Real Tough Question

[ohara831]

OK guys. As of tonight's win, we will either be 3 games our of 8th or 2 and 1/2 games out. We also know we have a hellish final month or two with mostly road games. Do we:

a. Make some move to add someone we need who can put us over the top and into real contention, perhaps by trading someone good for someone who can actually help MORE; or by signing someone as a FA since I think we have a spot open?

b. Hold firm and see where it takes us.

I really dont kow yet which way this is going to go. When we hit that tough road streak at the end, even if we are in 7th or 8th spot at the time, I am not sure we can hold that position as the team is now constituted. We are weak defensively on the inside. I mean real weak, and we all know that is true. Every team with a decent Center kills us inside. We were lucky tonight b/c Miller was out for Memphis. They lost their starting SG and pretty much were undermanned all night. But Gasol still whipped us inside. **With our main scoring coming from J-Rich and Wallace, would you consider trading Okafor for someone who can be even more of a Defensive presence inside? I am not sure who that is, but right now, he is just not providing enough Defense inside, and neither is Nazr. Again, it is only a question, as I am trying to figure out IF there is something we can do to be a little better Defensively to give us a real shot at securing a Playoff spot this year.

Be honest. If you want to hold as is, I understand and respect that view. I just think that doing so will mean we will be in contention until the last month, and then fade with all the road games. That would break our hearts to be there in the running until the end and fade. We have the scorers needed to win, we just need to get better defensively inside. If you want to make a move, who do you move, and for whom? Or, do you simply sign a FA out there right now as we have a spot open? I dont see that helping, b/c if someone out there not employed could help defensively, they would already be playing somewhere.

[wil]

Trade Okafor for a Better and more agile PF defender/low post threat.. Who can start at PF.

Advantage:
Vincent will be forced to start Nazr at C.
GW will be playing SF.
And most of all, IT WILL PUT MCINNIS BACK TO THE BENCH!!!

PS: He played 36 mins tonight btw, with 2 pts on 1-6 fg.. YIKES!

[TheBeagle]

B.

There's no reason to mortgage any future for a quick, temporary fix. Absolutely no more trades, unless they are absolute slam dunks. I think getting Jeff out of the starting lineup and either Nazr or Matt in would do even more wonders for this team. We need an upgrade at PG, but there's just not much out there. I was watching NBATV the other day, and apparently CJ Watson is tearing it up in the NBDL. Since we have an open roster spot, I say why not give him a 10 day and see what he can do? It won't be any worse than Jeff, and I've never been a fan of the Boykins talk that some of y'all have championed.

Caveat:

The only trade I'd make (though it would be categorized as a 'slam dunk') is sending Mek and Jared to NO for Chandler and 1st rounder. I know NO would never go for this, but it would be a significant upgrade on O and D, I think

[davcbow]

There's no reason to mortgage any future for a quick, temporary fix. Absolutely no more trades, unless they are absolute slam dunks.

After the way the guys have been playing as of late, I totally agree.....

I think getting Jeff out of the starting lineup and either Nazr or Matt in would do even more wonders for this team.

Amen to that.....

We need an upgrade at PG, but there's just not much out there.

You'd want to upgrade our great PG?

I was watching NBATV the other day, and apparently CJ Watson is tearing it up in the NBDL. Since we have an open roster spot, I say why not give him a 10 day and see what he can do? It won't be any worse than Jeff, and I've never been a fan of the Boykins talk that some of y'all have championed.

I dont think they would ever do it because what they like about McInnis is his experience in distributing the ball so it frees up Felts. The announcers were talking about that tonight during the Memphis game. I understand the theory but think Felts needs to learn the point this season so he wont be trying to learn it next season.....

The only trade I'd make (though it would be categorized as a 'slam dunk') is sending Mek and Jared to NO for Chandler and 1st rounder. I know NO would never go for this, but it would be a significant upgrade on O and D, I think

If we were going to break the core up this would be the time to do it so we can get it together for next season. As much as Id like to make the playoffs this season it will really be pointless because we wont go that far and gives us less chances for a top pick in the draft. Having said that there isnt no one Id be willing to trade for that that the other team would give up.....

Lets just keep who we have and play some basketball because they are starting to get pretty good......

[spectre]

CJ Watson is playing with GSW on his 2nd 10 day contract. We missed the boat on that one. I've seen a little of him and he's pretty decent.

Speaking of CJ...his blog on DraftExpress:

CJ Watson: the Call-up

Good read, esp. about Nellie not even talking during timeouts.

As Zig posted in the other thread we're 2.5 games back from the 8th spot. I'd keep an ear out because deals can be had right before the deadline, but other than a 10 day to a NBDL PG I'd probably stand pat.

[x2pacalypse]

my question is why wont vincent try felton again at the point? i mean i have a feeling he's learned a lesson...he's been averaging 7-9 assists since mcinnis was brought into the lineup

[ohara831]

I understand what you are saying. But, you are just setting yourselves up for a heartbreak. We are good enough to fight our way into the 7th or 8th spot over the next 6-7 weeks, but there is no question we will fade with the road trip in the final month. We are not strong enough defensively in the middle. Teams with a decent Center and PF crush us nearly every time.

Beagle: Your trade would be very one sided in our favor and you are right that the N.O. Hornets will not do it. Chandler is 2X the player Okafor is, and he is getting better.

I see that my view is going to be in the minority. When the end comes, we will see which path we should have chosen. If we hold onto a Playoff spot, I will happily admit I was wrong. But, I dont see that happening.

I do not advocate selling out the future for a short term fix. However, I do not believe anymore that Okafor is a part of out long term future success. He is getting passed by people left and right which 2 years ago he was much better than but now is worse than. His Defensive presence has diminished greatly and so has his rebounding. Getting animated over ticky tack fouls is the most action we see from him on the floor for 8 out of 10 games. That is why I pushed trying to trade him recently and I still advocate that position. His value is still fairly high because others who do not watch the Bobcats do not see his skills dimished on a nightly basis as we do b/c they are not watching the games. If we hold onto him, we have to deal with the Contract issue next yr, and his trade value will be lower after the rest of the league is able to recap our season.

I feel like we are on a ship that is slowly taking on water and that we know will sink just before reaching port. If I know it, I'd rather do everything to try and find a way to save the ship and get her to port rather than just try to string out the inevitible doom coming. I'd rather fight to the bitter end than go meekly like a lamb to the slaughter. I aint no ones lamb chop.

[Keetch]

Why would anyone seriously want to "free up Felts"? Shooting is not exactly his strength. Driving sometimes. Moving the ball most times. That's what a PG does I think.

How about we "free up" Matt Carroll, Dudley and Nazr instead?

And "lock up" Jeff McInnis.

Also .. O'Hara .. I think we understand that you view Okafor as second-rate. Gotchya. If so, then trade him anytime; now; in two months or next summer. But whatever you do it will not help much for this years playoffs. Highly unlikely you're going to get a better player to take you to a championship at the snap of a finger. More likely you'll screw it up.

I don't think anybody is expecting a long playoff run this year. Just getting there at this point is goal number 1...and that is looking like it could be a very fun ride.

I'm all for winning; that's why they play ball (actually its not; ask any Owner and if they're sincere they'll tell you its not about winning, its about entertainment and sales). Right now the entertainment value is going through the roof and winning is of course a big part of it. Right now Okafor for me is a HUGE part of that entertainment package and I'd be pretty p-o'd if they gave him away. Same for Felton.

We'd be very hard-pressed to replace his defensive presence in the paint. We need to reinforce that with a second PF presence beside him; not toss it away and go around groping for a replacement. Bad-ass blocking Centers are not easy to find in the NBA; and when you've got one, you should value it.

[ohara831]

We'd be very hard-pressed to replace his defensive presence in the paint. We need to reinforce that with a second PF presence beside him; not toss it away and go around groping for a replacement. Bad-ass blocking Centers are not easy to find in the NBA; and when you've got one, you should value it.

__________________________________________________ ___

But Keetch, your statement presupposes we have a bad-ass blocking Center. We dont. Nazr is just as adequate at Defense and offense as Emeka. Look at their numbers. Emeka plays 8 minutes more per game, and averages less than 2 pts and 2 rebounds more. He does avg about a block more. And one is signed for $6 mil and the other turned down $13 mil. I'd rather get a good PF from someone OR a very high draft pick and we then play Dudley as a starter. He shows a fire in him that I have not seen from Okafor in some time. I am watching the games like everyone else, and Okafor is not being the defensive presence he has been in the past, and certainly not the offensive. He was a great Rookie of the Year, but has pretty much failed to advance from that stage forward. Sometimes he plays a heck of a game, but getting that game from him once every 10-12 games is not worthy of being a starter.

[dav7z]

P J Brown could be a great short term solution . Experiance , defence and a nice mid range jumper.
He wouldn't hurt us next year either . Just a good pick up to help us get to the play offs .