nash could sign. losing MDA hurts but i'd imagine his return would improve STAT's value about a million times what it currently is. nash knows how to make STAT work. nash lives in NYC in the offseason (i saw him on the street in SoHo last summer with his twin baby girls pushing a stroller) and says he wants to go to a contender. does he view us as adequate contenders if we can bring back lin and novak to add to melo/stat/tyson?

kidd has played in NJ. he may still have a house up here. dallas may not want him back. dont know of any other connections.

i could see JR opting back to knicks in either event. a season where he was able to think about score first second and third and not have to worry about bringing the ball up, running the offense, driving and kicking, etc. and his value would thrive.

PG: lin, nash/kidd
SG: fields, shump (only behind fields b/c of the injury recovery)
SF: melo, novak
PF: stat, harrellson
C: chandler

that's definitely a better team.

holfresh wrote:Jason Kidd is like 80 years old..And plays like it..

Plus he was on the Nets. I would rather have Nash - I do respect Kidd though.

smackeddog wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I would use the MLE on a player who isn't 40 and 45 when his contract comes off the books

I'm in two minds about it- if the rumours are true and Nash is going to be offered 2 years, at 10 mil per season by the Suns, then 4 years at 5 mil may just snag him. He's said in the past he doesn't just want to go somewhere a championship is guaranteed, and with us it still wouldn't be. Then there's the Amar'e conection, the fact he's good friends with BD, and his love of NY, plus he gets to mentor Lin.

However, if (and it's a big IF), the ruling went our way (when was the last time that happened?), this season would be pretty much the last of our spending days for 3 years. I look at the Heat, and their roster sucks and will get worse over time- is that the model we want to emulate? overpaying players who are past it? If we got Nash and he could only play 2 years, when that contract is up we wouldn't get the MLE to find a replacement player, because we'd be well into the luxury tax.

Look at the success we had this season- it was when we took a chance on younger players with upside. Maybe spending the MLE on a player who's value could increase, or at least remain stable so they can be traded, is the smarter thing to do. But then again can you really turn down Steve Nash?!

Still this is a dilema I would love us to have- we'd get Lin, Novak, a MLE player (even without Nash there are several good PG options) and a Bi-annual exemption player too. Personally, I don't see why a player picked up off waivers should lose their bird rights, if the contract is essentially being picked up, but then again the CBA clearly states that they do, so I don't see how we'd win this.

Signing Nash to a max MLE type offer doesn't kill our cap. Melo, Stat and Chandler kill our cap flexibility.

gunsnewing wrote:You know what the more I think aboutbit, if this goes through I can definitely see dolan making a splash and bringing in nash to s
Appease all the fair weather fans and compete with the heats big 3

If you gonna starphuq might as well go all in!

Nalod wrote:Nash and Amare?

Isn't there someone missing?

It would open a big controversy, as to why a team cannot pay a player if he is waived.
This should be true for all players, picked up from waivers, that their teams should be able to keep them.
Whether it is early bird rights or full bird rights should depend back on their "rookie" contract in which they were picked.
In theory, I think we should be able to keep Lin and Novak, without using our exemptions.

However, once a player clears waivers, whether amnesty or just got cut, they should lose their "bird rights".

I would hate to see Smith leave, for his price and would resign him without using the MLE.
Articles are saying, he can opt out of his 2.5m and get a 1year 20% raise, which would not affect out cap situation.
If this is true, I think we still have to do it, especially with the injury to Iman.

Looking at OKC, their talent, athleticism, and skills are way ahead of Miami and their big 3.
They are much more balanced and have much better depth, with even sicker transition, quickness, length, and athleticism.
Lebron and Wade are probably both physically stronger, but OKC has 4 super athletic, long, quick, and strong players with skills.

Lebron Durant
Wade < Harden
Bosh Ibaka
Westbrook

With the bench and other role players easily going to the advantage of OKC.
Perkins isn't much bigger, stronger, and not sure who has more length/reach than Durant, Ibaka, and even Harden
They not only have great "All Stars" and "Stars" but great role players that are CHEAP contracts long term.
I have never seen so many on 1team a young, athletic team, with so much talent, and always FOCUSED, tends to show up on 99% of their games.
Their work ethic, to go with their physical talents, feed off one another, and their practice vs these guys will excel each others skills.

Nick Collison - much better version of Jarred Jeffries and is only getting payed a little over 2m a year.

Fisher *looks like he has improved his ball handling, speed, quickness, and athleticism, practicing with OKC*

Sefelosha *another long, defensive minded, decent athleticism, very under rated but also fits well with OKC players.

Cook *Eddie House 2.0*

Nazr

Aldrich

Royal Ivey

I think they are going to sweep the Lakers, if Denver can go to 7 games, and OKC is 10x better in pushing the tempo, shooting, penetration, and more talented.
Not to mention, Lakers are probably worn out already from Denver's pace, with this short season.

gunsnewing wrote:

Nalod wrote:Nash and Amare?

Isn't there someone missing?

Good chance amare is not part of the longterm plan. Then he can join Dantoni wherever he winds up and continue to not play defense and be be held accountable and live happily ever after

We have a long term plan?