as of midnight...

Hopefully losing Ben doesn't kill our chances with free agents.

And I still don't like any of the other options at center. It's probably for the best though.

EDIT: One idea, bring in Kenny Adeleke with the minimum (unrestricted FA). It would almost be symbolic since he is so similar to Ben. Adeleke can do some serious rebounding / dirty work that we'll obviously need. We'll need a shot-blocker as well (Darko would have been nice).

Here's to hoping Delfino, Blalock, Max, and/or Amir have breakout years.

If Ben doesn't go to Chicago, all his remaining rumored possibilities (washington, NY, Philly) are all over the cap.

Meaning, Joe will have each of those teams by the balls, even if they ARE willing to pay mega-bucks for him.

It's looking like we'll get a good player out of this deal regardless.

Washington would be solid if we got Haywood and Butler. Butler would be a helluva addition, Haywood is solid and could be platooned with DD and a FA.

Washington would also be nice because it would make the Southeast a tougher division for the Heat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JS

Washington would be solid if we got Haywood and Butler. Butler would be a helluva addition, Haywood is solid and could be platooned with DD and a FA.

Washington would also be nice because it would make the Southeast a tougher division for the Heat.

They wouldn't give us that. I posted in the trades thread a deal bringing us Haywood and Antonio Daniels for Ben. That would probably be their limit. I also think that would workout better for us if we could get Bonzi. We'd have one hell of a deep team.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JS

Washington would be solid if we got Haywood and Butler. Butler would be a helluva addition, Haywood is solid and could be platooned with DD and a FA.

Washington would also be nice because it would make the Southeast a tougher division for the Heat.

That'd be sweet. Butler woould be the 7th man over dice while haywood started. With the MLE, we could get a backup point.

Quote:

They wouldn't give us that. I posted in the trades thread a deal bringing us Haywood and Antonio Daniels for Ben. That would probably be their limit. I also think that would workout better for us if we could get Bonzi. We'd have one hell of a deep team.

That would be alright too. Daniels is a combo guard who could back Billups up but he needs the right system. he did well in Seattle but did poor in Washington. Daniels depends on the 3 ball

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kstat

BTW, Joe is not someone who changes his offer. He gives the offer he thinks is fair, end of discussion. That's how it went with Sheed and Rip. There was very little haggling over price.

Yes there was. Rasheed wanted $64 million, Dumars offered $48 million, and they split down the middle after a month.

Well, half the people on that list don't deserve to be there so I don't know if saying one way or the other is at all meaningful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fool

Well, half the people on that list don't deserve to be there so I don't if saying one way or the other is at all meaningful.

exactly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Mxy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kstat

BTW, Joe is not someone who changes his offer. He gives the offer he thinks is fair, end of discussion. That's how it went with Sheed and Rip. There was very little haggling over price.

Yes there was. Rasheed wanted $64 million, Dumars offered $48 million, and they split down the middle after a month.

thanks for pointing that out Mxy. Ultimately Joe has negotiated before and acting as if he has never changed his offers is a little naive. EVERYONE has changed or adjusted their offers atleast couple times at some point. even the stingy GM's.

48 million over 4 years is more than fair. If he doesn't want it, fine, leave then.

I don't know if a sign and trade is possible though, I feel like Chicago is where he'd want to be.