What We Really Need?
An experienced Big Man that has atleast 4-5 seasons under his belt. Someone that is defensively oriented, and can be aggressive on both ends, while being able to run effectively...
Ideal Options:
Jamaal Magloire
Marcus Camby
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What's Really Available?
Players with less experience (less than 5 seasons), that are more athletic but with a less polished and Playoff-ready game...
Realistic Options:
Kwame Brown
Nene
Dan Gadzuric
Lorenzen Wright
Stromile Swift
Jerome James
Easiest to come by will probably be Kwame and JJ. But the problem is that none of those options really provide us with a polished, veteran, playoff-ready Center that can hold down our interior defense in any given situation. Kwame has the most upside, but he also comes with the most risk. I like Gadzuric alot, but here's the other problem - whoever we choose, it would behoove Isiah to get rid of Sweetney and maybe another PF (JYD or Taylor) in the process. Remember, it's not completely out of the question to sign, say, Jerome James with the MLE, and then trading for Kwame. I didn't include Eddy Curry and Big Z b/c they're not defensive stoppers or accomplished rebounders, which is what we desperatelyl need. Dalembert won't be available, so that's just a pipe dream...
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What It Comes Down To?
Sweetney, Jerome Williams
FOR
Resigned __________
AND MAYBE
Sign J. James to Full MLE
Remember, I'm not saying it'll be possible to kill 2 birds /w/ 1 stone, but knowing that we won't be able to pick up the next Ewing anytime soon, it might behoove Isiah to keep all his options open. I like Gadzuric alot, simply b/c what you see is what get. I like James' assertiveness in the playoffs, but he's another big risk. Nene's a solid big man, but something about picking up a guy we personally drafted and then packaged minutes later really bothers me (plus his contract will be hard to trade for b/c it's so low--and Denver plans on signing Cat anyway --no need for Crawford). Lorenzen Wright won't be as readily available b/c Memphis will make any team take on J-Dub along with him and maybe even Bonzi in a massive trade. And finally, Stromile Swift will also be a serious option, but he's looking for something closer to 7-10 Million a year, and any trade /w/ Memphis would involve extra players, which, at this point, we just can't take (I doubt he accepts the MLE just to go to NY). So I think it comes down to any combination (or simply 1 addition of) the following:
Jerome James
Dan Gadzuric
Kwame Brown
An experienced Big Man that has atleast 4-5 seasons under his belt. Someone that is defensively oriented, and can be aggressive on both ends, while being able to run effectively...
Ideal Options:
Jamaal Magloire
Marcus Camby
----------------------------------------------
What's Really Available?
Players with less experience (less than 5 seasons), that are more athletic but with a less polished and Playoff-ready game...
Realistic Options:
Kwame Brown
Nene
Dan Gadzuric
Lorenzen Wright
Stromile Swift
Jerome James
Easiest to come by will probably be Kwame and JJ. But the problem is that none of those options really provide us with a polished, veteran, playoff-ready Center that can hold down our interior defense in any given situation. Kwame has the most upside, but he also comes with the most risk. I like Gadzuric alot, but here's the other problem - whoever we choose, it would behoove Isiah to get rid of Sweetney and maybe another PF (JYD or Taylor) in the process. Remember, it's not completely out of the question to sign, say, Jerome James with the MLE, and then trading for Kwame. I didn't include Eddy Curry and Big Z b/c they're not defensive stoppers or accomplished rebounders, which is what we desperatelyl need. Dalembert won't be available, so that's just a pipe dream...
---------------------------------------------------
What It Comes Down To?
Sweetney, Jerome Williams
FOR
Resigned __________
AND MAYBE
Sign J. James to Full MLE
Remember, I'm not saying it'll be possible to kill 2 birds /w/ 1 stone, but knowing that we won't be able to pick up the next Ewing anytime soon, it might behoove Isiah to keep all his options open. I like Gadzuric alot, simply b/c what you see is what get. I like James' assertiveness in the playoffs, but he's another big risk. Nene's a solid big man, but something about picking up a guy we personally drafted and then packaged minutes later really bothers me (plus his contract will be hard to trade for b/c it's so low--and Denver plans on signing Cat anyway --no need for Crawford). Lorenzen Wright won't be as readily available b/c Memphis will make any team take on J-Dub along with him and maybe even Bonzi in a massive trade. And finally, Stromile Swift will also be a serious option, but he's looking for something closer to 7-10 Million a year, and any trade /w/ Memphis would involve extra players, which, at this point, we just can't take (I doubt he accepts the MLE just to go to NY). So I think it comes down to any combination (or simply 1 addition of) the following:
Jerome James
Dan Gadzuric
Kwame Brown