Great, then we'll have even fewer big men than we already have.
Lee is our best PF, and he's playing center for us. Who is going to get a rebound? TT?

Knicksfan - i feel you, but shooting guards with an unusual skill set or exceptional height are rare. Work with me here bruh. In the NBA it's not just about the ability to shoot but the ability to GET your shot. For example, Anthony Roberson looks tasty in Summer League but that's against dwarfs.

Buddinger at 6'7 changes the matchup equation at the two in D'Antoni's favor, and adds a touch of spice with the wide wingspan.

Just think the surfer dude version of Tayshaun Prince.

You like that huh?

Draft Thabeet, play Gallo at the SG, and that lebron fella too!

I think you have to trade for another big if you get rid of Lee. That means next year you will have Jeffires, and Harrington as your bigs Then you go in 2010 and try and convince Lebron to play with no inside game at all. This draft may be the worst I have seen in 15 years. No sure fire all stars and no depth. I think Malik and Lee for Diaw is possible. Lee for Thomas or Noah pick which stiff you want. Lee for Fernandez or Outlaw is something portland would look at in the future. I really think Portland will put a huge trade together this year.

One more thing:

Keep David Lee

Posted by King1:

I think you have to trade for another big if you get rid of Lee. That means next year you will have Jeffires, and Harrington as your bigs Then you go in 2010 and try and convince Lebron to play with no inside game at all. This draft may be the worst I have seen in 15 years. No sure fire all stars and no depth. I think Malik and Lee for Diaw is possible. Lee for Thomas or Noah pick which stiff you want. Lee for Fernandez or Outlaw is something portland would look at in the future. I really think Portland will put a huge trade together this year.

Diaw's a nice player but why on earth do you want to add his massive salary ($9 million a season through 2012) when clearly the name of the game is getting under the cap ENOUGH to be a player in the 2010 FA market??? If that's how you guys really feel, might as well just keep Lee at $9-10 mil. a pop. Might as well have kept Randolph and Crawford as well... We've come so far and waited so long for salary cap room I don't want to screw it up now by taking on any crazy longterm salary commitments for marginal talent. No thanks. Diaw's actually another example of why Lee will get $9-10 million a pop btw...

If we flip Lee, which I'm actually in favor of btw, I'd like a backcourt piece and a frontcourt player that are young and UNDER CONTROL salary-wise at least until after 2010. Either guys that will still be on their rookie contracts or guys that have re-uped recently for reasonable salaries in the $5 million range along with whatever addition salary is necessary to make a S&T with Lee work as long as it's gone by 2010. After 2010 FA comes and goes, I wouldn't mind re-uping anyone on the roster to fair market value. But first thing's first...

And I totally disagree that there aren't any PFs in this upcoming draft. First of all, the best player in the draft, Blake Griffin, is a PF. Sophmore Gani Lawal has over a 7' wingspan & is putting up monster numbers for G. Tech so far (22.2 ppg on a crazy 65% from the field, 11.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 1.4 spg); I haven't seen Patrick Patterson play that much to be honest but TMS is saying he's the goods (17.8/8/1.7 blocks); Hansbrough won't be a star but he'll contribute for some team at the next level (could be another David Lee with a better offensive game); Arizona's Jordan Hill seems for real (17.4/12.3/2.6 blocks); Gonzaga's 6'11" Josh Heytvelt is huge and putting up solid numbers (15/6.6/1.8 blocks); Vandy's Andrew Ogilvy is big and very skilled (could be another Chris Mihm, Mehmut Okur or better)... Then there's good PF talent projected to go in the 2nd round - guy's that I've seen and like a lot - Jeff Adrien, Gavin Edwards, Taj Gibson, Robert Dozier and a guy I'm looking forward to seeing, Jarvis Varnado, who's averaging a double-double with over 6 blocks/game to lead the country.

Plenty of opportunities to pick up a rotation big man in this draft. By season's end, if a guy like Taj Gibson continues to put up 16/11/4 blocks, you better believe I'd be interested with our 2nd rounder if he's even still on the board...


[Edited by - finestrg on 12-06-2008 3:06 PM]

I hear you misterearl. Let me ask you this - do you think Lee has what it takes to be a starter on a good team? Man, if he could just hit the 'J' or play passable team defense I'd be all over giving him the big $ extension. As a back-up on a good team I think he's a keeper coming off the bench. It will be interesting to see what happens if he hits the market.

Posted by Panos:

Great, then we'll have even fewer big men than we already have.
Lee is our best PF, and he's playing center for us. Who is going to get a rebound? TT?

How so, Lee doesn't exactly create match-up problems for the other team. He's not a center and the rotation of Chandler, Harrington and Thomas seems to be working Ok. That rotation looked pretty good with (dare I say it) Jeffries on the floor. When Gallinari gets healthy, it presents another problem of getting him minutes. If Gallo is all that and a bag of chips too, then Lee is likely going to see less minutes. If you have to chooose between keeping Lee or Nate, I think Lee is odd man out once again. We could really use a good SG, so why not try and find one through a trade for Lee?

Right now with ZBo gone, it is imperative that we keep DLee. Who the heck is going to rebound the ball? You want a SG, then trade Malik's expiring for a good SG with 1 year left in his contract.

How about Malik for Antonio Daniels of the Wiz? He is considered a PG but he is 6'4". He will be a rental until we get better parts.