DeRozan has a player option. Maybe that's what he's talking about? DeRozan is absolutely going to opt out of his contract this summer. Why the eff wouldn't he?
It'd depend on what else we did. Noah was apparently very upset at his benching in Chicago. Why would he sign here if we told him he'd be a bench guy here? He could absolutely be our Bogut.
I just don't like his numbers from last year. Sure lots of factors go into that But 21 minutes and 4.3 ppg on 38% FG shooting is always something to worry about. Plus he's about to be 32....I think he's more of a Chris Andersen than a Bogut. I'll take him off the bench.
He really did not fit in to Hoiberg's philosophies at all, argued with him constantly, and then was hurt a lot of the time. If he's willing to sign here as a bench player, then cool but I wouldn't be upset if he was starting like Bogut either. Bogut's role is very clear and simple: rebound, block, pass, and make the occasional shot. Noah can do those things. Noah two (timeline?) years ago was a borderline MVP candidate under Thibodeau if I remember correctly. He's a good passer, a smart player, and a guy who leaves his heart on the floor. I'd definitely like him here. If you get DeRozan, Noah, and maybe bring in Afflalo or something I think you're cooking with fire. Get ready for a 35 win team at least. Russell/Clarkson DeRozan/Williams Ingram/Afflalo Randle/Nance Jr. Noah/Black I dig it. Heck you could add in a couple of other pieces probably. I know people will say Afflalo and Noah will ring-seek. My answer would be to offer a 4th year which I think both of them might have trouble passing up.
I for the most part agree, he's not my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th option, but he's still on the board because I think he can still play defense and rebound. Definitely not for max, 13-15 million range last resort. I put him up there because I can see situation where the FO misses out on everybody and gets desperate (No matter what they say now). I'm calling him if we miss out on Whiteside, Mahinmi, any big man FA, miss out on Black and have no other options. We won't hit that point IMO, so the point is probably moot. I'm all in on that idea. Asset building via players is something we've been lacking for quite some time now. Love the overall post. Just going to touch on the few players we disagreed on, since we mostly agreed on all the other players. Batum - If the price tag was in the 11-19 million category I'd do it and be all for it. I just don't see him as a max guy and that's what its going to take to get him out of Charlotte, a place he's said its the first time he's been able to play his game since coming to the NBA and that he has unfinished business there. I think we are eating the tail end of that contract when the production doesn't match the price tag. Chandler Parsons - If it was a short 2 year deal with < 12 million I could get on board, but his knee issues scare me too much to get on board with anything else. If the knee is what I think it is, he signs a longer deal to get the most money out of it. I don't want to be stuck with that. Zaza - I would be all in on him but just reading about and watching him, poor finisher around the rim and doesn't really do good in the pick and roll. He's farther down on the list and someone like Dwight, you could look at if you can't get any of the guys that I have above him. Lee - He's not an elite 3 point shooter, but 38% for his career is not terrible. He would instantly be the best 3 point shooter percentage wise on our team from last year. It's an upgrade and in the bargain bin off the bench, I'd take him. Delly - He is a POS, I can't stand him either. But he plays defense and shoots 41% from 3. Catch and shoot numbers are good. We need shooters for Luke and he isn't a bad one. As a backup, I'd take him. Barnes - Production definitely doesn't equal price, but does potential + production? That's how I look at it. 23 year old with championship experience, I think its a great fit. I won't complain if they throw the max at him, but I can see how some are put off by that. Fournier - I'd like to see another year from him. I'm not sold on him for the > 12 million it's going to take to steal him. The pick does influence it, but I was just looking at free agents who I liked, didn't like and who would fit. In regards to the KD/RW point, that's why we have to be smart. Big 2 year deals with options we can get out of gives us a chance to compete next season, but also maintain financial flexibility the following year. Anyone who takes a 1+1 deal like that is looking for another pay day, so there is a good chance we
TOR has bird rights and can sign for more than anyone else, that's all though. He's wrong. Probably wrong about the love for LA too like he was with KD.
I'm assuming you were going to say something along the lines of "we...can take advantage of that." And I agree. The cap is going to explode NEXT offseason as well. Not to the degree it will this off season. But almost another max slot. I'm not sure who of those guys will be willing to sign a one and one. It seems like you'd have to be an injury free superstar to take that chance. In the beginning of the season I would have been all in on Barnes, but he isn't improving. Now, I'm not sure how much of that is the fact he is surrounded by all-stars keeping him sort of shackled. Is he legitimately ready to take the next step if he's given the chance. But with Barnes, if we keep our pick in the top 2 and can't trade it, Barnes makes little sense as he's still young, not much older than Simmons or Ingram (the players we'd almost certainly take). I agree with you on Batum though. We are probably taking a bath the last year or two on that contract. I know what you meant, and I know these should be our expectations, but reading that line makes me so, so very sad.
We do need talent, but there are several options at sf I'd look at first. I hope he's like 5th or 6th on our list.
Agree with this. Yes - I'd love Bogut to rebound, block, pass, and leave his heart on this court. He was such a crucial part of Chicago's success in the Thibs era. Where I'm on a different page is DeRozan. No thanks. We don't need his scoring. He's a high-volume shooter and not great from 3. At the price tag he's likely demanding? Noooooo....run away. We are not trying to replace Kobe. Hiring Luke signals the start of a cultural shift. We can't just simply go after the top 3-4 FA's every year like we have the last five years for the sake of pulling names. A PLAN needs to be in place. If FA's fit our system then you get them. DeRozan doesn't fit the system IMO. Sure if Durant wants to be a Laker make it happen. Durant is other-worldly, DeRozan is not. and Durant has FAR less weaknesses. You already know I like Batum and I think he fits our potential system 10x more than DeRozan. My preference: Russell/Clarkson Ingram or Hield/Williams Batum or Barnes/Young/Brown Randle/Nance Jr. Whiteside/Black The problem with our bench is that Clarkson and Williams don't play defense. I'd move Lou for a backup shooting guard. Afflalo's not leaving $8M and a starting job to play off the bench for a team winning 20-30 games. That's just not going to happen. I
Without any major FA acquisitions were probably a 25-30 win team. If we get Whiteside and Batum or Barnes we'll be in the playoff mix. I'm hoping for the latter. I WANT BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS NOW. NO MORE MISSING THE PLAYOFFS.
You know who else is a free agent and earning a decent paycheck in these playoffs? Al Farouq Aminu. He's still not a shooter, but he's averaging 13/8/2 with a block in the playoffs. Top notch defender... He's shooting only 37% or so overall and 30% from deep, but still...Interesting name anyway.