Finestrg wrote:There's a lot of good 2Gs in the NBDL right now. I like Wes Matthews -- I wanted Matthews when he went undrafted a few years ago, but don't know if it'd be wise to sink a lot of money into this guy now given our situation. This guy's probably gonna want and get $10-12mm a season over several years, maybe more. I think we're better off targeting more higher end talent for that type of money or more. No doubt our SG position is in need of a facelift though. How about taking a good hard look at a guy like Elliot Williams instead? He appears to finally be over the knee and achilles issues that plagued him in the past. Dude's a real solid overall SG -- he scores it well in a variety of ways (over 21 ppg in the DL logging over 36 mins per, over 47% FGs, over 37% from 3, he defends and he just might be one of the better passing 2Gs around averaging over 7 assist per game--his playmaking is really what separates him from the other top DL 2Gs like Manny Harris or Kevin Murphy imo). Williams has really been ballin' this year. Looks real spry out on the court now -- glad to see his injuries are finally behind him...Instead of using up valuable cap space on a Wes Matthews, how about looking for some cheaper/comparable talent? I think Williams, now that he's finally healthy, very well might be just as good a player as Matthews, maybe better, and certainly better than anything we currently feature at the position -- Shumpert, JR Smith or Hardaway. Another very good fit for next year from the DL -- 6'9" 230+ PF JaMychal Green. This guy has really evolved into a very nice player. Currently averaging something close to 22 & 11--he does it all out there. He looks long as hell to me, he's quick up the floor/quick off the dribble, has a nice little post-up game, he features a real reliable jump-shot from anywhere in the mid-range, he bodies up inside, plays physical and is always around the rim. Very good nose for the ball...Looks very polished to me overall. Reminds me of a young David West/Antonio McDyess--I think he could be that good and if not, maybe a tick below that level which is still very good. No question JaMychal Green is good enough to play in the NBA (compare him to a DeMarre Carroll on Atlanta's roster for example -- not the best comparison as Carroll's more of a hybrid 3/4 but overall, Green's a better player than Carroll imo). He almost made the Spurs outta training camp. They really wanted to keep him but had no room. James McAdoo's another young athletic PF in the DL I find intriguing but I feel Green's more polished and the better player overall. As of right now, in addition to our own Westchester prospects and Seth Curry, Williams & Green are probably my two favorite players to watch in the entire NBDL:
Here's hoping we hit the mark in the draft with something BIG in the top 3, get one or two major impact players either in FA or via trade over the next couple of years and then add some real good "value talent" to round out the roster -- a value big like a Lavoy Allen for instance; Donald Sloan/Chris Copeland; guys like E'Twaun Moore/Cameron Bairstow if Chicago renounces either of them for cap room; maybe a guy like Lou Williams; Lance Thomas; New Orleans has quite a few value guys that could work for us here: Alexis Ajinca/Jeff Whithey/Luke Babbitt/Dante Cunningham; Justin Hamilton/Hassan Whiteside; Kalin Lucas/Nick Calathes; Kosta Koufos; maybe we look at reacquiring Wayne Ellington; Josh Smith; Draymond Green; Greg Smith; some of the domestic talent playing abroad that we targeted in the DL expansion draft (Craig Brackins, Rich Howell, Curtis Jerrells, DaJuan Summers); guys like Elliot Williams/JaMychal Green/James McAdoo/Quincy Miller/Seth Curry from the NBDL, etc... Add a player or two from each of these categories to some of the better talent we may have left over from this year's team (Early, THJ, maybe we retain Cole Aldrich, etc.) and a few callups from our own Westchester squad (Thanasis, Langston Galloway?), hopefully it all comes together eventually around Melo. Remaining hopeful..
Great post and young talent for the cheap, while these guys do not have the sexiness and apeal of the players from the draft, these guys are actually just as good if not even better than a lot of the players in the draft, because they have been working very hard in developing their games and play in a league that is much more comparable to the NBA than the NCAA in terms of style of play, talent, physical abilities....
Totally agree with you Finestrg, these are the type of high reward/low risk players that we should focus into continued development
People keep wanting to go with the BIG sexy names out there in free agency while we have limited ability to spend
We simply need a change of culture as Phil said and need to fill out many positions
We need players that are willing to come, compete, and work hard to develop their games, having an overall effect that is positive
From training, delevoping their games on and off the court, in the weight room, and do whatever is needed
D Leaguer's will not take the NBA for granted and have the hunger and passion that we lack as a team
Some of these guys I remember their names and players I wished we would have brought in for training camp to evaluate them for future purposes
We need to find the next Anthony Morrow, Robert Covington, Danny Green, Gereld Green, etc, because while we would love to acquire those guys, they are luxuries that we can not afford to pay
The D League has improved so much over the past couple of years as there are a lot of potential players in there
Justin Holiday and Robert Covington are 2 players that have recently been rewarded for their hard work and are playing important roles for their respective teams
Covington has provided shooting and rebounds for a desperate Philly team for better floor spacing for MKG to penetrate/finish and pass to
While Justin Holiday's versatility to go with his great size/length to defend multiple positions
We can fill in and develop our lower pieces, while building chemistry and developing the style of play to execute
As the triangle needs all players to nsync with each other
For the triangle work, we need a POST PRESENCE that is HIGHLY EFFICIENT and Skilled which is the most important piece, then we need the right combination of solid role palyers/high IQ/ defenders/shooters in all positions, and that will take time to learn
Once the Laker's/Chicago built player's that understood the system, even when they add a few pieces to the mix, it would be much easier for them to fit in the system as everyone else can help them understand where to be, so right now we have a bunch of low IQ players that cannot break their habits they have formed over the years....
1- Post Presence to initiate the OFFENSE, with the ability to score 1v1, facilitate, and draw double/triple teams and be efficient rebounders, able to hit the 17footer
examples Pau Gasol, Shaq and Bynum (either a versatile BIG or a DOMINANT BIG) Jordan/Kobe initated through the post for as well but those type of players are not realistic acquisitions
2- Catch and shoot, High IQ/CLUTCH Shooters to space the floor that are can be efficient despite being low usuage and be solid defenders in ALL POSITIONS, and make great cuts
examples (Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Brian Shaw/FIsher/Glen Rice/Lindsey Hunter Steve Kerr/Paxson/BJ Armstrong, Jud Buechler/Randy Brown
3- versatile talents have multiple skills, like handling the ball/post presence/play makors/etc, and play multiple positions and defend multiple positions
examples, Gasol/Odom/Ariza/Walton/Deavon George Pippen/Kukoc
Shannon Brown was instinct OFFENSE as well, in his prime, he could post up G's that were smaller than him and score in bunches with the impact players on the roster wearing down the opponents DEFENSE
4- Multiple BIG's that could rebound/defend and many can hit the 17footer or/and score on their man 1v1 in the post
examples, Mark Madson/Horry/AC GREEN/Greg Foster/ John Salley/Slava Medvedenko/Horace Grant Will Wennington, Luc Longley, Bison Dele, Horace Grant, Bill Cartright
