Okay, here was my list:
Big Names
1) Pau Gasol -- one of the best and has inside/outside game and passing to fit our fascination with such, but softish and expensive. Does not rebound, difference maker?
2) Jermaine O'Neal -- Not 100% clear he is still onthe market with the Pacers somewhat revived, but he probably is. Was overrated at his peak, but still formerly an All Star 20-10 type guy with major defense. Not that old either, but has a lot of mileage and injury problems. Huge salary, rebounding is not what it was, and cannot be paired with Artest (or traded for him -- would have to be us making multiple deals).
3) Zach Randolph -- still a 20-10 guy I'm sure, but how many years of bad teams does he have to be on before you really question if he makes you any better?
4) Eddie Curry -- its hard to tell with Zeke, who just talks like a complete nut anymore, whether he will mve one, the other, or both of Randolph/Curry. Post presence obviously. BUt damn if that isn't the only thing he gives you. And I do mean the only thing. Just a soft, lazy bum of a player, and he;s a post guy the way Reef is a post guy nowadays -- sure he scores, but you have to stop your offense to get him his points, and he makes nobody any better and doesn't do anything else.
5) Amare? Marion? -- there have been rumors about these two obviously, although I remain sceptical they will be moved midseason in a year when the Suns again are atop the West seemingly with a shot to get to the Finals. Seems more like a give them one last shot type situation. Anyway, Amare is young + the guy, but he's also maybe selfish, arrogant, and a poor rebounder/defender. Still, such a talent you take ti and worry about the rst later. Marion is not so young, and is still a SF in a normal system, but does it all.
6) Brand? -- I might just be making this one up. But can they/will they actually stick with what they have down there after a return to their failing ways? Even if he did become availabel, not as young as he once was, undersized, comng off major injury...scary stuff.
Recent Lottery picks
1) Tyrus Thomas/Joakim Noah -- one, the other, or both seem out of favor in Chicago, and the Bulls have largely given up playing them in a sudden burst of "must win nowitis". Remain quite intriguing as young bigs with potential upside that we might be able to get as sort of a delayed lottery pick, but not sure what we have that Chicago needs.
2) Charlie Villanueva -- #7 pick from '05 rumored to be on the block with Yi performing adequately. Soft as butter, but a talented scorer.
3) Patrick O'Bryant -- #9 pick '06 just has never been abel to make it in Golden State. Question is whether that is his fault of the wacky Nellieball system + Nellie's lack fo bigmen expertise. Seems like he should be available, but who knows.
4) Fran Vasquez -- #11 '05, otherwise known as Flakeboy. Hasve no idea if he can play or not. No idea if he's grown up or he's still a scared little child. do known that Orlando should be looking to bolster themselves for a playoff run, and the rights to Vasquez could/should be part of that if there's any chance mommy will let him out of his room to come pay across the pond.
5) Darko Milicic -- #2 '03. Still doing his backyup center bit, now in Memphis, and logically if Pau is available, then Darko would be too. Not a sure thing of course. Thing is I'm getting reasonably convinced this is it for Darko -- backup center. Puts up good numbers, yet when you watch him it is frequently uninspiring.
Just guys
1) Drew Gooden -- I think this one is likely just in the context of Mike Bibby. I'm still not terribly interested/inspired by him otherwise.
2) Udonis Haslem -- same as Gooden. The Miami Herald this mornig was reporting that we were demanding Haslem back as part of the price for Bibby. Which if that's true, along with the similar demand for Gooden just tell me that Geoff is completely unambitious at this point.
3) Kurt Thomas -- this is just an ending contract. Rumored to be available as the Sonics look to utterly clean hosue wiht hiim -- get draft picks to take him, then turn around and trade him for yet more assets. Thing is, hard to imagine them wanting to take long term veteran contracts in return, so..?
4) Dan Gadzuric -- likely can still give you Justin Williams type production, but at a nasty contract price. Rumors say Milwalukeee is now iwlling to move him, but queston is if they haven;t competely destroyed his value at this point.
5) Kenyon Martin/Nene -- big contracts and simply cannot stay on the floor. Maybe togetehr you have one healthy PF at the low cost of $20+ million combined. No team will take Kenyon, and as Nene suffers through injury number 1746 have to wonder how long until he reacehs the same status, fitfully impressive play or no.
14) Zaza Pachulia -- just a guess. Started the last two years, now deeply buried behind Horford. Seems like a recipe for change. Still only 23/24, although not sure he has shown much potential to be more than starter on a bad team stuff.
15) Etan Thomas -- whenever he gets back. but likely unmoveable now with that contract and the health question.
Draft Picks
1) Michael Beasely -- problem is that when you have a 22pt 13reb college PF they get projected to go #1/#2 and you have to get lucky. Still nto 100% sold on him as an NBA PF as opposed to SF, but he's answering all questions in spectacular fashion so far.
2) Roy Hibbert -- projected #5 to #8, 7'2" big, slow, defensive stalwart. Can he rebound? I always, and maybe it s just geography, but have a tendency to think of him in a Brendan Haywood sort of way, although Hibbert is getting Princeton experience in college that might make him a different sort of player.
3) Kosta Koufos -- projected #5 to #8 7'1" Oden's replacement at Ohio State (which is now becoming a modern center U. -- next year they bring in B.J. Muellens who is again the #1 center prospect). He is our style center -- whicih is to say all kinds of inside/outside offensive skill but possible soft.
4) Darrel Arthur -- projected #10 to #12, I am still nonplussed what the big fuss is about this guy -- an NBA plyer to be sure, but the next time he dominates a game will be the first. Still, he's a super athletic 6'9" guy who should fill out, and seems to have the bread and butters for the PF position in a running system,
5) Kevin Love -- projected #15-#18, super skilled frosh was once considered a Top 5 type guy, but may be doing the Josh McRoberts because of questions about his athleticism and whether he'll be able to do much against the bigger/stronger guys in the NBA (especially on defense). Physical and skilled however. He and Brad would be catastrophic together as a frontline.
