Where would we be right now had we stuck with the blow it up plan that was pushed earlier this past season. Obviously, we should have gotten more than just Pierce for Duhon, Nocioni, and both Knicks picks but I'm still OK with the move. We dumped Raef's contract in the deal for Tim Thomas who actually might have been better than expected during the season. Nonetheless, you let him walk because he's not part of the plans.
Our 2005 Roster was:
- C: Perkins, Blount, Borchardt
- PF: Jefferson, T. Thomas, Gomes
- SF: Nocioni, Allen, Scalabrine
- SG: R. Davis, West, G. Green.
- PG: Duhon, Banks, Dickau
That team would have been absolutely atrocious which would have netted us a top four pick, at worst, giving us picks #2 and #5 in this draft. We also would have had the 36th and 37th picks to add some talent. Being a big believer in Rudy Gay, I would have gone after him with our first pick over Ty Thomas. Assuming Morrison and Ty Thomas go at the next two spots, the choice is between Aldridge, Roy, Foye, Shelden Williams or the Telfair trade. I would like to think of other possible deals (one with Golden St. being the most obvious) but to keep this in the realm of reality, I'll stick using the deal that went down. I would alter the deal a bit getting Travis Outaw and Skinner instead of Ratliff (and dumping Blount instead of Raef). Something like, #5, Blount, Dickau, Veal for Brian Skinner, Telfair, Outlaw. The question is: is LaMarcus worth it? Is it better to go after a true point guard instead? Seeing as we should have high picks in next year's big man filled draft, I'm going to opt to dump Blount and grab Telfair. I dump the rest of the contracts I don't like and end up getting a pure point and another talented young swingman. In the second round, we could add Marcus Vinicius (who stays overseas) and Daniel Gibson, a project we can afford to take on in the second round.
Our post draft roster would be:
- C: Skinner, Perkins
- PF: Nocioni, Jefferson, Gomes
- SF: Gay, Outlaw
- SG: R. Davis, Allen, Gerald Green, West
- PG: Telfair, Duhon, Gibson
I'd be interested in dealing Ricky and Jefferson for a better PF and also would investigate dealing Delonte West for Robert Swift. Say only the West deals go down, that leaves us with:
Our post draft roster would be:
- C: Skinner, Swift, Perkins
- PF: Nocioni, Jefferson, Gomes
- SF: Gay, Outlaw
- SG: R. Davis, Allen, Gerald Green
- PG: Telfair, Duhon, Gibson
Nobody in the free agent market would have interested me so I would probably have skipped signing anyone. We already have 14 guys on the roster anyway. The season ahead wouldn't be a victorious one but the kids would be improving and we'd be looking towards having three picks, two possibly very good ones (ours and NY's) in the 2007 draft along with cap space galore.
