So Who's this Player Wyc talks about???

[snively]

I think there are some truths that are pretty much self-evident:

- Artest and Marion would never accept the MLE to play as backups here. I strongly suspect this is also true for Gortat.

- McDyess has a lot more in the tank than Sheed. To assume Wallace is still the better player of the two is a leap of faith. Maybe it can happen, but the signs, while inconclusive, clearly point otherwise.

- We don't need Iverson. We need a better backup wing than Jamario Moon (who isn't a good 3pt shooter and is a terrible slasher). Parker would be a better backup wing than Jamario Moon. Grant Hill would be a much better backup wing than anyone else realistically available.

Agreed on all but two points.

1. Artest is too unpredictable to put never before his name.  I would say he's an unlikely signing, but not an impossibility.  Boston could feasibly offer him 25-30 minutes a game as the primary back-up to Pierce and Allen with some time as the 4 in a small ball line-up.

2. I wouldn't characterize Moon as a terrible 3pt shooter.  Not great certainly, but adequate, and not somebody that teams are going to abandon like TA.  And, unlike Scal, he can contribute in multiple ways, creating turnovers and rebounding.  He's not the best option, but I wouldn't be disappointed if he ends up as our new back-up 3.

[cordobes]

I think there are some truths that are pretty much self-evident:

- Artest and Marion would never accept the MLE to play as backups here. I strongly suspect this is also true for Gortat.

- McDyess has a lot more in the tank than Sheed. To assume Wallace is still the better player of the two is a leap of faith. Maybe it can happen, but the signs, while inconclusive, clearly point otherwise.

- We don't need Iverson. We need a better backup wing than Jamario Moon (who isn't a good 3pt shooter and is a terrible slasher). Parker would be a better backup wing than Jamario Moon. Grant Hill would be a much better backup wing than anyone else realistically available.

Agreed on all but two points.

1. Artest is too unpredictable to put never before his name.  I would say he's an unlikely signing, but not an impossibility.  Boston could feasibly offer him 25-30 minutes a game as the primary back-up to Pierce and Allen with some time as the 4 in a small ball line-up.

He would take a paycut to play 25 minutes off the bench? Well, anything is possible, as Garnett would say...At the very least, it's an extremely unrealistic scenario.

2. I wouldn't characterize Moon as a terrible 3pt shooter. 

Neither would I. And I didn't. I characterized him as a terrible slasher. As a shooter, he's decent but doesn't have much range.

[Gomesfan]

Jermaine O'neill would be cheap for a KP43 back up!

[snively]

I think there are some truths that are pretty much self-evident:

- Artest and Marion would never accept the MLE to play as backups here. I strongly suspect this is also true for Gortat.

- McDyess has a lot more in the tank than Sheed. To assume Wallace is still the better player of the two is a leap of faith. Maybe it can happen, but the signs, while inconclusive, clearly point otherwise.

- We don't need Iverson. We need a better backup wing than Jamario Moon (who isn't a good 3pt shooter and is a terrible slasher). Parker would be a better backup wing than Jamario Moon. Grant Hill would be a much better backup wing than anyone else realistically available.

Agreed on all but two points.

1. Artest is too unpredictable to put never before his name.  I would say he's an unlikely signing, but not an impossibility.  Boston could feasibly offer him 25-30 minutes a game as the primary back-up to Pierce and Allen with some time as the 4 in a small ball line-up.

He would take a paycut to play 25 minutes off the bench? Well, anything is possible, as Garnett would say...At the very least, it's an extremely unrealistic scenario.

2. I wouldn't characterize Moon as a terrible 3pt shooter. 

Neither would I. And I didn't. I characterized him as a terrible slasher. As a shooter, he's decent but doesn't have much range.

Whoops!  Some dyslexia there on my part.

If Houston decides not to resign Artest (or vice versa), I think we have as good a shot as any contender at signing him.  Though we can't offer him as many minutes as say Cleveland or San Antonio, we have a player's coach, a likable trio of peer stars, a system that rewards defensive impact players with lots of playing time and, health-permitting, great odds at taking a title.

There's a much better chance of Artest signing here than Marion, who has proven that he cannot handle the "disrespect" of low pay and low minutes.

[PosImpos]

Jermaine O'neill would be cheap for a KP43 back up!

I doubt it.

[paintitgreen]

Jermaine O'neill would be cheap for a KP43 back up!

I doubt it.

Jermaine O'Neal is under contract for $23 million next season. Unless Miami buys him out, we can't get him (well, we could trade Ray for him, but that would be nuts). And they won't buy him out because they have no incentive to do so - they'll either trade him before or during the season to bring in a big gun to pair with Wade, or let him play the year out and hope he can help Wade and Beasley get a little further in the Playoffs then use the expiring cap space next summer to bring in a big gun to pair with Wade. Miami has no salary committed beyond 2010 except some relatively cheap team options - Beasley, Cook, Jones, Chalmers - about $12.5 million total - and Wade's player option, so they could resign Wade AND bring in a guy like Bosh or Amare with relative ease. So if they're not getting a big gun to pair with Wade, they're not giving up O'Neal.

[Celtic#9]

Jermaine O'neill would be cheap for a KP43 back up!

I doubt it.

Jermaine O'Neal is under contract for $23 million next season. Unless Miami buys him out, we can't get him (well, we could trade Ray for him, but that would be nuts). And they won't buy him out because they have no incentive to do so - they'll either trade him before or during the season to bring in a big gun to pair with Wade, or let him play the year out and hope he can help Wade and Beasley get a little further in the Playoffs then use the expiring cap space next summer to bring in a big gun to pair with Wade. Miami has no salary committed beyond 2010 except some relatively cheap team options - Beasley, Cook, Jones, Chalmers - about $12.5 million total - and Wade's player option, so they could resign Wade AND bring in a guy like Bosh or Amare with relative ease. So if they're not getting a big gun to pair with Wade, they're not giving up O'Neal.

If i were Miami I'd give up O' Neal he's way overpaid.

[celticmaestro]

I really hope it's Will Solomon.

[paintitgreen]

Jermaine O'neill would be cheap for a KP43 back up!

I doubt it.

Jermaine O'Neal is under contract for $23 million next season. Unless Miami buys him out, we can't get him (well, we could trade Ray for him, but that would be nuts). And they won't buy him out because they have no incentive to do so - they'll either trade him before or during the season to bring in a big gun to pair with Wade, or let him play the year out and hope he can help Wade and Beasley get a little further in the Playoffs then use the expiring cap space next summer to bring in a big gun to pair with Wade. Miami has no salary committed beyond 2010 except some relatively cheap team options - Beasley, Cook, Jones, Chalmers - about $12.5 million total - and Wade's player option, so they could resign Wade AND bring in a guy like Bosh or Amare with relative ease. So if they're not getting a big gun to pair with Wade, they're not giving up O'Neal.

If i were Miami I'd give up O' Neal he's way overpaid.

What for? Yeah, he's overpaid, but he's under contract. There's nothing you can do about it. It's not as though they're holding onto him for his skill, they're holding onto him because they don't have much of an option. A buyout doesn't save them very much money in all likelihood. They don't have any other options at center right now. They don't want to add guys on with long term deals because they want cap room next year. And considering the cap room they'll have next summer to lure a big time free agent (and it's Miami, so it's an enticing play to go with South Beach and little (no?) income tax) if they hold onto O'Neal until his contract expires after this season, why would they give him up unless they were getting a star player in return?

I mean, I understand he's overpaid but they're contractually obligated to pay him.

[greenwise]

I think there are some truths that are pretty much self-evident:

- Artest and Marion would never accept the MLE to play as backups here. I strongly suspect this is also true for Gortat.

- McDyess has a lot more in the tank than Sheed. To assume Wallace is still the better player of the two is a leap of faith. Maybe it can happen, but the signs, while inconclusive, clearly point otherwise.

- We don't need Iverson. We need a better backup wing than Jamario Moon (who isn't a good 3pt shooter and is a terrible slasher). Parker would be a better backup wing than Jamario Moon. Grant Hill would be a much better backup wing than anyone else realistically available.

Agreed on all but two points.

1. Artest is too unpredictable to put never before his name.  I would say he's an unlikely signing, but not an impossibility.  Boston could feasibly offer him 25-30 minutes a game as the primary back-up to Pierce and Allen with some time as the 4 in a small ball line-up.

2. I wouldn't characterize Moon as a terrible 3pt shooter.  Not great certainly, but adequate, and not somebody that teams are going to abandon like TA.  And, unlike Scal, he can contribute in multiple ways, creating turnovers and rebounding.  He's not the best option, but I wouldn't be disappointed if he ends up as our new back-up 3.

What if Danny finally trades Ray Ray? If so, maybe we could offer Artest starter minutes. A lineup with KG, Perk and Artest would be strong

[greenwise]

And by the way, NO to Jermaine O'Neal please. He is washed up and his D was never very good either

[snively]

If the wife-beater chants never happened I could talk myself into Jason Kidd pipe dream.

Great playmaker and all-around contributor who can fill in the 1-3 positions (the 3's a stretch, but Kidd's such a savvy defender on swingmen) and knock down the open 3. 

[Cman]

If the wife-beater chants never happened I could talk myself into Jason Kidd pipe dream.

I had forgotten about this.  Good riddance to Kidd, I don't want his type on the Cs.  Same for Kobe.

[cordobes]

And by the way, NO to Jermaine O'Neal please. He is washed up and his D was never very good either

Absolutely disagree. He was never exactly a 1on1 defensive stopper, especially when he was forced to defend centers and bigger players, but at his peak, the impact of his defence in a game was top-notch, second only to Garnett, Wallace, Duncan, Mutombo.