Yeah, Ariza’s not happening. DMo has been really good this year and could fill the Frye role pretty well. Terry has been a solid bench player, and you guys could wait and see wait he does this off season, but I’m guessing Phoenix isn’t going to want the majority of their payroll going to 3 point guards, and he can opt out of his contract at the end of the season (which, at 7.5, he most definitely will).
The Knicks have asked about him, but they literally have zero trade assets outside of Melo and Hardaway.
DMo is 4th is opposing field goal percentage at the rim and is averaging career highs across the board this season. Hell, I’d throw in Papanikalau too, but I think Morey and McHale like him too much to let him go.
With Josh Smith looking all the more likely in Houston by the hour, Phoenix can wait to play out the rest of the season and hope they can retain Dragic (who is probably benefitting the least from the 3 PG system, as his numbers are down from last year) and risk losing him like the Lakers did with Howard…or they can acquire a quality big and some picks (I think we have a Hornets first rounder, which will probably be in the running for the lottery at this point).
subt-L
3042
there are a lot of players for josh smith. but assuming he clears waivers (no one should bail out the pistons on that deal), i’d say 50% of the teams in the league will make a play for him, and its really where he has the best chance at doing something to regain some reputation.
and if he decides to sign for just a single season, there might be better places for him than houston (they can offer him more money, but he’s getting paid anyways).
heat will make a big play for him. it will bring the heat right into the forefront of that eastern conference if he replaces mcroberts.
sacramento wants him more than anyone, that’s for sure. and ranadiva probably feels the need to regain some faith from the fans, and josh smith is a better building block for a running team than boogie.
lakers could make a play for him, but i doubt anyone wants to be a laker right now outside of kevin love.
i’d say anyone in the top 10 in the east probably will at least garner interest.
being on a great team in the west and with the bloat there probably should be a deterrent, so i don’t see mavs, gs, trailblazers, grizz, or clippers being major players.
josh smith should find a place where his skillset is appreciated, not as some back up to another team or 4th fiddle on a stacked playoff team. an eastern conference playoff team that has less need for outside shooters and more need for a slasher, defender, and runner (like the heat) will probably do him the best long term. he needs to regain his brand as physical monster on both sides of the floor instead of being regarded as a dumb player who shoots way too much. signing with the pistons did him a real disservice, and he needs to hit the undo button as soon as possible.
BadMojo
3043
I wouldn’t get worried over it. Everyone has known they’d be taking some Ls by this time since the summer when the schedule came out. Each win and loss are weighed the same in the record. Let the clowns at ESPN and people who make up power rankings every week think about which team beat who.
Remember in 2010-11 every sportswriter and analyst was citing how the Bulls swept the Heat during the regular season, had the best record in the league and home court advantage. What happened in the end? Heat wins the series 4-1.
Playoff performance is what matters, the long season is for teams to work on getting to that level of play. Right now the biggest issue is defense, its turned to shit since DeMar went down, and he wasn’t even that good of a defender. Team has been giving up 100+ points to 5 win teams and just gave up 49 points in the 4th quarter. I bet neither side will score 49 or more points at the All-Star game, an exhibition where no one plays defense until the last 5 minutes but the Raptors allowed that many in a real game. They need to fix that, and stop relying on hero ball and guard isos on offense. I can’t believe they’ve managed to have the 2nd best offense in the league doing that, but that’s going to get shut down come POs.
Out of everyone on the team, IT is probably the most likely to go. He’s been the most vocal about being unhappy with his role, hasn’t been signed for that much, and Phoenix wouldn’t have signed Zoran if they didn’t intend on giving Goran his money once the salary cap increased. His numbers are down, but not THAT much down. Now that I’ve seen Goran in person, I can say safely that the Suns still value him greatly because out of the three point guards, he’s the one who’s most capable of passing the ball while at the same time attacking the basket.
His numbers are down, yes, but keep in mind last year, Bledsoe was hurt for most of the season and there was no IT, so Goran carried the load by himself.
GeoG2
3045
Suns signing IT is still the dumbest free agency move from the summer. They were trying to figure out their backcourt, yet decided to make it worst by adding yet another pg.
Heat are the only suitors that actually NEED a guy like Josh Smith. Houston does nothing for his value except provide a sequel with Dwight to how Josh couldn’t play well with Drummond. Would easily destroy their spacing. Drive and kick passes to Bosh is something he would excel at, just like he did with Horford.
GeoG2
3046
Found this:
“One advantage the Lakers have is money, in the form of the Steve Nash disabled player exception…The Lakers can spend up to $4.85 million on a single player. The Rockets have their bi-annual exception, which can be used to sign Smith for up to $2.1 million. The Heat may receive a disabled player exception for Josh McRoberts (knee) for $2.7 million. The Clippers, Kings and Mavericks can offer…just under $1 million.”
I can’t see Lakers doing anything. They must have learned their lesson when they snatched Boozer off waivers. Josh does nothing for them.
If it were about bidding, Heat would be next up. If it’s about oppourtunity, Heat wins. If it’s about competing for a championship, it’s Houston.
Lantis
3047
The Heat losing to the Sixers…
http://www.gifsforum.com/images/gif/lol/grand/nxkih3.jpg.gif
Geo on suicide watch while going ham on that Lebron voodoo doll.
GeoG2
3048
Actually, for once, you’re accurate.
No idea how we go from 69-47 to that ending. I really hate Spoelstra. The guy insists Shabazz isn’t in a doghouse, yet he sends him to the D-League, brings him back, and doesn’t play him at all for games now. And this is a guy who makes Norris Cole look like dog shit. The same Norris Cole who, for whatever reason, has been the starter all year.
And we’ve had like 13 different starting lineups.
It’s incredible how lost he is.
How the fuck are we beating GS by 20 points!?
Gravity
3050
Derrick Rose is returning to his old self.
Nice win vs the wizards. Wall had a good game despite the loss
Gravity
3051
Maybe they’re trying to save face before they lose dragic in free-agency
Phoenix signing IT was their way of telling Dragic, we do not need you. Then come to find out they kinda do because Dragic is the best guard they have.
I like Kobe I always have but this just shows what I have said all year, offensively Lakers should be a good team. They have guys who can shoot the damn ball, if Kobe would play more PG, it would have been much better for them this year.
GeoG2
3054
I guess this is what happens when scrub NBA players start going overseas.
They bringing the 90s back over there.
WE BEAT THE TEAM WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE NBA.
LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Who the fuck is Daniel Orton?
Kobe doesn’t play and six players go double figures lol shame on that bench old glory calling them Charmin. He should play coach and sit his ass. Only thing he still does well is the trash talking
KD_Alpha
3058
It was obviously because of Kobe, right Laker fans? When they win its because Kobe Tha God SG and when they lose its because bench scrubs.
See? I’m getting it. I didn’t understand that Laker logic before, but somehow…this season…it just feels right.
I think you’re being harsh on the All-time leader in missed FGs. You don’t get to that milestone without greatness. You have to be truly great to even miss all those shots. Not even Jordan missed as many shots. The willpower it takes to see that ball brick off the rim 20+ times a night…that’s real toughness. If anything, these players excelled tonight because Kobe’s skill is transferable through proximity, but only while he’s benched. That’s why they tend to win more when he’s not playing.
I’m sure in his mind he shot that ball 45 times tonight and made every one of them. Truly the GOAT, Kobe tha God SG. Zoltan!
IT was signed for Bledsoe insurance in case he bolted, which was looking like a real possibility until he signed at the last minute. IF THEY DIDN’T VALUE DRAGIC, THEY WOULDN’T HAVE SIGNED HIS BROTHER. Zoran’s role on the team is strictly to keep Goran happy until they re-negotiate his contract. We just made the Mavericks look like scrubs. We’re not going to make any panic moves that will make us worse.
You guys need to put down your copy of NBA2k and accept that Dragic isn’t going anywhere. Our GM isn’t Lance Blanks anymore: McD isn’t going to let Dragic walk unless we get something in return that turn us into contenders. We’re still getting a bunch of first-rounders from the Lakers for the Nash trade, we don’t need any more picks. And now that Len and Keef are developing into true starters (Keef is averaging 15 PPG and Len has been killing it lately), we might actually be good with what we have right now. Unless someone’s offering an All-Star, Dragic’s getting re-signed.
makmak
3060
LOL LA beating GS without kobe.
Nice win by the bulls!
