2011 Free Agency Challenge Thread

[KingsCitizen]

If I were Petrie, I'll probably get a new coach first. Westphal's rotation is too confusing for such a young team to know each player's identity and role on the roster.

Next, I'll trade Beno with Landry and Greene.
Find a way to get Hinrich or probably Jameer Nelson.
By trade deadline, I'll trade Dally for Smith/Teague (Hawks need a better big man than Collins and co.)
Draft Perry Jones and have our own big three in Cousins, Evans, and Jones.

Roster:
PG: Hinrich/Teague
SG: Evans/Garcia
SF: Jones/Casspi
PF: Smith/Thompson
C : Cousins/Whiteside/Jackson

Probably add some more sparkplugs to improve the bench. But that's the core for next season.

 

[chief bromden]

Is Dwight Howard a free agent this summer or did I misinterpret the TNT announcers last night?

 

[bajaden]

Is Dwight Howard a free agent this summer or did I misinterpret the TNT announcers last night?

Howard is under contract for two more years after this current season, with the last season being an early termination option year. Which means the player can opt out of his last year if he desires to do so. So yes! You misinterpreted whatever you heard..

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I'm sure I'll catch some flack for this, but the name that interests me the most this summer is Greg Oden.

Yeah, I know the downside, but this would be the epitome of buying low. Oden has been extremely productive when he has played and if he does manage to stay healthy would be an absolute home run.

In 23MPG last season he averaged 11pts-8.5rbs-2.3blks while shooting 60% from the field.

What would he cost? 3 years at 5 mil per year? 6 mil? I think he could be had for a reasonable number and on a shorter contract that would not cripple us even if injuries permanently derailed his career.

 

[chief bromden]

Howard is under contract for two more years after this current season, with the last season being an early termination option year. Which means the player can opt out of his last year if he desires to do so. So yes! You misinterpreted whatever you heard..

Sweet, thanks for information. I have to admit, I was salivating even though it's a minimal chance he'd ever sign with the Kings.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I'm sure I'll catch some flack for this, but the name that interests me the most this summer is Greg Oden.

Yeah, I know the downside, but this would be the epitome of buying low. Oden has been extremely productive when he has played and if he does manage to stay healthy would be an absolute home run.

In 23MPG last season he averaged 11pts-8.5rbs-2.3blks while shooting 60% from the field.

What would he cost? 3 years at 5 mil per year? 6 mil? I think he could be had for a reasonable number and on a shorter contract that would not cripple us even if injuries permanently derailed his career.

But...he is 99% more prone to injuries than any other center in the league, and if we fork out another mid-level contract or give him even $5-6 million a year, that's $$$ we could have used elsewhere, and we'd be stuck with Ralph Sampson 2.0.

 

[SacTownKid]

Yeah, I hate to say it but I think the writing may be on the wall in regards to Greg Oden. Just so injury prone, and not just little injuries, BIG injuries. Be nice to have him as a backup to Cousins, but there will be a team either stupid or smart enough, time will tell on that, to give him more money than a 24 mpg backup should be paid.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I would like to see the Kings get Nene an Tayshaun Prince, we need veteran leadership more than anything.

Irving/Beno
Reke/Cisco
Prince/Casspi/Cisco
Nene/JT/Whiteside
Cousins/JT/Whiteside

if Irving does not enter draft I go Terrence Jones. I think Terrence and Irving are the stars of this draft. with Barnes potential there also.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Nene and Love are both good players, but I still think the ideal PF next to Cousins needs to be a much better defender than both of those guys. I want to build a contender, not just a playoff team.

We need a starting SF than can defend (Donte with better offense and rebounding) and PF who can defend (Possibly Whiteside) We get both of those things and in a few years I think we can reach contender status. Of course a new coach is also needed.

 

[bajaden]

Nene and Love are both good players, but I still think the ideal PF next to Cousins needs to be a much better defender than both of those guys. I want to build a contender, not just a playoff team.

We need a starting SF than can defend (Donte with better offense and rebounding) and PF who can defend (Possibly Whiteside) We get both of those things and in a few years I think we can reach contender status. Of course a new coach is also needed.

I think you could put someone like Tyson Chandler next to Cousins. Although Chandler is thought of as a center, he's quick enough to guard PF's. He won't score a lot, but he has a better touch around the basket than Dalembert does. And although it seems like he's been around forever, he's just 28 years old. I think a healthy Joel Przybilla would make the perfect backup center. He's 31 years old, but the biggest concern is his health. He might come cheap though.

I'd still like to make a run at Zack Randolph. He's only 29 , and how can you not resist a guy that puts up 20 and 12 from the PF position. Jason Richardson is an unrestricted freeagent and might not be a bad short team addition for 3 years or so. He's experienced, and at age 30 might not mind coming off the bench.

A kid thats not getting any playing time and who might be ready to blossom is Sebastian Telfair. A lot was expected of him when he came into the league, and he's another one that seems like he's been kicking around for a while. But he's only 25 years old, and he does have talent at the PG position.

There's also Kendrick Perkins, who I'm sure Boston will do their best to retain. But he is an unrestricted freeagent, and a very good defender. Not sure how that would work out with Cousins as the starter of the future, but its an interesting thought. Another guy thats unrestricted and who is a possibility at PG is Mo Williams. He's 28 years old and is currently averaging 14 PPG and 7.2 assists to 2.9 turnovers.\

Last but not least, one of my favorite players, Jamal Crawford. Only downside is his age. He's 30 years old. But he can handle the ball, pass the ball and shoot the ball. And he's a pertty good defender.

Others that I would take a look at are Kelenna Azubuike, a career 40.9% 3pt shooter, and a good defender. Jason Kapono, if healthy, a terrific outside shooter, and not a bad defender. The rest of these guys are restricted freeagents. Arron Afflalo. Another good outside shooter and pretty good defender. Reggie Williams or the Warriors. He's only 24 years old and is proving to be a very good outside shooter. Chris Douglas Roberts. I loved this kid coming out of college, and he's shooting 43.3% from beyond the arc. He's 24 years old.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

But...he is 99% more prone to injuries than any other center in the league, and if we fork out another mid-level contract or give him even $5-6 million a year, that's $$$ we could have used elsewhere, and we'd be stuck with Ralph Sampson 2.0.

Check out the following games played:

50, 67, 46, 54, 63, 82, 65, 75

63, 63, 46, 59, 63, 29, 29, 72, 66, 56, 70, 79, 62, 73

65, 76, 40, 56, 70, 82, 82

4, 14, 29, 67, 21, 65, 70, 82, 81

46, 62, 25, 55, 79, 82

59, 19, 50, 60, 4, 80, 58, 76, 76

66, 62, 80, 52, 28, 81, 81

These players are Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Chris Mullin, Anfernee Hardaway and Tim Hardaway

Point being that injury prone players can overcome the label. And typically the team that has them when they do reaps the benefits. I'm not sold on Oden myself, but for the right price, he could be an absolute HR. His PER the last 2 years was 18 and 23. His 15.7% and 25.5% career ORB and DRB rates are phenomenal. And his 118 ORating and 100 DRating are stellar. Same with his +9 on/off average last year. His opponents average PER is 13. He had a 16.5 block rating (Dwight Howard has a 8.5 this year).

Point being that if he works out, he is an absolute HR. A grand slam. We're not signing any superstars here, but if we roll the dice on Oden and he shakes his injury history we become contenders again. Considering he is just about to turn 23 and medicine has advanced conciderably since players like Ralph Sampson and Pervis Ellison had their careers derailed by injuries. Nowadays, most players who slowly deteriorate due to injuries are on the wrong side of 30.

Looking at the list of free agents this year, he should warrant deep consideration unless we are able to use our cap space in a trade instead. Even then, we have enough we could make a trade or sign a player like Nene and Oden.

 

[kingsfan101]

For starters I would try and resign Dalembert for whatever is deemed reasonable under the new CBA.

I would probably bring him back too. However, by some reports, he might not be too keen.

Also, it might partly depend on whom we draft, and how Whitside is developing. By all accounts, he's still some time away, and the kind of deal you're suggesting for Dalembert makes sense. But, if he's improving, and we draft a big, Dalembert might be a luxury, who is either hindering the development of kids, or is being paid to sit on the bench.