Thomas/Stoudamire

["Greg Odegaard" <gmodegaa@longvred.rmc.com>]

Am I the only one not getting messages after two day?  I tried to send this
post earlier and will try again.  My lack of info is driving me crazy.  I
feel like I must be a subscriber to AOL.  Let me know.

Thank you,
Greg

 Per the ESPN report it appears Isiah Thomas is leaving the Raptors for
NBC,
 a deal even his wife says he can't pass up. It is noted in the report, and
 I have read before that Damon Stoudamire will only plan to stay in Toronto
 with Thomas in charge.  If all these facts are true, I believe we should
go
 after Stoudamire, as  a "true" franchise PG.  Before you think I am saying
 "dump" Billups, I am saying anything but.
 I have read a couple of posts recently, that go into the thought that
 Billups might be better suited as a SG.  Well how about this for a
starting
 line-up:
 
 PG: Stoudamire
 SG: Billups
 SF: Mercer
 PF: Walker
 C: Knight
 5 man bench:
 McCarty, Bowen, Brown, Edney, DeClerq
 
 I love this line-up, and KNOW, with patience and coaching the Celtics
would
 be in the NBA finals in 3 years.  PERIOD!
 
 The concerns might be:
 
 1. How to get Stoudamire, without giving up Billups; What about all this
 money RP apparently was creatively freeing up with the Massenburg/Mills
 deals.  The cap will grow significantly next year with the new TV deal. 
 Woo him and sign him as a FA.
 
 2. Can Billups excel at SG; Maybe but who knows if he can succeed at PG. 
I
 believe his body might be better suited for a pure SG.  At least we know
 Stoudamire is a great PG, or at least is heading in that direction.
 
 3. Can Mercer play SF and Walker play PF; I think they could very well
 maybe 3 to 4 games out of 5.  There will always be some match-up problems
 most games, and in those cases RP would juggle as needed.
 
 4. Is Knight the "starting NBA" center for the future;  This is a real
 problem with a smaller overall lineup.  Let us not forget we are probably
 looking at a top 10 draft pick next year, and maybe we can draft then to
 fill the long-term hole that Knight definately will not fill in every
game.
  We need a big body center to play 20 minutes a  game and start maybe a
 dozen games, especially with a defensive focus.
 The FA market might also free up a quality big body to fill the gap.
 
 I know this is lot to digest, but I would like to see a discussion on
these
 points, and whether you folks feel Stoudamire is a potential franchise PG.
 I know Art Silva thinks so.
 
 Comments?
 Greg