lillard and, to a lesser extent, Wesley Matthews are both having break out seasons. Dame is currently averaging 1.36 PTS/FGA and Wes is averaging 1.32. So, Martin gives us another scorer that's every bit as efficient as our starting backcourt, and is WAY more efficient than Batum (1.04 PTS/FGA or any guard/wing we currently have coming off our bench). I'd LOVE to see that kind of scoring efficiency off our bench. He also has the length to back up both the 2 and 3 positions - which is exactly what he did in OKC. We're in win now mode. We have a window. I say we add Martin now, keep our core together, resign them all next summer, which will put us over the cap, and then use the MLE next summer to add another piece to the bench. And, if we make a deep playoff run this season, ring shopping veterans will be lining up to take our MLE. BNM
