With the Pistons finishing their whooping of the Not-So-Mighty Lakers, the offseason officially begins. For the T'Wolves, that means tweaking the roster, getting THud's & Trenton's names on the dotted line & adding a player or 2. My suggestion is that they go aggressively after Mehmet Okur. Detroit's supposedly prioritizing Sheed. That'll leave them with very little capspace to sign other players. I'd be totally satisfied giving Okur a large part of the MLE. The other option is making that same-sized offer to Mark Blount but I'd prefer Okur. For the Lakers' Mitch Kupchak, it's time for the matchstick & the TNT. That team needs major surgery, starting with letting Kobe go along with Payton & Malone, etc. Their bench got exposed badly this series. Worse, their teamwork stunk & frankly, was an embarassment. Their starters stunk even worse because something was actually expected of them. They aren't athletic enough to defend anymore, they didn't buy into Phil's system anymore & they didn't share the ball & they just stood around against the Pistons. I can imagine the things Magic is saying about them tonight. We might not hear them quoted but you can bet the steam's billowing out of his ears after this series.
I just listened to PA & Dubay & Trent Tucker was their guest. He said that he believes that GPayton will leave the Lakers because he didn't like all the bickering in the lockerroom & he especially didn't like not playing much in the 4th quarter. Double T said that there might be wholesale changes to the Lakers' roster, too. On the T'wolf front, he was asked about the annual Wally trade rumors. TT said that they might get intense this offseason because he might bring alot in exchange. I'm not begging that they trade Wally but I'm not totally against it if it helps the team. The trade I'd love seeing is Stromile Swift & Mike Miller for Wally. Miller is a great shooter & a solid athlete. Stro Swift is a talented guy who'd combine with KG to create alot of matchup problems.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TWolfFanatic:</div><div class="quote_post"> The trade I'd love seeing is Stromile Swift & Mike Miller for Wally. Miller is a great shooter & a solid athlete. Stro Swift is a talented guy who'd combine with KG to create alot of matchup problems.</div> I love your posts and your ideas. Miller is good yes, maybe his going to the Wolves would toughen him up, because that's what he lacks, strength and courage to shoot, because he can obviously make it. Swift is lazy but great when he wants to be, like Walker and KVH he is a great rebounder, unlike them however he has mad athleticism and good defense, he could be a good prospect. However why would we give up Wally who's done so much for us off the bench? That's what we need the most, a good bench, we have such awesome starters. Particularly I say we go for a really good C like say 'Zo, Foster or Dampier and then a good backup PG like BJax.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post"> Particularly I say we go for a really good C like say 'Zo</div> ZO!! I love his strength and leadership, plus his toughness, but he's still ailing and would probably spend most of his tenure in street clothes. I was thinking that he would be a good addition and we wouldn't need much from him because we have big men who can take most of the minutes, but I don't think he can make it. I still wonder if the possibility of getting Bobby Jackson can be a reality. I used to hope for Spree, but thought it was a daydream and New York would never give him up. Who knew. I still like Dampier, but he wants to head out East so he can be an annual All-Star at the 5 . I've heard Wolf fans thinking that we should stick with Kandi, but they don't understand that he seems to always need time off for injury. He can block shots though, but is a black hole of the offensive end who needs to tap the shoot button a few more times and learn better footwork. Do you guys know of a board that list the free-agents, restricted free-agents, and unrestricted free-agents?
Kandiman had the potential to be a top 5 C for awhile before the injury. Infact he was, especially in an offensive mentality and way. As for C's seeing as you said 'Zo would be on the bench, how about going for Strick or Skinner? The Bucks just released them and they could be good. Skinner is a great defender and rebounder, he's no Joe Smith, whom we had, but he'd get the job done.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TWolfFanatic:</div><div class="quote_post"> The trade I'd love seeing is Stromile Swift & Mike Miller for Wally. Miller is a great shooter & a solid athlete. Stro Swift is a talented guy who'd combine with KG to create alot of matchup problems.</div> If the Wolves got Miller that would be awsome. Miller has proven to be a great player, and I lthink he'll grow with the help of a good team. I lived about an hour and a half away from his town when he was growing up, and I went to almost all of his highschool games. It would be awsome to go to Minnesota and get to see him play in person again.
I heard something else that's crazy today on ESPNews. They said that Shaq might retire because he said that he doesn't want to play if Phil isn't the coach. Dr. Jack & George Karl both said that Phil won't return. How about packaging Spree, Wally & Kandi in a trade for Shaq? It'll never happen but imagine how we'd roll with KG & Shaq side-by-side & with THud & Sammy C hitting shots from the outside.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TWolfFanatic:</div><div class="quote_post">I heard something else that's crazy today on ESPNews. They said that Shaq might retire because he said that he doesn't want to play if Phil isn't the coach. Dr. Jack & George Karl both said that Phil won't return. How about packaging Spree, Wally & Kandi in a trade for Shaq? It'll never happen but imagine how we'd roll with KG & Shaq side-by-side & with THud & Sammy C hitting shots from the outside.</div> I never want him to join us....he's lazy. He's got a bad attitude, that wouldn't rub off well on nice guys like KG, Sam and Spree. Just go for someone who can get the job done? Also why would we rid ourselves of Wally and Spree, they've proved useful, heck even invaluable, especially Spree of those three you mentioned. He's part of the big three, it'd be a crime to break that. As I mentioned earlier, 'Zo, Foster, Dampier or even Skinner seeing as Joe Smith is restricted for the Bucks now. I don't know if we could possibly use Strick, also part of the Bucks. How about Jerome James?
I would love to see the wolves target some young player to play the 5 position olawakandi is decent but lets face it we could get alot more talent at that spot mabye make a move to get swift over to the t-wolves but we would have to be smart because if we tried to get swift we would be dealing with the wonderful mind that is jerry west who has never made a wrong move in his gm career right know we are set at the 1-4 starting slots but we need a solid 5. Also to resign hudson is huge also I have heared that bruce bowen may be leaving san antonio so may want to target him him and hassel at the 3 would make a hell of a defensive duo but we would have to figure out how to work the rotations for three players wally, bowen, and hassel to do that. Anyway another big need is young talent from the draft this year our draft pick didnt play one minute we need someone who could come in contribute at least decent number a couple of points 5 to 10 rebounds a game around there
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">I never want him to join us....he's lazy. He's got a bad attitude, that wouldn't rub off well on nice guys like KG, Sam and Spree. Just go for someone who can get the job done? Also why would we rid ourselves of Wally and Spree, they've proved useful, heck even invaluable, especially Spree of those three you mentioned. He's part of the big three, it'd be a crime to break that. As I mentioned earlier, 'Zo, Foster, Dampier or even Skinner seeing as Joe Smith is restricted for the Bucks now. I don't know if we could possibly use Strick, also part of the Bucks. How about Jerome James?</div> actually Shaq has a good attitude, I really don't think he is lazy I think his body is breaking down from being 320+ pounds. He just gets tired and that is what creates him to be lazy he can't really help it much during season now is the time if he works on his body more screw the free throws shaq its hopeless you are like Wilt and can't hit them get healthy thats what he needs to do get in shape get down to 300 pounds he still would be the most dominating force in basketball at that weight. But could you imagine Shaq in the post so they double him and he kicks it to KG on the top of the key. KG would average 30 a game just from taking shots in single coverage at the top of the key. Well enough fairy tale BS Shaq is staying in LA Kobe is staying in LA and they will reload there bench with role players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">I never want him to join us....he's lazy. He's got a bad attitude, that wouldn't rub off well on nice guys like KG, Sam and Spree. Just go for someone who can get the job done? Also why would we rid ourselves of Wally and Spree, they've proved useful, heck even invaluable, especially Spree of those three you mentioned. He's part of the big three, it'd be a crime to break that. As I mentioned earlier, 'Zo, Foster, Dampier or even Skinner seeing as Joe Smith is restricted for the Bucks now. I don't know if we could possibly use Strick, also part of the Bucks. How about Jerome James?</div> Zo is damaged goods & has been for 5+ yrs. Jerome James is totally lazy. Skinner would be fine. I'm not certain about Dampier because he was injury-prone & his only good year happened to be in his opt out year. He's a wildcard at best. Personally, the guy I'd rather see them get is Stromile Swift. He's ultra-athletic, jumps out of the building, plays defense & has a nice shot out to about 10'. Pairing him with KG would be putting up a brick wall inside & he'd b a terror on the offensive glass. He isn't a true center but Camby isn't either. Look at the job Mad Dog did against Shaq. Stro is taller & just as thick as Mad Dog so it should work fine.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TWolfFanatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Zo is damaged goods & has been for 5+ yrs. Jerome James is totally lazy. Skinner would be fine. I'm not certain about Dampier because he was injury-prone & his only good year happened to be in his opt out year. He's a wildcard at best. Personally, the guy I'd rather see them get is Stromile Swift. He's ultra-athletic, jumps out of the building, plays defense & has a nice shot out to about 10'. Pairing him with KG would be putting up a brick wall inside & he'd b a terror on the offensive glass. He isn't a true center but Camby isn't either. Look at the job Mad Dog did against Shaq. Stro is taller & just as thick as Mad Dog so it should work fine.</div> Is zo even gona continue playing if he is he still has 4 years on the contract with the nets and the nets are still paying him. He cant continue playing do to his kidney transplant. But as far as swift goes I totally agree with you I would love to have him on the team he would be perfect cause he can run quick and has great hops. He would further improve the wolves fast break game and he can get rebounds for us parring him up with hassel and KG in the wolves front court and you got a great front 3. That can do it all defend, rebound, and score. There arent really many good big men out this year in the free agent market that could play the 5 and I dought your gona find a very talented big man in the second round of the draft. Possible the wolves could get one there by trading up in the draft. But that probable might not happen since they have few people they want to give up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">Is zo even gona continue playing if he is he still has 4 years on the contract with the nets and the nets are still paying him. He cant continue playing do to his kidney transplant. But as far as swift goes I totally agree with you I would love to have him on the team he would be perfect cause he can run quick and has great hops. He would further improve the wolves fast break game and he can get rebounds for us parring him up with hassel and KG in the wolves front court and you got a great front 3. That can do it all defend, rebound, and score. There arent really many good big men out this year in the free agent market that could play the 5 and I dought your gona find a very talented big man in the second round of the draft. Possible the wolves could get one there by trading up in the draft. But that probable might not happen since they have few people they want to give up.</div> Zo retired but you're right that he's still under contract with the Nets. My point was that I didn't want the T'Wolves chasing a player that's damaged goods. As for Stro in a T'Wolf uniform, that'd be a sweet sight. He isn't the smartest or smoothest player but he's energy & athleticism. We'd only get him in a trade, though, because he's a RFA with a minimum offer of over $6 million a year. We can't offer him nearly that much.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TWolfFanatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Zo retired but you're right that he's still under contract with the Nets. My point was that I didn't want the T'Wolves chasing a player that's damaged goods. As for Stro in a T'Wolf uniform, that'd be a sweet sight. He isn't the smartest or smoothest player but he's energy & athleticism. We'd only get him in a trade, though, because he's a RFA with a minimum offer of over $6 million a year. We can't offer him nearly that much.</div> We would have to seriously consider who we would trade then since you would be dealing with jerry west he has a great eye for talent he was the only one that believed in kobe when he came in the nba and he traded divac to the hornets for kobe and he made a huge steal when he got pau gasol in the draft a couple years back and signed posey.
