Who do you take, gun to head, to make this team better long term?

[JohnnyTimmons]

If you were in charge of the cats, and you had a gun to your head, and were forced to pick from the following players to make this team better as quickly as possible and for a long time, who would you take?
Factor in salary, projected future salary, positions of need, everything but (They wouldn't come here we suck, or no way they would leave their team)

Josh Smith
Rudy Gay
Michael Beasley
Harden

I would probably go in that order who I would want.

Is there anyone you would want more, outside the obvious Durants, Lebrons, etc?

[Black]

Beasley.

Plays a position of need, can score, and isn't going to get a huge pay day. I'll take the risk of his off the court issues for the money he is going to get. Plus he is the most likely acquisition that wouldn't cost us our pick .

It's not even close for me.

-Gay is solid, but way overpaid, and we would likely lose our pick.
-Harden is going to get a huge pay day, and hasn't proved he can be a go to guy. Potentially the best of the bunch, but not a sure thing. Again, would cost us our pick.
-Smith would be my second choice, but he will get a big pay day, and the combination of Robinson and Beasley is more attractive to me than Smith and MKG/Beal/Barnes, and that's assuming we are able to keep the pick.

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

Beasley, cheaper + fills a need.

[CableBoxCat]

Got to go with Beasley too!

[dnbman]

Harden. Gay if his contract wasn't so massive.

I wouldn't want any of those guys to be the cornerstone of my franchise.

[isguros]

Smith, I don't disagree on what you're saying, but I think Smith is a better leader, and a better fit.

[bes628]

Harden, even without the gun.

[Chef]

kyrie irving
kevin love
james harden
demarcus cousins

[ammofan]

kyrie irving
kevin love
james harden
demarcus cousins

Kevin Love>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Everyone else on that list

But on the first list, I'd say Harden but IDK what we'd have to give up. If it's too much for Harden then Beasley.

[Chef]

Kevin Love>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Everyone else on that list

But on the first list, I'd say Harden but IDK what we'd have to give up. If it's too much for Harden then Beasley.

it's a point guard's league and by next year irving may be a top 5 pg. i can find other players to give 3/4 of the production of love. but either way, you can't go wrong with either.

[Toocool]

Beasley. Not sold on Harden to be the go-to-guy. See: Rudy Gay.
Beasley, with Dunlap could be something special. When he played a lot of minutes, he almost scored 20 ppg last season (season before this one to be accurate). He can score.

So my pick, Beasley.

[fallen xxi]

I know Smith is gonna get a big contract...but if we give them #2 and Tyrus for their 1st and Smith...idk...I might be ok with that.

Also, Beasley is a headcase and doesn't play defense...he's a pure scorer like Melo and also has some injury problems. Not sure I want him here...

[bes628]

just wait one damn minute...people are sold on Beasley but not Harden ? Im confused as hell on that.

[Toocool]

just wait one damn minute...people are sold on Beasley but not Harden ? Im confused as hell on that.

What's there to be confused about? Beasley was one of the primary scoring options (No.1/2 option, up to you whether you want to say Love was the primary scoring option). He proved that he could be the go-to guy in that season (10-11) with the best wing defender on him. Harden? The best defensive player will go to Durant on every night, no doubt about it. Means Harden has a more reign and space to dominate freely. Put that best defensive player on Harden every night, and can he carry a team? Perhaps, but I would go with the proven scorer in Beasley.

Don't think there's anything to be confused about there mate.

[SWedd523]

Beasley is a complete bum.

[Black]

Beasley is a complete bum.

A bum who won't command more than eight million a year, and can average twenty a game for a team that can't score.

[Dcarnys]

Beasly or Harden. If I'm feeling lucky Harden. Play it safe Beasly.

[bes628]

Im sorry I thought we were looking for potential star...not somebody who has already underachieved.

[Black]

Im sorry I thought we were looking for potential star...not somebody who has already underachieved.

Consider the fact that if we signed Beasley, we would still have our pick, but if we traded for Harden, we wouldn't

Would you rather have Beasley at five years/40 million and Thomas Robinson or Harden at five years/75 million and no pick this year?

[isguros]

What's there to be confused about? Beasley was one of the primary scoring options (No.1/2 option, up to you whether you want to say Love was the primary scoring option). He proved that he could be the go-to guy in that season (10-11) with the best wing defender on him.

So that's the source of their big succes and their deep play-off runs the past couple of years.

[TheBeagle]

On the list given by OP, Harden....easily, no gun needed.

[Toocool]

Im sorry I thought we were looking for potential star...not somebody who has already underachieved.

Just because he's underachieved doesn't mean he can't turn it around. He's 23, with added maturity he could be something better. Beasley is a potential star, don't understand what you're trying to get at there. Dominated in college, has the potential to dominate in the NBA.


So that's the source of their big succes and their deep play-off runs the past couple of years.

Pfft. Please. Actually use a proper rebuttal instead of some stupid sarcastic response. Our board will be better off with you using your brain and actually generating some discussion instead of you trying to flare up people with your lameass sarcastic responses.

[bes628]

Just because he's underachieved doesn't mean he can't turn it around. He's 23, with added maturity he could be something better. Beasley is a potential star, don't understand what you're trying to get at there. Dominated in college, has the potential to dominate in the NBA.



Sure he can turn it around, but the safer bet is on Harden to be a star before Beasley ever gets there.

[SWedd523]

Considering a ban for toocool just for thinking Beasley has superstar potential.

[Hormel]

I'd want Harden

I'm willing to bet that Beasly is on Cho's "no-bobcat" list

[isguros]

I was trying to say that the Timberwolves have an all-star and one of the best rebounders in the league in Kevin Love, the most hyped about Rookie since Lebron James (Ricky Rubio), and two second picks: Beasley and Williams (three if you count Milicic, but who does?), but they are still a mediocre team. I'm sure Beasley is a good player though, but considering the team's record and his role on his team I'm not convinced he's a better player than the other three.

[Toocool]

Considering a ban for toocool just for thinking Beasley has superstar potential.

Not if I ban you first

[dnbman]

Not if I ban you first

fight.

fight.

FIGHT.

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT FIGHT!

[Bucko]

Of the original 4, I'd take Beasley just because we'd get off cheapest getting him. I don't think he'd really do much for us long term, but he would cost less than everyone else which would let us do more elsewhere to get better.

[Scrapper1]

Why are we talking about Beasley like he's on the verge of becoming Carmelo Anthony? Wow @ potential superstar.. he has been in the league since 08, is he even still qualified to have those words attached to him?lol. Beasley is at his ceiling, but he is a decent and reasonably priced piece to add to a roster... or use for trade bait.

[WAM9]

In Cho's rating system, I would rate Beasley a "starter" at best and in the lower end of that scale also.

I just don't see any star potential in him at this point at all.

[Black]

In Cho's rating system, I would rate Beasley a "starter" at best and in the lower end of that scale also.

I just don't see any star potential in him at this point at all.

He would still be the best offensive player on our team the second he stepped on the floor.

[dnbman]

He would still be the best offensive player on our team the second he stepped on the floor.

I'm not sure he'd be much better than Maggette, and we're looking at him as a throw away player.

If the guy was dirt cheap, I'd take him, but I wouldn't want to make any kind of significant investment in Beasley.

[bes628]

He would still be the best offensive player on our team the second he stepped on the floor.

Thats true, but also not saying much since we have the offensive prowess of a 5 year old.

[Mustachio]

Who do you take, gun to head

Josh Smith
Rudy Gay
Michael Beasley
Harden



The bullet. Not sold on any of those guys for the money/production and ability to make a championship difference.

[WAM9]

The bullet. Not sold on any of those guys for the money/production and ability to make a championship difference.


Agree.

Josh Smith is the only one that gives me pause but his contract is that of a franchise player which he is not.

[Hugo]

I live in ATL and had Hawks season tickets last year.

There is not a more frusterating player than Josh Smith. There is NO WAY I would take him. Still immature, low BBall IQ, poor (insistant) jumpshooter. He is an athlete, but his speed and Verticality will begin to fade over the next couple seasons. STAY AWAY!

I would go Harden. Just because he had a poor finals doesn't mean he can't be a star. I would love to trade #2 for Harden (if we knew we could resign him).

[GoBobs]

The only guy on that list worth considering is Harden, and we couldn't get him anyway. If we are thinking long term, I would rather us save our money for the guys we draft.

Josh Smith is to old, that would just be Gerald Wallace lite. Beasly can't be counted on and he really isn't that good. Rudy Gay is not tough and that won't get it done in playoff basketball.

[teej]

The Lakers wouldn't take Beasley for basically nothing at the deadline. And Lord knows they could use an athletic, scoring wing.

Gay and Smith are paid what Rondo should be paid, and they should be paid what Gerald Wallace is.

Harden is going to plummet in value, which means Presti will hold onto him until his value rises or he re-signs cheaply.

So I'll take the chance that your gun is loaded, but pray it has as much firepower as Gana Diop's J.

[spectre]

I mentioned the guy a while back but ESPN has tossed in another vet candidate for the 2...Al Horford.

[cltblkhscoach]

His injury history would scare me off, if it wasn't for that I might listen, depending on his contract situation. We'd have to get their pick back too obviously.

[spectre]

His injury history would scare me off, if it wasn't for that I might listen, depending on his contract situation. We'd have to get their pick back too obviously.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/horfoal01.html

He doesn't really have an injury history.

81
67
81
77
11

Salary is showing flat at 12 million per year/next 4 years per Hoopshype.

[Black]

And it's not a leg injury, which scares me a lot less, but I still don't love that trade.

[isguros]

Agree.

Josh Smith is the only one that gives me pause but his contract is that of a franchise player which he is not.

Do you mean a franchise player in Cho's new list? Cause otherwise I think he IS a franchise player. just take a look at what he did this year; he led his team in points, rebounds, blocks and free trows, and carried them to the play-offs, they even got home court advantage (they did, right?), and his team did that without their all-star center.

[spectre]

To be sure Cho's database has a red flag subroutine for knuckleheads.

It's probably right there beside Tyrus' name too.

[SirBobcat]

what kind of damn terrorist would come up to you, put a gun to your head, and told you PICK ONE OF THESE PLAYERS OR YOU DIE!?

[WAM9]

Do you mean a franchise player in Cho's new list? Cause otherwise I think he IS a franchise player. just take a look at what he did this year; he led his team in points, rebounds, blocks and free trows, and carried them to the play-offs, they even got home court advantage (they did, right?), and his team did that without their all-star center.

No. I wasn't talking about Cho's list. I was talking in general.

My personal opinion of a franchise player is a guy who can be your franchise cornerstone (both on and off the court), the best player on your team AND a player that you can build a team around which is good enough to win a championship with them as your primary piece.

I think Josh Smith falls short in a couple of those categories. At the end of the day, I can't see any team winning a championship with him as their go to guy. I see him as more of a 2nd or more likely a 3rd option on a championship caliber club.

[cltblkhscoach]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/horfoal01.html

He doesn't really have an injury history.

81
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Salary is showing flat at 12 million per year/next 4 years per Hoopshype.

Thanks for the reference. He would go well with Bismack on both sides of the court, they pick around #20 don't they? 12 million.....this is a tough call. I'd have to look at their roster and see if they'd throw in anything else - maybe that Ivan Johnson guy that killed us last year too.

[spectre]

I'd lean towards doing it. Horford has already been an all star and he just turned 26. From what I've read he's what we would hope Robinson would ultimately be.

I don't know if we could get any extras...maybe their pick but I could see ATL balking at that. From what I've read there are numerous teams wanting to move up so who knows what Cho can ultimately get us.

[WAM9]

I'd lean towards doing it. Horford has already been an all star and he just turned 26. From what I've read he's what we would hope Robinson would ultimately be.

I don't know if we could get any extras...maybe their pick but I could see ATL balking at that. From what I've read there are numerous teams wanting to move up so who knows what Cho can ultimately get us.

Wow. I want Robinson but Horford and an early 20's pick would make me have to think long and hard about it. That might just be too much talent to pass up.

[Black]

Horford is definitely intriguing. It would be nice to find a way to dump Tyrus on them, but that's not likely.

#2
Diop

for

#23
Horford

[spectre]

Wow. I want Robinson but Horford and an early 20's pick would make me have to think long and hard about it. That might just be too much talent to pass up.

Now to play devil's advocate lol!

Over those 4 years Horford - 48 million, Robinson - 20 million +/-. At the end of those 4 years Horford will be 30 and Robinson would be 26. Robinson might never reach Horford as a ceiling, but I don't think anyone will deny that he has some talents and there's a good possibility Dunlap (yay we have a teacher!) will get a lot more out of him. We're not going to be breaking the 1st round barrier at best til 2 years and likely 3 or 4. I doubt Jordan is willing to get back to the cap limit so quickly after blowing this up and we're already set with Dunlap to "build" vs going the route we were previously trying (and failing).

Talked myself out of it.

[Black]

Now to play devil's advocate lol!

Over those 4 years Horford - 48 million, Robinson - 20 million +/-. At the end of those 4 years Horford will be 30 and Robinson would be 26. Robinson might never reach Horford as a ceiling, but I don't think anyone will deny that he has some talents and there's a good possibility Dunlap (yay we have a teacher!) will get a lot more out of him. We're not going to be breaking the 1st round barrier at best til 2 years and likely 3 or 4. I doubt Jordan is willing to get back to the cap limit so quickly after blowing this up and we're already set with Dunlap to "build" vs going the route we were previously trying (and failing).

Talked myself out of it.

And talked me out of it in the process. Robinson and Horford are in the same mold, and youth wins.

[Felton for Prez]

Thorpe threw out a few scenarios including us taking Smith bad contract or even including Biz. I love Horford and while I'd be tempted to to a straight up for #2, it short circuits "the plan". It really sucks when the "the plan" is stink until you get lucky and draft a superstar, but it is what it is.

[WAM9]

Now to play devil's advocate lol!

Over those 4 years Horford - 48 million, Robinson - 20 million +/-. At the end of those 4 years Horford will be 30 and Robinson would be 26. Robinson might never reach Horford as a ceiling, but I don't think anyone will deny that he has some talents and there's a good possibility Dunlap (yay we have a teacher!) will get a lot more out of him. We're not going to be breaking the 1st round barrier at best til 2 years and likely 3 or 4. I doubt Jordan is willing to get back to the cap limit so quickly after blowing this up and we're already set with Dunlap to "build" vs going the route we were previously trying (and failing).

Talked myself out of it.

Me too. The salary is just too much for a Horford type ceiling. I too would like to take my chances with the unknown quantity of Robinson.

[dnbman]

Thorpe threw out a few scenarios including us taking Smith bad contract or even including Biz. I love Horford and while I'd be tempted to to a straight up for #2, it short circuits "the plan". It really sucks when the "the plan" is stink until you get lucky and draft a superstar, but it is what it is.

I wouldn't say it's "stink until you get lucky and draft a superstar." Boston acquired a bunch of young guys and then traded them for Allen and KG. Acquiring young assets doesn't mean just keep going until you land a Durant; you can use those players as trade pieces for the right player.

What you don't do is take any old veteran, especially with a large contract, just to say that you have a good basketball player on your team.

[Ghost Kat]

"Who do you take, gun to head, to make this team better long term"

The bullet...