Official: Unsubstantiated Trade Suggestions, Speculation, And Rumors

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....nicks-is-possible/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Higher percentage chance of him going to the Knicks than signing with us, IMO. I've always had that line of thinking myself prior to this article. Perfect fit for the Triangle, another star on the Knicks roster, etc...wouldn't be surprised if he ends up there.

 

First things first Realdeal, who said Boozer was coming back next year? My money is on he doesnt and unfortunately I dont think Marc comes here either. They locked up Randolph, theyre going to lock up Marc as well my gut tells me and thats okay because its proven the last how many years now?.. You can win without a dominant center, we can use that money for a true highly skilled position player and get a scrappy defending type Center that simply knows his role.

I hope we can bring back Hill on a cheaper deal and still hoping the 9 mill we gave him was an undercover maneuver to front load a contract. We void his contract next year but reach a deal on something more reasonable like 6.5-7.5 which I think is more than fair. Resign Davis as well to a reasonable contract around 2.5-3.5 mill tops and our C positions are IMO solid enough to be able to get us by to focus on other positions is the scenario I envision as being the fastest to truly contend.

But, if we end up with the top 5 pick and a big man is there all plans change and I believe we let hill go and re-sign Davis only to money I listed above. I rather do the Hill and Davis scenario and hopefully be in position to draft Mudiay and gives us a skilled positioned player on a rookie contract not to mention, still having a ton of open cap space.

 

I want a PG that can be clutch and have faith in during crunch time. Im not sure Lin is that guy, simple as that..and I dont want to risk investing that money in him,especially if it will possibly prevent you from using that money elsewhere.

 

I still say hope his value goes really high and trade him for assets if possible. Just my opinion.

 

Who knows what the cap will look like next season.. But assuming we make no moves at the deadline that impact our flexibility next offseason.. Decline Hill's option.. Go after Dragic & Wes Matthews. If you can get both for less than the max it's a steal. Huge Matthews fan, he's Klay Thompson without all the hype. Then go with Biyombo, Asik, or Jordan at C. Whoever we can afford. I'm guessing Biyombo will be the cheapest. Hopefully have enough left to bring Hill back on a multi-year deal around 6-8M closer to what he's worth. Try to bring back Lin if it's for a bargain, if not, plenty of other PG's out there. Same with Davis.

Dragic
Matthews
Kobe
Randle
Biyombo

With a bench of Swaggy, Hill, Lin, Clarkson, Kelly, hopefully Ed Davis, Boozer?

That's a team that could compete right away & for years to come.

 

Matthews is not the scoring threat Thompson is,no offense.. I do love Dragic though, too much speculation because it is so darn early.

At the end of the day these scenarios is what I would do for fastest contention.

If we get a top 5 pick and that player pans out,than wed have 2 rookies starting on rookie contracts and I believe enough money for two max players as well. OR, if that pick or is used to bring a highly coveted impact player(wing or a big man),well still have room for a single max player.

Thoughts?

 

If we're bad enough to get a top 5 pick, we aren't convincing any superstar to come play here next summer. If Kobe came back & took us to the playoffs last season, Melo is probably wearing a Lakers jersey right now.. These guys want to win.

 

Thats just your own personal opinion. Randle and the lottery pick on rookie contracts,Nick Young signed to a reasonable offer,Kobe on a contract year,Los Angeles...Oh and did I mention wide open books and even more the year after Kobes contract expires? Not as hard as you think, of course that is if the player(s) decides this is the all around best situation for them.

 

That's more than my personal opinion.. You're kidding yourself if you think any superstar is joining a team that just finished badly enough to get a top 5 pick. The type of FA's you can get as a team that just finished bottom 5 are the Jennings, Josh Smith types that will come here for a big contract because no winning team will give it to them.

 

Naw it is your opinion. There is precedence like when Garnett joined the unnameables in 2007-2008 after finishing 2nd to last in the league. If a team is poised to or has the capabilities to turn their team around in a couple years they may attract superstars. Especially a name like the Lakers and the anticipated financial freedom coming with the new CBA.

 

Jimmy Butler anyone...http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jimmy-...o-enter-restricted-free-agency-205721009.html

 

Matthews is currently scoring 18.7 PPG on 53% from the field, 36% from 3.. Last season 16.4 on 44% from the field 39% from 3.. Made 201 3's, good for 5th in the league. He is a scorer & 1 of the best shooters in the league.

Let's not forget they TRADED their young talent for KG, he didn't sign there.. & at the time the word was that he wasn't willing to accept a trade to Boston, then they traded for Ray Allen on draft day & KG changed his tune & accepted the deal to Boston (he had a no trade clause). We're talking about signing free agents that have the free will to go to any team with cap space that wants them.

Boston's best asset at the time was 2nd year big Al Jefferson, our best asset will be 2nd year big Julius Randle (& possibly a top 5 pick at this rate). Will we be able to trade a Randle that just missed his entire rookie season, or that pick for a player on the level of 2007 Ray Allen to make our roster appealing enough for a superstar to want to sign here? Anything is possible. But anyone that thinks Randle (& potentially a top 5 pick) are going to attract superstars to sign here is sadly mistaken. Unless we somehow make the playoffs, the only way Randle can help us attract a superstar is by being traded for a high level player that's able to help a team win NOW.