I figured we should start this early. There are some interesting targets in next year's FA pool http://hoopshype.com/2015/08/15/nba-free-agency-2016-the-top-players/ I'm going to ignore the obvious big name no-no's. We're not getting Lebron, Durant, Drummond, Beal, etc. Looking at 2nd-3rd tier free agents. Al Horford - Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Atlanta This one seems like an obtainable target, especially if Atlanta disappoints this year. Seems like a prime target for a max contract. He's an efficient, solid big man who will make any team better. Fringe all-star type, like Greg Monroe last year. Demar Derozan- Player Option / Shooting Guard / 6-7 / Team: Toronto 21.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.3 apg Another obvious max contract target. Not sure if this one is worth it. Middling, high volume shooter. The LMA of shooting guards, but not as talented as LMA. He's still got age going for him though. I think CJ is a better volume shooter anyways, especially since he can shoot the 3. Chandler Parsons - Player Option / Small Forward / 6-9 / Team: Dallas 2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg Will he opt out? Not quite sure but I can't see him leaving Dallas. Would be interesting to have him pair up with Aminu in the front court though. A max contract seems like a big mistake though. Hassan Whiteside - Unrestricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Miami 13.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.3 bpg Personality issues, but an obvious talent. Like a supercharged version of Ed Davis. Duplicates skillsets but Miami might not offer a max contract. A fairly obtainable target imo. Nicolas Batum - Unrestricted / Small Forward / 6-8 / Team: Charlotte 13.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg Lol Donatas Montiejunas - Restricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Houston I really like this one. A young big man with a post game, on a team that is going to have multiple max contracts and needs to pay multiple other players (Terrence Jones, Lawson) as well. Even though he's restricted, I think he's very obtainable, and could grow with the core. Agree/Disagree? Anyone I left off that could be a prime target? There's going to be a lot of money in the market so these guys are going to get PAID.
How old is Horford? Parson seems too injury prone and overpaid and we have Aminu, Whiteside is very intriguing IMO as is Monti.
he turns 30 in June, I don't like max contracts to guys 30 or older, seems to not really work out the vast majority of the time
Derozan is the guy I think Olshey makes a pitch for. But I don't see anything there that gets my jimmies rustling. I think Olshey gets creative and makes trades for a sg or pf. Then drafts the other position (lets hope for skal or Simmons )
Yeah there's certainly real downside risk for whoever signs Al. That said based off what we know now I make the Horford deal. But instead of targeting these high priced free agents I wonder if it'd be better to offer deals to 3 or 4 lower tiered players the hour free agency starts? That's what we did with Aminu while the Mavs were dining DeAndre; and with Ed Davis while the Lakers were embarrassing themselves with LaMarcus. Their fan bases both wanted to keep them for the price we got and they may not be here if we waited any longer targeting higher ranked free agents. I'm not sure exactly who these guys will be but players in their mid 20's, have a big problem or two in their game preventing them from being considered a top tier player, but some real NBA upside. Have proven to be at the least a role player.
I said it before, but I'd make a run at Beal. The Wizards will be going hard after Durant and we might be able to poach him while they're looking the other way.
I'll say it again; he's restricted like Kawhi, Jimmy Butler and Drummond. Zero chance we get him. Beal will be the one in the damn meeting recruiting Durant.
Yeah.... I was looking at their salary and they're going to have a boatload of space because most of their guys are expiring. You're probably right.
Yup. We have a serious logjam right now, so if we can get someone like DeRozan to secure his restricted status, it could be worth it.
This hits the nail right on the head. As Yuyuza and Nate stated above, it's a crappy year to have cap space because most everyone else has it too. So we start digging for hidden gold and winkling out the nuggets while the other teams are chasing the elusive mother lode. Kind of like we did this past summer. I like the route we've taken so far and I hope we stay the course until all the dust settles from the free agent feeding frenzy that's going to be fueled by the new TV contract. I think there will be a lot of losers in that process, whether the other teams sign marquee free agents or not. I don't want us to be one of them. Better to find and develope potential than to wind up empty handed, or worse, handcuffed by signing fool's gold in free agency.
Can someone please tell me what the fascination is with Derozan? He's decidedly average at pretty much everything. We already have two volume shooters, why bring in a 3rd who is even less efficient than the two we have? The only thing he does well is attacking the basket, but even then, he too often settles for contested midrange jumpshots (hi LMA!). 7 years into the league and he still doesn't have a semblance of a three point shot. He's like a slightly rich mans version of Gerald Henderson, and for a max contract, that is disgusting. Is it his size? Defense? Whenever I have watched him he seems like a below average to average defender at best.
