***Offical 08/09 NBA thread!***

[Masta Ace 10+ year member]

I love when teams get hyped up when a player has a good playoff run with no prior history and then opens the bank. Austin Croshere anyone?

Fyi, Ariza has been a good role player all season for the Lakers.

 

[Lugnutz 10+ year member]

He's a role player. He shouldn't get more than MLE.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

I guess we'll see if he's deserving of his money or not. Though without Artest and Yao Ming then he will get more minutes. I guess that is the ultimate test of whether he's a swingman or a starter

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I think it was a horrible deal for LA on the Ariza/artest thing.

Why fix what isn't broken? Artest and Kobe hate eachother and Artest is cancer in most club houses. I think the Rockets made out big time in this though. Ariza will be a starter and show he is worth his value. He will put up similar if not better numbers than Artest and Arizas defense is good, so good deal for the Rockets, shitty deal for the Lakers.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I was hoping Ariza would come to Cleveland though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

Some nice free agents out there and Cleveland got Shaq and we keep saying how we want these other players, but nothing! Going to be too late.

Saying we might pick up either Marion or Parker from Toronto.............Marion used to be good, but hasn't looked the same as he did a few years ago and wants too much money and Parker is 34 and in Cleveland will be nothing but a 20 minute off the bench guy if he is lucky......and that is me being generous...........Anderson V needs to get his head out his *** and take the money we offer him as we are a contending team, he is being a stupid fawk!

 

[quest51210 10+ year member]

too much yappin comin from the rest of you guys. Spurs got better, LA got better, I even believe Cavs got better, but everyone else is losing their freakin minds.

Even if we dont land Sheed, we have a really promising pick in Blair and the rest will fall into place. It is awkward that the Spurs started the offseason with such a large trade...well for us anyways.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

San Antonio needs another big man.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

too much yappin comin from the rest of you guys. Spurs got better, LA got better, I even believe Cavs got better, but everyone else is losing their freakin minds.
Even if we dont land Sheed, we have a really promising pick in Blair and the rest will fall into place. It is awkward that the Spurs started the offseason with such a large trade...well for us anyways.

Cavs get better if they re-sign Anderson V and sign a wing man and maybe even another mid level type player.

I am still not sold on the whole Shaq thing. Yeah it is a nice addition for us as Z is showing his age, but Z can wayyyyy out shoot Shaq all around the court besdies down low...........hence the reason we got him as he is a much bigger body and down low is a beast still.........with that said I just don't think it is going to get us over the hump. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

resign Anderson and maybe get Marion or another big man, then maybe.......

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

If you have James why do you need Marion? I do not see Marion willing to be the 6th man on any team.

 

[rtillaree 10+ year member]

Cavs get better if they re-sign Anderson V and sign a wing man and maybe even another mid level type player.
I am still not sold on the whole Shaq thing. Yeah it is a nice addition for us as Z is showing his age, but Z can wayyyyy out shoot Shaq all around the court besdies down low...........hence the reason we got him as he is a much bigger body and down low is a beast still.........with that said I just don't think it is going to get us over the hump. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

resign Anderson and maybe get Marion or another big man, then maybe.......

where are they getting all of this money? the Cavs are already at the cap...how much are they willing to go over here, re-signing AV, adding Marion and another big man, even at the vet minimum would put them in the $85m+ range after tax, 16 million dollar penalty tax...

p.s AV is RETARDED, this is the wrong year to leave $6.2 million on the table, especially after playing like *** in the playoffs...

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Marion could play PF. He played a lot of PF in Phoenix before Amare come in and was averaging over 10 Rebounds a game. He has spings in his legs for only being 6-7 IIRC.

And Cleveland has thrown out ideas as James as the PF and bringing in a SF. They have many options believe it or not.......just rather they do anything and do it soon!

 

[rtillaree 10+ year member]

If you have James why do you need Marion? I do not see Marion willing to be the 6th man on any team.

Cleveland is looking for big wing players as they are rumored to be moving LeBron to the PF position next season, they're trying to go Stan Van Gundy on other teams by forcing matchup issues...so an Ariza/Artest/Marion would fit that bill...Personally If I was them, I would go hard for a Dahnty Jones guy, big 6'6 wing defender who can lock down very well up top, they lacked a lot of perimeter defense in the playoffs...then I would turn to Brandon Bass in place of AV with the MLE and call it a day...Marion wants too much, he's a problem for team chemistry, he whines about everything...LeBron doesnt need that right now...

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

where are they getting all of this money? the Cavs are already at the cap...how much are they willing to go over here, re-signing AV, adding Marion and another big man, even at the vet minimum would put them in the $85m+ range after tax, 16 million dollar penalty tax...
p.s AV is RETARDED, this is the wrong year to leave $6.2 million on the table, especially after playing like *** in the playoffs...

Just going on what I have read in the plain dealer, which is the local Cleveland paper.

They say they want to re-sign Anderson and get a wing man and a mid-level type player and willing to do 5-6 millon a year.

I doubt they will re-sign Anderson, just what I like to see. He is one of the bigger hustlers around and very good defensive player, rather he flops or not......he is a big assest to us and feel we need him as he can play PF/C......and if we don't get someone else, will start at PF.

Most people that didn't see him play everyday thinks he sucks because he flops a lot........whatever, he is really a good ball player......not worth the money he wants, and agree he is being retarded! Hoping he comes to his senses....

Also many players that played well in the season didn't play well..........against the Magic.........they did fine against other teams.

Also I believe we would be willing to give up Z.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Cleveland is looking for big wing players as they are rumored to be moving LeBron to the PF position next season, they're trying to go Stan Van Gundy on other teams by forcing matchup issues...so an Ariza/Artest/Marion would fit that bill...Personally If I was them, I would go hard for a Dahnty Jones guy, big 6'6 wing defender who can lock down very well up top, they lacked a lot of perimeter defense in the playoffs...then I would turn to Brandon Bass in place of AV with the MLE and call it a day...Marion wants too much, he's a problem for team chemistry, he whines about everything...LeBron doesnt need that right now...

I am all for Brandon Bass as he would be a good fit, but Dahanty Jones? I don't know about him. I have watched games with him in the playoffs and he is so hit and miss.............to much up and downs with him.

I do agree about Marion, but once he is happy he is an allstar caliber player. He just needs to get over the BS! I doubt we get him because of the money.......granted he would be a nice fit at SF and move Bron to PF.......we would be deadly!

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Marion could play PF. He played a lot of PF in Phoenix before Amare come in and was averaging over 10 Rebounds a game. He has spings in his legs for only being 6-7 IIRC.
And Cleveland has thrown out ideas as James as the PF and bringing in a SF. They have many options believe it or not.......just rather they do anything and do it soon!

On a run and gun team Marion did. Not exactly a great on the ball defender vs other big men. He would thrive on a team that spreads the ball around. He is an awesome baseline player he shoots from either side of the basket 8-15 ft on either baseline he is golden...how do I know? 2 open gyms at Vincennes Juco college. One of my best friends ran track there at the same time Marion played there. If he would have been a Piston over the last 6 years you would have seen this. Not many teams run any type of midrange game and that is actually his strong suit. Was in college as well.