My guess for Portland's center next year: Al Horford

No to Turner. He doesn't make teams better. Fournier is one dimensional (shooter) who is a horrendous defender and will likely get a contract between $15-$20M

 

Under the Radar Targets:
Jared Sullinger
- Solid defender, decent low-post scorer with potential there, his shooting touch and a nice stroke.
Marvin Williams
- Good Defender and great shooter at the power forward position. This feels like an Olshey signing
Ian Mahinmi or Festus Ezeli
- Both are great rim protectors with limited offensive games. Ezeli's injury prone though and will be much more expensive.
Pau Gasol
- I know he's old, but he's shown no signs of decline and is having a great year. He's the low post scorer/passer we need and has turned into a good rim protector. He can also stretch the floor so you can play him with Davis or Plumlee. If we strike out on big free agents I could see us signing him for a 1 year contract for $15M-$20M. He'd give us a chance to try to contend for a 2/3 seed without hampering our flexibility in the future.

 

The Warriors will retain him.

 

I might take a beating for this one but something tells me Roy Hibbert might come into play again.

 

No I agree; was thinking of him earlier. Obviously it'd be a value signing for a cheaper deal; but as a bench big to help when we need a rim protector or to bang with big centers? He could be useful. I'd have rather seen him defend Towns with 3 seconds left than Aminu.

It worked good grabbing a Lakers big man the last two summers. Lets get a third one.

 

With 3.5 left the Wolves pulled everyone away from the basket iso-ing Towns on Aminu. He didn't try to power up, he made a quick turn, stretched out and did a hook. I doubt there are many defenders in the league that could effect that shot and that list certainly wouldn't include slow Roy Hibbert.

As far as going after Roy in FA, doesn't he have some character questions? Is he injured or whats the deal? At 29 he should be at the top of his game, instead he's having the worst statistical year of his career.

STOMP

 

well he IS playing for the lakers this year...

 

I would consider Hibbert at around $5M or less (and I'm sure he'll get double that from someone else), but I'm still far more interested in Larry Sanders. To me Hibbert isn't any more of a "safe bet" than Sanders, and doesn't have the potential upside.

 

You have to convince Sanders to come back to basketball first. Then hope he hasn't lost a step in the 2 years or so it will be since he's played professional ball.

 

There were reports that he was interested in giving it another try. With a full summer to work out - at his age - I don't think he'd be any worse off in training camp than anyone else...and would still be quicker than Hibbert ever has been!

 

It will be interesting to see if Hibbert's ego allows for such a pay cut while technically still in his prime. My guess it will happen late in FA after it is clear no one is willing to pay him more. (Although I bet someone will offer at least 8-10 per)

 

8-9 is what i am thinking he will get. Yes i would be okay with that after the cap increases.

 

Hibbert is absolutely atrocious trash at this point in his career. His production per 36 has gone down steadily since his rookie season. This year he started 80 games and played 23mpg his per 36 is 9.2pts, 7.6reb and 2.1bk he has a per of 11.2 and he's going to be 30 in December. Honestly Vonleh isn't that far off from that type of production.... On top of that it's not like Hibbert can come in and be the wise old sage that Kaman has been for us. Serioulsy I would rather keep Kaman.

 

My only problem with that assessment is that everyone knows this is a tank year for the Lakers and it is the Kobe Farewell Tour. Hibbert played 80 games and he actually put up with the whole thing without sulking or being a cancer. That in itself has got to be hard.

 

Of all of what I pointed out... The fact that he has diminished as a player every year should be the biggest concern. The dude peaked early and we can't collectively get over that fact.

 

My question is why has he diminished as a player? At 29 there are some things you can come back from, and other things you can't.

I certainly would not throw big money at him, but as I have said many times, I like the center by committee strategy, and his size fills one of the needs our committee lacks. He has never averaged 30 minutes a game in his career. If he is happy with 23 minutes per game, and about 8 million, I would take him and his 80% free throw shooting as one of our centers.

 

Every player Neil has acquired has a killer work ethic. I don't see any scenario at all we sign a guy who quit basketball.

 

Good points. Hibbert is someone I've been intrigued with as possibly our 5th big man. Sort of take over Joel Freeland's role from two years ago. Certainly wouldn't give him more than a one year $8 million deal and even that might be a bit much. But maybe we'd be better off using the roster spot on a younger player with upside.

 

Did Dorell have a good work ethic? Maybe he did, and it just didn't translate into being good on the court.
Also, isn't the knock on Monroe that he doesn't have a good work ethic? Neil went after him pretty hard. I'm not sure about that one oaf who went to LAC (totally blanking his name). And Kaman had a bad rep when we signed him. I dunno that I'm buying the idea that Neil only goes for guys with killer work ethics.