RFA: Marc Gasol or DeAndre Jordan
- Thread starter Sac.1989
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I'm also on the Chandler bandwagon. Or Dalembert! But between the two suggested, I'm going with Marc Gasol. I'm a skills guy, and Gasol is far more skilled than Jordan. There's no doubt that Jordan has the most defensive potential, but Gasol held his own very well last season, and I'm sure he hasn't reached his potential yet. This is by no means a knock on Jordan, who I like. I wouldn't curse the world if we aquired him..
I'm on the Jordan train, I was hoping we would try to trade for him last offseason as he had a couple great late season games in '09 ('10?). But alas, he kinda blew up last year and improved his value.
I just like his weakside shotblocking potential, and think he'd be a better fit next to Cousins. Although Marc/Cuz could be like Marc/ZBo 2.0 in a couple years.
I just like his weakside shotblocking potential, and think he'd be a better fit next to Cousins. Although Marc/Cuz could be like Marc/ZBo 2.0 in a couple years.
I have to concede the age. Jordan is 23 and Gasol is an ancient 26 years old. But skill wise, at this time, I have to give the edge to Gasol.
Jordan: 7.1 PPG - 7.2 RPG - 1.8 BPG - 0.5 APG - 0.5 SPG
Gasol: 11.7 PPG - 7.0 RPG - 1.7 BPG - 2.5 APG - 0.9 SPG
If you take their career averages, Gasol wins in a landslide. Gasol's PPG and RPG were both down a little from the prior year where he was at 14 PPG and 9 RPG. The main difference between the two is Gasol's passing ability. Gasol is also a much better ballhandler than Jordan, who for most of his career has been a turnover machine when putting the ball on the floor.
Don't get me wrong! I'd certainly love to have Jordan, who is still learning the game and has great upside. But I think Gasol would bring a steady influence to our front line along with underrated defense. My first choice is still Chandler... But with Gasol and Cousins, you would have two bigs that can pass the ball, and play off one another.
Jordan: 7.1 PPG - 7.2 RPG - 1.8 BPG - 0.5 APG - 0.5 SPG
Gasol: 11.7 PPG - 7.0 RPG - 1.7 BPG - 2.5 APG - 0.9 SPG
If you take their career averages, Gasol wins in a landslide. Gasol's PPG and RPG were both down a little from the prior year where he was at 14 PPG and 9 RPG. The main difference between the two is Gasol's passing ability. Gasol is also a much better ballhandler than Jordan, who for most of his career has been a turnover machine when putting the ball on the floor.
Don't get me wrong! I'd certainly love to have Jordan, who is still learning the game and has great upside. But I think Gasol would bring a steady influence to our front line along with underrated defense. My first choice is still Chandler... But with Gasol and Cousins, you would have two bigs that can pass the ball, and play off one another.
Don't forget that Thornton is a restricted freeagent. So no matter what, we'll have the last say in where he signs. Before we get carried away with the idea that other teams will now have more money to spend, lets remember that as a result of the amnesty clause (if there is one) there will also be more freeagents on the market, and one man's trash is another man's treasure. Example would be Joe Johnson. I'm sure the Hawks would love to get of that contract. But aside from the bloated contract, Johnson is a good player. Its just the money thats wrong.
Lets also not forget that most of the teams will be trying to get themselves under the luxury tax threshold. Especially since the rumors are, that the new proposal from the league increases the penalty on teams over the luxury tax threshold. Some of those teams that are able to avoid that threshold by shedding a player won't be that anxious to go over it again by signing another player.
Lets also not forget that most of the teams will be trying to get themselves under the luxury tax threshold. Especially since the rumors are, that the new proposal from the league increases the penalty on teams over the luxury tax threshold. Some of those teams that are able to avoid that threshold by shedding a player won't be that anxious to go over it again by signing another player.
1) Chandler or Dalembert
2) DeAndre Jordan
3) Marc Gasol
This is purely based on money they will make and need for defense. If he had drafted Favors last year instead of Cousins, Marc Gasol would be on the top of my list. If we traded Casspi for a more defensive minded big and not JJ Hickson, Gasol would be on the top of my list.
But here we are. Cousins, JT,and Hickson. None of those guys are known for their defense, with JT being the best defender of the bunch, and all of them being extremely foul prone.
Gasol should make the most money, followed closely by Chandler, then Dalembert, then Jordan. I think its highly unlikely Chandler leaves Dallas or Jordan leaves the Clippers.
And between Dalembert or Gasol, I'll take Dalembert if he wants to come back here.
2) DeAndre Jordan
3) Marc Gasol
This is purely based on money they will make and need for defense. If he had drafted Favors last year instead of Cousins, Marc Gasol would be on the top of my list. If we traded Casspi for a more defensive minded big and not JJ Hickson, Gasol would be on the top of my list.
But here we are. Cousins, JT,and Hickson. None of those guys are known for their defense, with JT being the best defender of the bunch, and all of them being extremely foul prone.
Gasol should make the most money, followed closely by Chandler, then Dalembert, then Jordan. I think its highly unlikely Chandler leaves Dallas or Jordan leaves the Clippers.
And between Dalembert or Gasol, I'll take Dalembert if he wants to come back here.
I'll be honest with you. I'd love to have Dalembert back. Chandler would still be my first choice. But if I had the choice between Gasol and Dalembert, I'd take Gasol. First, Gasol is a better defender than people are giving him credit for. Secondly, he'll be 27 years old in jan, while Dally is 30 years old. Thirdly, his overall skill level is higher than Dalemberts. He's a terrific passer and I can easily see Cousins and Gasol doing an impression of Webber and Vlade in the high/low post. Gasol is capable of putting the ball on the floor with effeciency while Dally's attempts are an adventure. As far as shotblocking goes, Dalembert averaged 1.5 blocks per game last season in around 25 minutes a game. Gasol averaged 1.7 blocks a game in around 31 minutes a game. So its almost a push in that dept.
Jordan is an interesting prospect, and I think the Clips will do everything possible to keep him. But while he's young, he's also the least skilled of the four mentioned. He's not a very good passer, and is a turnover waiting to happen when he puts the ball on the floor. I realize that stats don't tell the whole story, but they are a yardstick to some degree on a players abilities.
Gasol: 11.7 PPG - 7.0 RPG - 1.7 BPG - 2.5 APG - 52.7% FGP
Jordan: 7.1 PPG - 7.2 RPG - 1.8 BPG - 0.5 APG - 68.6% FGP
Dalembert: 8.1 PPG - 8.2 RPG - 1.5 BPG - 0.8 APG - 47% FGP
Chandler: 10.1 PPG - 9.4 RPG - 1.1 BPG - 0.4 APG - 65.4% FGP
Now you can find plusses and minuses with all of them. But if you look for the player thats pretty good at just about everything, its Gasol. Jordan and Dalembert may be slightly better overall in the shotblocking dept, but not much. Chandler may be the better man post defender and pick and roll defender, but again, not by much. All this is just my opinion, so take it for what its worth. But I watched Gasol play quite a bit last season and he impressed me. I think Randolph took some of the rebounding load off of him and it allowed him more freedom in other areas.
As far as JT being foul prone. One of my pet peaves is that people don't take the time to notice when a player makes an improvement. Some folks will always see a player as the player they saw in his first year in the league. JT was greatly improved last season. When compared to the four players we've been discussing he holds up quite well.
Chandler: 3.2 fouls per game
Gasol: 3.3 fouls per game
Dalembert: 2.8 fouls per game
Jordan: 3.2 fouls per game
Thompson: 2.8 fouls per game
Thompson, Dally, and Jordan all player similar minutes with Chandler and Gasol both playing around 5 minutes more per game. All in all, JT was fine in the foul dept last season. JT has turned himself into a good man and iso defender. He may never be a shotblocker, but as long as he's playing PF thats not a big issue. If you watched the Philly/Melo game, JT basicly shut down Lebron when he was guarding him.
Jordan is an interesting prospect, and I think the Clips will do everything possible to keep him. But while he's young, he's also the least skilled of the four mentioned. He's not a very good passer, and is a turnover waiting to happen when he puts the ball on the floor. I realize that stats don't tell the whole story, but they are a yardstick to some degree on a players abilities.
Gasol: 11.7 PPG - 7.0 RPG - 1.7 BPG - 2.5 APG - 52.7% FGP
Jordan: 7.1 PPG - 7.2 RPG - 1.8 BPG - 0.5 APG - 68.6% FGP
Dalembert: 8.1 PPG - 8.2 RPG - 1.5 BPG - 0.8 APG - 47% FGP
Chandler: 10.1 PPG - 9.4 RPG - 1.1 BPG - 0.4 APG - 65.4% FGP
Now you can find plusses and minuses with all of them. But if you look for the player thats pretty good at just about everything, its Gasol. Jordan and Dalembert may be slightly better overall in the shotblocking dept, but not much. Chandler may be the better man post defender and pick and roll defender, but again, not by much. All this is just my opinion, so take it for what its worth. But I watched Gasol play quite a bit last season and he impressed me. I think Randolph took some of the rebounding load off of him and it allowed him more freedom in other areas.
As far as JT being foul prone. One of my pet peaves is that people don't take the time to notice when a player makes an improvement. Some folks will always see a player as the player they saw in his first year in the league. JT was greatly improved last season. When compared to the four players we've been discussing he holds up quite well.
Chandler: 3.2 fouls per game
Gasol: 3.3 fouls per game
Dalembert: 2.8 fouls per game
Jordan: 3.2 fouls per game
Thompson: 2.8 fouls per game
Thompson, Dally, and Jordan all player similar minutes with Chandler and Gasol both playing around 5 minutes more per game. All in all, JT was fine in the foul dept last season. JT has turned himself into a good man and iso defender. He may never be a shotblocker, but as long as he's playing PF thats not a big issue. If you watched the Philly/Melo game, JT basicly shut down Lebron when he was guarding him.
Thats a good point! But another point is that the 20 mil won't count against the cap, and therefore, won't put them into the luxury tax area. The question I have, is that if another team is willing to sign Johnson for the exact same salary, will the Hawks still have to honor the salary they signed him to. Or even if another teams signs him for 10 mil a year, will that 10 mil be substracted from the contract he signed with the Hawks. I seriously doubt that the league will allow a player to double dip. It would be contrary to what they're trying to accomplish.
On the other hand, if you don't allow double-dipping, you completely remove the second salary as a consideration for the amnestied player. Thus, all but assuring the quality vets head toward the contenders, leaving teams like the Kings with little to gain from the whole thing. Instead, if Joe Johnson (or Roy, or whoever) gets to keep the extra $10 million, then maybe he'll give Sacramento a longer look instead of bolting immediately to the Bulls or Orlando, who wouldn't be able to offer nearly as much.
Yes. He got all of his Mavs money and the much smaller Spurs money. The Mavs could take his contract off the books for tax purposes, but they had to pay him all of his money up front and could not resign him.
The same would be true here again. They owners are going to take that money off the cap and tax, and they want to be able to pay the player over time. But we'll see about that last part. Finally, the Spurs are pushing for the aminsty to hold over for a few seasons. Thus, the Magic could cut Arenas off the cap now. And later, the could trade a couple of picks and Hedo to another team, who could aminsty Hedo.
But it's a 100% buyout for the player.
The same would be true here again. They owners are going to take that money off the cap and tax, and they want to be able to pay the player over time. But we'll see about that last part. Finally, the Spurs are pushing for the aminsty to hold over for a few seasons. Thus, the Magic could cut Arenas off the cap now. And later, the could trade a couple of picks and Hedo to another team, who could aminsty Hedo.
But it's a 100% buyout for the player.
Gasol
He's just so much better all-around than Deandre Jordan. He's probably the closest player there is to Vlade Divac on the offensive end. He is unselfish and low-maintenance but highly skilled. He has played next to extremely high usage offensive black holes like Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph and excelled. Defensively, he's really good. I don't know where the misconception comes from, but he's huge and a really savvy defender. Memphis was outstanding on defense, and while huge credit goes to Tony Allen on the perimeter, Gasol was the post level stopper. Unless you think it was Zack Randolph.
Sports Illustrated ranked him the 40th best player in the league. ESPN had him 26th.
Chemistry-wise, I don't know if we could find a better fit. As mentioned above, he is low maintenance on offense. He's a young vet at 26 who has had some playoff success. DeMarcus Cousins has said that he models his game after Pau Gasol. Well Marc is a great role model for him, having lost a ton of weight to become an impact player.
He's just so much better all-around than Deandre Jordan. He's probably the closest player there is to Vlade Divac on the offensive end. He is unselfish and low-maintenance but highly skilled. He has played next to extremely high usage offensive black holes like Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph and excelled. Defensively, he's really good. I don't know where the misconception comes from, but he's huge and a really savvy defender. Memphis was outstanding on defense, and while huge credit goes to Tony Allen on the perimeter, Gasol was the post level stopper. Unless you think it was Zack Randolph.
Sports Illustrated ranked him the 40th best player in the league. ESPN had him 26th.
Chemistry-wise, I don't know if we could find a better fit. As mentioned above, he is low maintenance on offense. He's a young vet at 26 who has had some playoff success. DeMarcus Cousins has said that he models his game after Pau Gasol. Well Marc is a great role model for him, having lost a ton of weight to become an impact player.
I couldn't agree more. Gasol is far more skilled than Jordan, and what difference there is on defense is slight. I actually think Gasol is a better all around defender. Jordan averaged 1.8 blocked shots last season, and Gasol averaged 1.7 blocked shots last season. Thats for those that want to jump on the blocked shot wagon. Yes, I know that Gasol played a few more minutes a game. Gasol and Cousins would be interchangable on the high and low blocks. Both can run the pick and roll, and could even run it together. Or the simple give and go that Webb and Vlade used to run.
Jordan may turn into a great all around player eventually, but Gasol is already, and he's certainly one of my top choices.
Jordan may turn into a great all around player eventually, but Gasol is already, and he's certainly one of my top choices.
