Haters be damned, I think we should make an all-out push for Deron this summer. Get a coach that he likes, throw a max deal at him, and use the rest of the space to try to fill out the roster. I still think this team could be very enticing with Aldridge, Batum, and potentially two lottery picks in a deep draft. Go get Deron, Paul!
I agree, everyone is thinking he's going to Dallas in the summer though. Don't know why. I know he's from there, but the roster is getting old. Pairing himself with Aldridge, Batum, and two top 10 picks in a very deep draft, along with knowing we have an owner who will spend to win. I think it would be his best situation.
They need to be at his door at 12:01 AM with a max contract. If that's a no-go, Eric Gordon is target #2.
Too many larger market teams with better weather and just as much cap room. That's going to be tough.
Not that it doesn't mean much, but Williams did say he doesn't care about the market. I don't know how much teeth that statement has.
If you're Williams, you have to look at the roster you're signing on with because that's the team you'll be with for 4-5 years. I think we've got as good a core group of guys as any team that will have cap space this summer. It's not like Miami, NY, or LA will have cap space. We will be competing against some pretty shitty teams for Deron's services.
Agree Deron should be target #1. I'm not sure about Eric Gordon, he seems too short to be a SG. He reminds me more of Ben Gordon then an above average SG but yes he has elite talents for sure. All we can do is acquire talent and hope a stud free agent believes talented teammates are more important then a big city. The Pistons won a title while signing at the time mid-tier free agents like Chauncy Billups so even if we don't get a star if you make other smart moves you can contend. But contenders more often have multiple studs like Deron and LaMarcus.
Maybe LaMarcus can recruit Deron this summer, since they are both on the USA Basketball final 20 squad.
So we are not going after Jerry Sloan? I agree Williams is worth a shot. The right coach will be a huge factor. LMA needs to start recruiting now. Dallas will be tough to beat though. But I will say if Eric Gordon is healthy, he is a good plan B-C. He is way better than Ben Gordon. I watched him quite a few times last year in person, and always came away impressed.
I don't know if Sloan is the answer (especially if you believe that he and Deron really butted heads in Utah) but there's got to be somebody out there, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, this team still needs a GM.
If we get Deron out of this, it will make this rebuild quick and easy. God, I hope we pull this off. Today's moves gave me hope.
If you look at the teams with cap space this summer, we actually don't fare that badly. We have a decent core, we have the money to get possibly two max players, and it gets Deron out of the east where it will be very hard to compete against the Heat and Bulls. I like our chances.