I think you're overlooking the beauty that is Steve Blake. One of the reasons why we wanted Blake was because he can play alongside Dame and distribute. We didn't want another Mo Williams, and Collison is a Mo Williams through and through. I agree that Detroit wants to unload Smith though. I still think I would move Batum/CJ/Robinson for Green and Brandan Wright. That covers so many bases. Our bench would be Blake/Crabbe/Wright/Kaman. That's extremely solid. Starters would be Dame/Wes/Green/LA/Rolo (when healthy.)
I love Blake, but I'm thinking playoffs. We are going to need a ball handler that can score off the bench, Collison also gets to the line fairly well and his contract is very friendly (5.2 mail at the highest in his last season). We could keep him long term as 6th man and use our draft pick on a wing that we need.
I like Collison, but I don't mind our bench rotation. I think we either need to add a wing scorer for the bench, or trade Batum and upgrade the starting small forward spot from a scoring perspective.
A wing scorer would be nice but they're way harder and more expensive (money and trade wise) than good scoring guards. I mean look at all the top teams in the West, they have a backup guard who can come in and score as good as the starter if needed. Golden State: More of a committee, but a good one of Iggy/Livingston/Barbosa Memphis: Vince Carter Us: CJ? Barton? Houston: Jason Terry Dallas: Devin Harris/JJ Barea Los Angeles: Jamal Crawford San Antonio: Ginobili/Mills(when healthy)/Joesph/Belinelli Oklahoma City: Jackson/Lamb/Morrow Phoenix: Isaiah Thomas
Who cares if Lillard "plays better" (i.e., scores more) without Batum? The important question is how the team does. When Jordan was young, they experimented with making him the PG. He averaged a triple double. But the experiment only lasted 10 games or so. Turns out what was "best" for Jordan wasn't necessarily best for the team.
Riiight... it was clearly the same thing. Mine was basically making fun of myself, and yours was pure condescension.
