Summer Scorecard

Now that we know where our #1 pick is (boo/hiss) I thought it would be interesting to lay out my hopes and expectations for the summer and see how many (if any) our beloved GM achieves.  I also think its much more fun to do this now, and then look back on it, rather than just second guess later. 

The Coach

We've seen a lot of names go by, some interviews have been conducted, here's my evaluation of the candidates:

• 3pts  - Messina + veteran assistant, Eddie Jordan + an assistant that we think adds up to better defense
• 2pts - Thibideau + veteran assistant
• 1pt - Any of the guys above with questionable assistants or Jeff Van Gundy
• -1 - Rambis, not sure why he deserves a chance
• -2 - Porter, Westphal, Silas, etc, these guys seem like placeholders that don't add much to me
• -3 - any candidate plausibly connected to the Maloofs
• -5 - Whisenant
• -10 - Avery Johnson, because everyone is allowed one bout of irrationality in their FanPost

I like the concept of bringing a great Euro coach over, if he had the right support in place.  Jordan or Thibideau I could also feel pretty good about, again if they put the right people around them.  My most important criteria for the coach is they have to have a legit plan that vibes with GP, be effective at developing players and teaching their plan and that they play a modern style of basketball.

Beyond those three candidates it seems like a wasteland of retreads and people I'm not convinced are right for us.

The #4 Pick

It still hurts a little to write that, but hey, it is what it is.

• 5pts - GP calls the other GMs bluff and Rubio falls to us
• 2pts - we figure out how to get Rubio for a reasonable price
• 0pts - GP makes the #4 pick
• -2pts - that pick is Thabeet (ok I lied, I get 2 irrational dislikes)

Cap Management

We've made some strides on our salary situation, but still have some major issues.  Here are the priorities as I see them:

• 5pts - We find a way to get rid of Beno and get back a 1-2 year contract
• 5pts - We dump Nocioni for expiring contracts
• 4pts - We find a way to land a young core piece for a reasonable long-term deal at a position we need
• 2pts - We dump Nocioni for a 2 year contract of a contributing player
• 1pt - We spend no more than $3mil per year on a roll of the dice with a young talented guy
• 0pts - We move K9
• -3pts - We sign a veteran for more than one year for more than $2mil a year

As you can see, I think Beno will be almost impossible to move.  There was a rumor we could move Nocioni for expirings, if that possible we have to do it.  He's redundant with Cisco and neither are NBA starters.  Moving Nocioni out the door paves the way for landing that scoring, defending wing player to complement Kevin Martin that many on these boards say is easy to find.  If we find a way to add a core piece who's young, say Trevor Ariza or Marvin Williams, I'll be very happy.

Team Building

In my opinion, we have 4 players that matter: Martin, Hawes, JT & Garcia.  Maybe Donte plays his way onto the list; I'm not advocating getting rid of him.  The #4 pick obviously should be another piece.

• +5 - With our other two picks, Petrie lands two guys we plausibly think would be in the top 8 of a good team eventually
• +3 - We trade up and draft a guy that fits well
• +1 - One of our two lower picks fits
• -2 - Petrie rolls the dice on a shooting guard and skilled center that does what Spencer does but worse

We need more good basketball players, which seems obvious, but I don't think it is.  We're not the team that needs a super marksman 3 point specialist.  We don't need a big guy that is a specialist.  We need to roll the dice on guys who's game can grow.  I love that Petrie is holding the dice; I just want him focusing on the right kind of guy.

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So that would be my plan for the offseason.  I'm hoping Petrie finds a way to get about 10 points in this competely arbitrary and just for fun system.  Note that points for creativity and extra credit are available!  I look forward to a potential surprise or two this summer.  One way or another it should be fun.

Fire away.