Simple for me -- Chris Smith should be cut (how much does JR expect outta the Knicks here? Chris got a look in SL and will be brought to training camp but he can't possibly expect his little bro to make the team can he? We have enough PGs, Chris isn't really a PG anyway, just an undersized 2 that's not very good -- you can make a very good case that Toney Douglas is a superior player and as we know, that's not saying too much. We need to fill the spot with a better player) and then we either fill the spot with a PF that can score (I'd like a young/cheap offensive understudy for Amar'e) or another reliable wing shooter. I think an extra PF that can score is more vital -- we will be getting Shump back at some point and I actually think Chris Copeland could be a contributor for us here...Slim pickins' out there given our cap situation but this is who I'd target:
For the shooter, gimme Jamelle Horne (the most well-rounded of these 3 - long, athletic, and he can shoot -- think something similar to Quincy Pondexter, maybe even a tad quicker/more athletic than Q-Pon), Ryan Wittman (the best shooter out there no one's talking about), Adrian Thomas (a very reliable 3-pt shooter in college and the DL). We could make any of these 3 work. Any of these guys would supply solid SG depth..
For the scoring PF I like DJ White..I like Donte Greene as well as a hybrid 3/4 (excellent size, offensive skill, high ceiling, potential) but White feels like the better fit. Too bad we let a few guys go to Europe -- Craig Brackins really would've been perfect, so would Darnell Lazare, a PF that showed a lot in the DL the last 2 yrs (signed a deal to play for Sydney). Even a guy like Herb Pope outta Seton Hall would've been nice. Dude was an excellent rebounder for the Hall his senior yr and he really became a solid offensive player. Pope just signed on to play in Israel a few weeks back..So who's left? Deon Thompson should be considered. So should Mitchell Watt. Did Memphis officially sign that kid? I know they had both Thompson & Watt on their SL roster. Watt's a 6'9"+ lefty PF similar to Josh McRoberts, not quite as big but just as skilled. I'd definitely give that kid a look. Or maybe Marcus Cousin. Cousin's more of a legit C-type but you gotta like the size (6'11"+ 255), he can shoot the hell out of it from mid-range and he's a solid rebounder. All aspects of Cousin's game should translate nicely to the pros. Compared to Jerome Jordan I actually think Cousin's the superior player...Outside of White or Greene (either one of these guys would need to play if we got them), we could stash any of these others in the DL to get experience and then call them up if and when the need arises.