Balkman isn't anyone to be excited over and its fairly accurate what everyone said about him. However, there is a 0.5% chance that he can crack a rotation if he can play solid defense and injuries occur. He is a tweener, not really a SF but closest to a SF without a shot.
I wouldn't want to see him playing PF with our weak rebounding and size issues at center.

Its just not realistic that he would ever find minutes with

Melo
Shawne Williams
Derrick Brown

and these guys can also step in to play SF for minutes as well.

Bill Walker
Fields
Shumpert

I thought about his awhile back, I think we need to acquire a few better role players but with don't have many roster spots.
I have a hard time deciding an order but

Rautins
Balkman
Walker

are all in my possible cut list, especially if Shawne Williams is resigned. I would look to get another shooter or another player that has the size to guard the Lebron to replace him.
Brandon Wright, once a 8th pick, a Briggs favorite pick, had like a 5mill team option that I don't think the Nets picked up. He has freakish long arms with a 7'3 or 7'4 wingspan.
However, he hasn't produced or earn PT in the past couple of year due to injury. At 5mill, I wouldn't even think about him, but at the minimum, I think its a fair investment.

We just have qualifying offers to Brown, so if someone offers him a contract, I don't think we will match due to our attempt to add a 3rd player next summer.
We also don't know whats going on with Shawne Williams. He sounds like he really wants to be here and if he isn't too much money, I would like him back as well.

Shane Battier - FA now I love his game and think he would be fit well however, he is a luxury we cant afford to have right now.
Prince - FA

Tony Allen - FA 2013 can play a little of the PG, SG, or SF... great defender and tough.
Treva Ariza - PA 2013

Dunleavy - FA has had many injuries the past couple of years. There is a chance that he could do a one year deal to boost his stats up and I can see him fitting in New York as well.
Grant Hill - FA
Maurice Evans - FA is a veteran that can probably be acquired for the minimum or close to it as well.
Brandon Wright - not sure if he is a FA or not.

are the type of players I think we should target. Although Tony Allen will probably be a little too old by then. I would love Ariza back, he can give many players problems with his length and agility. I think Shumpert and Ariza would compliment each other defensively and would give Wade and Lebron a tough time, especially if we can add a Center to protect the rim. I would love to acquire Prince too but I don't see him taking a 1 year deal either.

or going for shooters

Anthony Parker
Peja
Kapono
Redd
James Jones

all 3 of these shooters, are great 3 point threats. I don't see Parker going for a veteran minimum and he will be courted by many contenders.

Shannon Brown
Antonio Daniels
Delonte West
Marques Daniels

These are a couple of tweeners at the PG/SG that might not cost too much.

I would love to improve our depth and 2-3 these all the guys above with another 1 center and 1 Pf/C.
I think there are some quality role players in this years FA. We just have to see who is willing to take a deal to come here at the right price.
We would also have to cut players in order to have a roster spot but I would like to remove the dead weight if we can acquire some of these guys.

Rautins
Walker
Balkman

What do you guys think? Are these guys worth a roster spot? Most of these players will probably be signed when the season starts.

For 2 big men I would look to sign include

Prizbilla
Aaron Gray
Jeff Foster
Sean Williams
McRoberts
Fesenko

RonRon wrote:he cant possibly be any worse than Fishlips offensively. He isn't worth using the amnesty clause on. He can be used to play defense but Derrick Brown should get PT way before Balkman. If he wants to stay in the NBA, he has to start gaining some skills and become a good defender.

Balkman isn't anyone to be excited over and its fairly accurate what everyone said about him. However, there is a 0.5% chance that he can crack a rotation if he can play solid defense and injuries occur. He is a tweener, not really a SF but closest to a SF without a shot.
I wouldn't want to see him playing PF with our weak rebounding and size issues at center.

Its just not realistic that he would ever find minutes with

Melo
Shawne Williams
Derrick Brown

and these guys can also step in to play SF for minutes as well.

Bill Walker
Fields
Shumpert

I thought about his awhile back, I think we need to acquire a few better role players but with don't have many roster spots.
I have a hard time deciding an order but

Rautins
Balkman
Walker

are all in my possible cut list, especially if Shawne Williams is resigned. I would look to get another shooter or another player that has the size to guard the Lebron to replace him.
Brandon Wright, once a 8th pick, a Briggs favorite pick, had like a 5mill team option that I don't think the Nets picked up. He has freakish long arms with a 7'3 or 7'4 wingspan.
However, he hasn't produced or earn PT in the past couple of year due to injury. At 5mill, I wouldn't even think about him, but at the minimum, I think its a fair investment.

We just have qualifying offers to Brown, so if someone offers him a contract, I don't think we will match due to our attempt to add a 3rd player next summer.
We also don't know whats going on with Shawne Williams. He sounds like he really wants to be here and if he isn't too much money, I would like him back as well.

Shane Battier - FA now I love his game and think he would be fit well however, he is a luxury we cant afford to have right now.
Prince - FA

Tony Allen - FA 2013 can play a little of the PG, SG, or SF... great defender and tough.
Treva Ariza - PA 2013

Dunleavy - FA has had many injuries the past couple of years. There is a chance that he could do a one year deal to boost his stats up and I can see him fitting in New York as well.
Grant Hill - FA
Maurice Evans - FA is a veteran that can probably be acquired for the minimum or close to it as well.
Brandon Wright - not sure if he is a FA or not.

are the type of players I think we should target. Although Tony Allen will probably be a little too old by then. I would love Ariza back, he can give many players problems with his length and agility. I think Shumpert and Ariza would compliment each other defensively and would give Wade and Lebron a tough time, especially if we can add a Center to protect the rim. I would love to acquire Prince too but I don't see him taking a 1 year deal either.

or going for shooters

Anthony Parker
Peja
Kapono
Redd
James Jones

all 3 of these shooters, are great 3 point threats. I don't see Parker going for a veteran minimum and he will be courted by many contenders.

Shannon Brown
Antonio Daniels
Delonte West
Marques Daniels

These are a couple of tweeners at the PG/SG that might not cost too much.

I would love to improve our depth and 2-3 these all the guys above with another 1 center and 1 Pf/C.
I think there are some quality role players in this years FA. We just have to see who is willing to take a deal to come here at the right price.
We would also have to cut players in order to have a roster spot but I would like to remove the dead weight if we can acquire some of these guys.

Rautins
Walker
Balkman

What do you guys think? Are these guys worth a roster spot? Most of these players will probably be signed when the season starts.

For 2 big men I would look to sign include

Prizbilla
Aaron Gray
Jeff Foster
Sean Williams
McRoberts
Fesenko

excellent post

Phil Jax gets a lot out of the right kind of player. Its both coaching and the players the picks walk on to.

Look what Phil did with Reezy! Took the kid to another level.

Maybe Balky on the Lakers would have had a better result? Lots of variables to picks.

Its a pretty generic discussion and would apply to lots of players too.

jrodmc wrote:

BasketballJones wrote:

It's memories like this that make me miss the lockout already.

So they have the same number: "I-SUCK"

CrushAlot wrote:

Nalod wrote:You know, a lot depends on the team and the coach.

Phil Jax gets a lot out of the right kind of player. Its both coaching and the players the picks walk on to.

Look what Phil did with Reezy! Took the kid to another level.

Maybe Balky on the Lakers would have had a better result? Lots of variables to picks.

Its a pretty generic discussion and would apply to lots of players too.

I think Isiah was the coach to get something out of Balk. Similar to Eddy Curry in 06-07 when Thomas was the coach, Thomas had a lot at stake in making Balk look worthy of the pick. Again, most mocks didn't even have Balkman getting selected in the second round. Isiah was widely criticized for the pick and put a lot into trying to make it look like a credible decision in my opinion.

Exactly, that pick was a head scratcher all the way around..