FA Predictions

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

How many big free agents wanted to sign with the Thunder in their run?

[Volans19]

"WojYahooNBA: Free agent Greg Monroe will sign a maximum contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, league source tells Yahoo Sports."

I'm sorry, I didn't know much about his potential suitors...was this expected? This blindsided me.

I don't get it. A max deal for a guy who averages less than 15 a night and isn't a rim protector, and plays the same position as the guy you drafted 2nd the previous year. Somebody help me out with this one.

Greg Monroe is way more of a center than a PF. Jabari can play both SF and PF, probably more of a PF in today's NBA but still capable at SF. The max deal looks bad now but only for three years with the third as a player option (the year the cap is supposed to be potentially $108M so $17M will be nothing). He is still only 25 and will finally be able to play his true position.

Abe - Middleton is a really good shooter and will more than likely continue to improve (only 24), Mayo can shoot when he feels like it, Jabari is a scoring machine, and they just drafted Vaughn who can also shoot.

The question now is will Henson ever truly develop into a consistent player. His offensive game is awkward and inconsistent, he should thrive as a PnR guy who can dive to the basket but his body is just too thin to be able to power through. His wingspan is scary and if he can work on his fundamentals he could be a really good shot blocker (already is a decent one).

MCW/ Vasquez/ Ennis
Middleton (can play 2-4)/ Mayo/ Vaughn
Giannis/ Dudley/ Inglis
Parker/ Henson/ JOB
Monroe/ Zaza/ Henson

[Monster]

Greg Monroe is a guy I like a lot. Is he a sure max guy? No but he is a good player especially if you surround him withbthe right guys and the Bucks have a lot of length. Shooters? They are planning to bring back Dudley and Vasquez fits. They still have Mayo also. If Kidd can keep up whatever he worked last year and some young players keep getting better...that could be the new Wizards type team you have to watch out for.

Nobody wants to go to play with Melo and Kobe and their crappy rosters (lakers have a couple young talents at least) plus those guys are old. Like someone said if a young guy doesn't emerge for those franchises (Sixers too) I don't know if they will actually really recover. Maybe they will be able to trade for a star but that might not be enough to get them to championship level. It's going to be interesting to watch how things go.

[Volans19]

Looks like Zach Lowe agrees with my take on Monroe

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-free-agency-day-2-sacramentos-crazy-salary-dump-and-greg-monroes-milwaukee-move/

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

How many big free agents wanted to sign with the Thunder in their run?

They didn't have the cap space to keep Harden, let alone to sign a free agent to a max deal. We have the benefit of 20 million opening basically out of thin air to sign a max guy that they didn't.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Looks like Zach Lowe agrees with my take on Monroe

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-free-agency-day-2-sacramentos-crazy-salary-dump-and-greg-monroes-milwaukee-move/

Thanks for that, volans, and for the clarification that Monroe is more of a C than a PF. I guess Detroit had to play him at the 4 because Drummond was locked in at C. This article helps me understand the Monroe deal a little more, but he still doesn't sound like a max player to me. But as the article says, the definition of a max player has changed this summer.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

A Monroe/Parker frontcourt is not going to be even decent defensively. Monroe gives them a needed offensive boost, but a healthy Parker probably could have done that. I think they might have overcorrected for their offensive deficiencies. I don't think Henson is that good on defense to cover for those two if you push Parker to the 3.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

The Lakers tried to sell Alrdige with a surprise visit from Adam Lavine! Wow, I can't believe that wasn't enough.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The Lakers tried to sell Alrdige with a surprise visit from Adam Lavine! Wow, I can't believe that wasn't enough.

Ironic that the Lakers would use Levine in that way, because their starting lineup as it is now constituted could definitely be called a Marooned Five ;-) .

[60WinTim]

Wade stays in Miami - 20 mil one year. It didn't seem right for him to anywhere else, so I am glad the came to an agreement.