Bamba #5

I do not think it is one or the other though. We could sign Thomas and still trade for Ball or Fultz if they become available this summer or this season. If anything Thomas could become a valuable trade chip during the season if he shows something and is signed to a reasonable, short contract.

With Evans getting $12 million and Exum getting $11 million per year I wonder where Smart and Thomas will fall.

Does anyone have more than the MLE left?

Exum back to Jazz for three years, $33 million.

So, here is a list of free agents that are still available that should command more than the minimum but may have to settle for the MLE or a portion of the MLE. Of course, most of these are restricted and it is likely that their existing team matches any reasonable offer. Of these who do you think we should, if any, tender an offer to and for how much? Clint Capela (Rockets may get a discount here with most the money gone. I am surprised the Lakers did not go after him.) Tyreke Evans Luc Mbah a Moute Wayne Ellington Brook Lopez (Um, no) Marcus Smart Zach Lavine Dante Exum Jabari Parker Nemanja Bjelica Jusuf Nurkic Montrezl Harrell Rodney Hood Isaiah Thomas Kyle Anderson I would be intrigued with Thomas, Exum, Bjelica, or perhaps Ellington.

I really hope Steve Clifford does well. His dad was my Driver's Education teacher when I was in high school. It was great. His dad talked basketball the entire time. Steve's brother, Dan, still holds my high school's all time scoring record.

If I recall correctly the Spurs were supposedly interested in Isaac last year during the draft. What would folks say if the Spurs called and said, "You can have Lonzo Ball but we want Isaac in return." I think I would say no thanks even though last year at this time I would have jumped all over it.

Except in that scenario he will be a restricted free agent so OKC could match any offer and likely would.

Henny should go on vacation for a week with no forwarding number. When he comes back this New Jersey thing is in the past. Could you imagine Feegan and Billy King's faces when their calls keep getting forwarded to voice mail. It is nice to dream.

Pacers are going to match Hibbert's offer sheet meaning Portland has money again. Portland, please sign Brook Lopez to an offer sheet making all of this go away.

The whole trade and perception that it has to be rushed has to be fabricated by Howard, HWNSNBU, and their people. We have no reason to rush. If Lopez goes out and signs an offer sheet from another team then the deal is dead. New Jersey could match or let him walk. If they match the cannot trade him until December 15th. If they let him walk they don't have enough salary dollars to trade to match Dwight. Lopez is not going to wait forever. Someone will show interest. It is too bad Houston offered Asik that deal. If they waited they could have made an offer to Lopez and sabotaged this whole thing. In fact if the Nets did lose the ability to trade for Howard then other teams may up their offers as there is no way the Nets can sign Howard outright next summer making Howard's threat of only wanting one team laughable.

I think this Houston trade could mean good things for us. Houston still has young players to trade in Parsons, Lamb, White, Jones, Morris, etc. They now have a lottery pick that they can trade to us. By moving Lowery for a draft pick they have increased ability to take on bad contracts along with Howard. I wonder if they will make another push including this pick and offering to take on more dead weight.

Only via sign and trade with players that were previously on their team. They couldn't offer him a max contract on the free agent market. That is why they are pushing so hard because eventually they will need to re-sign those guys for themselves or another team is going to move in and sign them making it nearly impossible for the Nets to acquire Howard in the future without including one of their current core guys like Wallace or Johnson, which Hennigan would never do. They are going to pay luxury tax but it is still possible for them to acquire Howard.

Isn't this whole thing completely contingent on Lopez AND Humphries agreeing to the deal? I'm thinking both could get longer deals for more money if they hold out. Why would either agree to 3 year contracts where only the first year is guaranteed. Look at what Hibbert and Asik were able to get. Lopez and Humphries have to be salivating after seeing those deals. I just can't see them playing along and I can't see Hennigan signing them for anything but those type of deals.

I agree with you if we were only planning to use the draft to pick players. But, historically, the draft has been a great place to make veteran trades. Our team needs major changes to convince Howard to re-sign. It would be a shame to miss an opportunity to change the roster for the better because a general manager was not in place. There appears to be a lot of chatter regarding some veterans with substantial talent that could be changing addresses. Draft picks can help with theses types of deals. What happens if a team takes a player we were high on. Will anyone have the authority to try to trade for that player or purchase additional picks. I really hope someone is in place before next week.

Yeah, that is not good at all.

I'm not suggesting he is that bad. But he did make some dubious moves while leading the Hornets. Here are some of his less stellar moves: -Drafted Hilton Armstrong 12th -Drafted Julian Wright 13th -Overpaid players like Peja Stojakovic and Mo Peterson which essentially handcuffed the team financially Poor drafting and free agency signings are what lead to Chris Paul wanting out. I think Pritchard and others are more qualified.

I really do not want Bower here. I think there are much better options. Read the article in this link and let me know what you think. It seems he has already had issues with a superstar. When he was in New Orleans he and Chris Paul repeatedly clashed and Chris Paul became frustrated with Bower for his lack of ability to improve the team. I think if we hire Bower it will be because he is willing to tow the company line and fall into place behind Martins. It certainly won't be because he is the most qualified and exciting candidate. I would wager that Chris Paul has already informed Howard of his opinion on Bower and, given Howard and Paul's relationship, I'm sure it will carry a lot of weight. I think if Bower is hired it is a sign that Howard will be traded as I can't see him signing on long term. http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2010/07/jeff_bower_and_the_new_orleans.html

Guys, lets not get our hopes up until pen has touched paper. We have learned over the past couple of weeks that Howard's mind changes like the wind. Don't let your hopes get up again. Just wait until there are confirmed reports that the paperwork has been filed. He said these things at 3:00 AM after a tough game. Lets see what happens when he wakes up this morning.

I think a team with Deron Williams (assuming he re-signs), Marshon Brooks, Anthony Morrow, a top five pick in a stacked draft, and Brook Lopez is probably better than the supporting cast we have. Lopez could be moved for a SF.

I really don't want to see Howard leave the team but I am very nervous about New Jersey. Lets say we hang onto Howard beyond the deadline but cannot add a significant piece. In the summer Howard may be able to sign with a team that has Lopez as a trade asset, Deron Williams, Anthony Morrow (who was on Howard's list of players he would like to play with), Marshon Brooks, and a top three pick in the draft. What happens if New Jersey wins the lottery and drafts Anthony Davis. A possible lineup of Williams, Brooks, SF obtained via a Lopez trade, Anthony Davis, and Howard would be formidable for years and years to come. If I were Howard I would sign on and not think twice about it. Someone talk me off the ledge.

I'm with Catman on this one. I watch a lot of Golden State games every year and Monta Ellis is underestimated by many of the folks on this board. He can absolutely get his shot anytime he wants and he plays with energy. Aside from Westbrook, Rose, Wade and maybe one or two others he is one of the best guards as far as driving and finishing at the rim. He can absolutely create offense for himself and for others. We do not have a player like him on the team. His outside shot is dangerous enough so that teams have to respect it. His defense has been picked apart a great deal mostly because Golden State never stressed defense until this year. I'm sure he could grow into our defensive scheme. Look, Redick was able to become a decent defensive player so why could't Ellis. Ellis has much better natural gifts than Redick possesses. Problem is, I don't think we will be able to get him but I would love to see it happen.

I may be wrong and don't have time to double check it but I believe I read that you cannot amnesty a player that you trade for. I think they had to be on your roster as of December. So, this wouldn't work very well.

Maybe I worded my response poorly. I actually do think these talks are legitimate. Otis has to know that something needs to be done. His job likely depends on it. The PR piece is the fact that we are hearing about it in the press. Otis has pulled off some trades that we didn't hear about beforehand. The fact that this one is being mentioned when it is still in the exploratory stages makes me think the Magic are leaking it to lessen the backlash should Howard leave. The can legitimately say that we went after players X, Y and Z. That is why I think there is a PR aspect in all of this. I agree with other posters, I just don't think we have the assets to get a player like Ellis, Rondo, or Nash. We have some nice players but nothing that approaches what you need for those types. I hope I am wrong though.

By all accounts Golden State wants an all-star caliber player. They have dangled Ellis for Rudy Gay and Iguodala in the past. They have already gone on record saying that they would not trade Ellis for Brook Lopez. I really doubt that Kaman is enough to get them to jump. In my opinion this trade talk is nothing but Otis fighting for his job and a PR ploy. If and when Howard leaves management can say we did everything to try to win. We went after the guys Howard wanted. He is a bad guy for leaving. The truth is that we don't have the assets needed to get a player of Ellis, Nash, or Iguodala's talent. I wish we did but we don't.