SpurNation
08-20-2009, 03:02 PM
Not sure I agree with the McClinton/De Colo assessment but...
http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/816/20090819/dissecting_the_2009_offeason/
Dissecting The 2009 Offeason
By: Daniel Leroux (http://realgm.com/src_author_archives/118/daniel_leroux/)
RealGM.com Writer
August 19, 2009 7:47 PM
Considering this is my first off-season review for RealGM, it seems worthwhile to go few some of the parameters I use to grade off-seasons. First and foremost, these rankings reflect moves made since the end of the NBA Finals only. Previous contracts, trades, etc. just provide the context for the evaluation of the moves from this summer.
Secondly, I use the concept of a “Timetable of Contention” heavily. Basically, what this means is that each franchise has a certain section of time where they will be most able to compete at a high level (typically a championship is the goal, but sometimes that has to be lowered). That time is now for teams like the Spurs and Lakers, but is down the road a little bit for teams like Minnesota and Memphis.
Another important factor I use to rank the franchises is the salary cap/roster flexibility of a given team. After all, it isn’t fair to rip on the Knicks for not making a big splash in free agency or the Sixers for having too many contracts on the books before this summer to retain Andre Miller (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/420/andre_miller/). It’s about who did the most with what they had, keeping in mind the short and long-term ramifications.
Keeping that in mind, we start at the top.
1. San Antonio
Some people initially criticized the Richard Jefferson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/295/richard_jefferson/) trade because of the fact he kills their chances of getting an impact free agent in the 2010 off-season. The fact of the matter is that with Tim Duncan (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/324/tim_duncan/), Manu Ginobili (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/536/manu_ginobili/) and Tony Parker (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/331/tony_parker/) either under contract or carrying a substantial cap hold into next July, there was no chance the Spurs could have added a guy like Chris Bosh (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/832/chris_bosh/) through pure free agency in the first place.
For that reason, the Spurs did the best job improving their team in both the short term and the long term.
Jefferson should thrive without the pressure of being the #2 option, especially since he’ll be #4 much of the time. The other important impact of that trade is that it puts Roger Mason (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/684/roger_mason/) back in the role that was optimal for him in the first place; backup minutes and a difference-maker for the time that he is in.
Bringing in solid bigs like Antonio McDyess (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/230/antonio_mcdyess/), Theo Ratliff (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/80/theo_ratliff/) and DeJuan Blair (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1558/dejuan_blair/) both reduces the strain on Duncan (one of the benefits of having the coach most willing to sacrifice regular season wins for post-season success) and also makes them a much harder team to play against considering the number of high quality rebounders at any given time.
Additionally, RC Buford and Company also added long term contributors such as Nando de Colo and Jack McClinton (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1646/jack_mcclinton/), both of whom can and should have a role down the line for this team.
http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/816/20090819/dissecting_the_2009_offeason/
Dissecting The 2009 Offeason
By: Daniel Leroux (http://realgm.com/src_author_archives/118/daniel_leroux/)
RealGM.com Writer
August 19, 2009 7:47 PM
Considering this is my first off-season review for RealGM, it seems worthwhile to go few some of the parameters I use to grade off-seasons. First and foremost, these rankings reflect moves made since the end of the NBA Finals only. Previous contracts, trades, etc. just provide the context for the evaluation of the moves from this summer.
Secondly, I use the concept of a “Timetable of Contention” heavily. Basically, what this means is that each franchise has a certain section of time where they will be most able to compete at a high level (typically a championship is the goal, but sometimes that has to be lowered). That time is now for teams like the Spurs and Lakers, but is down the road a little bit for teams like Minnesota and Memphis.
Another important factor I use to rank the franchises is the salary cap/roster flexibility of a given team. After all, it isn’t fair to rip on the Knicks for not making a big splash in free agency or the Sixers for having too many contracts on the books before this summer to retain Andre Miller (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/420/andre_miller/). It’s about who did the most with what they had, keeping in mind the short and long-term ramifications.
Keeping that in mind, we start at the top.
1. San Antonio
Some people initially criticized the Richard Jefferson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/295/richard_jefferson/) trade because of the fact he kills their chances of getting an impact free agent in the 2010 off-season. The fact of the matter is that with Tim Duncan (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/324/tim_duncan/), Manu Ginobili (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/536/manu_ginobili/) and Tony Parker (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/331/tony_parker/) either under contract or carrying a substantial cap hold into next July, there was no chance the Spurs could have added a guy like Chris Bosh (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/832/chris_bosh/) through pure free agency in the first place.
For that reason, the Spurs did the best job improving their team in both the short term and the long term.
Jefferson should thrive without the pressure of being the #2 option, especially since he’ll be #4 much of the time. The other important impact of that trade is that it puts Roger Mason (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/684/roger_mason/) back in the role that was optimal for him in the first place; backup minutes and a difference-maker for the time that he is in.
Bringing in solid bigs like Antonio McDyess (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/230/antonio_mcdyess/), Theo Ratliff (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/80/theo_ratliff/) and DeJuan Blair (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1558/dejuan_blair/) both reduces the strain on Duncan (one of the benefits of having the coach most willing to sacrifice regular season wins for post-season success) and also makes them a much harder team to play against considering the number of high quality rebounders at any given time.
Additionally, RC Buford and Company also added long term contributors such as Nando de Colo and Jack McClinton (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1646/jack_mcclinton/), both of whom can and should have a role down the line for this team.