Top 5 Targets for Summer 2018

[candrew]

Ellington doesn't play the 3 - he's almost strictly a 2. He's not going to come to Utah to play behind Mitchell.

And I doubt they'd combo him with Mitchell as PG - right now they're playing Mitchell at PG out of necessity because Exum is not ready for prime time.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Ellington doesn't play the 3 - he's almost strictly a 2. He's not going to come to Utah to play behind Mitchell.

And I doubt they'd combo him with Mitchell as PG - right now they're playing Mitchell at PG out of necessity because Exum is not ready for prime time.

This is a really good point. I think anyone we add needs to have some positional flexibility.

If Favs walks I like the idea of Harrell if we can get him on a good deal... LAC may match anything that I'd consider "good".

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think I'd make a call to Mario... They can't offer anything over $5.1M because they declined his option. Doing a 3/16M deal with a team option on the final year may get it done. Can start the salary at $5.8 or so and decline it.

They guys that Mario shared the floor with most this year - DJ Augustin, Shelvin Mack, Vucevic, Biyombo. He wasn't on the floor with Orlando's best players much and Orlando's roster is awful. He may thrive in a functional environment.

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

With Sef coming back next year, It seems like we would have too much overlap signing a 2/3. It seems more important to either get a 4 that can shoot, or to re-sign Favors.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

With Sef coming back next year, It seems like we would have too much overlap signing a 2/3. It seems more important to either get a 4 that can shoot, or to re-sign Favors.

I'm not sure he is though. He also is good at the 4. I could see us letting Favs walk and covering the 4 with Thabo, Jae, Royce, and a cheaper true PF. Maybe keep Jerebko.

I think Royce is big enough to play some 4 and would allow us to switch 1-4 with no problem. He rebounds very well.

My concern is Thabo looked a step slow before the injury. Add the injury and another year and he may just be washed. Thabo was still a disruptive defender, but got beat off the dribble more frequently than I expected.

 

[The mailman]

Rubio
DM
Paul George
Favors
Gobert

Ingles
Exum
Thabo
Jerebko
O’neal
Crowder
Burks

Deepest team in the league. Championship contenders

 

[LoPo]

With Sef coming back next year, It seems like we would have too much overlap signing a 2/3. It seems more important to either get a 4 that can shoot, or to re-sign Favors.

Like HH also mentioned, I think Thabo is best suited as a 4 if he returns (there is still a chance we don't pick up his option or we trade him as a valuable non-guaranteed contract).

Whether it's 1, 2, 3 or 4, we need more shooting and scoring.

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

I'm not sure he is though. He also is good at the 4. I could see us letting Favs walk and covering the 4 with Thabo, Jae, Royce, and a cheaper true PF. Maybe keep Jerebko.

I think Royce is big enough to play some 4 and would allow us to switch 1-4 with no problem. He rebounds very well.

My concern is Thabo looked a step slow before the injury. Add the injury and another year and he may just be washed. Thabo was still a disruptive defender, but got beat off the dribble more frequently than I expected.

Agree on Thabo and Crowder, but Royce won't really help us much at the 4 even if he rebounds well. Spot minutes at best.

If we want to keep defenses from dropping their 4 into the lane to double Mitchell for the foreseeable future, we have got to locate a big that can shoot. I'm still hopeful the Jazz can pry Mirotic away.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Agree on Thabo and Crowder, but Royce won't really help us much at the 4 even if he rebounds well. Spot minutes at best.

If we want to keep defenses from dropping their 4 into the lane to double Mitchell for the foreseeable future, we have got to locate a big that can shoot. I'm still hopeful the Jazz can pry Mirotic away.

I haven't given up on Niko yet either. I think Royce is a good enough shooter to provide space... I also want to see what he can do as a ball handler/passer attacking close outs. He's been turnover prone but has showed some playmaking ability at times and when he was in Europe. Give him another year to get comfortable.

 

[LoPo]

My list which only includes free agents and trades:

1. Tobias Harris: I think he fits what we need perfectly for now and the long haul. He is a scorer from PF/SF and not a liability on defense. He is on an expiring deal so I think a starting offer of Burks, our 1st and 2 2nd rounders would be a solid first offer. Probably doesn't do it, but it's a good first effort. The Clippers should probably look to sell off assets and rebuild. Williams, Jordan, Gallinari and Harris aren't taking them anywhere anytime soon. #21 could be packaged with #12 and/or #14 to get LA higher into the lottery.

2. Herzonja: Offensively, he can be what we need off the bench and he's an unrestricted free agent with something prove. He has the physical tools to be a force on both ends. Maybe he has been a wasted talent in Orlando like Oladipo was. He is my main free agent target.

3. Wes Matthews: Dallas is rebuilding and Wes is most valuable at this stage in his career as a vet role player. His presence in our 2nd unit would be massive. He is a good switching defender and can shoot the 3. I think Burks, a non-guaranteed like Udoh and a 2nd or 2 would get it done. Dallas would shed some cap space to maybe target a young guy like Parker to overpay.

4. Ilyasova: he is an unrestricted stretch 4. The guy addresses so many of our needs without being a huge liability on defense. And he shouldn't cost that much either. Great alternative to Favors should he leave.

5. DeMarre Carroll: he would be an excellent addition. The Nets of course don't have their first round pick (to Cavs) and Carroll is an expiring. I think we could tempt them with a trade of Burks and our 1st (#21) for Carroll and the 1st Brooklyn has from Toronto (#29).

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

My list which only includes free agents and trades:

1. Tobias Harris: I think he fits what we need perfectly for now and the long haul. He is a scorer from PF/SF and not a liability on defense. He is on an expiring deal so I think a starting offer of Burks, our 1st and 2 2nd rounders would be a solid first offer. Probably doesn't do it, but it's a good first effort. The Clippers should probably look to sell off assets and rebuild. Williams, Jordan, Gallinari and Harris aren't taking them anywhere anytime soon. #19 could be packaged with #12 and/or #14 to get LA higher into the lottery.

2. Herzonja: Offensively, he can be what we need off the bench and he's an unrestricted free agent with something prove. He has the physical tools to be a force on both ends. Maybe he has been a wasted talent in Orlando like Oladipo was. He is my main free agent target.

3. Wes Matthews: Dallas is rebuilding and Wes is most valuable at this stage in his career as a vet role player. His presence in our 2nd unit would be massive. He is a good switching defender and can shoot the 3. I think Burks, a non-guaranteed like Udoh and a 2nd or 2 would get it done. Dallas would shed some cap space to maybe target a young guy like Parker to overpay.

4. Ilyasova: he is an unrestricted stretch 4. The guy addresses so many of our needs without being a huge liability on defense. And he shouldn't cost that much either. Great alternative to Favors should he leave.

5. DeMarre Carroll: he would be an excellent addition. The Nets of course don't have their first round pick (to Cavs) and Carroll is an expiring. I think we could tempt them with a trade of Burks and our 1st (#19) for Carroll and the 1st Brooklyn has from Toronto (#29).

On Wes... he apparently fractured his leg. I didn't know that. I'd rather just keep Thabo than pick him up.

I think the Carroll deal is doable... I'd want a swap of 52, 40. Also, we have the 21st pick this year just an FYI. BKN may want to clear some cap space because they could offer Parker like $20M if they can clear another $5M... there may be other dudes that are gettable.

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

I think Royce is a good enough shooter to provide space... I also want to see what he can do as a ball handler/passer attacking close outs. He's been turnover prone but has showed some playmaking ability at times and when he was in Europe. Give him another year to get comfortable.

Don't get me wrong on Royce. I love what he brings. He reminds me a bit of Bruce Bowen.