<u>problem:</u>The supersonics, as we all know, are fine at the 1,2, and 3 spots. In fact, they are the best in the NBA at that combination, especially if we resign brent barry, which I think we should do. We have depth beyond depth. What makes us suck is that gaping hole at the 4 and 5 (genious here). <u>solution </u> : DON'T TRADE IN THE OFFSEASON! We drafted collison for a reason, dammit! In this draft we need to get a center at 12, a small forward (backup) at 36, and another center at 42. getting 2 centers is okay because james will opt out and the Bobcats will take Booth. Now, we wait a certain amount of games to see who does good and who sucks between Collison and whoever the starting center is. Now we know if it is necessary to trade for a big man before we send allen or lewis off. If collison does great and whatever euro stiff we have at center sucks, then offer Lewis and Daniels with a second round pick. If we can manage to get a center like Curry, Ilgauskas, Dampier, or possibly Magloire but nobody less then Theo Ratlif, then I would have no problem with Radmanovic starting at 3. If one of our drafted centers turns out better than we thought and worthy of starting position while Collison is injured again or a bust, then trade Ray and another gaurd who's name is not Luke Ridnour or Ronald Murray. We have a lot more options here. If we can get anyone better than Shareef at Power Foreward, than I would be more than happy to see Murray, Frahm, and Barry rotate with Ridnour, morlende and Daniels (whoever we can keep) at the gaurd positions. Now, if both Collison and our center sucks, then we should package either lewis with flip or allen with radmanovic, and get a pf or center depending on where the whole is deeper. Now, say we get a center. do we leave the 4 spot to collison who we know sucks by now and plan for next season? NO! we put in Vitaly Potapenko. this guy shined at the end of the season and given the minutes he is a 13/10 player, which isn't phenomenal but since we are strong at all the other spots, it can be made up for. If we trade the package for a power forward, then put potapenko at center. Pot's main problem at center is that he's undersized, but beside Shaq, Miller, Z, and Yao Ming, what other center's are there to worry about? For all it's worth, the Sonics would look great on paper: <u>If Collison is no good (yet):</u> 1. Barry*/Daniels*/Ridnour/Morlende*/Sesay* 2. Murray/Barry*/Daniels*/Frahm 3. Lewis/rookie2/Barry/Frahm/Sesay* 4. 18/10 pf/Pot/Collison/Evans*/Sesay* 5. Rookie1/pot/rookie3 *include in package if needed <u>If the drafted center(s) are no good:</u> 1. Barry/Ridnour/Morlende/sesay 2. Allen/Murray/Barry/Frahm 3. Radmanovic/rookie2/Barry/Frahm 4. Collison/Pot/Evans/Sesay 5. 15/10 c/pot/rookie1/rookie3 <u>If both are no good:</u> 1.Barry/Daniels/Rid/morlende/Sesay 2.Allen/Barry/Daniels/Frahm 3.Radmanovic/rookie 2/Barry/Frahm/Sesay 4.Pot/Collison/Evans/Sesay 5.15/10c/Pot/rookie 1/rookie3 or 1. Barry/ Daniels/rid/morlende/sesay 2. Murray/Barry/Daniels/Frahm 3. Lewis/Rookie2/Barry/Frahm/Sesay 4. 21/10pf/collison/evans/sesay 5. Pot/rookie1/rookie3
Lewis has to go IMO - personally I would target either Portland and Reef, or Chicago and Curry or Chandler. I prefer Radmanovic at the 3, but it is becoming increasingly clear that one of the two WILL be gone this off season. Forigve me, I am rather intoxicated as i write this - but a trade needs to go down, we need a good post player to assists Collison, and in that situation we will have the luxury to draft the best player available. I love Ray as much as anyone, but if it comes down to him or Nate I choose Nate. At least Mac10 wants to build a team that is hard and can win playoff basketball, and I have no problems with a backcourt of Bones and Flip. Ron Murray has HEART.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">Forigve me, I am rather intoxicated as i write this </div> Hahaha...it happens to the best of us. The only reason im not for trusting the draft to give us talent at the PF and C is that we'll most likely draft a project and the Sonics need to win soon. Delaying it would do no good. I'd rather trade Radman or Shard and get a proven post player in return.
I completely agree...as I put in the "Wanted:Toughness" thread. The Sonics need to build around what they have already.
Man I'd do that trade Lewis, Daniels and second round for Dampier sign and trade. What's a matter with Rashard Lewis? Does he settle for too many jumpers?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Man I'd do that trade Lewis, Daniels and second round for Dampier sign and trade. What's a matter with Rashard Lewis? Does he settle for too many jumpers?</div> If you throw in your first rounder and take out our 2nd rounder or AD then I'd do it, but I don't know if you would. rashard's problem is he doesn't have an aggressive streak - he has all the tools offensively and can be a competent defender and rebounder when he wants to be. However he shirks contact, which means he ultimately ends up sitting around the perimeter. He also lacks consistency, and seems content to fade into the background at times, when as the team's second option he should be in the fray as much as possible. He is more than capable of putting up big numbers (as evidenced by a 50 point game and numerous 25+ games), but he doesn't do this at a consistent rate. 18 a night is fine if you're getting 18 a night, but he'll get 30 one night and six the next.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">If you throw in your first rounder and take out our 2nd rounder or AD then I'd do it, but I don't know if you would. rashard's problem is he doesn't have an aggressive streak - he has all the tools offensively and can be a competent defender and rebounder when he wants to be. However he shirks contact, which means he ultimately ends up sitting around the perimeter. He also lacks consistency, and seems content to fade into the background at times, when as the team's second option he should be in the fray as much as possible. He is more than capable of putting up big numbers (as evidenced by a 50 point game and numerous 25+ games), but he doesn't do this at a consistent rate. 18 a night is fine if you're getting 18 a night, but he'll get 30 one night and six the next.</div> If I were GM and it was Rashard for Dampier straight up I'd still pull the trigger. Maybe a change in scenery is what both these guys need. The supes could use Dampier because he can simply dominate a lot of centers in the league when he's healthy and get all the offensive rebounds (most of them btw are off his own misses), but he's good at putting back missed shots by others. He's a real life saver when it comes to second chance points and awesome dunks on the follow through. The guy can even play Shaq because he's got the upper body strength, athleticism and positioning too. And the W's could use Rashard Lewis's 3 point shooting ability, his speed in the transition game, and his stealing ability. I think maybe both these players have been with their respective organizations so long they get moody. A swap might benefit both teams. How many years left on Lewis's contract btw?
To have a good center and power foreward along with Lewis/Radmanovic and Murray/Allen with Ridnour getting everyone involved would be priceless. Then what would we need the draft picks for? Trade them away in a package to get a better center or power foreward. It's simple! _____________________________ RESIGN FLIP MURRAY NOW!!!!!!
I thin there's three years on Lewis' contract - I could live with a straight swap for Dampier too, but I am concerned that his strong play has only come because he is coming out of contract. A bit like Olowokandi, and even Mark Blount this season.
