Which Starting Backcourt Would You Rather Have?

[Natebishop3]

This team needs a little crazy. Sheed and Rider were two of the biggest head cases in the league and they led us to a WCF. Sure, Rondo has some red flags, but the guy is legit. He's an extremely talented point guard. I questioned his talent at first because of the talent around, but you don't just put up triple doubles in the playoffs simply because you have a couple of aging HOFers around you. I think it's unfair to put all his accomplishments on Garnett, Pierce, and Allen.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I've been saying since Roy went down that we needed to find a PG to build around with LaMarcus and Rondo is really that guy. A change of scenery, and playing next to a 26 year-old budding star could do a lot for his attitude.

Rondo
Aldridge

And let the rebuild-on-the-run begin.

 

[Natebishop3]

I've been saying since Roy went down that we needed to find a PG to build around with LaMarcus and Rondo is really that guy. A change of scenery, and playing next to a 26 year-old budding star could do a lot for his attitude.

Rondo
Aldridge

And let the rebuild-on-the-run begin.

That's what I'm thinking. I would love to keep Batum and pair him with Rondo, but if that's not possible I would make the move and try to trade up in the draft for another talented wing, or look for another young guy out there that could be available.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=89zx5vr

Even with Rondo I think we'd have enough cap space to throw max money at a player like Eric Gordon. I would try to get one more talented young guy to go with Rondo and Aldridge.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

It really depends on other moves we make (cap flexibility) to make a real run at Gordon -- He's going to command a lot of money.

I'd also look hard at Brook Lopez. In fact, I'd probably prefer Brook -- In one year we could fill the two hardest spots to fill long-term: Center and PG.

 

[MickZagger]

This team needs a little crazy. Sheed and Rider were two of the biggest head cases in the league and they led us to a WCF. Sure, Rondo has some red flags, but the guy is legit. He's an extremely talented point guard. I questioned his talent at first because of the talent around, but you don't just put up triple doubles in the playoffs simply because you have a couple of aging HOFers around you. I think it's unfair to put all his accomplishments on Garnett, Pierce, and Allen.

Rider didn't lead nobody to Western Conference Finals. He was in Atlanta by then.

 

[MickZagger]

It really depends on other moves we make (cap flexibility) to make a real run at Gordon -- He's going to command a lot of money.

I'd also look hard at Brook Lopez. In fact, I'd probably prefer Brook -- In one year we could fill the two hardest spots to fill long-term: Center and PG.

Can I ask why you want Lopez so much?

The guy is ultra-soft. A historically horrible rebounder for a 7-footer and loves jumpshots. He's very Channing Frye-esque and should actually be PF, not a C.

 

[Natebishop3]

Rider didn't lead nobody to Western Conference Finals. He was in Atlanta by then.

Is your memory that bad? How about 98-99? Lockout shortened season? Ring a bell?

 

[MickZagger]

Is your memory that bad? How about 98-99? Lockout shortened season? Ring a bell?

Ah yes. Rider still didn't lead shit. He was hardly a leader and was probably 4th or 5th best player on that team.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I have thought about this question over night, and it's a tough one. I think for a team to be successful they have to have all star talent in the back court. I prefer PG over SG, but that's neither here nor there. The question really is this. We know what we have in Batum, and what we will probably have going forward. In Rondo we have a PG who is one of the elite players at his position. But is that because of the three future HOFers he is playing with, the system he is in or is he that good? This is also a tough question because of the coach we have. He simply can't continue to be the coach of this team after this year, so who do we bring in? What type of offense will they run? For example, a triangle based offense would benefit Batum more than Rondo. A pick and roll offense would benefit Batum as well because Rondo can't shoot. A motion offense based on cutting and diving would benefit Rondo. All that said, assuming Rondo isn't too big of a head case, which I believe he is, I would take the PG because I think it is easier to find a SG than a PG

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I've been saying since Roy went down that we needed to find a PG to build around with LaMarcus and Rondo is really that guy. A change of scenery, and playing next to a 26 year-old budding star could do a lot for his attitude.

Rondo
Aldridge

And let the rebuild-on-the-run begin.

No we can't. And that's what I've been saying.

If we completely deplete players with talent to just those two we have no one to trade. We will also be out of cap space and we have no first round pick next season. In other words, we screw ourselves out of rebuilding. By keeping Batum and taking someone like Brooks we still have room for another free agent. And who knows, maybe if we do this Wallace will exercise his option and stay for another season and then we have a trading chip. And in that trade we may get a fairly talented player and a first round pick. You see, that's how a team rebuilds. It's not being foolish enough to think they can trade a crap player (which is all we'll have left if we trade Batum for Rondo) for talent.

 

[magnifier661]

Nash, Matthews and Batum.

 

[Natebishop3]

No we can't. And that's what I've been saying.

If we completely deplete players with talent to just those two we have no one to trade. We will also be out of cap space and we have no first round pick next season. In other words, we screw ourselves out of rebuilding. By keeping Batum and taking someone like Brooks we still have room for another free agent. And who knows, maybe if we do this Wallace will exercise his option and stay for another season and then we have a trading chip. And in that trade we may get a fairly talented player and a first round pick. You see, that's how a team rebuilds. It's not being foolish enough to think they can trade a crap player (which is all we'll have left if we trade Batum for Rondo) for talent.

Rondo isn't making that much actually.... only around 10 million per year. Still should be plenty of cap space to sign someone to a max deal.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Rondo isn't making that much actually.... only around 10 million per year. Still should be plenty of cap space to sign someone to a max deal.

Not after paying for Bayum and Wallace as well. Those 3 alone will be $30 million at least.