Maybe we can hold off on rim protecting being the key to everything

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Seeing as the best rim protectors are either bounced (Howard,Noah) or made completely irrelevant ( Hibbert). If you swapped Pek out for Hibbert, the pacers probably win in 5. Should probably keep this in mind for people who want to ship Pek out

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Ibaka, Duncan, Deandre Jordan, Bosh, Hibbert, and KG. That's 6 out of 8 teams with a good rim protector still left.

[60WinTim]

Yeah, I've definitely Flip-flopped on the "trade Pek" idea. The flexibility that comes with having BOTH Pek and Deing is being far too under-valued by many people.

I know this won't sit well with a lot of folks, but I'll be happy if we hire a head coach with a defensive track record, draft someone to keep at #13 and spend our MLE on a backup PG, such as Augustin, Collison, Harris, Livingston, Mills, Udrih or Mo Williams. Choose between Hummel and/or Bjelica (who had a very good year!) to fill out the roster and roll the dice. If it ain't working by the trade deadline, go to Plan B.

[The Rage Monster [enjin:8010341]]

I'm guessing Ibaka, Jordan, Duncan, Lopez, and even Gortat might have different view of who the best rim protectors are. You can say what you want about Hibbert but he did help his team move on, I'm also guessing the Hawks wouldn't describe him as irrelevant after his 5 blocks in the most important game of the series.

6 of the remaining 8 teams have good rim protectors, the remaining 2 teams still have guys better than Pek in that area. Those 2 teams are also unique in ways the wolves will never be, the Nets are approximately a billion dollars over the luxury tax line and the Heat have Lebron. You're fighting a losing battle if you think we're fine without any form of interior defense.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Ibaka, Duncan, Deandre Jordan, Bosh, Hibbert, and KG. That's 6 out of 8 teams with a good rim protector still left.

all those guys were farrrrrrrr from the reasons why those teams advanced. Some were in fact almost cost their team

[mjs34]

Ibaka, Duncan, Deandre Jordan, Bosh, Hibbert, and KG. That's 6 out of 8 teams with a good rim protector still left.

all those guys were farrrrrrrr from the reasons why those teams advanced. Some were in fact almost cost their team

You may be correct Alex, but the wolves posted the same W/L record while Pek missed a third of the season. Hard to justify 12 mil a year on a guy that can't stay healthy and clearly has very little input on the outcome of the game. I could overlook a lot of that, but only a fool would expect Pek's injuries to stay the same or lessen over time. What happens next season or the year after when he is missing half the season, or worse yet actually suffers a more serious injury.

I have heard several claim that Pek could have played through his pain if we were in the hunt for the PO's. I thought that was exactly where we were when he started sitting out games. The truth is that Pek doesn't seem like a guy that can stay on the court. I certainly don't want to be sitting on that 12 mil once we have re-signed Ricky and Love (hopefully :) ) and are trying to fill in the remaining pieces.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Yeah, I've definitely Flip-flopped on the "trade Pek" idea. The flexibility that comes with having BOTH Pek and Deing is being far too under-valued by many people.

I know this won't sit well with a lot of folks, but I'll be happy if we hire a head coach with a defensive track record, draft someone to keep at #13 and spend our MLE on a backup PG, such as Augustin, Collison, Harris, Livingston, Mills, Udrih or Mo Williams. Choose between Hummel and/or Bjelica (who had a very good year!) to fill out the roster and roll the dice. If it ain't working by the trade deadline, go to Plan B.

I'm still solidly in the "try to trade Pek" camp. To me, it comes down to how Flip can best utilize that $12 million...on an oft-injured back-up center, or on a starting SG. I can see us improving with Dieng starting at center, but I don't think we are going to go far if Martin continues to be our best option at SG.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Tell me again the GM who would be interested in taking on Pek's contract?

[thedoper]

Tell me again the GM who would be interested in taking on Pek's contract?

Flip.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Tell me again the GM who would be interested in taking on Pek's contract?

I don't know for sure, but I suspect there are several. Centers who can regularly put up 18 and 10 don't grow on trees. There are several solid basketball minds on this board who don't want to give Pek up, even at $12 million per year, and I believe there are several GMs hungry for a productive center who would be willing to pay for Pek.