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I understand the need. I understand that a quality big man would be huge for this team, but I am with Kev. I am not so sure that Okafor, while being a great player, is enough to make us more than marginally better, and considering his salary that's a lot to pay for a marginal improvement.

What really concerns me is that New Orleans is better defensively when Okafor is on the bench. considerably so. Somewhere between 2.5 and 4.5 points per 100 possessions (depending on whether you like 82games or BBvalue). With over 900 minutes of game played this year it becomes substantial. Add to that the fact that he holds his opponent to 108% of his usual production on a nightly basis. Get that? His opponents exceed their statistical norms by 8% when matched up against Okafor.......

In all fairness, his numbers where much better defensively last year with Charlotte, so some of it is probably the system. But, then again, who is to say that if he came to OKC that perhaps the system would jive with his skills like in Charlotte, or not like in N.O.?

That question would have to be positively answered before his kind of money is considered.

I wouldn't mind Al Jefferson as long as he plays PF not C.

@Keith

I think Al Jefferson is probably more available than Chris Bosh, at least to us. I think the odds of Chris Bosh ending up in OKC with all the other teams that have space and are aiming for him are slim to none.

Fair enough, but among players who could make a real impact (Bosh, Jefferson, Bogut), how many of them are even available? I focus on Bosh a lot, but it's not just some man-crush. Bosh is one of the only truly impact big men out there that we have a good chance of landing.

@Keith

Keith, our problem on the defensive boards is just as bad as our problem scoring inside: possibly even worse.

We are very blessed to have one of the up and coming efficient scorers in the game: Kevin Durant's going to be a .600 TS% scorer for years to come. It makes our need for a legitimate post threat not as vital as other teams, though it would be great to have one. If we had some good three point shooting, take care of the ball, and just have a few big man that can finish offense in the paint I think we're good enough on offense to win a ton of games, and even compete with our defense.

Okafor would completely solve our problems on the defensive glass, and give us a player that can legitimately defend bigs without getting into foul trouble. If we go from being the 21st worst DRB team in the league to, say, 5th best, then we can probably mark off the two Houston games, one of the LAL games, and the Bucks game as wins.

And believe me, I woudln't be thrilled about paying Okafor that much, or Jefferson, or Bosh. But you have to make something happen before opportunity passes you by. People keep saying the team is young and there's plenty of time, but in reality the core's going to have to be set soon, and it's going to happen fast like it happened to Portland.

Pau's always been a fantastic defensive player.

We do need a second option on offense but I don't think you overpay Chris Bosh to get it. If we improve our three point shooting to league average, our overall offensive efficiency probably jumps to the 12th-14th range. So again, I think a big such as Al Jefferson or Andrew Bogut, should we be looking to acquire a scoring big, would suffice. I don't think we need to pay Chris Bosh $100+ million.

@justin
I'm just very underwhelmed with the alternatives. Haywood has been a sub-par center his entire career. Okafor seems more overpaid than a max contract Bosh. Gortat still has no significant sample to say he'll be good as a full-time starter. I'd love Jefferson or Marc Gasol, but I don't see how either get traded. If we get Bosh, we get a star, an established top 5 big man, and a solution to a lot of our biggest problems. With the others, I don't feel we solve much, even if they are 4-8 million cheaper.

@justin
You know, I'm not sure he's worth a max contract either. But I can't see anyone else out there not being overpaid either. I liken Bosh to Pau a lot. They both have soft reputations, both actually played more center than PF, and both can absolutely change an entire team without being the star. Bosh almost invariably guards the opponent's best big simply because Bargnani can't guard anyone. He's not elite, but I don't think he's bad by any means either. He'll give more than he gets at the very least. I think grabbing Bosh would make a turn like the Lakers getting Pau. As I mentioned in a previous post, we don't simply need a rebounder, defender, or even scorer. We need a legitimate second option on offense. We need someone who is actually capable of going head to head with Howard, Duncan, and Gasol.

@Keith

You have to take the cost of these players into account. Even if we can afford a max contract, the relative costs of these guys still matters. Further, we're not going to be under the cap enough to sign Chris Bosh to that kind of contract, we'd have to do a sign and trade and probably give up picks and/or assets. I really don't think it's worth the trade off.

Haywood is 7 feet tall and plays the role of traditional center. As it has been mentioned, guys like that don't take small contracts. A max contract Bosh will cost 16-17 million. Haywood won't be signing anywhere for less than 7.

As for the rebounding, one year does not a good rebounder make. Haywood's previous season high is 7.4 (in all of 6 games no less). Haywood is grabbing 10 a game now because he's is a good offensive rebounder (something the Thunder are actually pretty good at) and Washington is terrible on offense. This year is far more likely a fluke than a sign of things to come. Haywood is 30 already, he's more likely to fall off his career numbers than improve them in the near future. Further, he has absolutely no offensive game outside of assisted dunks. Given our far greater need for post scoring, that doesn't help much.

@Keith

I should have clarified what I meant.

I know we can afford a max contract, but I'm uncertain that Chris Bosh is worth a max contract. I mean, you're looking at paying someone almost double what any of these other possibilities would make; is Chris Bosh that good? I don't think so. He is an excellent offensive play that can definitely creat his own shot, and that is something we need. But is it worth an average of $16-17 million a year or whatever he's going to get? Is he worth the $20 million he'll be getting in the waning years of a new deal?

I'm also not sold about the idea of Chris Bosh playing center. I've seen him play enough, he might not be soft but I wouldn't call him a good defender either. His rebounding numbers have skyrocketed this season, is that a contract year thing or what?

Honestly, I'd rather trade for Al Jefferson than pay Chris Bosh the max. I don't think Chris Bosh would represent enough of an improvement over someone like Big Al to warrant the difference in salary.

As far as getting inside shots, it is a problem, we're tied for 17th in the league in shot attempts at the rim per game. But three point shooting is also a problem, we attemt too few and are one of the worst teams at making them. Combined, that makes us a relatively inefficient offense.

I don't think Chris Bosh is worth a max contract. He'd help our offense, but he wouldn't help our defense, and I have my doubts about this recent rebounding bonanza he's been on. His career rebound percentage is about the same as Amar'e Stoudemire, who isn't really known for his rebounding or defensive abilities either.

also he is averaging 10 rebounds per game...

he also will cost 12 million less...

@dream catcher
Haywood can't shoot, is a career 6 rebound per game guy, and is 30. His defense is overrated because he's the only one on that team that plays any. Can you honestly say you'd rather have someone who's been mediocre his entire career over one of the top 5 big men in the game?

I like Bosh but i think id rather have Haywood. He is a good rebounder, and plays great defense...

@dream catcher
Bosh would likely play center, but we would call him a PF (not sure why players care about that distinction). Also, I don't know if you noticed, but the Raptors actually have a solid frontcourt with Andrea Bargnani, who is essentially a 7 foot SG. That has to say something about Bosh. As for small, there's nothing that can be done about Green, but Bosh was measured at 6'11"+ out of college and just put on about 20 lbs. in the offseason, he's not small nor weak.

Westbrook/Maynor
Sefolosha/Harden
Durant
Green/Collison
Bosh/Ibaka

Bosh got a rep for being soft somewhere, but everyone seems to forget that he put Toronto in the playoffs several times despite having zero help. But then, people said Pau was soft until he went to LA, despite single-handedly putting Memphis in the post-season. Would you think our frontcourt small and weak if we had Pau Gasol at C instead of Bosh?

We would have enough Money to pay for Bosh?

Westbrook/Maynor
Sefolosha/Harden
Durant/
Bosh/Green/Collison
Krstic/Ibaka

we would still have a small weak front court though.....

@dream catcher
Too old, not a good influence, will want more than we can offer.

@Brew
Kev was referring more to a post scorer, someone who can create high percentage shots and draw defenders inside.

@justin
A small spike in offense doesn't change that we are a jumpshooting team that must live and die with our mid-range game because we don't have adequate scoring inside.

Jefferson is more in line with our needs than Okafor, I don't really think Gasol is available but I was pointing out someone that fit the bill, Bosh is NOT too expensive for us. People keep saying how we won't be able to afford our own players if we pick up a big name, but that isn't the case at all. We are 10 million under the cap this year. Both Collison and Krstic (13 million combined) come off the books in 2011, right before Durant/Green's extensions kick in. The extra pay for KD+Green is about 10 million more (combined) than what they will make next year. Minus Krstic and Colly, we have less money on the books that year. By the time Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka are up for extensions we should be a contender, and we'll have to pay like one.

Name me the last team that appeared in the Finals that wasn't well over the cap. For that matter, name me the last Finals-appearing team that wasn't over the luxury tax line.

Carlos Boozer in the off-season?

Kev :we continue to focus on the inside when we have a very good defemse to begin with (8th) . . . the offense is the issue -
we need a scorer . . .

I was thinking about adding a shooter the entire time I was watching the Bucks game. I would love to have a Morrow on this squad.

Our team FG% went up about 1.5% in December, FTA went up, ASST up, turnovers down. We scored more than three points more a game in December than November, and the pace is quickening a little. Our offense has been improving.

Our rebounding hasn't been improving at all, and our defense is sliding a little bit as well, opponents shot a bit better against us in December.

I could four or five games this year that we would have won if we could just rebound the ball, all other things remaining equal.

Chris Bosh is too expensive, Al Jefferson is the opposite of Okafor, I actually think Okafor is better.. Marc Gasol is on a cheap contract and won't be available, I don't know why people seem to think he is.

Our offense has been much better lately, we're getting destroyed on the boards just as much as our offense has suffered all year. We're 21st in the league in DRB%. Our offensive rating in December was at least top ten in the league I believe, it is coming around.

Our rebounding is actually worse than it's been, since our guards are crashing the boards out of necessity it's creating fast break opportunities for the other team, and stifling our ability to initiate fast breaks.

we continue to focus on the inside when we have a very good defemse to begin with (8th) . . . the offense is the issue -

we need a scorer . . .

signing Okafor will bring grand headlines and such, but he's good enough to get us beat in either the first round of the playoffs - and then we're stuck with that fat contract . . .

if we are going to pay big money to a "big" we need a guy that can create his own shot . . .

@justin
Bosh (everything)
Jefferson (offense, rebounding)
Gasol (everything)

There are guys out there, it's just finding a way to get them.

He's a big upgrade defensively and on the boards; one of the best in the league in both those areas. I just don't see how we are going to acquire a big man that has an offensive game to go with that.

justin :I’ve been thinking some more about possible acquisitions, and I’m reconsidering my stance on Emeka Okafor. We all know he has a large contract, but the question is would it be worth it for this team? I think it would. You look at Okafor’s numbers, and he’s consistently a top ten, or even top five, rebounder and shot blocker in the league. He finishes strong, knows how to box out and position himself defensively, and won’t crowd our perimeter on offense obviously.
But the kicker for me is that since some early career injuries, he’s been very durable. He seems healthy and doesn’t get hurt. I think that makes him worth a bit more compared to Bogut or Kaman, who always seem to get injured.
I think we could get Okafor from the Hornets without giving up Jeff Green. Probably just for expirings. We’d send Nenad Krstic the other way to help offset Okafor’s salary next season.
Getting Okafor makes too much sense. When I think about it, unless this team is even more conservative than I thought, I can’t see how this does not happen.

I've seen Okafor play in a few games this year, and I havent seen a player doing much to warrant his eight figure income . . . he's good, byt not great . . . we can't pay him just because he's an upgrade - at that price tag, he shoud be a big upgrade . . .

@justin
I see two thoughts running through Presti's head. First, he knows that teams are hurting, and he could easily upgrade the center spot in exchange for Harpring. Second, this team still has one more year of cap space before Durant and Green eat it all up.

I think Presti isn't necessarily being ultra-conservative, he is just waiting for the right deal. Would Okafor immediately improve us as a team? Yes. Is he the last piece to a championship? There I'm not so sure. And that second question has to be the one Presti is thinking about right now. Okafor is going to be on the block until Paul or West are moved. Kaman is contantly in limbo. Bogut is unlikely to be moved simply because Milwaukee thinks they really have something now with the Jennings steal.

If we make a big move, it will very likely be the last move we make for several years. We have to make it count. We don't just need an upgrade, we need someone who can be a legitimate second option until Westbrook or Harden hit their stride. We need someone who can attack the defensive glass and defend reasonably. We need someone young enough to keep for the next 5 years. We need someone who can be a real factor, not just a helping hand.

I've been thinking some more about possible acquisitions, and I'm reconsidering my stance on Emeka Okafor. We all know he has a large contract, but the question is would it be worth it for this team? I think it would. You look at Okafor's numbers, and he's consistently a top ten, or even top five, rebounder and shot blocker in the league. He finishes strong, knows how to box out and position himself defensively, and won't crowd our perimeter on offense obviously.

But the kicker for me is that since some early career injuries, he's been very durable. He seems healthy and doesn't get hurt. I think that makes him worth a bit more compared to Bogut or Kaman, who always seem to get injured.

I think we could get Okafor from the Hornets without giving up Jeff Green. Probably just for expirings. We'd send Nenad Krstic the other way to help offset Okafor's salary next season.

Getting Okafor makes too much sense. When I think about it, unless this team is even more conservative than I thought, I can't see how this does not happen.

Interesting to see how Williams is doing. He still can't shoot, still fouls too much, and needs to add strength, but he looks like he could be a scary rebounder someday. But then, seeing White's numbers down there should put to question a whole lot of D-League stats. White has been down for three games and is averaging just under a 20 and 10 on almost 70% shooting. He obviously hasn't been anywhere near that good at the NBA level. It makes me really wonder if Mullens has improved at all, averaging 15 and 8 on 45% shooting. The shooting mark worries me more than anything.

Royce, when is the Durantula shirt set to sale??

Sioux City Skyforce is one of the best team names ever. Almost good as the Nippon Ham Fighters.