I see Orlando Johnson was just called up by PHX. See, I like what they're doing. They're struggling, having a poor year but they're not panicking and looking for the big save-the-season homerun trade. They're staying the course, developing their young core and apparently looking to add even more young talented players to the mix (players that fit or could perhaps become tradable assets). Smart...They've really used the DL/no-risk free agency route well this year. Bryce Cotton, Cory Jefferson, Lorenzo Brown, Jordan McRae (now on his 2nd 10-day contract with the team -- dude was really ballin' in the DL. I thought he looked good against us at the Garden), and now Orlando Johnson. Nice player--I think OJ's a pro 2G... Hey man--the Suns see the need for talent and they've shown they're open to trying out different things. Bringing in talented players with little to no risk for evaluation. Bravo--I applaud what they're doing.. Now look at our situation -- open roster spot, team's gone south like a duck in winter (dropped 9 out of our last 10), we've been in need of backcourt help since before the season even began, etc. Why can't we try something like this?? There's no more realistic way for us to add talent than trying out some no-risk players.
Example -- find a way to open up a 2nd roster spot (numerous ways we could do this) and give me Russ Smith AND Terrico White on 10-day contracts. Smith's been rippin' up the DL since he joined a few weeks ago and White was just named DL player of the week...Imho, that's A LOT of talent to add for nothing, man..Slowly integrate both into the rotation, building up their PT as they go. I think both would produce and wind up showing us that they're better guards than anything we're currently featuring (maybe save for AA who I still think is a good player). One guy could be a better version of Ish Smith/Patrick Beverley; the other something close to Larry Hughes/Jason Richardson/JR Smith. All these guys need is a chance in an environment where their services are needed.. Go get me these 2 no-risk guards and make a commitment to play Seraphin more for his post offense and rim protection. I don't think that's a lot to ask, I really don't. If we committed to this, in a short time, I think we'd see some nice results -- a productive/balanced 10-man rotation, something like this:
5 - Lopez
4 - KP
3 - Melo
2 - Afflalo
1 - Galloway or Calderon take your pick (for continuity/familiarity with the other starters we've had all along)
-------------------
4/5 - Seraphin
3/4 - Derrick Williams
3 - Lance Thomas
2 - Terrico White
1 - Russ Smith
I mean why not try something like this? Wouldn't cost us anything, just a belief in the 2 guard we added, belief in Seraphin and what he could bring (dude's had some real nice moments for us this year when called upon) and some patience. D-Will/Russ Smith/Terrico White could be very exciting on that 2nd unit, I'm telling you... Smith and White could wind up being real keepers here--cheap assets we could retain for next year and beyond. Win win.
