Next Year's Most Realistic Hornet's Roster

In my opinion our most realistic option will be keeping many players that some of us want to trade like GV or lopez, I would hate to trade them for unequal value and Demps is a patient and great trade worker, I could see us trading or packaging them next year for a big move but to be realistic as of now I'm thinking next year's team looks something like this:

PG - GV/Rivers (Roberts is history)
SG - Gordon/Mason
SF - Will either draft shabazz or otto porter, whichever is available, and we will either keep aminu or let him go and sign budinger. So a combo of either shabazz or porter along with aminu or budinger.
PF - Davis/Ryno/Smith
C - Pekovic/Lopez

Think this is a pretty decent team, as long as rivers and davis keep progressing it will be great, Also I hope GV can put up a 16-10 type season along with lopez having a 17-7 season increasing their trade value for a dynamic small forward, or packaging GV with Gordon for a dynamic and promising SG.

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

In my opinion our most realistic option will be keeping many players that some of us want to trade like GV or lopez, I would hate to trade them for unequal value and Demps is a patient and great trade worker, I could see us trading or packaging them next year for a big move but to be realistic as of now I'm thinking next year's team looks something like this:

PG - GV/Rivers (Roberts is history)
SG - Gordon/Mason
SF - Will either draft shabazz or otto porter, whichever is available, and we will either keep aminu or let him go and sign budinger. So a combo of either shabazz or porter along with aminu or budinger.
PF - Davis/Ryno/Smith
C - Pekovic/Lopez

Think this is a pretty decent team, as long as rivers and davis keep progressing it will be great, Also I hope GV can put up a 16-10 type season along with lopez having a 17-7 season increasing their trade value for a dynamic small forward, or packaging GV with Gordon for a dynamic and promising SG.

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everything looks pretty good except that one of lopez or smith will not get any minutes on that squad, so to make the roster perfect, trade lopez and whatever to try and get avery bradley instead of mason as the backup.. then id be really happy

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Originally Posted by bojangles837

everything looks pretty good except that one of lopez or smith will not get any minutes on that squad, so to make the roster perfect, trade lopez and whatever to try and get avery bradley instead of mason as the backup.. then id be really happy

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Definite possibility but Bradleyy has been playing really well and I think Rondo wont be in boston next year, think it might take more than lopez to get bradley

I would part with Smith before I would part with Lopez (from a production standpoint), but understanding one's contract is more favorable than the others, I can see why parting with Lopez would be easier.

Also I don't see how Lopez gets 17-7 when he is the backup big.

I think you can get a 2nd for Roberts. To us he has been garbage, but we are fans of the team, and are his harshest critics. He really isn't that bad considering he is a rookie. 6/2/1. Thats actually best for 7th among rookie per's in the league. The FO and Monty like what they have in him. Like I said, we are his harshest critics, and plenty of teams would be happy to have him as their backup, behind a well established pg.

All that said, I wouldn't mind that lineup, but it doesn't "WOW" me. We would be good enough for 3rd or 4th in the West but we would never win a title.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

I would part with Smith before I would part with Lopez (from a production standpoint), but understanding one's contract is more favorable than the others, I can see why parting with Lopez would be easier.

Also I don't see how Lopez gets 17-7 when he is the backup big.

I think you can get a 2nd for Roberts. To us he has been garbage, but we are fans of the team, and are his harshest critics. He really isn't that bad considering he is a rookie. 6/2/1. Thats actually best for 7th among rookie per's in the league. The FO and Monty like what they have in him. Like I said, we are his harshest critics, and plenty of teams would be happy to have him as their backup, behind a well established pg.

All that said, I wouldn't mind that lineup, but it doesn't "WOW" me. We would be good enough for 3rd or 4th in the West but we would never win a title.

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he might be a rookie but he's 27 and will be 28 in december, he played pro europe ball.
and i agree that team would be stuck in limbo, we would need to package something like gv and lopez for a difference maker

Yeah Roberts is old, but heck just because you join the league late doesn't hurt you. Luis Scola, Arvydes Sabonis, so on. I think we see age and determine that to be a bad thing with NBA players, but if it was these guys would never be brought over and given the chance to last as long as many of them have.

I don't think Roberts, GV, Lopez, Aminu, Smith, Gordon, Rivers are guys that will win you a title unless you bring in some better talent to cover up their weakness, so trading 2 or 3 of those guys at a time to net a big time player would be my hope.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

Yeah Roberts is old, but heck just because you join the league late doesn't hurt you. Luis Scola, Arvydes Sabonis, so on. I think we see age and determine that to be a bad thing with NBA players, but if it was these guys would never be brought over and given the chance to last as long as many of them have.

I don't think Roberts, GV, Lopez, Aminu, Smith, Gordon, Rivers are guys that will win you a title unless you bring in some better talent to cover up their weakness, so trading 2 or 3 of those guys at a time to net a big time player would be my hope.

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Well i disagree about Rivers, Im still a firm believer that he will be a stud one day, if gordon could EVER become the player he could be a core of rivers, gordon, davis and ryno is disgutingly awesome, now add pekovic or shabazz or otto porter, i could see a great team.

I need to see more from Rivers. Right now Roberts is outperforming him. That shouldn't be happening. One has the genes, the other has experience. Time for Rivers to really showcase his game if he wants to be taken seriously by me.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

I need to see more from Rivers. Right now Roberts is outperforming him. That shouldn't be happening. One has the genes, the other has experience. Time for Rivers to really showcase his game if he wants to be taken seriously by me.

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Well Roberts is 8 years older and I wouldn't say outperforming him, the only thing he does better is shoot, rivers is a better defender and passer, plus i'd rather rivers keep getting playing time to develop his game, he has everything needed to be a great PG in my opinion.

Burke/Vasquez
Gordon/Rivers
Budinger/Aminu
Davis/Anderson
Pek/Lopez


Tell me why it isn't realistic. :coolg:

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Originally Posted by Purple Haze

Burke/Vasquez
Gordon/Rivers
Budinger/Aminu
Davis/Anderson
Pek/Lopez



Tell me why it isn't realistic. :coolg:

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It's possible but I still dont see us going after a PG while having GV and Rivers but if we did I really like that lineup, burke to davis would be nice.

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

It's possible but I still dont see us going after a PG while having GV and Rivers but if we did I really like that lineup, burke to davis would be nice.

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And I don't see Mason on this team next year but I could be wrong. :coolg: I'd be cool with giving Rivers the full time backup. In your situation I see:

Vasquez/Rivers
Gordon/Mason
Aminu/Bennett or Porter
Davis/Anderson
Pek/Lopez

I think that's still one heck of a lineup already though I'd like someone more dynamic backing up Gordon, and who backs up GV when/if Gordon goes down with injury?

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Originally Posted by Purple Haze

And I don't see Mason on this team next year but I could be wrong. :coolg: I'd be cool with giving Rivers the full time backup. In your situation I see:

Vasquez/Rivers
Gordon/Mason
Aminu/Bennett or Porter
Davis/Anderson
Pek/Lopez

I think that's still one heck of a lineup already though I'd like someone more dynamic backing up Gordon, and who backs up GV when/if Gordon goes down with injury?

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I'm really not trying to pull hairs but Bennett couldn't play the SF, same reason ryno cant, he is way to slow to defend the perimeter and would get blown by, he is a PF through and through, height is overrated he is 6"8 but he is still a kid and could grow though, but if u replace him with budinger and say otto porter or budinger with aminu i'd take it :D or even porter and budinger.

I wish someone here could put together a montage of all of our prospects.

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

I'm really not trying to pull hairs but Bennett couldn't play the SF, same reason ryno cant, he is way to slow to defend the perimeter and would get blown by, he is a PF through and through, height is overrated he is 6"8 but he is still a kid and could grow though, but if u replace him with budinger and say otto porter or budinger with aminu i'd take it :D or even porter and budinger.

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I think we'll be picking 8-11 or so and if Bennett is still there, he's far and away the BPA and you have to take him. You just have to.

He's also not through and through a PF and not nearly as slow as you're painting him to be. I also think in the league he's going to have to streamline himself a bit and be a 3. No way he's bullying anyone at 4 @ 6'7"/6'8".

I don't see this team spending much on a big when we have a solid rotation of 4 (AD,Ryno,Smith,Lopez). I think they just take another step with the intention of building slow toward making a move in year 3 of Davis and Rivers development

Vasquez/Roberts
Gordon/ Rivers
Porter/ Aminu (or how about Corey Brewer?)
Davis/ Ryno
Lopez/ Smith

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Originally Posted by kidjock24

I don't see this team spending much on a big when we have a solid rotation of 4 (AD,Ryno,Smith,Lopez). I think they just take another step with the intention of building slow toward making a move in year 3 of Davis and Rivers development

Vasquez/Roberts
Gordon/ Rivers
Porter/ Aminu (or how about Corey Brewer?)
Davis/ Ryno
Lopez/ Smith

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It's possible that they just draft and keep improving from there, but I'll be a bit disappointed. They have a ton of money and there are plenty of guys out there that would make our SF rotation better who we could get in here. Not so much with PGs. That's why I want them to go PG with our 1st. Replace Roberts AND improve the 3.

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Originally Posted by kidjock24

I don't see this team spending much on a big when we have a solid rotation of 4 (AD,Ryno,Smith,Lopez). I think they just take another step with the intention of building slow toward making a move in year 3 of Davis and Rivers development

Vasquez/Roberts
Gordon/ Rivers
Porter/ Aminu (or how about Corey Brewer?)
Davis/ Ryno
Lopez/ Smith

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So with all the money we have to spend you think our only off-season move will be signing whoever we draft?

I'd love if they took C.J. McC, and steal Buddinger from Minn. But isn't he restricted? Why won't Minn just match that offer? They only other SF that's unrestricted is the kid Earl Clark for the Lakers. He has looked pretty good.

I have not read anything from Dell or the way Monty is handing out minutes this year that makes me think this team will want to accelerate the time frame where they think this team can compete next year. Giving Davis baby minutes and yanking Rivers from PG to SG makes me think they are thinking year 3 is when they go after it.

I dont get why u guys go crazy for Chase Budinger so much. He is ok, but not game changing.

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

I dont get why u guys go crazy for Chase Budinger so much. He is ok, but not game changing.

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No one ever said he was. We said he can shoot, which Aminu cannot do from outside of 10 feet. It's a pairing, not a replacement.

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

I dont get why u guys go crazy for Chase Budinger so much. He is ok, but not game changing.

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Lol, you know why! :biglol:

I like Chase because he is an offensive weapon with some def. game. You can't have enough of those.

If we acquire Pek then both Lopez and Smith have to go, imo.

Not trying to be a jerk, but I don't quite get why this deserved its own thread? It just brings up drafting Shabazz/Porter and signing Pekovic, both of which have their own threads. Not every thought needs a thread.

Seems every thread I read has us with Pekovic. You guys really are all in on him. I just don't see us paying for another big man.

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Originally Posted by Luke's Pelicans

Seems every thread I read has us with Pekovic. You guys really are all in on him. I just don't see us paying for another big man.

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Why not? We're not really paying that much for the ones that we do have, and Smith would be out with Pek coming in.

Jennings wants out, I think there is an opportunity for this team to grab him, but that would mess up my draft for Smart.

Jennings tried to get out, but he only hit 1 out of 16 lights on the way to the airport and got stuck in Minnesota.

Do people really think Monty would start Burke over Vasquez next year?

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Originally Posted by Purple Haze

Why not? We're not really paying that much for the ones that we do have, and Smith would be out with Pek coming in.

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It's just my opinion. I like what we have, just because we have good deals in the frontcourt doesn't mean we should overspend there.

I am personally not a huge fan of Pekovic. While he is a bruiser and can pretty much move anybody around in the paint. He doesn't alter shots, isn't great defensively. I don't think he is what you need in today's game. Sure he is the type of body you would like against Dwight but I would rather not spend the money on him, he is a luxury not somebody to spend right now on.

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Originally Posted by MeSoHornets504

Do people really think Monty would start Burke over Vasquez next year?

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Maybe not next year, but eventually.

Jason Smith is an Unrestricted FA with a team option. I think he is gone after this year with the production we're getting from our Big Men and the needed time increase for Davis.

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Originally Posted by MeSoHornets504

Do people really think Monty would start Burke over Vasquez next year?

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No one even said that. If I ever put Burke/Vasquez I obviously meant Vasquez/Burke. I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't sharing minutes by the AS break though.

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Originally Posted by Luke's Pelicans

It's just my opinion. I like what we have, just because we have good deals in the frontcourt doesn't mean we should overspend there.

I am personally not a huge fan of Pekovic. While he is a bruiser and can pretty much move anybody around in the paint. He doesn't alter shots, isn't great defensively. I don't think he is what you need in today's game. Sure he is the type of body you would like against Dwight but I would rather not spend the money on him, he is a luxury not somebody to spend right now on.

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You don't think he'd be a huge upgrade to Smith at the 5 in a time when we have a ton of money to spend? For the record I love J Smooth.

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Originally Posted by Luke's Pelicans

It's just my opinion. I like what we have, just because we have good deals in the frontcourt doesn't mean we should overspend there.

I am personally not a huge fan of Pekovic. While he is a bruiser and can pretty much move anybody around in the paint. He doesn't alter shots, isn't great defensively. I don't think he is what you need in today's game. Sure he is the type of body you would like against Dwight but I would rather not spend the money on him, he is a luxury not somebody to spend right now on.

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We need someone who is going to be able to box people out and handle to more powerful big men IMO . I wouldn't break the bank for Pek though.

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Originally Posted by Purple Haze

You don't think he'd be a huge upgrade to Smith at the 5 in a time when we have a ton of money to spend? For the record I love J Smooth.

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He would be and upgrade to Smith.. And your right we do have money to spend and we should spend it on something. I'm just hoping it would be to address SF or PG but mainly SF. I just don't want us spending it just because, unless it is on a one year deal. Then spend away.

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

We need someone who is going to be able to box people out and handle to more powerful big men IMO . I wouldn't break the bank for Pek though.

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That's my main thing, rumor is he will get 11 to 14 million per year. No thanks. I Just can't see us tying that kind of money into him when we have cheaper options.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ey...y-in-minnesota

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We don't know if he'll be worth the rumored max contract offer that could come from Portland (which is in need of a center) or even if he'll be worth the $11 million to $14 million price range that he's likely to command. What we do know is he is a big center who can score with his back to the basket and dominate the boards at times.

Those guys always get paid. The Wolves will have the upper hand in deciding his fate because they can match any offer that he gets if they decide to keep him. But does he want to stay with Minnesota? Via the Pioneer Press:

The 6-foot-11, 281-pound center from Montenegro can become a restricted free agent after the season, but he said he definitely wants to remain in Minnesota.

"I like everything about Minnesota," Pekovic said. "First of all, I like the team. I think we can do a lot when we're healthy. I like the coaching staff."

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Just some tidbits about his pending RA FA coming. I think the Blazers are bluffing but I didn't think Asik would get as much as he did either.

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Originally Posted by Luke's Pelicans

That's my main thing, rumor is he will get 11 to 14 million per year. No thanks. I Just can't see us tying that kind of money into him when we have cheaper options.

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I was thinking 7-9 is what I'd be willing to pay.

11-13 is definitely the range for him, and I'm comfortable paying him that.