I don't like him. It boggles my mind how the Thunder are still starting him over Harden despite Harden being a better player and MUCH better fit now that they have Perkins. Him and Keith Bogans are two players that I continue to wonder "how the hell do these guys keep finding starting spots in the NBA?".
I don't like him. It boggles my mind how the Thunder are still starting him over Harden despite Harden being a better player and MUCH better fit now that they have Perkins. Him and Keith Bogans are two players that I continue to wonder "how the hell do these guys keep finding starting spots in the NBA?".
He's started over Harden because he's a much better defender than Harden and they used to have a lineup with Westbrook, Durant, Krstic, Ibaka which provided more than enough offense but left something to be desired on the defensive end. He's actually highly underrated IMHO. Nothing about him will stand out on the box score but he's one of those Shane Battier type of guys on the defensive end who is damn near elite in his defense of wing players but will never receive the recognition. And for 3 mill/year, what more could you ask for?
I also like Sefalosha. I find he's just one of those guys you can plug into any starting lineup and he won't hurt you. He plays good perimeter D, keeps the ball moving on offense and generally doesn't get in anybody's way. I think Harden is the better player, but for the balance of the starting 5, Thabo works.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I mean. Harden is of course the more talented player of the two, but I think you're always gonna need a Thabo type of guy on your roster. A guy who guards the perimeter well, doesn't demand the ball on offense, makes the correct plays and generally just fits in quietly wherever he goes, a low key kinda guy.
You can afford to have a defensive stand-out if your team is offensively balanced the rest of the way through. This is usually for the very good teams. Like if Sefolosha was in Toronto, and he was starting, he wouldn't look good, he would look like someone who couldn't do jack on offense.
Same thing with Boston. They had Perkins and Rondo starting. But Allen, Pierce and Garnett more than made up for them. They were good enough to space the floors, where they don't necessarily play their traditional position on the floor on the offense where they can step out and take the shot.
As for the draft? Need/Want Kryie Irving. Barnes is a backup plan for me. But as a GM, I would do my best to get him; even if we don't win the lottery. I would trade up to get him...
You can afford to have a defensive stand-out if your team is offensively balanced the rest of the way through. This is usually for the very good teams. Like if Sefolosha was in Toronto, and he was starting, he wouldn't look good, he would look like someone who couldn't do jack on offense.
Same thing with Boston. They had Perkins and Rondo starting. But Allen, Pierce and Garnett more than made up for them. They were good enough to space the floors, where they don't necessarily play their traditional position on the floor on the offense where they can step out and take the shot.
As for the draft? Need/Want Kryie Irving. Barnes is a backup plan for me. But as a GM, I would do my best to get him; even if we don't win the lottery. I would trade up to get him...
We have to get Irving or Barnes. I wish we could trade away Bargs for a 1st.. use that to get Barnes and Irving.
I would be all for using Bargnani or maybe Calderon (or both) to obtain another draft pick. Only players that I would like to classify as "untouchable" going forward are Ed Davis and Derozan (and MAYBE Amir).
If Bargnani can get us a top 5 pick it needs to be an automatic trigger. I find this draft is kind of underrated there are some really good players. Sullinger, Irving, Barnes, Walker and Jones are all going to be really good NBA players. Adding any one of those 5 as well as wherever our pick falls will be a great step forward in rebuilding.
I would be all for using Bargnani or maybe Calderon (or both) to obtain another draft pick. Only players that I would like to classify as "untouchable" going forward are Ed Davis and Derozan (and MAYBE Amir).
The only reason Amir is untouchable is because most people don't want his contract. I wouldn't mind keeping him as an energy guy that will run the floor.
I also don't think to many people are going to offer a top 5 pick for Bargs.. but I really really hope they do lol.
The only reason Amir is untouchable is because most people don't want his contract. I wouldn't mind keeping him as an energy guy that will run the floor.
I also don't think to many people are going to offer a top 5 pick for Bargs.. but I really really hope they do lol.
I could see Utah maybe moving one of their picks for Bargnani. Okur will be gone soon, and they could have a big man rotation of Jefferson, Bargnani, Favors and Milsap. They'd still have one lottery pick, cap space and Devin Harris.
I could see Utah maybe moving one of their picks for Bargnani. Okur will be gone soon, and they could have a big man rotation of Jefferson, Bargnani, Favors and Milsap. They'd still have one lottery pick, cap space and Devin Harris.
Not too bad. We can dream.
Utah would then have a major logjam at the 4 spot and would have to trade either Al Jeff or Millsap to make that work. I don't see that one happening.
Maybe we can take one of Portlands wing players, they overstocked on wing players over there (Rudy, Wes, Wallace, Batum, Roy, Fernandez) all of which I think are really good. Much better than most all of the wing players that we have here. I'd trade Bargs, Calderon, or any other veteran to try and get those guys or a combination of them.
Maybe we can take one of Portlands wing players, they overstocked on wing players over there (Rudy, Wes, Wallace, Batum, Roy, Fernandez) all of which I think are really good. Much better than most all of the wing players that we have here. I'd trade Bargs, Calderon, or any other veteran to try and get those guys or a combination of them.
Interesting.
I'd very happily take any combination of two of them in return for Bargnani/Calderon. And that includes the international players.
Re: players you keep from the existing roster
