Current Prospects

So what are we looking at?

A team that's talented enough to beat bad teams yet not talented or disciplined enough to even compete with the league's elite. We are inescapably middling; cemented in mediocrity for the next five years. It's not all bad news, but the long-term potential with our current squad is no higher than second tier. Elton is not going to get any taller, more athletic or healthier. Sammy's not going to get any smarter (basketball IQ-wise). Most importantly, Igoudala is not the second coming Scottie Pippen. This team has a lot of nice complimentary parts, but no star.

So who can we get, and how? And most importantly, who can we let go in the transaction?

To me, there are two guys who should not be touched. That's not to say they are "untouchable". It's saying, ideally I'd like to see them still on the team when the dust settles. Mareese Speights, Thaddeus Young... please step forward.

The rest of y'all can go.

I haven't hit the Trade Machine yet, but I think Igoudala, Lou Williams and change should fetch a rising star or veteran star in the right situation.

Our ideal trade partner in this scenario? A borderline contender that needs some young legs in the form of a solid, third banana, wing defender, transition finisher and a 6th man, change of pace, explosive scorer. We have basically a more well-rounded Ariza and a mini JET for sale. I think that should fetch us a shooting guard who can actually get his own shot.

Next year, we dump Sammy's contract for another piece. Just to be clear, these moves alone will not make us contenders now. Thaddeus and Speights represent the 2 and 3 options on a contender 2-3 years from now.

The other option is to make a full court press on (don't laugh), LeBron. That's right! LeBron. From a basketball perspective, we're a much more attractive option than either NYK, Cleveland or the Clippers. Plus, NYC is 90 minutes up the turnpike. If you could move Igoudala and Brand in salary dumps at the deadline, you can free up the necessary coin. From there the argument becomes the multiple-championship potential of a LeBron, Thaddeus, Speights core. Add the role players we already have, the veterans who will flock to fill the gaps and this team is a contender for as long as LeBron wants to stay. A real contender. Not a contender-only-cus-LeBron's-there contender like the aforementioned competition. That team has the 2-3-4 on lock. You'd still have Lou theoretically in this scenario at starting PG. Either way, with that foundation you can easily figure out the rest.

I know it sounds impossible. The biggest contributor to that, is our lack of belief that it is. I know you've been talking D-Wade for the same reasons for at least a season now. I just don't believe in making a long-term investment in Flash. He smells like this generation's T-MAC. More heart and fire, but just can't stay healthy consistently enough to reach his potential.

If you do the Iggy-Brand fire sale, and you don't get LeBron. Well, at least you've freed up space for a real Number 1. We're going to be mediocre anyway if we don't get a star. We tried to right that by signing Iggy and Brand last season. Didn't work. In the meantime, we've drafted extremely well. Get rid of the low ceiling guys, and make space to do something special.

Classic

Flashback. Iverson, and then LB, arguing a call with Salvatore. Iverson is fantastic here. "The what...what? Crowd down?"



Nice how BS baited Larry into saying just one more thing, then called the "T" on him. Love that this got caught on tape. (BTW, was BS the one who threw Duncan out of the game for laughing? How does this shit happen?)

-G

When did the Beast show up?

The preseason has kind of gotten away from me, but...is Elton looking like a beast?



Elbowing Pu$$y Jeffries in the eye, cleaning glass, sparking the fast break, etc. I almost forgot how excited I was when we signed Brand last summer. But even then, I didn't know he had The Beast in him.

Between that and what Thad is flashing, I'm starting to get happy. If this team starts to gel with EB, and Thad makes a leap, and Iggy gets calm and consistent (finally) -- then we're one sale away (i.e. Sammy's contract) from having one bright effing future.

-G

P.S. Nada on the tix. I'm too poor. But we should definitely get together for the opener. Big screen HD is fine by me.

Brett Favre ladies and gentlemen

Flashback

Hey, remember when we legitimately thought that AI and C-Webb were going to lead us to the promised land? Funny when you think back on it.



-G

P.S. Allen is about to ink a contract with Memphis, btw. That's where he'll end his career: in frickin' Memphis.

Holy Vick !!

Count me in the "this is a great move" camp. Even if it doesn't work, it's worth the shot. Vick's paid his due to society. However horrible what he did was, he's done more time than most do for this kind of crime. So, I don't really care what animal rights activists have to say. If he got off like say Donte Stallworth, then their beef would be legit.

In terms of football, this is the kind of move that we desperately needed. West, who I think should have his jersey retired when it's said and done, is turning 30 this year. We should know that we'd be lucky if he's got even one year left as an elite running back. And, he's coming off yet another injury. Even if we've got his replacement lined up, it doesn't account for the game changing ability being lost by West becoming a mere mortal. There's no one that makes us dangerous if he's not in top form. Donovan isn't that dude anymore. So now we've got a guy who changes all that. In theory, anyway.

The O-line still has to get healthy for us to have a shot. And the defense doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence right now. The pass rush looks weak, and losing Stewart Bradley was BIG. All that being said, getting Vick is a step towards being hellified at least on one side of the ball. And, if the unthinkable were to happen and Donovan got hurt, we've got a legit starter ready to take his place.

Obviously, Vick needs some time to get his game back, but time is something he's got in this current situation. If Donovan starts to feel heat on his neck, then he's gonna have to step up or step aside. At this point, Vick's either gonna make us better, or he's gonna make us realize we ain't there yet.

I got it...

All right, here’s the deal (assuming I have my numbers right*):

Oklahoma City. They have expiring contracts, and nothing good to buy with them. There is NO CHANCE LeBron or Wade are going to Oklahoma. None. Zero. And they know it.

Meanwhile, they have a nice young core with a potential superstar and a half (Durant and Westbrook). But they have some gaping holes, particularly in their front court.

So here’s my Stephanski trade:

Sammy and Speights
for
Etan Thomas and Earl Watson

In terms of money, it’s about the same (roughly $14M per package), but the Thomas/Watson package comes off the books in Summer 2010. ‘Dre walked and took $10M in salary with him. We were projected to be about $3M over the cap next summer if we’d kept ‘Dre. But subtract this $24M total (‘Dre, Thomas, Watson) from that, and we’ll be sitting at $21M under the cap next summer. And you know what that means.

Why would the Thunder do it? Because they’d get an athletic shot-blocking center to play alongside Nenad Krstic, plus a young near-stud at the 4 to play behind Jeff Green. And they give up next to nothing for it. The 2009 Thunder would look like this (backups in parens):

1 – Russell Westbrook (Shaun Livingston)
2 – James Harden (Kyle Weaver)
3 – Kevin Durant (T. Sefolosha)
4 – Jeff Green (Speights)
5 – Dalembert (Krstic)

With the right coach, that team looks a little scary, no?

Anyway, this is what’s up, Ed. Call me. I’ll walk you through the deets.

-G

*I have only a minimal handle on the cap rules, so take this with a grain of salt.