babyKnicks wrote:I know I have a tendency to live in fantasy land. But does a Bledsoe, melo, mentor trifecta even remotely possible and a good thing to happen?

Immediately thought the same thing esp. if Bledsoe winds up taking his QO like Monroe just did. Monroe wouldn't be bad, esp. if he's the best FA option out there and if we could get him for fair market value. Tell ya what -- a Melo/Monroe/Aldrich frontcourt wouldn't be terrible for 2015/16 and beyond. Add to Monroe the following: Eric Bledsoe; guys like Early, Larkin, THJ, Shumpert, Aldrich, Quincy Acy etc. all show some nice progress this year; we re-fortify with a little more quality depth like we did this off-season, hopefully we hit the ground running with some good chemistry, etc., that wouldn't be bad man. Would I have preferred something a little more than Monroe/Bledsoe for our big FA splash? Sure, but this wouldn't be terrible at all.

Best case scenario is we grab Greg Monroe and he evolved into something close to Chris Bosh eventually. The post game and rebounding are already there pretty much; he just needs to get other elements to his game up to par -- his jump-shooting, FT shooting, defense.

So how 'bout that -- Greg Monroe/Eric Bledsoe next off-season? Will we have enough cap space to make a legit run at both players and would both of those guys be enough to make some serious noise in the East?

newyorknewyork wrote:

djsunyc wrote:monroe is not as good as what you would have to pay him to come. solid player but he's looking for max.

Yea but at the same time in 2 yrs when the new bargaining agreement takes place and salary cap sky rockets his salary may not be to bad.

Actually this wouldn't be a smart reason to make a business decision.

We want to be fiscally smart to change trends of overpaying

If the cap skyrockets then we should look at free agency more judicially.

You're implying we'll have options, well we should use them to our advantage

I prefer Vucevic(RFA) and Tobias Harris (RFA) to Greg Monroe (UFA) and would test Orlando at the very least and make Monroe wait it out if he is seeking more than 8m per year (Channing Frye type contract)

Finestrg wrote:

RonRon wrote:I like Bledsoe, not sure about with our salary cap and other needed positions though with his desired "MAX" salary

I prefer Vucevic(RFA) and Tobias Harris (RFA) to Greg Monroe (UFA) and would test Orlando at the very least and make Monroe wait it out if he is seeking more than 8m per year (Channing Frye type contract)

If it came down to a choice I think I'd prefer Bledsoe over Monroe. Bledsoe might turn out to be our #1 target, and rightly so...Would love to have both but as of right now, it doesn't seem realistic. Monroe's a good big man who may be plateauing; Bledsoe could be a top-5 NBA PG soon, maybe even this yr. That's the difference. Gotta hope Bledsoe takes his QO, plays out the season and becomes an unrestricted FA. If we could get him next summer -- MAJOR PICKUP. Then we piece together the rest. There's other fish in the sea if Monroe turns out to be too expensive. Good call on Vucevic -- maybe he's an option. Sign Bledsoe pretty much no matter what, then focus on tier 2 & 3 guys.

Interested to see how Bledsoe is used this year by PHX. They like him (I read they offered him a 4-yr/$48mm deal that he turned down) but they still have Dragic and now I. Thomas and supposedly the relationship between PHX and Bledsoe has soured.

I like Bledsoe, but after the Amar'e thing, I'm thinking twice before signing a guy with injury issues- I think he had his meniscus removed this past season, which means bone on bone and eventually arthritis.

F500ONE wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

Finestrg wrote:

RonRon wrote:I like Bledsoe, not sure about with our salary cap and other needed positions though with his desired "MAX" salary

I prefer Vucevic(RFA) and Tobias Harris (RFA) to Greg Monroe (UFA) and would test Orlando at the very least and make Monroe wait it out if he is seeking more than 8m per year (Channing Frye type contract)

If it came down to a choice I think I'd prefer Bledsoe over Monroe. Bledsoe might turn out to be our #1 target, and rightly so...Would love to have both but as of right now, it doesn't seem realistic. Monroe's a good big man who may be plateauing; Bledsoe could be a top-5 NBA PG soon, maybe even this yr. That's the difference. Gotta hope Bledsoe takes his QO, plays out the season and becomes an unrestricted FA. If we could get him next summer -- MAJOR PICKUP. Then we piece together the rest. There's other fish in the sea if Monroe turns out to be too expensive. Good call on Vucevic -- maybe he's an option. Sign Bledsoe pretty much no matter what, then focus on tier 2 & 3 guys.

Interested to see how Bledsoe is used this year by PHX. They like him (I read they offered him a 4-yr/$48mm deal that he turned down) but they still have Dragic and now I. Thomas and supposedly the relationship between PHX and Bledsoe has soured.

I like Bledsoe, but after the Amar'e thing, I'm thinking twice before signing a guy with injury issues- I think he had his meniscus removed this past season, which means bone on bone and eventually arthritis.

Dwyane Wade Part Deux

Having this done much earlier than Wade too

Overpaying for Monroe is like the Bulls overpaying for Boozer

Not interested

It was a different procedure than Wade because they repaired Bledsoe's meniscus and Dwayne had his taken out. Wade still played a good 6-8 yrs at a high level after choosing the "worse" option. The probability that Bledsoe stays healthy for the duration of his next contract is likely very high.

I am not sure how he fits into the offense or if he was just a one hit wonder but if he continues to improve and shows the ability to play at a high level a pg with his defensive skills and athleticism would be nice. The guy could grow into a better version of Kyle Lowry/Mike Conley

yellowboy90 wrote:

F500ONE wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

Finestrg wrote:

RonRon wrote:I like Bledsoe, not sure about with our salary cap and other needed positions though with his desired "MAX" salary

I prefer Vucevic(RFA) and Tobias Harris (RFA) to Greg Monroe (UFA) and would test Orlando at the very least and make Monroe wait it out if he is seeking more than 8m per year (Channing Frye type contract)

If it came down to a choice I think I'd prefer Bledsoe over Monroe. Bledsoe might turn out to be our #1 target, and rightly so...Would love to have both but as of right now, it doesn't seem realistic. Monroe's a good big man who may be plateauing; Bledsoe could be a top-5 NBA PG soon, maybe even this yr. That's the difference. Gotta hope Bledsoe takes his QO, plays out the season and becomes an unrestricted FA. If we could get him next summer -- MAJOR PICKUP. Then we piece together the rest. There's other fish in the sea if Monroe turns out to be too expensive. Good call on Vucevic -- maybe he's an option. Sign Bledsoe pretty much no matter what, then focus on tier 2 & 3 guys.

Interested to see how Bledsoe is used this year by PHX. They like him (I read they offered him a 4-yr/$48mm deal that he turned down) but they still have Dragic and now I. Thomas and supposedly the relationship between PHX and Bledsoe has soured.

I like Bledsoe, but after the Amar'e thing, I'm thinking twice before signing a guy with injury issues- I think he had his meniscus removed this past season, which means bone on bone and eventually arthritis.

Dwyane Wade Part Deux

Having this done much earlier than Wade too

Overpaying for Monroe is like the Bulls overpaying for Boozer

Not interested

It was a different procedure than Wade because they repaired Bledsoe's meniscus and Dwayne had his taken out. Wade still played a good 6-8 yrs at a high level after choosing the "worse" option. The probability that Bledsoe stays healthy for the duration of his next contract is likely very high.

I am not sure how he fits into the offense or if he was just a one hit wonder but if he continues to improve and shows the ability to play at a high level a pg with his defensive skills and athleticism would be nice. The guy could grow into a better version of Kyle Lowry/Mike Conley

Ah, I just checked after reading your post and found out that although initially they reported that he had had his meniscus removed, they later reported that actually he only had a small piece removed. I think that's what CP3 had- though although he still plays great, I always thought he was never quite as good athletically after that (still a great player).

This is why many of us as FANS wanted CA to NOT OPT out of his deal this summer (though he did what was best for him, which is not a knock on him but something we as fans need to accept and understand)
while RECRUITING 2015 FA, even if we cannot get the MAX franchise talents like Lebron or 2nd tier like Kevin Love/LaMacus Aldridge
Though they are unlikely talents, who would have ever though Lebron would predict he would leave Miami this summer to go back to Cleveland
Now Lebron could still OPT out, change his mind ONCE AGAIN, and team up with NYK though we likely would need the MAX cap space to offer him to even consider if endorsements deals and off the court business opportunities would open up for him OFF THE COURT (which Dolan can actually provide with his $, power, networks, businessess', and the MSG Networks/Channel for a reality TV show or/and informecials to promote
In the end, it is a business for Lebron, and he will make the decision that is best for him and his family, especially as he enters his early 30's to prepare for life AFTER basketball contracts)
Lebron could be the Pippen to Melo (Jordan) and could interest him, if we show we can play sucessfull/efficient/system team basketball

There are A LOT OF different combinations of talents we could have build a core of with FA's alone
Some with player options/team option
Not even considering testing the market for RFA's with the cap space at least making our contenders pay for KEEPING their talents with our cap space instead of players like Greg Monroe/Bledsoe being lowballed, with talents like Tobias Harris/Vucevic, Rubio/Kanter

http://hoopshype.com/free_agency_2015.htm

While players like Monta Ellis (player option) took about 7-8m a year to play with Dirk/Mav's (though they have STATE free tax with Texas/Florida teams)
If Rudy Gay shows some consistency, shows the defensive versatility that his physical abilities allow him to play, his salary could range from anywhere from 5-12m +
For 5m or the MLE type money, about 6m by next season, I think it would be a very nice talent
It is undeniabled that he has the talent to be a very good player, his knock is his work ethic/IQ/DEF and most importantly his MAX CONTRACT, but at that price he could be a steal just like how Monta Ellis showed he could be a very good player with the right talents around him, as he also accepted playing a TEAM basketball role with actual talents around him for once in his career that FITTED (unlike Ellis/Curry combo that was doomed from the start from their lack of size and both needing the ball to be effective)

SF/PF
===========

Lebron once again if available, with a 2 year player option

It would be intersting to see how CA plays this season and if he sustains his weight/strength as he looks to play under a system once again, after playing for Woodson
Even with this weight loss, I think he can still maintain his "bully ball" with his strength
Just because you lose weight, it doesn't necesarrily mean losing strength, it could be the complete opposite, but we just have to wait and see...
I think CA needs to retablish his MID POST GAME, especially with his turn around baseline jump shot and the counter, that he used much more in Denver while in a system with George Karl, similar to how Jordan did it wit their midrange games though Jordan was much more effective, efficient, and clutch than ANYONE *not a knock on anyone but no one is close to The Airness*

I think we need a versatile SF/PF to team up with CA and the Triangle, with the skills/versatility/abilities to play DEF, as a switch and 1v1 lockdown defender at times like Lebron did vs Parker etc, AND on OFF some SG and PG
A YOUNG Shawn Marion is ideal, while he actually could still be available but is aging, though he showed he still was a largely effective player last season
I think Battum is the best versatile defender right now with the ability to play/defend mainly SF, but can also play some SG/PF, and even defend PG, while being a floor spacer with the 3pt shot, or simply move the ball in a team game, he has great physical abilities with his length/size/and athleticism in addition to his skills, though he wouldn't be a FA till both Durant/Noah could both be UFA's in the following year in 2015/2016

Another is Jimmy Butler

Just look at the additions of Al Jefferson to Bobcats

Paul Millsap/DeMarre Carroll to Atlanta despite to loss of Horford and Louis Williams in addition to the development of an older vet role player in Kyle Korver

Korver as a HUGE surprise, becoming a much better player than the ROLE player he was expected to be especially with his ability to spread the floor/move off the ball/use of picks off the ball and with the ball/ player movement/sharing the ball/ and using plays

Now if we can get 2-4 solid pick ups, with a couple of STEALS, we could be greatly improved