I see you point here, but I would conclude that being a free agent in 2010 is much better than being a free agent this year. To me, the most likely scenario is that a handful of teams will get under the cap with the hope they can bring LeBron, Bosh, Wade, etc. However, history has proven that it is very rare for superstar free agents to leave their team, especially in the prime of their career. Sure there are examples of it happening, and one of those guys will probably go elsewhere, but that will leave a lot of teams with significant cap space, a thin roster, and the pressure to avoid going into the next season with a horrible team. In those cases, guys like Gay will get 9/10 million a year, which to me, is too much.
What Gay showed me this year is he has trouble not being the primary offensive option. And when he's not getting his touches, he zones out of most other phases of the game. That being said, he's a supreme talent.
You nailed it ... I get the distinct feeling he's lost some mojo with Mayo coming in and getting all the hype and a ton of the offense run through him. Having said that, I still think Memphis has a very good shot at being a very very good team in a couple of years if they keep Conley, Mayo, Gay and Gasol together.
This is where I am at right now. This summer and before the trade deadline I wanted to make a consolidation trade and upgrade either or both of the 1 and 3 spot. Looking at what seemed to be out there and who might be available it just seemed that there were a lot more impact players potentially availalbe at SF then PG. The PG I was most interested in trying to snag last summer was Chauncey Billups. Once he went to Denver, we really only had good options at the 3. And when you consider the big name SF's that were thrown around at the trade deadline, that turned out to be the case. After passing on the deals at the trade deadline, after watching almost an entire season of the Blazers, I have switched back to trying hard to snag a point guard. Why? Batum has been a stunner this season. I don't know if he will be a star, but I certainly don't want him to be traded now for anything short of a prime star (ie Caron Butler), and I don't want to bring in a prime vet who will block Batum's development (ie Richard Jefferson, who I opposed trading for). Add in Outlaw, Webster, & Roy, and we have lots of guys that can platoon the small forward position to make sure it is not a point of major weakness. Bayless did not contribute. We don't know what we have with him, and it is likely a ways off. Sergio has not improved enough to matter. Blake is fine, but would be an outstanding backup guard. I am not a fan of Bibby. Hinrich is not the player he once was. If he was, I want that guy. That leaves Miller. Defends. Creates. Passes. An above average player who isn't a me-me guy. Makes a great fit with star Roy and budding stars Aldridge and Oden. Andre Miller would be perfect if only he had a long jumper. Even with that hole in his game, he may be the best option this summer, if we can keep Blake so the coaches have options.
Hinrich is a tough call for me, I wonder how much of this year's struggles can be attributed to his thumb injury and missed time and/or being jerked in and out of the starting lineup by Del Negro; not having a clearly defined role can really bugger a player's game up. As for Miller, I've been thinking about him for awhile now, I worry a little about his age (33-34 next season) and the lack of a perimeter game could be troublesome at times, but he does have a good mid-range shot out to about 16-18 feet which allows him to create a little bit of space for the bigs. As long as you surround him with credible outside shooters (Roy, Fernandez, Aldrdige, Webster and possibly Batum if he keeps improving his shot) I think the difference can be made up with his outstanding post-up game, his ability to finish, and most importantly his ability to get into the lane and create shots for Greg and LaMarcus around the hoop. Mark my words, if we get Miller you will see more transition buckets and Greg and LaMarcus will get at least 3 or 4 more open looks underneath the basket per game, I'll take that over a point guard hoisting threes any day of the week.
Bad comparison. Rudy Gay's career averages are already better than Grants, and he already has a better season under his belt than Grant ever put together in 10+ seasons.
Good point. Miller is much better than anyone we have at setting up bigs and delivering a lob pass. Notice how many times this season we have complained about the guards inability (refusal?) to work/risk to get the bigs lobs. Jesus man, with the way Joel is a willing diver to the hoop and how huge Greg is, we should see tons of lobs. Then add in lobs to Rudy, Outlaw, Roy, etc. and Miller would rack up the assists like a madman. The age issue brings up a good point - Miller would be a short-term solution for sure. I don't want to bring him in for big, long money. I don't think any other team will offer him that anyway.
that dude has missed a total of 5 games in his entire NBA career alleviates some of the age concerns IMO. That he has posted some of his most impressive stats the last two seasons also bodes well. I'd think a 3 year deal at 8M per would be a ballpark offer of what it would take to sign him. STOMP
