Another redundant whose left thread (wings)

[fairweatherfan06]

Because serviceable wings (not so much big men, there weren't many to begin with anyway) are dropping like flies.  Miller is off the board, Dorrell Wright is gone, looks like Morrow will go to NJ because GS is signing Wright.  So whose left and how realistic are they?

T-Mac-if he has anything left this by definition is a low risk high reward signing (at the minimum) looking like more and more of a reality unless somebody throws some money at him.

Rudy Fernandez-Blazers want him gone, he wants to be gone and he's inexpensive.  But what do they want for him?  Also I like him more if TA leaves for Big money than as a backup @ SG/SF beside Tony.  Prefer somebody taller and more proven, but I like him wouldn't be mad

James Jones-the right kind of player on paper.  Tall long, can hit the three (good career percentage) however he had sparse minutes on a mediocre Miami team last year which makes you wonder....

Antoine Wright- we could do better or worse ehhh

Rasual Butler-I think he's a good signing I think he'll look different with less minutes but we don't need him to be a star so I like him though he's leaning towards the Mavs my understanding.

Tim Thomas- He has the skill set we want (on paper and can play 3-5)  I thought he had some left in the tank last year, but he didn't do much for the Mavs last year and was injured half the year, but he'd be cheap...

Shawn Marion- Yeah I know we've heard zilch about him even being available but he's a great fit and you  never know if the mavs want to shed some salary for some other player or something, he for Sheed's contract straight up works.

Shane Battier-Houston has a lot of wings and not enough bigs and still may move him in a salary dump.  He for Sheed's contract works straight up.  He's a perfect fit here, only downside is he doesn't help us get any younger, but he still has lots of good years left so not a bad signing at all.

Josh Childress-Is gonna get good money from some team and its unlikely to be us but I left him on the list because he hasn't signed anywhere yet

Marvin Williams-also a decent fit and could be traded for Sheed's contract but I feel like Atlanta is looking for more than that

My hope is for Battier, but wouldn't mind T-Mac or Rudy.  Marion or Williams would take lots of luck I think to happen. (I'd say Butler but I don't think he's gonna be available)

So there you have it the saga continues.

[PosImpos]

Richard Jefferson isn't outside the realm of possibility, though it's pretty unlikely.

[GreenFaith1819]

I like Battier, T-Mac, or Rasual Butler from the list. I like Rudy as well, but as a backup to Pierce? Not so much.

Whoever this is will be drawing Lebron's defensive assignment while Pierce is out in any game VS MIA, so I think Battier could help us the most there.

Battier is easily the best Defender out of that bunch, I think. He's tall (6'8"), good age (31).

I keep going back and forth about T-Mac, though...when this man was at his best, he was one of only a few players I remember that could legitimately guard Dirk Nowitzki..and he was one of the most explosive offensive players.

He's not that old, either.

I'd love to see him reunite with Doc, if he could deal with a backup role.

[fairweatherfan06]

Forgot about Al Harrington.  Not sure if he plays any defense but he's a fit in every other way.  I'm sure somebody will probably throw some money at him and NY is not gonna S&T someone in the division for nothing.  Speculation the Knicks were trying to work a S&T for him which I wouldn't be suprised if it involved Gortat. But he's still available so until then...

[Who]

T-Mac is a low risk no reward signing

Similar to signing Patrick O'Bryant last year. There's just no point to it. It'll never work.

[FrDrake]

A few players people haven't mentioned who should be available:

Larry Hughes.  Definitely a candidate for the veteran's minimum.  Used to be a good defender and slasher, if a poor shooter.  How much does he have left in the tank?

Jannero Pargo.  Good 3pt shooter.

Luther Head. Ditto on the 3s.

Q Rich.  Probably not a good fit.  I believe he and Pierce are not fond of each other.

Crittenton.  Doubt he will be back with his good buddy Gilbert in DC.

Rodney Carney.  Don't know much about him, but was once a late lottery pick I believe.

[SCBirdman]

I would be ok with T-Mac only as a last resort, meaning we can't find a way to use Sheed's contract at all. Hopefully this will not be the case.

However, if T-Mac embraced his role as a bench player and a guy that is signed to be a bench scorer and facilitator then I think he would be perfect. He is 6'7 and can handle and score. Not sure how his defense is, but with decreased minutes he could really be effective IF....IF he wants to be. If he would embrace his role, if he bought in to our team defense.

The downside is he becomes a malcontent, or is just washed up as a player.

[jarufu]

Shane Battier would be my first choice but I think he's too useful to the Rockets.  If there's even a whiff of a trade for Battier, I'd be all over it (me being a GM of basketball operations 'n' all  !)

[rayallen_35_24]

i'm pretty sure damion wilkens can be had for the vet. min.

[the_Bird]

Shane Battier would be my first choice but I think he's too useful to the Rockets.  If there's even a whiff of a trade for Battier, I'd be all over it (me being a GM of basketball operations 'n' all  !)

You and 28 other GMs!

Battier's a pipe dream, every team in the league would love to have him aboard.  He's not really overpaid, he's a little redundant with Houston because of Ariza but he earns about what he should.  Great D, good shooter, doesn't do anything to hurt you on the court. 

We could offer Houston potentially some $$ savings with 'Sheed's contract, but we're not the only team that could save Houston some money.  Hell, Cleveland could absorb Battier to help fill in the LeBron hole.  They've got the trade exception and a metric butt-ton of draft picks from Miami now.  That's just an example, Cleveland really needs a guy who can create his own shot but I don't see how Boston's in any particularly strong position to get a Battier deal done.

[pearljammer10]

T Mac would be my first choice without question.

I would love to see Marion in green. If Dallas is looking to add a bigger name to put alongside Dirk I could see them wanting to save some salary cap space and look to net Sheed. They could use the extra cap space if they end up want to trade Damp for Jefferson.

[Eddie20]

Shane Battier would be my first choice but I think he's too useful to the Rockets.  If there's even a whiff of a trade for Battier, I'd be all over it (me being a GM of basketball operations 'n' all  !)

You and 28 other GMs!

Battier's a pipe dream, every team in the league would love to have him aboard.  He's not really overpaid, he's a little redundant with Houston because of Ariza but he earns about what he should.  Great D, good shooter, doesn't do anything to hurt you on the court. 

We could offer Houston potentially some $$ savings with 'Sheed's contract, but we're not the only team that could save Houston some money.  Hell, Cleveland could absorb Battier to help fill in the LeBron hole.  They've got the trade exception and a metric butt-ton of draft picks from Miami now.  That's just an example, Cleveland really needs a guy who can create his own shot but I don't see how Boston's in any particularly strong position to get a Battier deal done.

Battier is almost a lock to not get traded unless it's for something of value in return. His contract is expiring and they have a nice team that could make a run in the playoffs if they (Yao) ramain healthy. They should have no interest in a salary dump.

[Jon]

Josh Howard should be the main priority for the C's at this point.  He'd be perfect in nearly every way as he has playoff experience, size, can play some defense, and could take scoring pressure off of PP and Ray and allow Doc to rest them more.  He isn't a great shooter, but getting Howard wouldn't mean we couldn't then go get a shooter on top of him. 

I don't know how we pull this off though.  Minimum probably doesn't get it done.  We could try a sign and trade, but does Washington even want that? 

[Evantime34]

Josh Howard should be the main priority for the C's at this point.  He'd be perfect in nearly every way as he has playoff experience, size, can play some defense, and could take scoring pressure off of PP and Ray and allow Doc to rest them more.  He isn't a great shooter, but getting Howard wouldn't mean we couldn't then go get a shooter on top of him. 

I don't know how we pull this off though.  Minimum probably doesn't get it done.  We could try a sign and trade, but does Washington even want that? 

I agree that he would be good but isn't he going to be out half the season after getting injured in a similar way to Perk? The other problem is in a sign and trade with Washington who else would they be willing to part with? No way we give Howard a contract equal to Sheed's. I like Thornton and Blatche but they aren't going anywhere. Heinrich would good but we might have to throw in a first and I want no part of Yi.

[FrDrake]

T Mac couldn't string together two good games in a row last season for the Knicks and that was after he had had, I believe, a FULL calendar year of rehab after knee surgery.  He basically quit on the Rockets by electing to have surgery just before the '09 trading deadline and didn't come back until the same time in '10.

When he DID come back he started talking big in New York about how he wanted to be the third star behind Lebron and Bosh on the Knicks.  It was all hot air.  The guy is done.