Defensive Big Man Choices
- Thread starter Bricklayer
- Start date
To be fair its closer to every front office in the NBA, or every fan on every web forum, since that deal is seemingly universally being looked at a !! steal by the Lakers. There is something decidedly odd about it. If the second year is a player option I think that would be the best explanation: he wanted to go someplace he could be guaranteed big minutes so he could opt out next year and get paid.
maybe. Like I say, I would almost be surprised if that second year is not player option. it normally is on mini-contracts like that. Coming out of his rookie deal, his value has been trashed in Memphis, wants to go to some team where he feels he can get a lot of PT and hope that instead of getting a $3mil a year contract this year, go get a $7mil a year deal next year. If that was the thinking though, must not have been terribly pleased to see the Boozer signing.
Instead of starting a new thread, figured I'd put this here...Since Acy has not been re-signed yet, it got me to thinking that maybe his roster spot is up for grabs. This is just hypothetical but if the Kings had 1 space for either Acy, Moreland or Oriakhi, which player do you keep?
Acy- has great intangibles the organization needs, tweener who doesn't have a position but does a little of everything but nothing great
Moreland- project who does the things that this team needs, but shows flashes during Summer League....has the length and motor to rebound and block shots, does it eventually translate to NBA...needs to add at least some bulk
Oriakhi- only seen him the one game but showed a little bit of mid range game and half hook inside, moved the ball on offense, may have some shotblocking skills and/or rebounding skills. Really need a longer look but didn't look like a complete stiff in first game.
Who would you keep?
Acy- has great intangibles the organization needs, tweener who doesn't have a position but does a little of everything but nothing great
Moreland- project who does the things that this team needs, but shows flashes during Summer League....has the length and motor to rebound and block shots, does it eventually translate to NBA...needs to add at least some bulk
Oriakhi- only seen him the one game but showed a little bit of mid range game and half hook inside, moved the ball on offense, may have some shotblocking skills and/or rebounding skills. Really need a longer look but didn't look like a complete stiff in first game.
Who would you keep?
I may lean to keeping Moreland over Acy because I think the upside for Acy is limited. I don't think he can ever be a rotation guy on a playoff team but I do think he can be part of a playoff team.....if that makes sense.
Moreland on the other hand, could be a part of a rotation or at least his skill set could. His length is a plus. He is a quick jumper....gets off the floor fast repeatedly and that skill in itself can lead to be a good rebounder/shot blocker/defender. The FO has got to be looking hard at him.
Moreland on the other hand, could be a part of a rotation or at least his skill set could. His length is a plus. He is a quick jumper....gets off the floor fast repeatedly and that skill in itself can lead to be a good rebounder/shot blocker/defender. The FO has got to be looking hard at him.
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but what about John Henson from the Bucks?
He can play PF and C, and has excellent size. Good shot blocker and rebounder. Could be a nice fit next to Cousins. Still on his rookie deal as well.
Granted their interest would be dependant on what line up they go with (ie Knight, Mayo, Giannis, Parker, Sanders or Knight, Giannis, Parker, Ilyasova or Henson, Sanders etc), and if they decide to keep Ersan Ilyasova, but Henson could be an excellent acquisition if we could pull a deal off for him.
Obviously Sanders could be an option as well, but a guy like Henson does come without negative track record (?).
He can play PF and C, and has excellent size. Good shot blocker and rebounder. Could be a nice fit next to Cousins. Still on his rookie deal as well.
Granted their interest would be dependant on what line up they go with (ie Knight, Mayo, Giannis, Parker, Sanders or Knight, Giannis, Parker, Ilyasova or Henson, Sanders etc), and if they decide to keep Ersan Ilyasova, but Henson could be an excellent acquisition if we could pull a deal off for him.
Obviously Sanders could be an option as well, but a guy like Henson does come without negative track record (?).
Hensen does get mentioned occasionally around here, but questions about how to get him, is he even available, and then some questionable impact stats on a really terrible team. Suppose I should have watched more exciting Bucks basketball so I could form a more coherent opinion on what he could bring, but the whole gouging my eyes out thing was just a turn off.
The only thing that JT lacks to be a really good pairing next to Cousins is the shotblocking. Everything else you would be looking for in that ever elusive player JT has
Good rebounder? Check
Solid passer? Check
Respectable mid range jumper? Check
Does not need shots to be effective? Check
Energy and hustle? Check
Solid man defender? Check
Can play 4 and 5? Check
Can guard stretch 4s? Check
Shot blocking? Nope!
Good rebounder? Check
Solid passer? Check
Respectable mid range jumper? Check
Does not need shots to be effective? Check
Energy and hustle? Check
Solid man defender? Check
Can play 4 and 5? Check
Can guard stretch 4s? Check
Shot blocking? Nope!
I think JT may even be slightly underpaid considering what big men cost and that might be why we've never traded him. He actually should net something of value because he would be a great 3rd big for just about any team. He does everything good except block shots without doing anything great. But he'll play both positions and contribute big minutes if your other bigs land in early foul trouble.
If he ever finds himself on a winning team (hopefully ours), hopefully some of the stink of being on a losing team and getting jerked around so much will rinse right off.
If he ever finds himself on a winning team (hopefully ours), hopefully some of the stink of being on a losing team and getting jerked around so much will rinse right off.
I fully agree JT is a worthy big on this team at $6M/year. He is a very capable back-up on both the 4 and 5. It would be like $3M as back-up PF and another $3M at back-up C. Not over-payed if you see him that way.
Get Larry Sanders as your shot blocker and we're set with our rotation on the 4 and 5 with Cousins, Sanders, and JT. Then get cheap players like Moreland to fill in the rest.
Get Larry Sanders as your shot blocker and we're set with our rotation on the 4 and 5 with Cousins, Sanders, and JT. Then get cheap players like Moreland to fill in the rest.
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The Maddening thing about JT is his inability to keep from playing defense with his hands instead of his feet. Most of his fouls are "reach in" fouls and very seldom is he able to steal a ball without fouling. He's had too many years in the NBA to not have learned this lesson. I do agree, however, that if the FO is going to trade him, they better get someone better!!
Go Kings!!
Go Kings!!