Zombie Summer of 2016 NBA Free Agency

The core is Lillard and McCollum. Anyone else can and should be moved for a clear upgrade.

 

So Manu was never part of the Spurs core?

 

I'd probably put Ed Davis in there. Has the second best PER on the team and excellent defense. He could certainly be on a title contender as a 20mpg player. Again depends how you define core. I think of a core piece as someone who could start if needed or be one of the 3 main backups for a contending team.

Vonleh is hard to project. I've been very impressed with him for his last 5-10 games. But he has a long ways to be an above average NBA starter. So I think either him or the SF need to be a good deal better for us to be a contender. If Vonleh becomes a stud we could be fine with some good role players at SF. If Vonleh is more just an average starter we need something closer to an All-star at SF.

I'm really not sure about Plumlee though. He fits great with this team. But if we have a more offensive minded SF then we might want a more defensive rim protecting center.

 

Middleton would be perfect as our starting SF. I'd try and trade Aminu for a 1st and offer the pick with the two 2018 1sts and filler. But I'm afraid Middleton is untouchable, but Tobias Harris was a same level player on the same kind of contract who got traded for a whole lot less.

Milwaukee could go younger and cheaper because Antetokounmpo is only 21 years old. Maybe trading their expensive contracts (Middleton, Monroe) for assets and cap space then using the capspace to buy free agents who fit with Giannis, Parker, and MCW would be the way to go.

The moves would leave us with around $35M in cap. That means we could sign someone like Horford + Role Player(s), which would then bump us to a top 5 NBA team. It'd be an Olshey move nobody saw coming but would make a ton of sense.

 

Middleton is a lot better and more of a modern nba player than Tobias Harris...

 

I can't believe I am writing this but if Harkless can keep playing like this he can play either PF or SF as Aminu can - we'll likely have a better answer if he can by seasons end. If he does and we can lock him up for 6-8 mil per then screw these other guys and Harrison Barnes does not impress me at all. However "iF" hark can keep this up his payday this summer is going up as well

 

As long as it's not at the rim?

I've said my piece about Meyers multiple times (not a fan for the uninitiated/unware), the guy is going to get paid exactly because some GM will be tantalized by his shooting and size -- A classic tease. @Fez Hammersticks called him Bargnani without the dribble and I think that's a pretty apt comparison.

 

it better as hell NOT be us that pays him!

 

Said this a few times earlier before Hark fell out of the rotation, but I like him as our SFotF more than Aminu.

That Chief contract is very movable if needed. He's a more mobile defender than Hark, but I feel like Moe does everything else better. Better handle, better finisher, better rebounder, better shooter.

Edit: Last 5 games:

14.4 pts, 7.2 rebs, 1.4 ast, 1.2 stl on 63% FG, 43% from 3 in 26 mpg. 44% FT is the only negative here. But with more PT, I think that will get consistently better.

 

they are actually a nice combo on the floor together in small ball with Davis or perhaps even Vonleh at C and our guards

 

Bargnani was a historically bad rebounder. Meyers is an above average rebounder. Bargnani can't defend any position. Meyers is a bad defender but can defend slow centers. Bargnani was a more accurate, quicker shooter and could create offense in other ways. He's closer to Bargnani than a quality starter, but they have numerous differences.

I've said the Matt Bonner comparison countless times and think its much more similar. Many view that as a slight against Meyers; but Bonner's had a long career and contributed to some great teams.

 

One of the things I enjoy the most of this season is having bench players; we haven't had it in a decade. Small ball is the future of the NBA. There's plenty of room for both guys on our squad. We've also had unusually few <knock wood> injuries this year.

 

Back to the 2016 FA discussion, man, all we need now is a shotblocking C who can finish on the P&R.
If only we could extend Plums' arms a bit....

Whiteside scares the hell out of me, and he's not the kind of passer to be a release man when Dame and CJ get trapped. I can't think of anyone else who can help us via FA.

 

Al Horford is literally the perfect fit on this team. Doesn't require touches but can score when needed. Can hit the open shot so he's an outlet on the pick and rolls/pop. Good passer, good defender, solid rebounder and above all a smart player that will adapt quickly to Stotts's schemes.

He's a bit old, but he doesn't rely on athleticism. Biggest problem is that he won't sign with us. But still.....

 

I like Iam Mahimni, has improved almost every yr, good defender playing very solid ball and should be a reasonable priced signing. He's 29, give him a 3 yr deal

 

Big problem is he wants and very possibly gets the MAX, which for him I think starts at 27-28 million PER year, I like Horford but just can stomach that

 

Good call. I can see us throwing a max at him, but don't see him taking it.

It's weird. Vonleh reminds me of Horford a lot. Maybe he can be our CotF?

 

Both are around the same size but for some reason Horford looks a lot bigger on the court. Vonleh is listed at 6'9 240 and Horford 6'10 245. Horford kind of stands very wide and takes up a lot of space for a player who is more of a natural PF. Vonleh looks a lot more compact when standing.

I will be absolutely ecstatic if Vonleh becomes 75% of Horford.

Dreaming of Horford.....now that he has a usable 3 point shot as well he's literally the perfect fit.

 

And he's a year younger than Aldridge. And next year he'd get the 7-9 year vet max. So it's not tooo bad.

What's his injury history like?