Yeah this is the direction I go. If a max offer can't get Butler or Middleton, move on to LMA & Love. Try to move up for Hollis-Jefferson if he doesn't fall to us at #27. Moving up for RHJ might not be too hard, 27 & 34 is a solid deal for pick in the low 20's where RHJ is likely to go. Also, with some teams in the low 20's rumored to be contemplating blowing it up, we could possibly get #23 from Portland for taking on the final year of Batum's contract if LMA leaves. There's also some talk about Toronto trading Lowry & building around Derozan/J-Val/Ross. If they go that direction, we might be able to get #20 for taking on Patterson or Vasquez. If none of that pans out, I go after a cheaper veteran SF like Dunleavy or even Gerald Green if his value keeps tanking.
I remember offending people when I spoke of Randle being Boozer-like. I think Monroe's career is similar to Gasol's up to age 24. No blocks though. Then at 25 Gasol was a franchise player. Monroe won't be that, and I can't see that he is as good as Gasol. Then again, why care? We don't need him on this team.
In head-coaching stops in Phoenix, Chicago and Milwaukee, Skiles developed a reputation for turning bad teams into competitive ones, and tightening porous defensive units. Nevertheless, Skiles also built a reputation for burning out teams and wearing out a path to his exit. Skiles didn’t have a good relationship with Orlando forward Tobias Harris while they were together in Milwaukee. Harris is a restricted free agent this summer and could command a $12 million-$14 million annual salary on the market. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...r-to-become-magic-s-next-coach-165227943.html So Skiles has turned into frontrunner for the Magic; apparently, Harris and Skiles didn't get along. That's interesting...
If we end up with Towns, I'd go after Harris. He's shown some ability to score, he's fairly athletic, and he can play both forward spots which is nice.
Shot a career high 36% last season. In four seasons he's closer to 32% so there's some room for growth there. He's more able to create his own shot than catch and shoot. More a cutter type of guy who can slash to the rim. I'd say he's a little like a young Jeff Green/Rudy Gay type of dude. Still though last season he produced 17/6 which isn't bad. He won't get a max deal this summer and Orlando will probably look in a different direction if we give him a poison pill deal like Parsons got which starts for us at around 14.7 million.
That is what I've seen of Monroe, never been on board with the Lakers going after him. His biggest flaws to me are his just plain bad defense, poor foul shooting, and those hands of stone.
I like him, plays hard with a lot of heart. When going after FA's it's best to get ones that have played/ excelled on winning teams not have inflated their stats working for that new contract. Love to see this guy in Purple and Gold ...Clarkson, Kobe, Carroll, Randle, Okafur...playoffs!
I expect Randle to score a little more than Boozer, do much better with assists, and D. I hope Randle will rebound the ball like Boozer.
Corner 3's & high % shots in the paint. A product of a great coaching staff groomed by Pop, which we don't have. Harris' production is probably going to come at a much better value than most of the top SF's in FA, & I love the fact that he can slide over to PF some if Randle struggles to play heavy minutes. The main problem is what you mentioned, unless he improves his outside shooting, Byron might get his dream of a team that doesn't shoot 3's. Clarkson - Kobe - Harris - Randle - Okafor or Towns would probably be near the bottom of the league in 3 makes & 3%. That & the fact that Harris & the SF's ranked below him aren't star players is why I go after Love if we can't get Butler or Middleton. Put Love next to a solid 3 point shooter like Dunleavy or hope Gerald Green can return to shooting 40% from 3.
I'd go after Harris regardless. I wonder if Skiles is going to be in Orlando, if that means Orlando has no intention of keeping Harris? I wonder if we can get Harris to verbally agree and then give the Magic whoever we draft at 27, maybe a future second round pick as well (We can try to sell them on Swaggy. I mean, can't you picture the always laid back and jovial Skiles getting a kick out of Swaggy P's antics? ), in order to work a sign and trade. That way we can move on quickly and not have to worry about the 3 day wait. And if you're Harris, why would you NOT want to come to play for the Lakers next to Clarkson, Randle and Okafor. Glamor franchise with lots of young talent where you may be the top dog for at least a couple years (since Kobe will undoubtedly be hurt by game 12). The great thing about him is he and Randle could almost act interchangeably at the sf/pf spots. They could switch back and forth as they saw fit. Very dynamic. Okafor/Davis Randle/Black Harris/Swaggy Kobe/Brown Clarkson/Lin I'm not sure a better offseason (realistically speaking of course), is possible. Maybe Lucas falls to us at 34 as our little pg project?
Offer Middleton a contact Milwaukee can't afford, Draft RHJ and great shooter in the Draft like Vaughn. Resign ed davis and mle to mo Williams Clarkson/mo kobe/young/vaughn middleton/rhj randle/tarik/kelly okafor/davis/sacre
Kevin Love is out for the season following shoulder surgery and is expected to become a free agent this summer. Love had an uneven first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. "Every executive I talk to, every agent I talk to, every quasi insider, every girlfriend's cousin's sister's boyfriend all says this guy is out of there," said Brian Windhorst during a podcast with Zach Lowe. "I hear the same thing from everybody," said Lowe. "From everyone that is two or three or four steps removed. I don't quite believe all of that." "I agree," replied Windhorst. "Part of what's going on there is the Lakers' boogeyman," said Lowe. "They don't just say he's out of there, they say 'He's going to the Lakers.' That has much to do with the fear people have of the Lakers as it does with Kevin Love." "I can't get a read on Kevin," said Windhorst. "His personality is a little bit different than many players I've covered. He has at every turn even gone out of his way to make statements about how he intends to remain in Cleveland." Windhorst has also mentioned that Love has seemed distant from the Cavaliers post-surgery, attending just one game. Love is unable to fly yet following the surgery. http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...-Kevin-Love-To-Leave-Cavaliers-In-Free-Agency
Well, the other restricted SF's probably aren't realistic, & I don't think we have to worry about the 3 day wait with Harris. He was having a great season & they benched him in favor of developing guys they have under contract beyond this year. Now they're talking about bringing in a coach that Harris doesn't get along with. They aren't even trying to hide the fact that he's gone. So it really depends on what you prefer, signing Harris & having additional space to add a few more pieces or adding an actual superstar in Love & only having the space to add maybe 1 cheaper FA. I don't mind the Harris route, but assuming his deal starts at 12M there are a few realistic moves you could make to have a better offseason. - Biyombo instead of Davis. Younger, better defender, better rebounder, only had 1 injury that caused him to miss 5 or more games in his entire career, expected to be available for the same price. - Dump Kelly's contract for a mid to late 2nd rounder. Surely someone wants a proven rotation player more than a long term project. Maybe Philly with 1 of their 5 first rounders. - Dump Young & Sacre on a team with non-guaranteed contracts that needs an affordable wing that can produce. Detroit would make sense if they are able to keep Reggie Williams & Monroe. Their wing rotation is pathetic. - Package the #27 with the pick we got for Kelly to move up & grab Hollis-Jefferson. - Use the extra space from dumping contracts to sign Monta instead of Lin. - Draft Andrew Harrison since both Monta & Clarkson can play SG. Monta/Clarkson/Harrison Kobe/(Monta) Harris/Harris-Jefferson Randle/Black Okafor/Biyombo Could easily be a playoff team & at the same time a disgusting young core with Okafor, Clarkson, Randle, Harris, Biyombo, Harris-Jefferson, Harrison 22 or younger & Black 23. -
The Bucks can afford to max out Middleton. That new TV deal is going to pump so much cash into the owner's pockets. Don't forget there is a salary minimum teams have to adhere to. The Bucks have a lot of cheap assets right now and somebody needs to get paid. Middleton can play the 2 or the 3. He is my favorite of the RFA crew (not counting Butler or Leonard since they are getting matched no matter what), but tying up money in Middleton isn't smart. I think Harris is more likely to be let go. The Bucks have the Greek Freak and Parker to play their forward spots. Neither one can play sg, imo. Middleton can...he can very well.
