No Subject

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>What we need is a center.  M.L. should take a look at how the cast does
>w/ a superstar C before shipping everyone out.
>
>Lineup:
>
>C    Duncan     Ellison
>PF   Walker     Radja
>SF   Williams   Minor
>SG   Fox        Day
>PG   Wesley     Barros
>
>This team could compete.  The Dallas pick should be used to get help up
>front.

I like this lineup, but I'd have to make a modification to two lines:

SF  Williams  Fox
SG  Minor   ?Draft Pick?

With those ten players, I guess that leaves us with Dee Brown and   
(hopefully) some sort of center project at the end of the bench (I say   
this because Ellison certainly won't make it through a full season and   
I'd hate to drive Duncan into the ground during his rookie season.  I   
rather see Szabo or Hamer or somebody cheap get 10 minutes a night for at   
least another season and let Duncan learn at a decent pace.)  Trying to   
keep someone like Michael Hawkins as a backup PG (maybe on IR), may not   
be a bad idea either.  I guess I'm just paranoid by the number and   
magnitude of the injuries this season! :)

The more I think about it, the harder it is to find a place for Fox in   
the starting lineup.  I do like the attitude and skills he brings to the   
team, though.  Definitely a great captain.  I guess I would rotate him   
between SG and SF and maybe make him a 6th man off the bench.  Hopefully   
he won't try to soak the team in contract renegotiations, though.  He   
isn't worth shelling out too much more $$$ for.  Minor should definitely   
play SG rather than SF (gives us some size and athleticism at the guard   
position).

Day has got to go.  He shoots us out of more games than he keeps us in   
and his cap $$$ is going to be crucial if you want to keep Wesley and Fox   
on this team (they both are going to have to be resigned at the end of   
the season).

Having said this, I would have a team of:

C    Duncan     Ellison
PF   Walker     Radja
SF   Williams   Fox
SG   Minor        Draft Pick (and Fox/Barros can log time here as well)
PG   Wesley     Barros

Bench-warmers:  Brown, Hawkins, Szabo (?) or some cheap, "serviceable"   
center.
Gone: Brickowski, Hamer, Lister, Day

This is a team that could make the playoffs.  Not great, but they'd be   
real fun to watch.  I'd make it a priority this coming season to free up   
cap space, trying to deal Dee first, with Radja and Barros being fair   
game as well.  Give this team a year to play, eliminate a few expensive   
players like Dee and Dino, sign a couple of free agents in 98 (and a new   
coach!) and you have a real solid team.  Of course, if we don't get   
Duncan or don't resign Wesley this all changes, doesn't it?  :)

Just my $0.02.