Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
Problem is, these coaches don't seem to have much faith in their "youth". They're more reluctant with rookies than practically any team in the league.
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Well, that's OK from a coaching standpoint. If they are playing the best players and they happen to be older, theres nothing wrong with that.
It's not excusable from a roster building standpoint. Veteran players are expensive and a team full of veterans will regress every year. To date, we've counteracted this phenomenon by signing younger, expensive FAs who are right in their prime. But because we don't have the cap to sign 53 players in their prime every 3 years or so, we end up just counterbalancing the veteran regression and spinning our wheels.
The solution is to bring in players who wont begin to regress after their 3rd year on the team (draft picks). They don't have to play right away, because the coaches should be playing the best guys. They just have to be on the roster so that our team gets better over time, not worse.
Like I've said many times, Free Agency is a very legit method to roster building. But the key is to find the best players that no one else wants (or that few teams want), maybe due to age or a perceived flaw that really doesn't matter. That's why London Fletcher was in theroy a good signing. We didn't break the bank for him. Smoot, another good signing, same reasons. If I have a problem with either signing, its that we signed them for too long a time period. 3 year contracts are ideal with this type of player. It's also the reason why Briggs would be a bad trade, because he's too much money.
The best way to fill a gaping need in this league is to fill it twice, veteran free agent who isn't wanted by teams (i.e. NOT somebody in the prime of his career) who you can get on a short deal, and then a high draft pick at the position who takes over for the signing when he proves better.
Draft picks don't fill immediate needs, and aging vets don't fill future needs. That's why the market is so ridiculous for 4th and 5th year players, and exactly why its cheaper, smarter, and less risky to put your eggs in two baskets instead of one.