Not really feeling Pau Gasol, esp. if Melo bolts...Looks like Phil's thinking is that Melo/Pau Gasol is going all in but is that really enough to win a chip? I dunno man. Doesn't feel like nearly enough top talent for us, even in the Eastern Conference.
I'd like to see us get these 3: Cole Aldrich, Jordan Hill and Jerryd Bayless. Hill will be tough to add. Not sure if we have the money for him. Question -- if Melo bolts, I read somewhere that it should reduce the cap figure to about $58-59mm. Assuming the 2014-15 cap number will be $63.2mm -- can we combine either the mini-MLE or the trade exception with this leftover cap room? Probably not but just checking... We actually could have up to $5.2mm available if Melo leaves for nothing--that might be enough to get Hill; then again, would Hill even wanna sign here if Melo left?
Then I'd like to see these guys on minimum contracts: Some combination of Devin Ebanks/DeQuan Jones/Terrence Williams on the wing; C Daniel Orton and PF Richard Howell.
Purge all the older guys from this roster once we get to the point where we realize they can't help us in a trade for something substantial -- Prigioni, Odom, etc. I'd even let Jeremy Tyler go -- I'd rather have that roster spot for a better/more promising frontcourt player: Orton, Ebanks, D. Jones, Howell, etc.
Continue to explore the possibility of moving Stoudemire -- take back absolutely no bad contracts that make no sense. A fellow expiring contract and 1 promising young asset/future pick would be fine with me. Either that or just play out the year with Amar'e and let him expire off the cap naturally.
Call up New Orleans and check to see if the following guys are available: C Jeff Withey, C Alexis Ajinca, SF Luke Babbitt and PG Russ Smith.