Pursue ANY unrestricted free agents in 2012???

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I know that we want to patiently build through the draft and keep a lot of cap room, but is there anybody on the near free agent horizon that we ought to think about??

According to Hoopshype, Ersan Ilyasova is set to be unrestricted, and his numbers intrigue me. Yes, I realize we have a PF logjam....

--Just 24 years-old, with a birthday approaching.
--Shooting 45.7% from 3 point range, something we desperately need.
--Averaging 12.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in 27.3 minutes.
--Averaging 1.30 points per shot attempt, something we desperately need. That's 21st in the league among players with qualifying playing time. Higher than Nowitzki, Wade, Bosh, Aldridge, Stoudemire, Granger, Garnett, both Gasols, Duncan, and Kobe.
--Good length for a 6'9" guy, according to draft express. Now listed at 6'10, 235 lbs.
--Making $2.5 million in this final year of his contract.

Is he worth a look if we don't get Anthony Davis, and then draft a perimeter guy??

Any other guys worth pursuing?

Thoughts??

[Black]

If we don't get Davis, and we amnesty Thomas, then maybe.

[dnbman]

I think we need to be very nonchalant during the offseason with signing people.

I'm not opposed to signing a guy if it makes sense and we get a good deal. However, the fire sale that we just had shouldn't be restocked with marginal talent just because we feel the need to get free agents. I'd rather maintain flexibility and try to make a splash later, like the much better summer of '13.

[BETCATS]

I want a young small forward and shooting guards who have potential if we get Davis. If we don't then obviously we will draft one. Henderson is good but he isn't a game changer. More like a 4th option on a team with star 1st and 2nd options. I really like Reggie Williams but if we could get one of these guys I'd be ecstatic.

My wishlist:

1 Jeremy Evans
2 OJ Mayo
3 Nic Batum (restricted)
4 Chase Budinger
5 Landry Fields (since the Knicks will overpay Lin they might not be able to keep him)
6 Travis Leslie (who hasnt got much of a chance on the Clippers and might be a Mullens-esque steal)
7 Nick Young
8 Sam Young
9 Gerald Green
10 Donte Greene

[ziggy]

I'd love to have Mayo, buy i don't think that he will sign cheap.

[Black]

I'd love Gerald Green. Always liked him, just entered the league way too young. It looks like he's starting to develop a pro game this year.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Poor Harrison Barnes now continually being referred to as a "fourth option". I thought they stopped counting "options" after about 3 or so.......

Darn it, Harrison. I believe in you man!! With hard work you can be a THIRD option, Dude. Don't listen to the naysayers.......

[GoBobs]

I don't think it would be smart based on where we are as a team

[WAM9]

I saw someone say it in another thread and I agree...I would rather have Hendo than Mayo.

[Scottley Crue]

I think we need to be very nonchalant during the offseason with signing people.

I'm not opposed to signing a guy if it makes sense and we get a good deal. However, the fire sale that we just had shouldn't be restocked with marginal talent just because we feel the need to get free agents. I'd rather maintain flexibility and try to make a splash later, like the much better summer of '13.

I agree, flexibility is far more important that breaking the bank for a player (or players) that don't deserve that type of money. See the Detroit Pistions with Gordon & Villenueva. With that, these are some guys that intrigue me and make me think they might be nice pieces of a winning team. They probably are able to be had at a decent, respectable price:

Kirk Hinrich
AJ Price
Jannero Pargo
Ronnie Price
CJ Miles
Jodie Meeks
Carl Landry (try one more time to sign him)
Ian Mahinmi
Spencer Hawes (may want too much for the role he'd have, but he might be a nice backup center)

Those were the unrestriced guys. Of the restricted guys, I definitely want Batum, but that may not work out so well. Of course, perhaps the Blazers really want DJ Augustin and Cho could possibly make an offer that makes them decide between Batum and DJ. Of course, Portland needs a GM first so I'm probably putting the cart before the horse there. I'd also like to see Robin Lopez back up Biz. Robin's restricted, but I wonder what it'd take to pry him away.

[mrtarheel]

I like Budinger and Lee from the Rockets. Budinger will be replaced by Parsons' next yr so he can be had for cheap. He is on a small salary that he can opt out of maybe giving him a deal around 1.5mil for 3 yrs. Lee has a small salary also maybe he will take a 3mil 3yr deal. He would be a great option behind Hendo or maybe even push Hendo to the max. Another name not being an unrestricted player but is not happy in GSW I would trade for is Dorell Wright. I would go after Goran Drajic for pg as he can also be a starter. Being that DJ might not come back trade him to Sac in a sign and trade for Thompson and The Jimmer. New line up as follows

Drajic, Kemba, Jimmer
Hendo, Lee, Williams
Wright, Budinger, (2nd Round Pic)
TT, Jamison, (Anthony Davis)
Biz, Thompson, Mullens

Trade either Mags or Diop and amnesty the other. Randy Fore wouldn't be a bad option either

[TheBeagle]

I think we need to be very nonchalant during the offseason with signing people.

I'm not opposed to signing a guy if it makes sense and we get a good deal. However, the fire sale that we just had shouldn't be restocked with marginal talent just because we feel the need to get free agents. I'd rather maintain flexibility and try to make a splash later, like the much better summer of '13. Yup. Only sign for value; if not, then this season of misery was for nothing (unless we land Davis, of course, which we won't, of course).

[JGib23]

The only player that I'm really interested is Dragic. I think he's has bright future but, someone will overpay.

Other than him, I hope we take some shots at low risk high reward players and try to find a diamond in the rough. I.e. Lin, Gerald Green, Terrance Williams, Danny Green.

I mean think how much quicker our rebuild would be, had we cut bait and dropped Carroll, Higgins, and Najera and took a chance on a few of the above names.

[QC Thundercats]

The only player that I'm really interested is Dragic. I think he's has bright future but, someone will overpay.

Other than him, I hope we take some shots at low risk high reward players and try to find a diamond in the rough. I.e. Lin, Gerald Green, Terrance Williams, Danny Green.

I mean think how much quicker our rebuild would be, had we cut bait and dropped Carroll, Higgins, and Najera and took a chance on a few of the above names.

The thing is, we easily could've gotten some of those players this year. I know the mantra was tank at all costs, but Gerald Green was in the D-league all year for the taking. Then Terrance Williams was put on waivers, which we would've had first crack at. Also, wasn't JJ Hickson waived and available for us to claim? Even Lester Hudson was there to be signed.

We could've taken a flyer on any of these and see if they were worth keeping for the future - can you envision Green and Hendo on the wings? I don't think any would've put us in danger of surpassing Washington in the standings. I still trust Cho, but man, skipping out on these guys and then signing Jamario Moon? Has he even hit the rim this season??

[JGib23]

The thing is, we easily could've gotten some of those players this year. I know the mantra was tank at all costs, but Gerald Green was in the D-league all year for the taking. Then Terrance Williams was put on waivers, which we would've had first crack at. Also, wasn't JJ Hickson waived and available for us to claim? Even Lester Hudson was there to be signed.

We could've taken a flyer on any of these and see if they were worth keeping for the future - can you envision Green and Hendo on the wings? I don't think any would've put us in danger of surpassing Washington in the standings. I still trust Cho, but man, skipping out on these guys and then signing Jamario Moon? Has he even hit the rim this season??


Exactly, and ironically my favorite MJ quote is the following.

"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying"

[Plowright]

Hawes is a starter for a play off team so no way he would come and sit on the bench for us. I think we will really struggle to attract FA right now, player know were tanking, they know how bad we are. Why would they come here? For Money? Well were not going to be throwing a lot of money around. Expect us to go after people who have under achieved where they have been and need a chance to show what they can do. That is all a bottom feeder like us is good for reallly. Aka Derrick Brown

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

i'd look at Batum, Miller, Gerald Green, Budinger, Carl Landry in that order, I hope we get one of them but I wouldn't mind if we kept the roster spots open until trade deadline just in case.
Oh and maybe Johnny Flynn

[dnbman]

The thing is, we easily could've gotten some of those players this year. I know the mantra was tank at all costs, but Gerald Green was in the D-league all year for the taking. Then Terrance Williams was put on waivers, which we would've had first crack at. Also, wasn't JJ Hickson waived and available for us to claim? Even Lester Hudson was there to be signed.

We could've taken a flyer on any of these and see if they were worth keeping for the future - can you envision Green and Hendo on the wings? I don't think any would've put us in danger of surpassing Washington in the standings. I still trust Cho, but man, skipping out on these guys and then signing Jamario Moon? Has he even hit the rim this season??

I don't think not picking up those guys had anything to do with sticking to tanking. My guess is that either mgmt saw something they didn't like about each of those guys (Green's been floating around a while. Apparently most teams share that negative sentiment) or there was more to signing them in terms of money than they wanted to deal with. I think we were out a full roster for most of the season. Brown and Higgins are the only guys I see that don't have multimillion dollar contracts we'd have to pay to cut them to make room. I'd rather have Brown for pennies than any of those guys, save maybe Green. (And I'm curious what Green's future will be.) So that means they make the decision to cut Higgins for a guy that may not contribute much while we're thin at point guard.

I definitely understand about trying to dig for gems given how little we have to lose. However, I'm not judging too much, as we already are doing a lot of youth development and, other than Gerald Green, it probably didn't make much sense to spend money on D-league guys.

[QC Thundercats]

I don't think not picking up those guys had anything to do with sticking to tanking. My guess is that either mgmt saw something they didn't like about each of those guys (Green's been floating around a while. Apparently most teams share that negative sentiment) or there was more to signing them in terms of money than they wanted to deal with. I think we were out a full roster for most of the season. Brown and Higgins are the only guys I see that don't have multimillion dollar contracts we'd have to pay to cut them to make room. I'd rather have Brown for pennies than any of those guys, save maybe Green. (And I'm curious what Green's future will be.) So that means they make the decision to cut Higgins for a guy that may not contribute much while we're thin at point guard.

I definitely understand about trying to dig for gems given how little we have to lose. However, I'm not judging too much, as we already are doing a lot of youth development and, other than Gerald Green, it probably didn't make much sense to spend money on D-league guys.

I'd almost agree, except the Moon signing threw me completely off, which showed they weren't against picking anybody else up, and it also meant somebody was looking at the D-league and should've seen these other options. And I don't think we were locked into our roster and couldn't make those moves.

Diaw was bought out March 21st and could've been as early as March 15, so many of those moves could've been made for that roster spot. For a straight PF/PF swap, J.J. Hickson was claimed on March 21st by Portland, and he would've been a HUGE upgrade over Diaw, Tyrus, and D.J. White. He's currently averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds per game, is athletic as hell, has all the potential, and at 23, fits into our young, cheap core to grow with. I don't see how you don't take a flier on someone like that unless you don't want to risk winning this year.

As for the Higgins thing, yes, he is the only other "guard" that can "handle" the ball (i'll never call him a PG) right now, but Lester Hudson is a way more explosive and capable guard. He wasn't picked up til March 30th, and could've been a versatile, aggressive big guard to put next to Kemba for offense, and a much better backup than Higgins could ever dream of being. Also, Terrence Williams wasn't picked up until March 21st, and he's a great ball handler who very easily could've been our backup PG in a pinch. And like Hickson, is athletic as hell, tons of potential still, aggressive, and a young piece thats better than our other young pieces.

Gerald Green was picked up in February, but he was putting up crazy numbers, and I was hoping we'd take a chance on him all year. Najera or Higgins could've been easily waived to make a spot, and at the time, Augustin and Reggie Williams were more capable than Higgins in being a backup PG.

So logically, the only reason not to make these moves to me was tanking, and even then, I don't think it would've hurt our lottery chances by picking up at least one. I do wonder what a Kemba, Hendo, Green, Hickson, Biyombo lineup would've looked like, with Hudson or Terrence Williams, Mullens, and Derrick Brown being the main backups. Most athletic young core in the league, and there would be many less holes to fill and/or more options for moves in the upcoming years.

.....oh well.

[Plowright]

I wanted Hickson and T-Will. I really did, the fact that they are doing so well now just annoys me that we missed the boat. I am sorry, but even if we had signed both Hickson and T Will I dont see that stopping us from being the worst in the league. Jamario Moon is an absolute scrub, he air balled his first 2 shots. He is not even young with potential. I think we brought him in as we knew him from pre season and didnt want our young guys playing quite so many minutes. I remember they said they had a view to signing moon next year... If that happens im going to lose it!

[SWedd523]

This thread has gone a long way to show me that a lot of you guys have no clue how the salary cap and general money aspect of the league work

[Plowright]

How many fans do Swedd? Salary cap, Biannual mid exception level etc all those things are difficult to understand and unfortunately I totally respect that some people just don't have the time to sit down and study it until they get it. Hell, some probably dont even want to as they find it boring and just like watching basketball. Either way, it doesn't really matter if people understand it in my eyes.

[Katmandu]

Yes, I realize we have a PF logjam....
It's truer to say that we have a logjam of back-up power forwards and no starter. That said, I'd like to see who we draft before we sign any others.

[SWedd523]

How many fans do Swedd? Salary cap, Biannual mid exception level etc all those things are difficult to understand and unfortunately I totally respect that some people just don't have the time to sit down and study it until they get it. Hell, some probably dont even want to as they find it boring and just like watching basketball. Either way, it doesn't really matter if people understand it in my eyes.

I'll just say that it was impossible to claim either Terrence Williams or JJ Hickson off waivers. Either player would have put us over the salary cap. The only chance we have (had) to get a player is to sign them for the minimum or on 10 day contracts.

There is also no way of saying we didn't offer d league players 10 day contracts and were turned down for a better opportunity.

And I guarantee you not a single person on this site was saying: "I want Gerald Green" until after he played well for the Nets. Revisionist history if I've ever seen it.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

How many fans do Swedd? Salary cap, Biannual mid exception level etc all those things are difficult to understand and unfortunately I totally respect that some people just don't have the time to sit down and study it until they get it. Hell, some probably dont even want to as they find it boring and just like watching basketball. Either way, it doesn't really matter if people understand it in my eyes.

Before the internet, I don't remember any fans who had a clue how the salary cap worked.

Now you have a few fans out there who to seem to get it, and I'm glad they are here to enlighten us. At the same time, I'm kinda glad not everyone understands it, like you say.

[Plowright]

I'll just say that it was impossible to claim either Terrence Williams or JJ Hickson off waivers. Either player would have put us over the salary cap. The only chance we have (had) to get a player is to sign them for the minimum or on 10 day contracts.

There is also no way of saying we didn't offer d league players 10 day contracts and were turned down for a better opportunity.

And I guarantee you not a single person on this site was saying: "I want Gerald Green" until after he played well for the Nets. Revisionist history if I've ever seen it.

I never said about Gerald Green so not sure where thats coming from :/ anyway... T-will we could have got on a 10 days contract and Rick Bonnell emailed me back saying dont be silly he is a bust and headcase. I never said we could have claimed Hickson off waivers, his contract was way to big. I just think the way you said your last post basically labelled the forum "dumb" which is wrong, they just dont know how the cap system works. The fact that i do shows i have to much time on my hands...

[SWedd523]

Those points weren't specifically directed towards you. But as for Williams, just because we could have offered him a 10-day, that doesn't mean he had to accept it. We don't know if we did offer him or not and he just thought going to Sacramento was a better opportunity.

I didn't intend to label people as "dumb". I just don't think ignorance is a good excuse.

[QC Thundercats]

This thread has gone a long way to show me that a lot of you guys have no clue how the salary cap and general money aspect of the league work

If you were referring to my fantasy post of picking up everyone I wanted, you got me there. I know teams can't claim every prospect they like, and I got carried away with some of my daydreaming.

However...


I'll just say that it was impossible to claim either Terrence Williams or JJ Hickson off waivers. Either player would have put us over the salary cap. The only chance we have (had) to get a player is to sign them for the minimum or on 10 day contracts.

Not impossible at all. Portland was waaaaaaay over the cap at $66M+. Way more than our $57.9M. But how they were able to do this?



A team can claim a waived player only if one of the following is true:


The team is far enough under the salary cap to fit the player's entire salary.
The team has a disabled player exception for at least the player's salary.
The team has a traded player exception for at least the player's salary.
The player's contract is for one or two seasons and he is paid the minimum salary.



Portland was able to claim Hickson based on #3, when they traded Camby to Houston for a $2.68M trade exception, and thus were able to absorb Hickson's $2.35M salary.

As for Charlotte, we couldn't claim him based on cap space as you said, but guess what we have? That's right a $3.5M trade exception they got for Shaun Livingston. So yes, we in fact could have claimed Hickson.

In addition, more cap space was created with the buyout of Diaw, since the agreed-upon buy-out amount is included in the team salary instead of the salary called for in the contract. We don't know what that amount was but lets say even if it was for only $7.5M instead of the full $9M, then the $1.5M savings plus the $3.5M trade exception equals $5M, more than enough room to take Hickson's and Williams' combined cap number of about $4.6M.

So actually, it in fact was possible for us to take both players. Plus, Sacramento is only paying Williams $260,000 for the remainder of the year, so it could have been done for even less money than the above scenario.


There is also no way of saying we didn't offer d league players 10 day contracts and were turned down for a better opportunity.

This is true, but I have a feeling that if you're in the D-League, you just want the opportunity to play in the NBA the first chance you get. I can't see someone saying, "I have to get into the league, its my dream to get there, but uh, I'm not sure on this team, I'll just wait for another team to maybe give me a shot down the road." Except another team is not guaranteed, you need to jump in when you can. And seeing how Hudson and Green were available all the way until the end of February and March, an offer could've come earlier this season by any team.

Even though 29 other teams also failed to sign either one for whatever reason, a team lacking in talent such as ours could've made an offer and practically guaranteed the most playing time out of all teams involved for them to showcase their talents. We either failed to offer or were way to slow to act.


And I guarantee you not a single person on this site was saying: "I want Gerald Green" until after he played well for the Nets. Revisionist history if I've ever seen it.

Overbroad statements like this always bother me. Here is where your guarantee is wrong, no revisionist history on my part. I took notice of him when he started dropping 25-30 points regularly in January and February, and was hoping that we would call him up and give him a shot. If some people didn't notice him until he was on the Nets, thats on them, but me and I'm sure a few others definitely took notice. I just never really posted regularly until now, as this is the only place where I can discuss the team with people who actually know and care about them.

No worries though, I just don't really like it when people assume too much about what other people know.

[SWedd523]

That was exactly the type of post I was looking for! +1 to you for that and for putting me in my place on the rules behind claiming players.


As for the 10 day contract thing. I was using the example of getting two offers from two teams at around the same time. I'm sure Williams got a number of offers once he cleared waivers and was able to choose for himself.

As for Green. I don't believe you. Not until you show me an actual post :)

[BETCATS]

There is also no way of saying we didn't offer d league players 10 day contracts and were turned down for a better opportunity.

And I guarantee you not a single person on this site was saying: "I want Gerald Green" until after he played well for the Nets. Revisionist history if I've ever seen it.
This.
I know I didn't, but I have him on my list for people I'd like here next year. He is basically a more efficient UPS.

[QC Thundercats]

That was exactly the type of post I was looking for! +1 to you for that and for putting me in my place on the rules behind claiming players.


As for the 10 day contract thing. I was using the example of getting two offers from two teams at around the same time. I'm sure Williams got a number of offers once he cleared waivers and was able to choose for himself.

Yeah, theres no way of telling what exactly happened and what the front office's plans were - for all I know, they considered exactly everything we've thought of and had a different long term idea. Its just I wish they would've taken a chance on at least one of them to add potential, and also so that we don't take ownership of the infamous title of "Worst Team Ever In All of NBA History."


As for Green. I don't believe you. Not until you show me an actual post :)

Ahh, got me there.
http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/oscars-actor-training-day-05-ss-300x300.jpg
"Its not what you know, its what you can prove"

I've got no kind of evidence. I just have this:

http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/0903/all-i-have-in-this-world-is-my-balls-and-my-word-tony-montan-demotivational-poster-1236731440.jpg

[SWedd523]

i wish they'd have gone after both of them too. I just get a little antsy when I see people complain when they really had no idea those players were going to pan out so well.

Nobody knew Lin would "take over the world". Nobody knew Green would actually look like an NBA player. etc. It's just so easy to say I told you so that it gets hard to believe people when they actually did tell you so

[cltblkhscoach]

When I started the 10-Day contracts thread a couple of weeks back no one thought we should have brought these guys in....this was the exact reasoning behind my wanting to do so - why the hell not? lol....