What two max contract guys would you replace Pierce and KG with this offseason?

[chambers]

So if Pierce and KG are both gone (retire) I'm assuming both their contracts come off the books. Another option is trading Pierce as an expiring one year deal.

So if we could clear the cap room for Pierce and KG..(almost two max players or over 25 million), which free agents or realistic trade targets would you go after? Both must be acquired by all star deadline 2015

I've felt a decent option may be moving Pierce for Eric Gordon, and getting Josh Smith or Paul Millsap as a free agent.(sign and trade with Bass when Pierce and KG are gone).

Rondo
Eric Gordon
Jeff Green
Josh Smith or Paul Millsap
Stretch big

Gordon gives us that scoring punch but also stretches the floor like Harden.

I do admit that Gordon and Smith could lead us to a very disappointing few seasons given injury and attitude concerns.
But they could potentially give us a contender if we got the right role players off the bench and a defensive center.
Perhaps a better scoring PF like Millsap instead of Smith? Millsap would be cheaper and get us more points, just not as much defensive impact.

If we could work it to achieve two max guys, who would you go after that's a realistic possibility?
Even if its not 100 percent doable this year, who would you take over the next two seasons?

[Roy H.]

It doesn't work that way. If I recall correctly, we would have to jump through hoops just to sign one max guy.

[Celtics4ever]

I don't think it works that way but I think a SG is a dire need.

[slamtheking]

Personally, I wouldn't sign a max FA this offseason.  no one I'd consider worth that $ except DH and I just don't see him as the type of player I want on the C's.

I'd prefer to
-sign some 1-year deals as place holders
-get a high 2014 pick to add to Rondo, Green and Sully
-move the expiring deals of Bass/JET/Lee if at all possible
-trade Bradley for another 1st rounder that year or in 2015
-use the available cap space that year to go after a much better FA crop.  May need to use the expiring Bass/JET/Lee deals as part of a sign-and-trade to get those players.  I'd be looking for good young players that might not require max $ so that I could perhaps land 3 of the following:
-Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Paul George (not likely to leave Indy though), Greg Monroe, Derrick Favors, Ed Davis, Vucevic, DMC, Kanter. 
Obviously the plan isn't to get them all but there's a lot to go after for restocking the franchise.  Not to mention having Rondo, Sully and Green and the Boston fanbase may be enough to entice 2-3 of them here.

[chambers]

It doesn't work that way. If I recall correctly, we would have to jump through hoops just to sign one max guy.

I'm pretty sure if kg retires his 10 million comes straight off the cap?
If we don't pick up pierces option it's another spare 10 million( guaranteed 5 million)
If he retires its 16 million off isn't it?

Perhaps I'm completely wrong :s

Lets say if we could sign two max guys in the next two seasons, then who would you pick?

[chambers]

Personally, I wouldn't sign a max FA this offseason.  no one I'd consider worth that $ except DH and I just don't see him as the type of player I want on the C's.

I'd prefer to
-sign some 1-year deals as place holders
-get a high 2014 pick to add to Rondo, Green and Sully
-move the expiring deals of Bass/JET/Lee if at all possible
-trade Bradley for another 1st rounder that year or in 2015
-use the available cap space that year to go after a much better FA crop.  May need to use the expiring Bass/JET/Lee deals as part of a sign-and-trade to get those players.  I'd be looking for good young players that might not require max $ so that I could perhaps land 3 of the following:
-Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Paul George (not likely to leave Indy though), Greg Monroe, Derrick Favors, Ed Davis, Vucevic, DMC, Kanter. 
Obviously the plan isn't to get them all but there's a lot to go after for restocking the franchise.  Not to mention having Rondo, Sully and Green and the Boston fanbase may be enough to entice 2-3 of them here.

Nice ideas,TP, it's almost a blessing that Rondos knee went out because he won't expect too much next season recovering from the operation and losing KG and/or Pierce. He'll be sighting 2014-15 as the new beginning for us....

[SHAQATTACK]

Personally, I wouldn't sign a max FA this offseason.  no one I'd consider worth that $ except DH and I just don't see him as the type of player I want on the C's.

I'd prefer to
-sign some 1-year deals as place holders
-get a high 2014 pick to add to Rondo, Green and Sully
-move the expiring deals of Bass/JET/Lee if at all possible
-trade Bradley for another 1st rounder that year or in 2015
-use the available cap space that year to go after a much better FA crop.  May need to use the expiring Bass/JET/Lee deals as part of a sign-and-trade to get those players.  I'd be looking for good young players that might not require max $ so that I could perhaps land 3 of the following:
-Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Paul George (not likely to leave Indy though), Greg Monroe, Derrick Favors, Ed Davis, Vucevic, DMC, Kanter. 
Obviously the plan isn't to get them all but there's a lot to go after for restocking the franchise.  Not to mention having Rondo, Sully and Green and the Boston fanbase may be enough to entice 2-3 of them here.

well said ,   something happening along these is most likely ,   never can tell DA might pull the hat trick ...IF the deal is right.

[fantankerous]

It doesn't work that way. If I recall correctly, we would have to jump through hoops just to sign one max guy.

I'm pretty sure if kg retires his 10 million comes straight off the cap?
If we don't pick up pierces option it's another spare 10 million( guaranteed 5 million)
If he retires its 16 million off isn't it?

Perhaps I'm completely wrong :s

Lets say if we could sign two max guys in the next two seasons, then who would you pick?

With PP and KG off the books, we still have $46m in salaries next year, not including cap holds and our draft pick.  This year's cap was 58m, I believe.  Therefore, PP and KG retiring does not allow us to sign even one max contract.

[KGs Knee]

This off-season,for all intents and purposes, it is extremely unlikely for the reasons already stated in this thread.

Summer 2014 is much more possible, but would still require a few contracts to be moved this upcoming season.  By 2015 we'll definitely have room, provided no other long-term deals are given out between now and then.

My preference is to make the moves necessary for 2014 to be the year we try to make a big free agent splash.

[Monkhouse]

We need a consistent SG/PF/Big.

I'm one avid fan of J-Smoove. I feel that he can give us the defensive intensity down low, that most Centers in this day and age can't. Not to mention under Doc's tutelage, chances are his ability to comprehend certain areas of defense, the Hawks weren't able to utilize would be more efficient.

Not to mention J-Smoove wants a change of scenery, and has stated his urge to play with Rondo. I don't know if his willingness to take a pay cut will be just a pipe dream, once KG/Pierce retire.

Then we need a shooting guard that is consistent, I would say keep Lee as he is still young, and has shown flashes of brilliance.

But I would easily try to package Bass, a good 1v1 defense specialist, and Terry/Crawford to any team who either needs a poor man's JR Smith, and a proven playoff veteran.

My ideal lineup would be if we could re-structure KG's and Pierce's contract for lower pay, we could land a decent F/A, and try to trade Terry or Bass to the Nuggets for Mozgov.

We could also try to pick up Perkins if they amnesty him. But one way or the other, our dire need for a strong PF or Center will be hindered by which one we choose. Knowing D/A he might try to draft a center and hope that's enough.

[Who]

Eric Gordon would be a very interesting risk to take if he was available at a low price.

A three man backcourt of Rondo, E.Gordon and A.Bradley would be a formidable combination. Eric Gordon would give the team a major scoring boost and an extra ball-handler + playmaker. Good defender too.

[Monkhouse]

Eric Gordon would be a very interesting risk to take if he was available at a low price.

A three man backcourt of Rondo, E.Gordon and A.Bradley would be a formidable combination. Eric Gordon would give the team a major scoring boost and an extra ball-handler + playmaker. Good defender too.

On paper Gordon sounds like a very good piece to have on any team wanting to contend. On the other hand, his body always injure prone makes me turn the other way.

I hope his body stays healthy, and by a stroke of luck we obtain him cheaply.

[Clench123]

Cousins and Josh Smith

[kozlodoev]

Cousins and Josh Smith

The two of those taken together shouldn't be making one max salary.

[pearljammer10]

It doesn't work that way. If I recall correctly, we would have to jump through hoops just to sign one max guy.

I'm pretty sure if kg retires his 10 million comes straight off the cap?
If we don't pick up pierces option it's another spare 10 million( guaranteed 5 million)
If he retires its 16 million off isn't it?

Perhaps I'm completely wrong :s

Lets say if we could sign two max guys in the next two seasons, then who would you pick?

With PP and KG off the books, we still have $46m in salaries next year, not including cap holds and our draft pick.  This year's cap was 58m, I believe.  Therefore, PP and KG retiring does not allow us to sign even one max contract.

This right here.