[festar35Participant]

What changes do you want to see from your team if we eventually get into pre-season?

Indiana Pacers: Personally i think David West is a good player but i want to see how this team goes for one more year without changing too much. We have added George Hill which gives us a good scoring threat and another good defensive player. I wouldn’t mind the acquisition of a defensive minded PF to go along with Hansbrough who is a better scorer than defensive player.

I really just want to see how Collison, George, Hansbrough and Hibbert develop.  Personally i like Hill better than Collison but they both bring different things to the table, neither is a likely All-Star but they create a good combo with each other or George/Stephenson in back-court.

We gave the Bulls a real good push and George did a great job on Rose but Hill can take that a share of that job meaning George can produce a bit more offensively or get out there and stop a guy like Deng from scoring as much as he did. Moving Posey and Jones woiuldn’t be a bad idea for a different veteran presence like Battier who can play D and hit 3’s. 

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

I like what Coach Pop did reorchestrating his offense more Euro-style and not relying on Timmy on that end (keeping him preserved for postseason) for the regular season, so I wouldn’t change that. However, with Antonio Mcdyess on the verge of retirement and the trading of George Hill (Although we got Kawhi Leonard in return), I expect Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter to contribute big time. Also, I want to see Richard Jefferson come off the bench to give the Spurs another offensive spark along w/ Neal and Kawhi to get the start at SF.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

ok so I play with … the bulls

I give rose an extension for next year (so he will have the money he thinks he deserves and can concentrate in his basket 😉 )

I use my amnesty clause on boozer (13.5 on 12, 15, 15.3, 16.8 in 15 : too expensive) . It gives me some cap flexibility killing the bigest and longest contract in my team and prepares the financial situation for rose extension.

So my cap should be around 51M.

I make a strong run at afflalo and offer him between 5 and 7 M a year on a 4 or 5 years deal. He’s the perfect mate for rose and should accept to come off the bench if I want to change my lineup. Strong on D, good 3pts shooter, hard worker, good pedigree, good attitude. An exemple who should fit perfectly with the coaching’s philosophy.

If not possible (he’s restricted FA) I keep an eye on hamilton, roy (if admisty), jason richardson, jamal crawford.

To find a 4 to replace boozer and push gibson into competition I trade for Ilyasova (against futur draft pick). He’s a 4th, great offensive threat, stretching the D by his shooting ability, still young, underrated rebounder, complementary with gibson and noah’s strengths. Plus he has a winning mentality.

NOAH

GIBSON / ILYASOVA

DENG

AFFLALO

ROSE

 

ASIK

GIBSON / ILYASOVA

BREWER

KORVER

WATSON

 

BOGANS

BUTLER

I keep my second unit and try to improve it by adding role players and vet’ as : reggie evans (reb), aaron gray, leon powe, 

In the long term I try to make Mirotic come in 2013. His clause is around 2.5 M$ on his new contract (end 2015). He could be the 4th offensice threat "à la" kukoc, stretching the D. Complementary piece with gibson and noah. He’s kinda Ilyasova 2.0 with better potential. I also try to chase Mayo or Fields or Delfino in 2012 FA to replace korver or brewer and put afflalo on a great 6th man role.

Not exceptionnal but more balanced team and better short term (2,3 years)  future with the end of boozer brewer and korver’s deals.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Get the F out of the NBA

[dmo21Participant]

I’m gonna be the Raptors on this one.

 First off I’d let Evans, Wright, and Ajinca walk as we don’t need anymore big men and somebody will probably overpay for Reggie’s rebounding ability. I would sign Weems to backup shooting guard but I don’t see him returning from Europe. He seems like a guy who will stay over there. I would resing Dorsey as a guy who usually sits on the bench but can come in and throw his weight around and rebound (young Reggie Evans).

I would then try to trade Barbosa and Kleiza. I don’t think anybody will want Kleiza so I guess he will stay on the team. Barbosa on the other hand is an expiring contract and can still be a good offensive 6th man off the bench. So the trade I’d like to see is Barbosa for Marvin Williams. Atlanta is kinda getting tired of him and I think he needs a change of scenery. The Hawks will want Barbosa to replace Crawford who will get big bucks from another team. Williams is a fit as the Raps like to buy guys when they are low after they were supposed to be better and make them good, see Bayless, James Johnson, and Amir Johnson).

For free agent signings I would want a 3rd pg who can run the show from time to time, so I would sign Sundiatta Gaines, who played a few games with Toronto last year. As my backup shooting guard I’d like to have Weems but if not available I’d go with CDR.

In the end my team would look like this:

PG- Calderon, Bayless, Gaines

SG- DeRozan, CDR/Weems

SF- Williams, Johnson, Kleiza

PF- Davis, Johnson, Dorsey

C- Bargnani, Valanciunas (if he comes over), Alabi

This team has lots of guys who can play several positions. Got a mix of defensive/offensive players in the starting lineup and in the second unit. This team is built for the future, not right now.

[dmo21Participant]

For Indiana I think this should be the year to grab a power forward in free agency as there are atleast 3 guys who are a good fit for this team. They have good offensive games, alright defensive games, and are used to playing second/third fiddle on their team. The 3 guys I’m talking about are Nene, David West, and Carl Landry.

I like Nene the best (big fan) as his interior offensive game is awesome and plays hard D. He can play both center and power forward which can give the team different looks. He has played beside Carmello and Iverson so he will be okay playing beside Granger(their first option).

David West is a good choice too but he is coming from an injury so I would be weary to throw a buunch of money at him so that would take him out of my list. He would be a great fit too and he has played with Collison before.

Landry is the least flashiest of the bunch but has always played hard where ever he has been. He would fit into that blue collar type of team the Pacers are.

I think Indiana should atleast pick up one of those guys.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

NOOO.  Im with Festar35.  Don’t add any major pieces, stick with the stellar young nucleus that was sticking with the Bulls in last year’s playoffs, fools!

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 for dmo21 : 

I think the raptors should really think about trading away bargnani to get 2012 draft pick and build as soon as 2012 on valanciunas, derozan and 2012 rookies.

maybe changes in the management could help too.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 MAVS 

Of course we dont need much change but we need to resighn Tyson and Caron 

And basically we have the best odds to win another championship

BUTwith Cuban theres all kinds of stuff he could do like trading for Tyson and Caron and other pieces for Dwight or sighning the Dallas native Deron Williams

[festar35Participant]

Mavs are my 2nd team and i completely agree with you. Re-signing Chandler and Butler is priority 1 and 2 (Chandler first then Butler). It will suck to see Barea go but I fell a healthy Beaubois will give Dallas that production and then some. If there is an amnesty clause i can also see Haywood as good as gone.

I am unsure what Fernandez is up to, but assuming he is back i can see him in the starting line-up and Terry, Marion and Beaubois the key contributors off the bench. However i can see him not being entirely motivated for the season as there may not be a lot of shots available which is why he got upset in Portland. If he isn’t playing to the standard the Mavs hoped for maybe Beaubois gets put in or Brewer gets another lifeline. I’m a big Stevenson fan but i can see him getting a bigger offer from another team.

 

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

 This is complicated. They have great young potential but also a few players who are robbing us so we don’t much flexibility. I’ll throw our my suggestions:

Iggy –  If a trade is out there for a solid big man (Kaman, Bynum, Chandler.. etc) then take it. You will not get fair value back from Iggy and even though I love his versatility, he is most valuable asset. Kaman is the safe trade, especially if you can get another piece from the Clippers in return like Aminu or Beldsoe (I doubt they would but I would ask for them or at least a pick). If Kaman doesn’t work out, then at least he will be off the books in a couple of seasons. If there is no trade for him, then keep him around for another season.

Thad Young – Keep him! I would throw 6-8 mill a year for him. I think he is a potential starter in the league but last year, Collins made him play efficient in limited minutes. He is one of those players who has a high IQ and can find ways to contribute.

Lou Will – I would dangle his name around to see if there is anything of value out there. I know a few teams could use an upgrade at PG and Lou isn’t too bad. Only reason why I feel like we should see what he is worth is because I have so much confidence in Jrue. Still, if there is no trade for a solid back up big man then I would keep him too.

Brand – We are screwed with him for a while. If there is an amensty clause, then we should use it! The problem I have is that Brand, while overpaid, was actually very solid so I would have liked to get some value back. I think he can help a number of teams out. I think he would be a great fit with Orlanda and D-Howard but that team does not have anything valuable to trade back to the Sixers (except Dwight). 

Turner – Add him to the starting line up. I think its best for him and I think he will hit nicely. It can help Jrue play off the ball better and Turner needs more confidence and having him start would be best for him and the team. Plus, Jodie can still get some good minutes off the bench.

Marreese Speights – GET RID of him! I don’t see him improving any time soon. He is too focused on trying to score rather than defend. Personally, I like Ryan Anderson a lot from the Magic and he would be nice off the bench as a stretch 4. 

Ok, soa lot of what ifs so lets assume that Brand is gone because of the amnesty and we traded Iggy to the Clippers for Kaman. Our line up would

Jrue – Lou Will

Turner – Jodie Meeks

Thad Young – Nocioni

Ryan Anderson – Vucevic (interchangable) – Lavoy Allen

Kaman – Hawes

Not a WOW team but still competitive in my mind. I don’t see the Sixers making a splash yet but this team gives a lot of financial flexibility in a couple of seasons and still keeps Jrue, Turner, and Thad around. Add in some quality draft picks and I think you’ve got a solid team for the future IMO

 

[dmo21Participant]

With the Pacers I agree that you don’t wanna mess up a good thing, but your starting power forward is Hansborough, yeah he is a hustle forward but I don’t see him as a guy that can help you get further into the playoffs, which is what every team wants to do. With the three guys I named they arent huge stars and have not trouble with team chemistry before and I think it would really help them out. Just think off the size and ability in a starting lineup of Collison/George/Granger/Nene/Hibbert. But thats just what I think and I respect your opinion as you probably watch the Pacers a lot more than I do!

Now with the Raptors, I do not like the idea of trading Bargnani because we will never get even close to equal value back for him. He has a rare skillset that resembles Dirk and now Bargnani has a couple guys beside him to do the dirty work like Chandler did for Dirk in Davis, Amir, and Val when he comes over. As a first option Bargnani can pretty much score at will and he is unselfish to and is a very good passer that can help out his team. Everyone knocks him for his personal rebounding, but I look at rebounding as a team aspect and Toronto was in the bottom half in that but they did have injuries to major rebounders like Reggie, Davis, and Amir. But there ratio wasn’t that bad being at -0.8, so the team wasn’t that bad. He just has to get into his head to box out and show his toughness in there. I still have hope!

[lisergxParticipant]

 Ok i would fix up the utah jazz alittle bit before the season started.  The only thing i would do is trade Paul Millsap, Devin Harris and the rights to Ante Tomic for Steve Nash, Josh Childress and a2012 first round pick.  This way we get a reliable veteran PG, because of Harris’ inconsistency and injuries, and a wing who can kind of fill a gap (its pretty obivious Tomic isnt coming and we dont really need him any more).  Pheonix gets a stud in Millsap, have room for Aaron Brooks and a hopefull big in Tomic.  Utah will then bring back Earl Watson and AK, to reasonable contracts.  *sign Troy Murphy

PG: Steve Nash/ Earl Watson

SG: Gordan Hayward/ Raja Bell/ Alec Burks

SF: Andrei Kirilenko/ CJ Miles/ Josh Childress

PF: Derrick Favors/ Jeremy Evans/ Troy Murphy

C: Al Jefferson/ Enes Kanter

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

With the current lineup the Pacers have..They’ll only be good enuff for the 8th seed…Their team is Stuck in Neutral unless They go after a pf and sg ,Patrick Patterson & J Crawford…maybe bring Murphy back…They could use his rebounding..

[festar35Participant]

I have to disagree with that. We pushed the 1seed of the East in nearly every game and if we had a closer things may have been different. I say give it a year and see if we have that closer on the team. If not we enter a far superior free agent period at the end of this season rather than overpaying right now. You have Williams, Paul and Howard. Also the 08 Draft class becoming free agents, so there will be far more options available then.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Lakers-

I’d trade Odom,Artest, Walton,Fisher(last 2 ending deals) 1st rounder for Iggy,Brand.

Trade exception from Vujacic trade for Boobie Gibson.

Sign Jeff Foster and DJ Mbenga as the 2nd and 3rd center.

Sign Jamaal Crawford MLE.(If available) If not T-mac as bench playmaker or Roy/Baron if amnesty cut.

Blake amnesty

Bynum/Foster/DJ

Pau/Brand/Majok

Iggy/Barnes/Ebanks

Kobe/Crawford PG/SG

Boobie/Crawford/Morris/Goudelock

 

 

[Charlie SheenParticipant]

I use the amnesty clause on Renaldo Balkman because he sucks.

I make a big trade for CP3 and Okafor- send Billups, Fields, Douglas, Turiaf, Harralson, Rautins, Walker, 2 1st Rounders, 2 2nd Rounders and 3mil cash.

I sign UDFA- Ben Hansbrough and Julyan Stone.

Free Agent Signings- Shawne Williams(2yr/4mil), Shane Battier(2yrs/4mil), Daequan Cook(2yrs/5.5mil), Gary Forbes(league minimum), DJ Mbenga(vets minimum) and Josh Powell(1yr/1.5mil)

Trade- Derrick Brown, 2nd rounder and 3mil cash for Ramon Sessions

Roster

C- Okafor/Mbenga/Jordan- 3 bigs in the middle all defensive minded. Solid vet in Okafor, young gun in Jordan and solid role guy in Mbenga whos very athletic

F- Stoudemire/Powell- Shawn Williams can play here too. STAT will be on minutes watch this year so see Powell playing at least 8 minutes a game

F- Anthony/Williams/Forbes- Melo takes up most minutes while Williams plays some 4 along with some 3. Forbes is a solid guy if 1 goes down in gets in foul trouble

G- Battier/Shumpert/Cook/Stone- Battier isnt your traditional 2 Guard but is in good enought shape and disciplined enough to contribute I see us slowing it down to start games and running in spurts. Shumpert will play 1/2, Cook will take Bill Walkers spot but with better 3pt shooting and Stone will develop into a solid 2/3

G- Paul/Sessions/Hansbrough- CP3 can watch his minutes, Sessions can take over and be the distributing PG we need off the bench. Ben can watch from 2 vets and be our back up PG of the future

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 Yeah Festar-

Of course Barea is a great contributer off the bench but Beaubois has a lot of underrated potential and can mature backing up Kidd.

BUT for Fernandez he is a big question mark and thingks to high on him self and might stay in Europe .IMO we should have stuck with Jordan Hamilton to get younger then start Caron Butler at the 2 and Marion at the 3 and have Terry and Hamilton off the bench.

[JayhawkFan23Participant]

Oh, the good old Thunder. I don’t think they need too many changes, but there are some. Here is their active roster…

C- Perkins/ Mohammad/ Aldrich/ Mullens

PF- Ibaka/ Collison

SF- Durant

SG- Sefolosha/ Harden/ Vaden

PG- Westbrook/ Maynor/ Robinson/ Ivey/ Jackson

First up…..

They need to send down BJ Mullens to the D- League oviously.

They also need to get rid of Ivey and Maynor. So they could trade them to the Wizards and a future 2nd round pick for Maurice Evans, and Josh Howard maybe as a sign and trade?

Then the Thunder could sign Chris Wilcox for 1 year, 1.5 mil.

Harden finally turns into the starter.

So then this is what the team looks like then

C- Perkins/ Mohammad/ Aldrich

PF- Ibaka/ Wilcox/ Collison

SF- Durant/ Howard/ Evans

SG- Harden/ Sefolosha/ Vaden

PG- Westbrook/ Robinson/ Jackson

Not very many changes, but its a better team.

Oklahoma City Thunder

2011- 2012 Lockout NBA Champions

 

 

[apb540Participant]

I like some of your ideas for the Sixers.  With the salary cap being lower I don’t know if Thad is worth any more than 6 million, but if we can get him for a fair price then def resign him.  As far as Brand, I would use the amnesty and then sign him to a vet minimum (or similar) if he would be cool with that.  I really like the leadership he brought to a young team last year and the dude busted his hump every play. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Indiana Pacers:

Free-Agency

The Pacers have the cap space, but unfortunately this is a weak free-agent class. The Pacers need a legit starting power forward and David West would be a good fit, BUT he’s north of 30 years old and coming off of ACL surgery. That’s not a move the Pacers need to make.

The combo of Tyler Hansbrough/Josh McRoberts isn’t going to get it done though. Kris Humprhies could be a cheap pickup to help in the rebounding department, assuming he hasn’t lost all of his swag due to being played by Kim Kardashian. Other than that, I don’t like the free-agents. Next summer’s class will be better, but despite the fact Indiana is a die hard hoops state, what superstar wants to come play here? Not many. So I’m thinking, the Pacers may need to acquire a power forward via trade.

Trade

We have a few trading chips. We have James Posey’s expiring contract. Our backcourt is crowded and neither Darren Collison or George Hill are untouchable. Brandon Rush is definitely available. IF the price is right and the Pacers can get a young and quality starting power forward, I’d like to see them go for it. I’m praying for another Jermaine O’Neal type of situation to occur.

Season Outlook

Other than that, I’m excited to see this team hit the floor. I’m excited to see Frank Vogel take control of this team. Paul George has been putting in that WORK this summer and I’m anxious to see his improvements in a real game. Can he make Danny Granger expendable? Stay tuned…

I’m anxious to see George Hill, the hometown kid, in the rotation and see IF he can push Collison for the starting point guard spot. The backcourt of Hill and George should be REALLY good defensively. And of course there’s Lance Stephenson, who has plenty of talent, but doesn’t know what to do with it. Can he get in the rotation?

Hopefully, we can expand on last season’s success and push for a higher seed in the playoffs.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Why the insistence?

[Jean_31Participant]

I need a leader so I’ll bring Brian Scalabrine to the team. After that I’llquit my job

[Author]

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