Crawford - PG
Watson - PG
Ellis - SG
Marco - SG
Morrow - SG
Jackson - SF
Maggs - SF
Bazooka - SF
Wright - PF
Randolph - PF
Biedrins - C
Turiaf - C
Davidson - PF
Kurz - PF
Looking at those 14, Imma make them 12 by taking Kurz and Davidson out. I still like this team very much if we can have a healthy roster for most of the season. IF Randolph can continue to play next season the way he closed this season, he could eliminate our void at that PF position, which after PG is our biggest need.
In order for us to get better, either Crawford or Maggs gotta go. Ideally I'd like them both gone, but that's not a realistic possibility. It seems like JC is the one who'll probably be out, and if I had to choose one I'd choose him gone over Maggs. As selfish as the b*****d is, his 18-20ppg off the bench can't hurt that bad, can they?
Obviously, our only pick in the draft should be a PG, I'm hoping for Evans, but either way (unless the rook lights it out in camp and preseason) I'd like to see this lineup:
PG - Marco
SG - Monta
SF - Jax
PF - Randolph
C - Biedrins
Simply because I think Marco
can play the point and can match-up with the bigger guards on the defensive end, easing Monta off those match-ups. Ellis still gotta show that he can play good enough D on a PG though
I love the 4&5 combo on this lineup because Randolph compliments Beans on the defensive end, not that Beans is all of that, but I've seen 2 or straight years of him being the only presence in the middle, and therefore he looks worse than he actually is: he's not that bad.
My immediate backups would be:
PG - Rook
SG - Morrow
SF - Maggs/Bazooka (*)
PF - Wright
C - Turiaf
I'm not talking about playing these 5 at the same time (maybe a little?
) but I'd be confident on offense with any of them on the floor for this team. The liability here becomes perimeter D
Hopefully the Rook and Morrow can show some defensive skills. I won't even try putting hope on either of the SF's I've listed. BTW, there's an * for a reason. Either one of them has got to go this offseason. We cannot afford to have 2 similar kinds of players as backups at the SF spot when either one of them could be starting in alot of teams. Because I expect JC to be moved and Maggs to stay, I say we trade Bazooka, matter of fact:
we should package him and JC together and get something semi-good in return, say, a banger to plug into the rotation at the 4&5 spots, and a 2nd rounder in this year's draft
What about CJ? I'm sorry but unless he shows me he can play D, I don't care for him on this team. Yes he proved me he belongs in the NBA as far as his offensive game goes, but we have plenty of offense already, we won't be missing his 9.5ppg. Honestly I wouldn't mind keeping him if I wasn't so scared of Nelson giving him minutes over our Rook PG, that'd me and the rest of you guys off
So, to recap
PG: Marco / 1st-pick
SG: Monta / Morrow
SF: Jax / Maggs or Bazooka (*)
PF: Randolph / Wright / 2nd-pick
C: Biedrins / Turiaf / 2nd-pick
(*) - either one must be traded, preferably in a package deal along with Crawford
If Marco doesn't pan out at PG, hopefully our Rook can step into the starting lineup and give us decent numbers AND defense.
This is my outlook for next season, as of right now