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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Jimmer Fredette Best Landing Spots

There is always a debate surrounding Sacramento Kings guard Jimmer Fredette, whether it is his position at either a PG or SG, his athleticism, his ability on defense, or even if he can make it in the NBA or not there is always a difference of opinion whenever Jimmer is brought up. Jimmer started off the NBA preseason last year looking pretty strong but as the season wore on and the Kings underwent a coaching change, he saw his minutes dramatically cut. He finished out the season averaging a sub-par 7.6 PPG, and 1.8 APG. The Kings are obviously not the best system for Jimmer as they run sets focusing on individual players like Demarcus Cousins and Marcus Thorton instead of a free-flowing offense like Fredette was used to at his alma mater BYU.

On July 16th the Kings signed Aaron Brooks to a two-year deal. Brook’s signing causes a logjam in the backcourt for the Kings with Tyreke Evans (who can play the 1 or 2), Isiah Thomas, Fredette, and now Brooks all competing for minutes at the PG role. This has caused many analysts to wonder if Fredette could soon be traded. There have been reports that Jimmer is now on the trade market so what teams would benefit the former Naismith Player of the Year the most? Here are my top 5. All trades work through ESPN’s Trade Machine.

5. Utah Jazz-

SAC GETS- Demare Carroll, Jamal Tinsley, Future 1st round pick

UTH GETS- Jimmer Fredette, Tyler Honeycutt

While the Jazz just signing guard Randy Foye pretty much puts the nail in the coffin for any Jimmer deal you never know with Kevin O’Connor. Jimmer would help spread the floor for a team that shot poorly from the three point line last season. He could get comfortable in his old stomping grounds in Utah and would have a large fan base off the bat. Sacramento gets a reliable back-up at SF and a mentor at PG to help Isiah Thomas plus a future 1st round pick. Utah is a decent fit for The Jimmer.

4. Chicago Bulls-

SAC GETS-Rip Hamilton

CHI GETS- Jimmer Fredette, James Johnson, Future 1st rounder

Chicago let guard Kyle Korver walk this offseason so they are in need of three point threats. Jimmer would be the perfect guy for the job. He would just have to get open out on the three point line and wait for dishes from Derrick Rose or one of the Bulls bigs. He has more potential than Korver as he is capable of becoming more than just a three point specialist.  James Johnson provides a backup behind Luol Deng at the three spot and they get a first round pick. Sacramento gets Hamilton who only has a two year deal so if he isn’t productive like he was in Detroit they can use him as an expiring contract. Chicago is an ok fit for The Jimmer.

3. Indiana Pacers-

SAC GETS- Jeff Pendergraph, 1st round pick

IND GETS- Jimmer Fredette

Indiana takes a risk by giving up a first rounder to get Fredette but it could be a move that helps the team in the long run. Jimmer would start off the season contending to be the 2nd or 3rd PG off the bench (depending on whether Hill or Augustin start at the one) and the 2nd SG off the bench with Gerald Green. The Kings get Pendergraph an expiring contract to shed money and a 1st round pick that could help with the team’s youth movement. Indiana is an ok fit for The Jimmer.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

SAC GETS- Dante Cunningham and 1st round pick

MIN GETS-Jimmer Fredette and 2nd round pick

With only one SG, Brandon Roy, on the Timberwolves roster as of now they will be looking to acquire more depth at the position. They swap a 1st rounder for a 2nd rounder and get rid of Dante Cunningham and also receive Jimmer who would be a good SG shooter to come off the bench. Sacramento gets a first rounder out of the deal that with Minnesota’s history could be a fairly high pick. Jimmer would fit well in Minnesota playing with great passer Ricky Rubio, an awesome outlet big man passer in Kevin Love and coming off the bench behind Brandon Roy who could also teach Jimmer a lot about the NBA. The Timberwolves are a really good fit for The Jimmer.

1. Phoenix Suns

SAC GETS- Sebastian Telfair, 2nd Round pick

PHX GETS-Jimmer Fredette

The Kings would be getting a good back-up PG and if Telfair underperforms he only has a one year deal and can be used as an expiring contract. The Suns throw in a 2nd rounder to sweeten the deal a little also. The Suns pay a relatively cheap price for an experiment in Fredette. Jimmer could have the chance to start off the bat at SG as the Suns don’t really have a true player at that position. I don’t consider Wesley Johnson a two as much as a three. He would also get a chance at PG if Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall struggle early in the season but the best thing about Phoenix for Jimmer would be their up-tempo offense. The Suns offense is fairly similar to the one Jimmer thrived in college and could help his career tremendously! Jimmermania could once again exist, just in the desert this time. The Suns are a great fit for The Jimmer.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

How the Bulls should follow San Antonio's example

It is 1996 with the Spurs playing the regular season opener against the Miami Heat. San Antonio’s MVP center David Robinson goes down with a broken foot ultimately leading to a season ending injury to the Admiral. The Spurs season goes down the toilet ending up with a dismal 20-62.

Now it is game one of the first round matchup in the NBA Playoffs between the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76’ers. Late in the game reigning MVP Derrick Rose goes down to the hardwood and rolls around in obvious agony. It is later found out that the Bull’s all-star point guard has torn his ACL and is done for the rest of the season. The Bulls championship hopes go out the window as they are beat by the 8th seeded 76’ers four games to two.

Derrick Rose’s injury is put on a time-table to keep him out of the game until at least January of the 2012-2013 season. As we all saw in the playoffs the Bulls are not the same team without Rose and without him they are not championship contenders. Chicago almost might as well give up the whole 2012-2013 season as well.

With their terrible record of 20-62 the Spurs land themselves the third worst record in the NBA that year and the third best chance of getting the number one pick in the NBA Draft. The ping pong balls bounced and the Spurs lucked out getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 draft. San Antonio drafted Tim Duncan and the rest is history winning four NBA titles along the way with their “Twin Towers” The Admiral and The Big Fundamental.

If the Bulls are smart they are poised to do the exact same thing. If I were the Bull’s GM I would keep Rose out the whole 2012-2013 season. Let him fully recover and come back the next year to play at 100%. If that were to happen the Bulls would not be very good at all. They take a page out of the Spurs book and 2013-2014 season they have a healthy Rose and a top 10 overall draft pick. That could help propel them to a title over Eastern Conference giants the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets and ultimately help Rose and the Bulls win championships.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Brilliance of Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets

      It started with trading Chase Buddinger for the 18th pick in the NBA draft from Minnesota (via Utah). Following that Houston traded their own 14th pick and Samuel Dalembert to the Bucks to move up two spots in the draft and acquire the 12th pick. That gave the Rockets the 12th, 14th, & 18th picks and they drafted in order Jeremy Lamb, Royce White, and Terrence Jones. Since then it has been no secret what Houston's goal is. They want Dwight.
      The Rockets started to ship everyone out of Houston starting with Kyle Lowry to the Raptors for a future draft pick and cash. They then completed a sign and trade of center Marcus Camby to the Knicks for Tony Douglas and two second-round picks. Most recently the Rockets amnestied PF Luis Scola and his reasonable contract. Houston is all-in for Dwight Howard. Amassing salary cap room, draft picks, and young up-and-coming players. They are set to make the Orlando Magic an offer they can't refuse. They will take the bad contracts off Orlando's hands ala Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon, and Big Baby Davis, and they will give Magic a choice of draft picks and young players for Dwight. This gives Orlando what they want most, cap flexibility, young players, and draft picks to start rebuilding for the future. The problem for Rockets fans is that Dwight has said he will not re-sign in Houston as his contract is up after the 2012-2013 season so they could give up all those assets for Howard just to watch him walk next offseason and sign with a new team. So essentially they would be giving up a lot for nothing if they can't convince Dwight to re-sign in Houston.
      Let's go back to Houston for the last 10 seasons. They have only got past the first round of the playoffs once. The Rockets are the definition of a mediocre team. They make the playoffs most years or barely miss out with a record around .500. If they make the playoffs they lose in the first round or second round. They get a mediocre draft pick around 8-27. They draft a good role player but not a great one that can really change a franchise see: Steve Novak, Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, and Patrick Patterson. From year to year the team stays nearly the same and the process is repeated. Draft 24th, go to playoffs, loose to Dallas in first round, draft 26th, barely miss playoffs, draft 8th, on and on. It has been the say way since Hakeem Olajuwon left the team in 2001. They are stuck in hole. Not good enough to contend for a title but not bad enough to get a high enough pick in the draft to be able to get a franchise changing player.
      Now back to Howard. If this trade goes through and, I think it will because it's the best offer Orlando likely will get, Houston will get the franchise player that they have been lacking. If they can resign him next summer and potentially sign Chris Paul too with all the cap room they have they would be instant contenders. If they aren't able to resign him next summer the Rockets plummet to being one of the worst teams in the NBA. Morey has recognized that he could bring Howard on for a year to help the team, try and build around him, and try to resign him and acquire CP3 to bring the team back to relevance. This can be seen as a huge risk as he is giving up a lot of future talent for one player, but is it? This is what makes Morey's move so smart; if Dwight doesn't re-up with the Rockets they become terrible. Terrible sometimes is not such a bad thing in the NBA. If the Rockets have really bad seasons they get really good draft picks so after three or so bad rebuilding seasons they could have three top ten in the draft guys. Look at last year's Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder. They were really bad for a few seasons but they drafted in the top ten three times in a row getting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Also they added Serge Ibaka as a late round steal. Now they are contenders for a title and all really young, athletic, exciting players that are looking poised to makes runs at titles for a long time. Morey understands that in the NBA you can't be stuck at mediocre you have to be really good like they would be with Dwight Howard and Chris Paul or really bad like they would be if they couldn't retain Dwight. Either way the Rockets could contend for a title so actually the move to get Dwight isn't such a gamble after all.