The Offseason: What Should Your Team Do?

[benji]

Clippers and Mavericks comparisons are silly. Dallas hasn't won less than 50 games in a decade, the Clippers have never won that many. The Clippers started from an absolute pile of shit, the Mavericks landed an all-time superstar to build around. (And lucked into another star.)

It's not like Sterling doesn't pay for players, he has overpaid junk like Cuttino Mobley, Baron Davis and Chris Kaman. Of course he's going to shell out for Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon who will put butts in the seats and sell merchandise, he kept the only valid investments from that Gentry coached disaster in Brand and Maggette. (And there was no way he was matching Philly after the year prior. And he paid more for Davis than Maggette.) And if the CBA doesn't change drastically, it's not like they get a say in whether they stay or not.

Who has Sterling had and not paid for that deserved to be? Outside of Odom who had to go through a lot of shit to get where he is now. (And who the Heat at the time were believed to have overpaid so the Clippers wouldn't match, which is why they ended up matching Maggette.)

but at 24 as a Euro, you should already be able to give your team more than 4-5 quick fouls

He could. He's been more than fine in both the league and d-league for a backup.

He's just not bumping the three and a half guys ahead of him yet.

[Phil89]

Throw in some future draft picks for Orlando too for their post-Dwight rebuild.

[benji]

There's less than two weeks to make that trade.

Actually, I don't know if you can even make that trade now that the season is over as Collison's bonus is a prior event.

[Cartar]

Throw in some future draft picks for Orlando too for their post-Dwight rebuild.

[Phil89]

No, I wasn't really suggesting that it was at all likely to happen. I was just curious to see what people thought of it.

[benji]

Like I said, you only have a couple weeks, Collison's cap figure drops $10+ million at midnight July 1st.

[The X]

Since I don't have a team I have sit on the sidelines, unless somebody wants to volunteer a team for me to critique.

[Cartar]

Since I don't have a team I have sit on the sidelines, unless somebody wants to volunteer a team for me to critique.

Philadelphia (getting a legit center is given, just the question how)

[rise]

Phil89, I'd rather keep Westbrook. But a Howard-Collison swap? Really? rofl

[atlwarrior]

Get Derrick Rose some more offensive help. We might have to sacrifice a key player to get something. Be prepared to give Derrick Rose an MVP type contract extension so do not go out overpaying Free agents. Take whatever we can get in this years draft. You never know what's out there. There might even be a sg that can provide offensive help.

[The X]

Since I don't have a team I have sit on the sidelines, unless somebody wants to volunteer a team for me to critique.

Philadelphia (getting a legit center is given, just the question how)

They can't get a legit centre, best bet is to try & get more out of what they've got (Speights & backup Hawes).

I'd like to see 76ers fire Collins, deal Iggy, turn keys over to Evan Turner.

[Andrew]

-If the chance to trade for another superstar arises,go for it provided they don't trade the entire team.

Do they really need to do that? I guess it sort of depends on whether Boozer's Playoff performance is truly indicative of what he's capable of bringing to the table or he was simply hampered by an assortment of injuries (at this stage I'm inclined to believe the latter) but I think they're in pretty good shape as far as the players at the top of their pecking order. Rose is really the only untouchable at this juncture, possibly Noah as well unless you're getting a centre of equal or greater value/talent in return because they're rare but unless there's a top five-ten player on the table who can be had for less than Rose, I don't think it's really an option for them.

Rounding out their rotation with a couple more players at the wing who can provide a scoring punch and knock down open shots seems like the way to go. I don't think drastic changes and blockbuster deals are needed unless there's a can't-miss offer on the table.

[NovU]

How about Dwight for the Bulls? I think Rose and Dwight will be awesome together. Probably at the cost of very good players though.

JVG talked about how the Heat would be great with Dwight. It is quite possible that the Bulls are the team that could improve much more with Dwight. Would you then like to see it done even at the cost of Noah and Boozer to make it happen?

[George7]

Rounding out their rotation with a couple more players at the wing who can provide a scoring punch and knock down open shots seems like the way to go. I don't think drastic changes and blockbuster deals are needed unless there's a can't-miss offer on the table.

I agree totally on that and said that as well,as I said if the possibility arises and the deal is not going to break up the team losing many players. I would do a trade for Howard for example if it would involve let's say Noah and some other pieces that Bulls can replace.And on the current circumstances, I don't see many superstars ,except Howard ,being a trading possibility for the Bulls.
I think as well that Boozer is a great deal for Chicago and that his disappointing season is due to his long term injury, and I believe that next year he will be better.I think his old Utah self was way better than the one he was this season.

Andrew(and of course every other Bulls' fan here),what do you think about the draft? Are there any players that Bulls could get and help them more in the rotation?

[air gordon]

The Harris move turned out to be pretty good I guess, the Nets didn't land any great player since then and traded him away (at least they got Deron Williams, which is definitely great, but they did not get to the Playoffs once since acquiring Harris I guess).
but that's all in hindsight. IIRC when the trade went down - the majority of the posts were saying it's a bad deal for the mavs.

Giving a 30+ Dirk a four-year contract? For 17M$ in the first year (this year? That must be great if you ask me. That is only the 10th highest salary in the league and he was definitely better than that. And also, as long as he stays healthy, I doubt he will become worse over the years. He's at his peak right now as he looks more experienced and is just playing as well as ever.

take out those mistake contracts (lewis,redd, ak, arenas, yao) and he's fifth highest this year. should he have been that high on the list? the mavs were knocked out of the playoffs in the 1st round in 3 of the last 4 years before they won it this year.

i'm not going to talk down a mavs fan here nor do i want to take away any of the accomplishments from the front office/players. i'm just thinking this Cuban love/he's been a great GM this whole time is coming out of nowhere. be honest- what did you think the Mavs chances of winning the title before this season started?????

Andrew(and of course every other Bulls' fan here),what do you think about the draft? Are there any players that Bulls could get and help them more in the rotation?

i don't follow the college game much anymore but please.. pretty please.. no more duke players!!! if one of their 1st round picks isn't traded then draft an euro or something and stash him overseas. i don't see a rookie cracking the rotation next year. i'll gladly eat crow on that one

btw- you do realize the bulls will have to give up something if they want to get a 'star'? i keep reading "if the bulls can get a good player but not tradeanybody good, let's do it". those "gasol for free" deals don't happen for the bulls. maybe if Jim paxson was still the GM of the cavs.

the players that have high value- Rose & Noah- are virtually untradeable
Deng's value won't get any higher then it is now but if you trade him- you have to get a wing player in return that can play both ends of the floor/be comfortable starting brewer (or heaven forbid Bogans)
Boozer's contract now stinks since he stunk in the playoffs
Brewer, korver, asik, gibson are ok but that bunch won't land you a star. even if you add the charlotte pick

maybe you can land a role player in the form of a shooter and/or ball handler (JR Smith?) via free agency

I honestly think the Bulls improvement has to come within- Rose has to refine his PG skills/defense. Boozer come back healhty. Gibson-Brewer work on their jumpshots. Asik learn a post game.

[George7]

I talk about the trade as a pleasant surprise not a must do. Of course, the thing that Bulls should do is acquire the SG the team needs.
I'm not sure about J.R. Smith though. I still believe Jason Richardson is the best from the most feasible options (those who are not restricted like Aflallo or really expensive like Crawford).

J.R. Smith has a character which is a question mark. Though he has the plus of being younger. Is it possible to get them both?

[Andrew]

How about Dwight for the Bulls? I think Rose and Dwight will be awesome together. Probably at the cost of very good players though.

Sure, but it would probably take half the team to get him (assuming of course the Magic would even be interested in such a deal) and I don't think Rose, Howard and spare parts are going to fare much better than the current Bulls squad. Crazy as it might be to turn down a scenario in which they could get a player like Howard, I think they'd have to take such huge steps backwards with their rotation to get him that all the highlights and moderate success/second round exit at best wouldn't really be worth it. Now, if the Magic were to get desperate and willing to settle for less...

I honestly think the Bulls improvement has to come within- Rose has to refine his PG skills/defense. Boozer come back healhty. Gibson-Brewer work on their jumpshots. Asik learn a post game.

I'm with you on that one. Ideally they'll bring in a couple of players to bolster their scoring punch on the wing but there's still room for improvement with their young players that will hopefully come with the experiences of the past season and plenty of time in the gym this offseason. In Boozer's case, let's keep our fingers crossed that injuries were the only things slowing him in the Playoffs. Maybe he just needs to be careful this offseason and not leave bags lying around the floor.

[shadowgrin]

money is really no object to Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban said it during the celebration, that he didn't care about the money.

Too bad it isn't 2004 since Steve Nash would have disagreed with those statements.

[benji]

Steve Nash has never been on a Finals team.

Erick Dampier has been on two.

[Patr1ck]

Yeah, Nash has lacked something his entire career. Defense. It's probably because he gets tired dribbling all around the front court.

[Fresh8]

Lakers should sign Yao Ming for the league minimum just to sell jerseys.

[Valor]

Lakers should sign Yao Ming for the league minimum just to sell jerseys.

Him and Bynum will probably compete to have the most injuries

[Axel The Great]

That would really be a low blow to me if that happened. I remember reading somewhere that Yao has no plans of going anywhere else, and the Rockets have agreed that if he continues to make good progress in rehab from his injury, then they'll re-sign him and utilize him as the back-up center.

[Valor]

That would really be a low blow to me if that happened. I remember reading somewhere that Yao has no plans of going anywhere else, and the Rockets have agreed that if he continues to make good progress in rehab from his injury, then they'll re-sign him and utilize him as the back-up center.

I think Yao has still got what it takes to be The Guy on a championship caliber team IF he can shake free of the injury woes, He's still a 7 foot 6 center with damn good skills

[Andrew]

I don't think he's ever going to be durable enough to play the amount of minutes required of a franchise player. If his body can hold up then he can possibly be a valuable piece on a successful team but at this point I'd say the ship has sailed on being able to build a team around him.