Per Sherrod Twitter...Sheed having second thoughts about retiring?

[LooseCannon]

Sheed returning wouldn't be bad, he's a good player, but I would much rather have a good swingman.  Adding Sheed would be good for depth in the frontcourt but we wouldn't have enough playing time to go around.

A good swing would make more of an impact on this team at 2 and 3.

What if the best you can get for Sheed's contract is an average swingman?

[Snakehead]

Sheed returning wouldn't be bad, he's a good player, but I would much rather have a good swingman.  Adding Sheed would be good for depth in the frontcourt but we wouldn't have enough playing time to go around.

A good swing would make more of an impact on this team at 2 and 3.

What if the best you can get for Sheed's contract is an average swingman?

Well do you mean an average swingman overall?  Like compared to all SGs?  Because Rudy Fernandez, by stats, is about average (maybe below).  I think he would be improved with us and with better stats (becoming the "good" swingman I was referring to, especially in a bench role), but going from right now he'd be "average" but that would be a good trade for me (I know it's not because the salaries don't match, but hypothetically).  Rudy has talent above his stats and would be better outside of the Portland system.  Portland knows that, that's why they haven't already traded him for just a first I'm sure, because I bet that has already been offered.

Having the insurance for another injury in the post would be nice but I just don't know if having another big like that would be of the most value and help to the team.

Sheed in the regular season was at best average.  In the playoffs he played good defense and at times good offense.  He played an important role but with Shaq and Jermaine O'neal now on the team, I think a swingman would be better, even if he might not have the talent level of Rasheed. 

Despite Rasheed's talent, he was not the most productive player while here anyways.




BUT, we would have a very formidable front court.  We were beat in the paint last year, so this would be a total swing towards improving our post game.  The guards would be similar except minus TA, who did play a big role but perhaps could be replaced by Nate in more minutes and Wafer, who is a better offensive player.

Though we wouldn't have that real SG/SF stopper, we would be very strong meeting those types of players at the rim.  And I'd like our matchups with Orlando and Miami, to counter Howard and exploit the possible weakness of Miami, the inside game.  It really wouldn't be bad if he came back but if we could get Rudy and perhaps a servicable big to balance the salaries instead I would rather do that.

[manl_lui]

having that many bigs is really difficult, how will Doc play this?

the question is, do you guys trust Daniels as the backup 3

[LarBrd33]

Since we are just stacking our team with washed up big men with nothing or next to nothing left (Sheed, Shaq, Oneal, Oneal, KG)... should we also consider bringing Bill Russell back too?  

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5447171

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and other NBA stars joined Obama in Washington to entertain wounded troops.

The present-day stars were joined by some retired legends, including Bill Russell and Magic Johnson. College player Maya Moore of the Connecticut Huskies women's team also played.

The game was played for a group of "wounded warriors" -- troops injured in action -- and participants in the White House's mentoring program.

Russell was playing a game with Bron and Wade?... sign him up!  He's still got game! I bet he can still play defense!  

[Snakehead]

having that many bigs is really difficult, how will Doc play this?

the question is, do you guys trust Daniels as the backup 3

Well in the regular season it would be:

1) Rondo
2) Ray
3) Pierce
4) KG
5) J O'Neal


then the bench:

1) Nate
2) Wafer
3) Quis
4) Sheed
5) Shaq


And also Big Baby coming in playing PF or C in a pinch.  If this did happen, I would not be surprised if Sheed almost didn't play the regular season, or did only some games giving some of the other bigs a night off.  Big Baby is a young guy who would want and deserve to stay in the rotation, and with the older guys more concerned with just rings this would make sense.

It's not a bad problem to have.  We do not really know if Perk will be back yet, so that would be insurance. Also, when Perk does return we would have Sheed as the 3rd string C, which may not see a ton of minutes but certainly would see some.  I'm sure all the other guys would rather play less minutes and remain fresh.  We'd have plenty of fouls and bodies to throw at Dwight Howard and the Heat would struggle to match up with the big, talented, fresh guys we could keep throwing at them inside.  It would also be a flexible lineup, with Sheed and Jermaine being able to play both PF and C (BBD too to a lesser degree).

A lineup against Miami that put say Sheed at SF, KG at PF, and Jermaine at C could actually work better as it would clog up the middle.  It'd be interesting to try at least.

I do not trust Quis that much as our 3, but if Wafer steps up we could use him more at the 3 perhaps.  If we hypothetically get Rudy, we could play him at the 2 more, and then Wafer at the 3.  Also, I'm sure Nate will get PT as a backup SG next to Rondo, so Wafer could play SF in that situation.

If Quis is asked to do less on offense and be more of a stopper and he remains healthy, I do like him.  He never really impressed me too much last year but we have heard that he was not healthy even when back.  I do not think he would of been brought back by the team if this was not the case.  If we need more offense, we could go with Wafer.  So we have some options.

Assuming we take the "coast through the regular season" road again, the tactic of having Sheed and giving the other old bigs nights off or saving Sheed mostly for the playoffs could actually be very smart.  Something to think about certainly.

[LooseCannon]

Sheed returning wouldn't be bad, he's a good player, but I would much rather have a good swingman.  Adding Sheed would be good for depth in the frontcourt but we wouldn't have enough playing time to go around.

A good swing would make more of an impact on this team at 2 and 3.

What if the best you can get for Sheed's contract is an average swingman?

Well do you mean an average swingman overall? 

Let's say someone who would describe as neither good nor bad.  Maybe I should have said a mediocre swingman who Doc won't hesitate to play.  Or a guy who you think would be a bargain for the minimum salary if he was a free agent, but who you're not sure would be worth the full MLE.

With Rudy Fernandez, what you're paying for, basically, is potential.  This is a guy who was, at one point, down to the third-string SG and who didn't get the starting nod when Brandon Roy had a mid-season hamstring injury.

[Snakehead]

Sheed returning wouldn't be bad, he's a good player, but I would much rather have a good swingman.  Adding Sheed would be good for depth in the frontcourt but we wouldn't have enough playing time to go around.

A good swing would make more of an impact on this team at 2 and 3.

What if the best you can get for Sheed's contract is an average swingman?

Well do you mean an average swingman overall?  

Let's say someone who would describe as neither good nor bad.  Maybe I should have said a mediocre swingman who Doc won't hesitate to play.  Or a guy who you think would be a bargain for the minimum salary if he was a free agent, but who you're not sure would be worth the full MLE.

With Rudy Fernandez, what you're paying for, basically, is potential.  This is a guy who was, at one point, down to the third-string SG and who didn't get the starting nod when Brandon Roy had a mid-season hamstring injury.

I don't think it's too risky of potential though.  I think it was very much the Portland system, which is the slowest paced in the league, and he would really thrive in the transition game. Rudy was asked to just shoot 3's, and he can do that well, but it is not all he can do.  He also did not play with a PG near Rondo's caliber, and he is the type of guy who would benefit hugely from a good PG.  He gets almost all of his baskets assisted, wether from open 3's or cutting to the rim, which he is very good at.  

Watch him in the World Championships on Spain this summer, you will see more of his game in a system that fits him.

Even if Fernandez is only the player he was on Portland, he is still a "mediocre swingman".  He would be a bargain at the minimum (which is what he's paid not basically) and is not worth the MLE.  But I am very confident he would be better.