yamaneko

If there are no more deals, i would be happy with:

Kaman Rebraca Wilcox
Brand Moore
Maggette Korolev
Mobley Ross
Livingston Jaric Brunson Ewing

Not convinced we should bring Korolev over at this point. ALthough we are thin at SF on paper, Moore can play minutes there, as can ross and jaric, and its not as if maggette will be on the bench much anyway. Even with Jaric, Id like to bring brunson in, because if any of our wings go down, jaric will need to start there, and I dont want to be left with only ewing as the backup. Same thing if livingston himself goes down.

as last year, even without N'Diaye, we would be very deep in the front court if we do resign Moore and Rebraca. Last year it was important as kaman started off injured, wilcox was injured, rebraca the first half of the year was injured/not 100%, etc. With everyone going into the season healthy (hopefully), thats a very strong front court.

The reason why im not sold on korolev coming over here is because where would his minutes come from. Jaric/Ross will be the primary subs off of the bench in the back court and at SF, and even with that, not many minutes might be available since maggette, mobley, livingston figure to play big minutes.

Chalmers i think will be sent to the NBDL. Since the rosters are expanded, we might also see one more minimum guy picked up a la brunson last year, or perhaps someone from training camp making the team, again, a la brunson last year.

The above team is only different than last year in that were changing mobley for simmons which is an upgrade as far as team makeup goes, no n'diyaye, and ewing instead of chalmers. If with an inferior team the year before who had major injury problems could do as "well" as they did, imagine a slightly improved team who can stay healthy.

The key to making the playoffs will be the play of the seemingly endles slist of "borderline" playoff teams for next year in the West. The only LOCKS for Top of the west is san antonio and dallas it seems. Phoenix i woulnt count as a lock unless they resign JJ. Seattle wasnt expected to do anything last year with the team they have, and they over achieved...this years team is a lot weaker barring some last minute signings. Houston with stromile probably should be considered locks for top 5 i guess. Sactown downgraded even more by getting bonzi to replace mobley. Denver is a hard team to figure out, Memphis is borderline, minnesota definately borderilne, Lakers are borderline, goldenstate's sucess depends on baron staying healthy, etc. etc.

The west is definately going to be wide open next year it seems. In the past, before the season, in the west, you could usually bank on about 6 teams that were locks for the playoffs. This year i dont see that happening.

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08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship