With the trade finally completed, we're completely set at the 2 and the 5. But there are a lot of question marks at all the other positions, which should be addressed by the Rox during the two week free agent negotiations period. Point Guard - This seems to be the most hotly debated position. Do we need a distributor who can tee up and prey on double teams by knocking down threes at a 40% clip? Or do we need a playmaker that can find Yao and T-Mac for easy buckets? How highly should perimeter defense be valued at this postition? (Available Players [FA or on the block]: Eric Snow, Brent Barry, Derek Fisher, Charlie Ward, Nick Van Exel?) Small Forward - Jimmy was rock solid last season, but he isn't getting any younger. He did a solid job on both sides of the floor, but wasn't spectacular in any aspect. At the 3, do we need a lockdown perimeter defender who can take the pressure off of T-Mac on the defensive end, or do we need a sharpshooter who can make teams pay for double team and improve our spacing? Maybe a playmaker who can allow T-Mac and Yao to indulge their scoring mentalities? Or should we just address this later, and let JJ keep the starting job for now? (Available Players [FA or on the block]: Toni Kukoc, Bruce Bowen, Trent Hassell, Eric Williams, Darius Miles, Stephen Jackson, Vladimir Radmanovic?) Power Forward - In the PF stacked West, this may be the most pressing need. Juwan Howard is a solid scorer/rebounder, but isn't a great defender and has no shotblocking ability. Our entire defensive scheme was based on packing the lane and daring teams to beat us from the outside. Our D suffered noticeably when Cato was out, which suggests that we need a help defender for when Yao shows on the pick and roll. Should the Rox be looking for a blue collar banger who can defend, block shots, and grab rebounds, ala Otis Thorpe, or a sharp-passing, smooth shooting forward in the Robert Horry mold? (Available Players [FA or on the block]: Keon Clark, Donnell Harvey, Antonio McDyess, Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams, Christian Laettner, Stromile Swift, Mehmet Okur)
