re: If we don't make a Shinn/Bower-type signing...

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aswemajor

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You can't compare teams 1/1 like you are doing with the Hornets and the Heat. First of all the personnel doesn't match up, and even if it did, it doesn't mean we can/will duplicate the exact same results. That's just not how it works.

You are also assuming that every player on our roster will reach their potential (and then some) in addition to staying healthy.

While it is possible, the chances of that happening are 0.00000000000000001%.

Just because Gordon has been playing great these 3 weeks, doesn't mean he will miraculously be playing 82 game seasons for the rest of his contract. Comparing Anthony Davis to Lebron is just not fair. Lebron is top 5 in both offense and defense while Davis is maybe top 15 defensively and (at this stage) bottom-tier, offensively. He can not take over a game offensively.

Also, our bench – outside of Anderson – is putrid. Although last night's win was nice, until proven otherwise it was an aberration and with the way the roster is right now, we are one Eric Gordon pop to the knee away from being the team that we were for the first couple of months of the season.

This is not to say we are not on the right track, because we definitely are.

We have a young core of guys that build the foundation for the future. Of the players we have on the roster right now, Gordon/Davis/Anderson/Vasquez/Lopez are players that can definitely have a solid role going forward. The jury is still out on Rivers and only because this is his first year.

If he can improve and be a competent off-the-bench combo guard, it improves our stability that much more.

As for the amount of money we will have to spend this offseason, we have to utilize it. There is no point in letting that stay open when there are players out there that we can fit into our system, whether that is as a starter or a key cog for our second unit.

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I know what I said about making the wrong signing was obvious. But I was just trying to say we have very little room for error this offseason and maybe even the next.

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truth

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Also, our bench – outside of Anderson – is putrid. Although last night's win was nice, until proven otherwise it was an aberration and with the way the roster is right now, we are one Eric Gordon pop to the knee away from being the team that we were for the first couple of months of the season.

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Smiht/Rivers/Anderson/Roberts/Whoever isn't an awful bench.

Smiht is solid and rivers will improve.

Roberts has been OK but i think we need an upgrade there.

The rest of your points are solid

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Gordon will be fortunate to make 2 All-Star teams. Anderson won't make one in the west. I'd put my house and car on that.

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damn. it may not be probable, but those things could happen

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Smiht/Rivers/Anderson/Roberts/Whoever isn't an awful bench.

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The problem is, I dont know if we'll have all these people on the team by the time we start consistently making the playoffs. Will we be able to hold onto Smith? I doubt it.

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If Rivers/Anderson are gone by the time this team makes the playoffs, then something really awesome or something really terrible happened.

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If both are gone, yeah, but Rivers may very well be irrelevant. From the start, I've kind of looked at the 10 pick as lagniappe. If Rivers booms, awesome. If he doesn't pan out, no worries.

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Yea my post was mainly directed at smith and not Rivers/Anderson. I hope he stays with us. But you rarely find a guy who loves a coach/team so much that he's willing to take a pay cut while he is still young.

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Do you think Smiht would see the same opportunity to compete elsewhere? I seems that Monty has actually built him into the offense. I don't see anyone else bringing him in with that in mind. They'll probably just grab him for toughness and minutes and an occasional spot-up at the elbow. I think that could possibly sway him more than a false sense of loyalty.

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Playoffs are a good bet next season and a must in 2014/2015.

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I hope so.

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2014/2015. I dont see Rivers leaving between now and then

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I definitely agree, unless some unusual trade pops up. I don't see Monty letting him wash out before then. I think you need to give most youngsters until about 22 until you really know what you have. That's what makes me worry about Aminu. It seems like one of his biggest flaws is consistency of effort. That should improve with age and he's about to turn 22. I know declining his option helped push his performance, but would it have been worth it to have him around for another year playing as an actual adult? I guess we'll find out when we see for how much and where he signs.

I would normally say it was a no-lose to decline his option because of FA flexibility, but I feel like we have more space than the market justifies for this offseason. Does Aminu somehow get a Landry-type deal from us if his play gets more consistent?

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I could see a Landry deal if there is nothing out there to spend on. I wouldnt be upset with a 2 or 3 year deal for about 4-6 million per, assuming he continues to play like this. Would be a nice trade chip at that value as well.

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I can agree with that. I guess it depends on how consistent he is for the rest of the year. I just think next year is where we're going to find out what kind of NBA player he really is.