Rookie wrote:

Nalod wrote:KP and Bradley should not ever be compared.

Hahahha....vindicated. It would seem that Phil and I both know what we are talking about. http://nypost.com/2015/08/17/phil-jacksons-big-porzingis-fear-the-next-shawn-bradley/

“Like Shawn Bradley, who was nevertheless a pretty good player, [Porzingis] might almost be too tall for the game,” Jackson said of the 7-foot-3 prospect. “What I mean is that his core strength might never be good enough, and that he might not be able to get low enough to get himself into prime defensive position to body power rebounders or drivers.”

Seems like a fairly minimal comparison. Basically both guys are really tall and it impacts their center of gravity as shorter heavier players can get lower. I thought KP6 did a nice job adjusting to the situation against OK4. He used his length and angles to deny OK4 and then played tall when the shot was going up.

KP6 can't worry about being so tall that it impacts his leverage. He has to learn how to excel by playing tall and using his height and length to his advantage. I think he's well on his way to doing that. KP6 seems more flexible and agile and can get lower than Bradley could IMO. He doesn't move like a guy who is as tall as he is. In the end KP6 will likely be a more natural athlete and even how he shoots the ball looks more natural and with great form. Again they're similar being really tall slim guys, but KP6 has that edge in terms of his body control IMO.

RonRon wrote:

2 season from now, possibly 1 year with trades
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PG/SG Westbrook

PG/SG/SF Thanasis Affalo/if Grant with Westbrook playing SG (depending on the match up we are playing) *with Thanasis, he could be used to INITIATE OUR DEFENSE, alternating with Westbrook at times, against PG's like Iman was used in his rookie season, to HARASS the opponents PG's and primary ball handler/facilitator/creator, while we have other quick/mobile/athletic/with length for their positions to play the passing lanes while Thanasis/Westbrook are used to initiate our DEFENSE and harass the PG's, that would wear the opponents PG's down and force another player to handle the ball that Westbrook could also play aggressively

SG/SF Shabazz Muhammad

PF/C KP

PF/C Whiteside

This starting lineup has

1- 4 3pt shooters that can spread the floor for, with Thanasis needing 2 seasons at latest to work on his 3pt shot with his work ethic and will be likely at least a baseline 3pt shooting like Bruce Bowen
Working with David Hopla who is our current shooting coach and part of our development coaches that I think we should upgrade

2- 5 players that can all POST UP, along with PnR's that we could use to provide more spacing/mismatches if we want, and playing in a system that is interchangeable to find and abuse the mismatch with the power to dominate our opponents with high % points

3- With at least 2 players that can penetrate and finish through contact and create/facilitate *With Westbrook on the RIGHT SIDE and Shabazz as a lefty on left side* with the spacing and scoring presence the other players provide, with many PnR options as well, and the hammer play the execute
possibly 3 players to penetrate/create/facilitate, if we do not use Thanasis, no even including KP and if he improves like Dirk could also play some point/forward/center

Other options till Westbrook becomes a UFA, starting with Tony Wroten who has surgery on his knee last season and will likely need another year to recover and get back in NBA shape and will be RFA NEXT YEAR
Though he is recovering from surgery, he may be available for a fraction of the price as he gets back in NBA shape
While showcasing how Wroten and Shved could execute and perform well in the Triangle and then Westbrook would DOMINATE as a UFA the following year
If we can acquire Tony Wroten who is a RFA next summer who was one of leagues TOP TIER PG/SG's in terms of penetration and finishing through contract, while drawing double/triple teams to create and facilitate
Which also has good size and great physical abilities like a John Wall, James Harden, and a YOUNG Manu

While Russ Smith *could have a break out year this season* and Isiah Thomas, maybe DJ Augustine, could also provide a poor mans version, and could be kept as our backup PG's on cap friendly deals

The traditional POINT GUARDS for Phil Jackson include Randy Foye *sniper* and Spencer Dinwiddie *like Brian Shaw/Ron Harper*, who both have great size at PG, while Foye is a very good shooter and Dwinwiddie has the intanchibles, DEFENSE, HIGH IQ/TOUGHNESS, and size the PJ would have seeked, though Derek Fisher is coaching and will be implementing some changes within the system like Brian Shaw and Steve Kerr/Alvin Gentry have done as the league and Triangle can continue to evolve

Bench with many versatile talents
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Grant
Affalo (both Affalo and Derrick Williams have 2year contracts at best and will be UFA 2years later that we could go with cheaper options to better spend our money) possibly Randy Foye
James Johnson
David Lee
Pau Gasol

Isiah Thomas
Jeff Taylor
Ledo or whoever, may be available from the draft picks with trading CA/Lopez, or even Derrick Williams
Kyle O Quin
Justin Hamilton (possibly Mike Muscula in a trade with his low cap hold at a vet min and extend last like Spurs did with Kawaii Leanard to give us 5 3pt shooters in a rotation)

This would be a team that would be able to contend and could FIT if we are able to move CA and Robin Lopez
We actually can sign Whiteside, Westbrook, and trade for Shabazz Muhammad, even if we didn't trade CA and Robin Lopez

Next summer
===============

1- Next summer Whiteside is a UFA as NO TEAM HAS THE BIRD RIGHTS FOR HIM, including Miami, so the max he can earn with a max like contract of under 20m would be at a 4year deal, likely player option for 4th
Along with many quality players such as Battum, Pau Gasol/Noah and many other Centers such as MosGoV, Al Jefferson/Hibbert, and Al Horford at PF/C with KP eventually playing Center a couple years from now
Would have liked to see Wilson Chandler and/or Gallo return on cap friendly deals

Though I would like to add Battum, would have to see how he plays this year, and if last seasons struggles were because of his wrist or other reasons...

While David Lee would be a quality backup to play a Lamar Odom type role at backup money that talents like Lavoy Allen/Ajinicia and Ed Davis/Koufus got this summer, Lee would be 33years of age NEXT season, so this would be his FINAL contract and could take much less to secure a 4year deal in a system that fits skill set, with a team that can CONTEND, and allows him to play a bigger role than majority of last year with GS
His skill set and knowledge in GS would transfer well for the Triangle, a contract in the range of 4m - 7.5m on a multiyear deal or a short term deal that pays him more like a 1-2year deal will be his choice

Pau Gasol has a player option of $7,769,520, however, after leading the season with double doubles last season, he may find a much higher salary with the rise of the cap next year
Like David Lee, I would like to add him at a cap friendly deal of 4years despite being 36years of age next season
Whether we sign him to a short term deal or give him a long term deal with 1-2years he would speed up the development of KP
Also give him a job as a scout, coaching/development, or in the front office, of his choice, with a high salary as an incentive, we can also pay him the final year of service as a loophole for him taking less to join our team, if we do add Gasol, I would not be surprised if we reunited him with Kobe on our bench on a vet min deal for to compete for a ring and continue to chase his records to break as he has worked very hard to rehab and get in NBA shape just to call it quits
With LA having no interest in his return because they are unable to attract talent that wants to be their with Kobe's EGO issues, it gives him an incentive to play 1 and maybe 2 seasons with a team that can contend if we are able to add such pieces to the puzzle and the improvements/development of KP, Grant, our other players, the system, and Fisher as a coach

role players after like on LOW contract deals from vet min to 2-3m

- James Johnson
- Randy Foye, DJ Augustine, Aaron Brooks/ E'Twaun Moore
- Jeff Taylor
- Justin Hamilton

2 Seasons from now
=======================

2- For Westbrook, he will be a UFA 2years later, and could seek the bright lights of NYK's as he LOVES ATTENTION and would allow him to have much more marketable on building his brand and endorsements with NYK's fanbase

3- Shabazz Muhammad G/F would need to be traded to us in order for us to resign him with his qualifying offer, and has is a RFA that we can resign AFTER we use our cap space to build our team like Kawaii Leanard did with The Spurs this year with a qualifying offer of under 5m
Calderons contract will expire the same time Westbrook becomes a FA, with the cap jumping about 20m each year for the next 2 consecutive seasons

With Lebron being older 2years down the road, we would be a TOP team in the East with this lineup/rotation
For the next 5-7years this would easily be the #1 team in the East to contend for a RING along with KP's development

Ron, could you please elaborate? A little more detail would be appreciated.

He was clearly on his late summer acid trip when he mentioned KP and Shawn Bradley in the same breath.