Cut 'em both, Balkman & Carter...Balkman we might have to keep because of the future salary obligation but if not, outta here Jack..Roger Mason too -- bye-bye finally..And I'd actually kick in Mozgov if they insist (maybe we can attempt to salvage that 2014 pick)..F Denver, F the Nets and Melo can kinda go F himself as well (dude's pissed me off throughout this whole process -- he better play his ass off once he gets here -- there's gonna be immense pressure on this guy, I wonder if he's really ready for that?) but when you get right down to it, Mozgov can't possibly hold up this trade from happening..Not only can't he play but he's owed $2.566M and almost $2.8M the next two seasons..I want that cap room...I might keep Shelden Williams just for size and frontcourt depth...or maybe not..Maybe I say adios muchachos to the Landlord as well..And Azubuike too -- if we don't deal him by the deadline cut him and open up that roster spot as well..
All that housekeeping would leave us with the following:
Amar'e
Melo
Fields
Billups
TD
Turiaf
Shawne Williams
Walker
Rautins
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Unless someone has a better idea, I'd like to see us pull a Golden State and reload the roster with superior D-League players -- some of the best players the D-league has to offer in fact..All-star caliber NBDL players...
C Marcus Cousin gets called up and takes Mozgov's place -- HUGE upgrade
PF Jeff Adrien takes Shelden Williams' spot at backup 4 behind Amar'e -- SUBSTANTIAL upgrade
SF DeShawn Sims gets called up and competes with Williams and Walker for those Wilson Chandler mins. -- I think DeShawn Sims is just as good a talent as W. Chandler, superior to Williams & Walker
SG/SF Othyus Jeffers gets called up and competes with Walker and TD for backup 2 mins behind Fields
First off this would require Dolan to OK some buyouts which he probably wouldn't want to do (dude doesn't give a **** about this part of the game -- he's got no friggin' idea but I betcha he tells Walsh no buyouts)..If by some miracle he could be convinced to eat some money in order to open up roster space, I'd call up each of these 4 standout D-leaguers to fill in the gaps..Each would get 10-day contracts with a chance to stick for the rest of the season and compete for a spot next year. It might take a little adjusting, but not before long I could see each of these guys assuming a vital role in the rotation, leapfrogging our own bench guys that would stilll be here..
5 - Turiaf/Cousin
4 - Amar'e/Adrien
3 - Melo/Sims/Shawne Williams
2 - Fields/Jeffers/Walker/Rautins
1 - Billups/Douglas
Far from a finished product but that'd be a real nice infusion of talent in all the right spots on the quick & cheap. Not sure why I waste my time (I betcha we keep every single piece coming from DEN, Azu and Mason too AND I betcha we don't call up anyone from the NBDL -- if we do grab a guy on the cheap it'll be Earl Barron even though I just listed 4 players far supeior to him) but if we ever had the balls to think outside the box like this and have been paying close attention to the NBDL this season, we'd be able to field a pretty decent team with improved depth almost instantly and for a good price..Who knows then, maybe some of these guys show that they're actually keepers (wouldn't surprise me AT ALL) and we bring them back next year..Call me nuts but this would be what I'd look to do right after the deadline passes..Audition time.
