Robin Lopez (only if we draft OK4, Russell or Mudiay)
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 9.6 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.1 AST, 1.6 BLK, .508 FG%, 15.5 PERRobin Lopez's per-game statistics don't come anywhere close to capturing his value for the Portland Trail Blazers.
With Lopez on the floor, the Blazers have a net rating of plus-7.5, averaging 106.9 points per 100 possessions while only conceding 99.4 per 100 on the other end. When he's on the bench, their defense is mostly the same—they give up 100.0 points per 100 possessions—but their offense is 3.5 points per 100 worse.
Willy Raedy of Blazers Edge described Lopez as a "master of basketball geometry," noting his impeccable sense of timing as the roll man in pick-and-rolls. The Blazers big man averages 1.09 points per possession as the roll man this season, which places him in the league's 74th percentile, and he's tied for 17th in points per game in those situations (2.9).
Defensively, Lopez ranks in the top quarter of the league in rim protection, allowing opponents to convert just 47 percent of their looks at point-blank range. The Stanford product is averaging 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes over his past three seasons, serving as an ideal complement to LaMarcus Aldridge on both ends of the court.
It's no coincidence the Blazers have gone 24-9 in Lopez's 33 games this season compared to just 13-10 without him. Though he doesn't have the flashy skill set of the top-tier bigs on the free-agent market, that shouldn't stop suitors from attempting to woo him away from Portland.
Wes Mathews is no longer realistic (to be honest I very much doubt the Blazers let any of their FAs go)- plus since we only have $26mil to spend, I'd rather fill SG with a cheaper option and so free up money to address the front court and maybe PG.
Greg Monroe 2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 15.4 PTS, 10.5 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.9 STL, .489 FG%, 20.4 PER
Greg Monroe took a major gamble on himself this past summer, declining to sign a long-term contract as a restricted free agent in favor of accepting the Detroit Pistons' one-year qualifying offer. It set Monroe up to become an unrestricted free agent in July, where he figures to have no shortage of interested suitors.
Since Detroit mercifully put an end to the disastrous frontcourt triumvirate of Monroe, Andre Drummond and Josh Smith in late December, the Georgetown product has been a monster. He's gone from averaging 14.7 points on 48.2 percent shooting and 8.8 boards per game alongside Smith to 16.0 points on 49.5 percent shooting and 11.9 rebounds sans J-Smoove.
The man known as Moose currently ranks eighth among qualified players in rebounds per game (10.5), the first season in which he's cracked the double-digit threshold in boards. Against the Denver Nuggets on February 6, he exploded for his first-ever 20-20 game, scoring 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting and grabbing a career-high 21 caroms in 36 minutes.
If the Pistons have it their way, Monroe won't be heading anywhere come July. "I've got great respect for Greg as a player, and he's the kind of person you want in your organization going forward," team president and head coach Stan Van Gundy recently told Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News. Team owner Tom Gores called him a "true professional" when speaking with NBA.com's David Aldridge in January.
Monroe shouldn't have trouble drumming up interest on the free-agent market, however, especially given his resurgent play in the wake of Smith's departure. Reliable interior scorers tend to come at a premium in free agency, which should have the big man in line for an eight-figure payday this summer.
Millsap2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 16.8 PTS, 8.1 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.7 STL, .477 FG%, 19.8 PER
Two years ago, the Atlanta Hawks inked Paul Millsap to a two-year, $19 million deal that looked like an absolute heist. Two years and two All-Star Game berths later, the Louisiana Tech product is headed for a major raise.
During his two seasons with Atlanta, Millsap is averaging 17.5 points on 46.8 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 treys in just 33.4 minutes per game. After knocking down a grand total of 31 triples over his first seven seasons with the Utah Jazz, he's hit 131 threes in the past two years.
Millsap's offensive versatility helped transform the Hawks from a mediocre outfit into an Eastern Conference juggernaut. The team averages an additional 6.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court, as he's capable of pouring in points from the post or the perimeter without hesitation.
"Our offense is predicated on making basketball plays on top of basketball plays," Millsap told Rolling Stone's Michael Pina. I'm able to showcase my skill level. Dribble, pass, shoot. And I'm able to space the floor a lot more."
Though the 6'8" Millsap is somewhat undersized for a traditional power forward, the league's move toward stretch 4s makes him eminently more desirable on the free-agent market. He might not be dominant in any one facet of the game, but his well-roundedness should have teams willing to break the bank for him this summer.
3/1/2015 11:30 AM LAST EDITED: 3/1/2015 11:36 AM