2016 Free Agency Thread

[Natebishop3]

And all of those factor in. His numbers took off last year when they gave him full control of the reins. Final 26 games of the year, Giannis basically played point and averaged 18.8/8.4/7.5 on 51.5% shooting. I'm looking, but I can't find a 26 game stretch in Lillard's career where he averaged over 7.5 assists per game.

Overall, it could be debatable that Giannis is better, even at Dame's primary position.

People get so caught up in positions and stereotypes. There are numbers that say Dame's best position is shooting guard.

 

[Natebishop3]

We don't need our PG to rebound. So I'd take a PG who averaged 25/7 over a whole season than a "PG" who had a 26 game stretch of 18/8.5

Would you like your point guard to shoot 51% from the field? I know I would.

 

[BonesJones]

Would you like your point guard to shoot 51% from the field? I know I would.

Well when your PG can't shoot a 3 to save his life he's gonna go inside and shoot a higher percentage.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

We don't need our PG to rebound. So I'd take a PG who averaged 25/7 over a whole season than a "PG" who had a 26 game stretch of 18/8.5

What if the 18/8.5 PG is also an elite defender and the 25/7 guy is a sieve? Does that make a difference?

Look, I'm not saying I want to trade Dame for Giannis. I'm simply saying that there's a valid argument to be made on both sides.

 

[BonesJones]

What if the 18/8.5 PG is also an elite defender and the 25/7 guy is a sieve? Does that make a difference?

Look, I'm not saying I want to trade Dame for Giannis. I'm simply saying that there's a valid argument to be made on both sides.

He's not a "sieve" and I wouldn't say Giannis is "elite".

Either way I'll take the dude that can lead a team to a 2nd round playoff birth over the guy that can lead a team to a solid 32 wins or whatever that loser team had

 

[Orion Bailey]

He's not a "sieve" and I wouldn't say Giannis is "elite".

Either way I'll take the dude that can lead a team to a 2nd round playoff birth over the guy that can lead a team to a solid 32 wins or whatever that loser team had

And then there is the whole... "Leadership" part. Is there even a leader who is clearly better than Dame? I dont think so... not in our current NBA anyhow.

 

[BonesJones]

And then there is the whole... "Leadership" part. Is there even a leader who is clearly better than Dame? I dont think so... not in our current NBA anyhow.

Exactly. And he makes his teammates better. There's more to that than assist numbers.

 

[Pinwheel1]

And all of those factor in. His numbers took off last year when they gave him full control of the reins. Final 26 games of the year, Giannis basically played point and averaged 18.8/8.4/7.5 on 51.5% shooting. I'm looking, but I can't find a 26 game stretch in Lillard's career where he averaged over 7.5 assists per game.

Overall, it could be debatable that Giannis is better, even at Dame's primary position.

They won 10 of those 26 games. He really needs to win a little more before it's debatable IMO. Lets see how he does when teams adjust to his weaknesses as a PG.

 

[BonesJones]

Positions are meaningless in the NBA right now. Think of it more as a the primary ball handler. Giannis as the primary ball handler is exceptional for his size.

I think positions are more relevant towards defense.

Offensively I think you just look for traits from your 3 perimeter players:
Primary Ball Handler (Dame/CJ)
Secondary Ball Handler (Turner)
Lockdown Defender (Turner/AC?/Moe?)
Slasher (Turner/Harkless)
Multi-Dimensional Scorer (Dame/CJ)
Spot Up Shooter (Dame/CJ/Crabbe)

I think it's great that we have two primary ball handlers and a secondary ball handler in our starting lineup. How many teams have that?

So instead of looking at it like:
PG-Lillard
SG-McCollum
SF-Turner

You can look at it like:
PBH-Lillard, CJ
SBH-Turner
LD-Turner
SL-Turner
MDS-Lillard, CJ
3pt-Lillard, CJ

For the Bucks, positions get murkey when you have Carter-Williams and Giannis on the floor at the same time. But you can simply break it
PBH-Giannis
SBH-MCW
LD-Middleton, Giannis,
SL-MCW, Giannis
MDS-None
3pt-Middleton

 

[BonesJones]

In the frontcourt, I think it's simply based on who they defend. Meyers is a C because he's best guarding Centers, while Davis is a PF because he's best at guarding PFs. Ideally, one of your frontcourt players can shoot, and one is an infuse scorer. So these combos work well:

PF Aminu / C Ezeli
PF Davis / C Leonard
PF Aminu / C Plumlee
PF Vonleh / C Anybody

 

[Hobbesarable]

Would you like your point guard to shoot 51% from the field? I know I would.

True shooting percentage is a better indicator. Was Giannis double and triple teamed last season like Dame?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I root for the guy but this is the last team I want to see him on.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Steve Blake is still on the free agent market. Will the Blazers bring him back again this season?

 

[Trackjack]

Steve Blake is still on the free agent market. Will the Blazers bring him back again this season?

I would say no he doesn't fit the age and plus I think his best year is behind him.

 

[Strenuus]

Steve Blake is still on the free agent market. Will the Blazers bring him back again this season?

Yeah! As our color commentat----

Oh, we got one.

Nevermind, then.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Thomas Robinson signed with the Lakers. Didn't know if that's been posted nor did I want to make a new thread.

 

[HailBlazers]

Thomas Robinson signed with the Lakers. Didn't know if that's been posted nor did I want to make a new thread.

Don't lie.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Don't lie.

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/lakers-sign-well-traveled-f-thomas-robinson-before-camp-092116

Lakers sign well-traveled F Thomas Robinson before camp

 

[Rastapopoulos]

@Rastapopoulos what is the deal with Ekpe Udoh? Is he going to come back to the NBA this summer with all the money available? He might be a better option for us at Center then Ezeli.

This was very prophetic. Still, there's always THIS offseason. Udoh is healthy and playing great - just helped send his team to the Euroleague final and knock out Rudy and Real Madrid.

 

[HailBlazers]

This was very prophetic. Still, there's always THIS offseason. Udoh is healthy and playing great - just helped send his team to the Euroleague final and knock out Rudy and Real Madrid.

Lol crystal ball

 

[GDiama]

This was very prophetic. Still, there's always THIS offseason. Udoh is healthy and playing great - just helped send his team to the Euroleague final and knock out Rudy and Real Madrid.

He really is phenomenal this year. And with not many true Cs anymore I think he can be a backup in this league.

 

[GDiama]

Udoh dominated the final as well. Amazing defender.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

This was very prophetic. Still, there's always THIS offseason. Udoh is healthy and playing great - just helped send his team to the Euroleague final and knock out Rudy and Real Madrid.

He just led Fenerbahce to the championship in convincing fashion.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Real Madrid laid an egg. The Spanish League is slipping - Barca were pretty poor this year (sorry Petteri and Victor C.!).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Udoh dominated the final as well. Amazing defender.

If Golden State gets him for cheap for next year I will be PISSED.

 

[GDiama]

If Golden State gets him for cheap for next year I will be PISSED.

Not sure if he would give up money since he hasn't earned that much in his career. He is being paid around 2M net.

 

[Boob-No-More]

If Golden State gets him for cheap for next year I will be PISSED.

They were the team that drafted him. He may still have a good relationship with the organization. I wouldn't be surprised if someone in the organization keeps in contact with him or his agent, to gauge his interest in returning to the NBA.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Not sure if he would give up money since he hasn't earned that much in his career. He is being paid around 2M net.

NBA cheap = more than all but a couple of Euro teams would pay. Although Fenerbahce might be one of those teams.

 

[GDiama]

NBA cheap = more than all but a couple of Euro teams would pay. Although Fenerbahce might be one of those teams.

Yep they are! And they ll sign an agreement with a huge sponsor which will boost their budget even more.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Udoh dominated the final as well. Amazing defender.