Eddie Griffin

[Bricklayer]

Eddie Griffin:

St Paul Pioneer Express (Minnesota area newspaper) is reporting that the Wolves have offered to resign their FA Eddie Griffin to a three year deal worth $1.8mil, $1.9mil, $2.0mil. For a player of his talents that is NOTHING. He is a restricted free agent, but if that is Minny's offer, even an MLE offer might be too rich for their blood when it comes to matching. They claim they want him back, but the money isn't talking.

So, with the number of young tall defensively minded players on the market rapidly dwindling, do we make an offer?


Griffin Postives:
-- tall/long (6'10" 240)
-- tremendous shotblocker
-- good rebounder
-- very good athlete
-- some outside skills, can play 3, 4, 5
-- only 23

Griffin Negatives:
-- a recovering psycho who punched out teammates in high school and college (he was there for one year), has had gun charges and drug charges, took a year off from bball due to his problems, and is coming off a short jail sentence this summer. Think he held it together for the Wolves last year though.
-- bad shot selection and likes to chuck up low percentage threes rather than use height on offense
-- is unfamiliar with the term "pass"

04/05 Stats:
21.3min 7.5pts (.387 FG% .328 3pt% .718 FT%) 6.5rebs 0.8ast 0.3stl 1.7blk 0.8TO

 

[acisking]

i say the positives outweigh the negatives especially since we don't really need much more offense

 

[LA King Fan II]

Didn't he bury four killer threes (or 5-6) against us in one game last year? Those lovable Kings sure bring out the best in guys and their offense. Sure never saw him do it against anyone else. Then again, couldn't stomach watching the Wolves play last year.

If you say he plays defense too, and is "tremendous" as a shotblocker seems like much less than a gamble. Let's call GP.

 

[piksi]

Only team that Griffin play well against are the Kings so unless we are allowed to play ourselves - we don't need him.

BTW - I would hate to see some of our players get shot as an innocent bystander

 

[Yoda]

well, if we bring in wells and artest he will fit right in....Can we get Sheed too?

 

[sidney]

I don't know a lot about griffin, but his size and stats look pretty similar to Skinner's stats with us (except not as good):

27Min, 1.7 Blks, 7.4 pt, 8.7 rb, .554 FG%

Skinner also seems like a pretty good guy. What would Griffin bring that Skinner already isn't.

 

[AriesMar27]

I don't know a lot about griffin, but his size and stats look pretty similar to Skinner's stats with us (except not as good):

27Min, 1.7 Blks, 7.4 pt, 8.7 rb, .554 FG%

Skinner also seems like a pretty good guy. What would Griffin bring that Skinner already isn't.

the ability to play the 3..... while skinner is backing up at the 4 or 5....

i say do it.... wouldnt hurt to try.... unless the clippers somehow end up with him.... luckily im a clippers fan or id be pissed at them...

 

[Bricklayer]

I don't know a lot about griffin, but his size and stats look pretty similar to Skinner's stats with us (except not as good):

27Min, 1.7 Blks, 7.4 pt, 8.7 rb, .554 FG%

Skinner also seems like a pretty good guy. What would Griffin bring that Skinner already isn't.

Upside. Also Skinner is not, and likely never will be for any extended period of time again, that type of shotblocker. Griffin though -- if he developed into a starter the guy would literally average 3blks a game in 38min! (as an aside he is longer than Brian and is a big leaper).

IF Griffin could figure it all out, he could easily turn out to be 15pts 10rebs 3blks as a starter. Obviosuly that "if" is the question.

Also should note, although we are the Kings, I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the rules that says that we were restricted to only having one shotblocking forward ont he team at a time. In fact I would argue that if the Peja/Miller duo is back next year, basically EVERYBODY else should be able to challenge and help. The more the merrier.

 

[Fillmoe]

id take griffin in a minute

 

[Packt]

I'd pick option 2 and 3. I wouldn't bet everything on him, but he wouldn't be a bad backup, or possibly a starter at the four with ability to play the 3 and 5. Could be the role playing and cheap shot blocker we need. At the same time I"d be surprised if Geoff brought in somebody like him now. He made what I consider a snide remark when asked about Artest awhile back. I was disappointed in hearing it, especially since we wouldn't have made our run with that kind of attitude.

I don't know a lot about griffin, but his size and stats look pretty similar to Skinner's stats with us (except not as good):

27Min, 1.7 Blks, 7.4 pt, 8.7 rb, .554 FG%

Skinner also seems like a pretty good guy. What would Griffin bring that Skinner already isn't.

Griffin has more offense than Skinner, more range even though the percentage isn't so hot. And you know how we love our offense. But basicly it wouldn't hurt to have more size and shotblocking up front, especially if it's cheap.

If it is to work, Bibby and/or Miller would have to take him under them.

 

[DocHolliday]

At this point I want anyone that is crazy and mean. He punched out his own players?? Good. Other teams coming at him will think, "If he did that to his own teammate what would he do to me?". We need to be mean, we need to be tough, we need to be crazy. I'm sick of having a weak pansy ***!! team.

 

[sono]

Only team that Griffin play well against are the Kings so unless we are allowed to play ourselves - we don't need him...

LMAO, yeah I remember him, he tourched us from downtown and at boards. Looks to me a solid player, only thing that concerns me is his passing.

St Paul Pioneer Express (Minnesota area newspaper) is reporting that the Wolves have offered to resign their FA Eddie Griffin to a three year deal worth $1.8mil, $1.9mil, $2.0mil. For a player of his talents that is NOTHING. He is a restricted free agent, but if that is Minny's offer, even an MLE offer might be too rich for their blood when it comes to matching. They claim they want him back, but the money isn't talking.

The price is right, it worth a try to roll a dice...

 

[FrenchCanadianKING]

At this point I want anyone that is crazy and mean. He punched out his own players?? Good. Other teams coming at him will think, "If he did that to his own teammate what would he do to me?". We need to be mean, be need to be tough, we need to be crazy. I'm sick of having a weak pansy ***!! team.

hells yeah

 

[Fillmoe]

the team of the year!!!!

pg - damon stoudamire
sg - sprewell
sf- artest
pf - griffin
c- wilcox

other teams would be so scared of us..... we could choke you, punch you, shoot you, and some some crack at the end of the game.... HAHAHAHAHHAHA!

 

[DocHolliday]

I want the all felon team. That works for me.

 

[LPKingsFan]

the team of the year!!!!

pg - damon stoudamire
sg - sprewell
sf- artest
pf - griffin
c- wilcox

other teams would be so scared of us..... we could choke you, punch you, shoot you, and some some crack at the end of the game.... HAHAHAHAHHAHA!

Add Rodney White and Alan Henderson as reserves.

Anyways, I chose the "I'd make an offer but the Kings won't." But then again, maybe this is one of Petrie's moves that no one has picked up on yet.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

As long as his poor shot selection doesn't extend to his possession of firearms...

 

[SLAB]

You know, I think I'd do it.

He's young, athletic, a shotbloacker, AND can shoot?! Whats not to love?

But then of course without a KG type to intimidate him from the drugs/alcohol, will he stay down a straight path?

Who knows, but I think it's worth a shot.

 

[LPKingsFan]

KG did wonders with Spree and Cassell too, BTW.

 

[sidney]

You know, I think I'd do it.

He's young, athletic, a shotbloacker, AND can shoot?! Whats not to love?

Pretty Funny. He can shoot? Let's not get carried away with his offensive abilities. The guy shoots 38%. That would put him behind everyone on the kings except the offensive force that is Erik Daniels.

Again, I've not followed this guy and I'm not against getting him cheap, but people are blowing this out of porportion.

 

[Gilles]

I think if we could get him it will be GREAT.
Here's why:
he hasn't played an NBA game for a year. He had a really ugly start with Wolves. At the start of the season he often looked lost(I have 7 Minni's games - 3 at the start of the season and 4 towards the end). Despite that:
Shot-blocking: 7th in NBA per 48 min(3.8). B.Wallace(3.2).
Def. reb.: 12th in NBA per 48 min(10.5). T. Chandler(11.2) but Olovokandi and Ervin Johnson(Griffin never played along with Madsen) rebound at least not worse than O.Harrington, A. Davis and E.Curry, and half of his time Eddie played with the best def. reb. in the league(I guess you know his name )
Off. reb.: not so good but you should take into consideration the amount of time EG spent on the perimeter.
Adj. shot %: I use it here because he shot a lot of 3s - .451, K.Tomas shot .452 for Philly. At the start of the season he often had erratic shooting like 2-11, 2-9, 1-7. Really improved towards the end of the season.
About him: he started to recover from his mental disaster BEFORE he came to Wolves thanks to Lukas, former Rocket and 1 overall pick. His real problem was alcoholism not drugs(except marijuana). He lost his half-brother who was like father(he lost his father when he was a child) to him right before the draft. Coming into the draft he was "consensus №1 pick" but had bad workouts because of depression and ended as №7. As freshman in Seton Hall he averaged something like 17p 11r 4.5bl. Sure he benefited greatly from KG and Sam but he hasn't done ANYTHING in 15 months so far.
About his game: 4-5, NEVER will play 3 - lacks agility and speed for SF. He shoots a lot of 3s. From what I saw made EVERY 3 when he wasn't really bothered and missed almost all of them when he was - should work on his shot selection. Though here I must say that many of those missed 3s were at the end of the possession and he basicly didn't have a choice. He has NO back to the basket game but he has a very good hook-shot. Though I saw him make it only twice because during games when he established position inside and demanded the ball he NEVER(not even once) got the ball from his partners. Those two shots were made when he grabbed offensive rebounds. But his motions looked real smooth so I guess he can do it on a regular basis. With KG on the floor coaches asked EG to go outside to get one big man out of paint. As to his passing he spent so little time with the ball you can't say whether it exists or not. Most of his assists were just rotations of the ball on the perimeter. During games I saw KG got 2 fouls and Kandy 3 fouls for setting screens wrong EG never got one though he sets the same number as both KG and Kandy combined and he sets them really good(Very helpful for Kings' game). On D he played most time against opponent's better post player. He does boxout very good to give his partners many easy rebounds. And also on every blocked shot he had at least one possession where he prevented scoring without getting the block.
I cannot understand why he's a restricted FA. He's not on a rookie contract.

 

[acisking]

the team of the year!!!!

pg - damon stoudamire
sg - sprewell
sf- artest
pf - griffin
c- wilcox

other teams would be so scared of us..... we could choke you, punch you, shoot you, and some some crack at the end of the game.... HAHAHAHAHHAHA!

u forgot rasheed wallace

 

[Kings113]

Kings getting Griffin would be good, I really wish they got him last off-season. I see Minny keeping him though.

 

[kingsofnba]

Eddie Griffin is an UNRESTRICTED free agent according to espn.com and hoopshype.com ... so we really would not have to worry about minni matching... i say offer him a $4 mil per year for 4-5years and that should get him to sign... and hopefully adelman can get him to stop shoting from the outside too much....

 

[Bricklayer]

and hopefully adelman can get him to stop shoting from the outside too much....

I was going to make some smart remark about Rick being the wrong coach for that, but come to think about it Webb used to chuck too many threes before arriving in Sacto too, and rick calmed him down. So maybe Griffin could be cured. Save his long range shooting for drivebyes.

 

[SacTownKid]

Nice to get him but thats crazy to sign him for the full MLE. He may have looked GREAT against us last year but in most other games he had some pretty glaring problems that I saw. He doesn't seem like he has the greatest BBall IQ, and I don't know if I saw anything about him that says he could become a consistent shot blocker/defender. He is a good weakside blocker but shys away from a lot of contact and that worries me a little.

But considering the potential he has and for what the Wolves offered him? I say BRING HIM TO SAC!!!

 

[Kings113]

Season high in threes made was 7... against Philly, but still, impressive. Also, 18 boards vs. Portland and 7 blocks vs. Detroit... goodness.

I forgot he was unrestricted too.

While on Griffins... how about getting Adrian Griffin if we don't get Barnes?

 

[Venom]

For that cheap, why not? Even the full MLE is somewhat of a bargain. He's a former lottery pick, has the skills and size we need, and seems to be maturing(slightly). Besides, what else are we going to spend the MLE on? SAR? Please. Evans? Waste of money with Martin and Garcia at the same spot. One of the impending vet releases? Some are intriguing, but those guys are going to go to contenders, which we're not. Roll the dice, Petrie.

 

[ForlornKing]

PETRIE!!! Please get him!!!

 

[King4Life]

I'd definitely take Griffin if the price is right. He brings a skill (shotblocking) that we don't have. If the Clippers are after Bonzi Wells, the Kings could try to get Marko Jaric who will come cheaper. Wells is the better player, but there' s a lot of baggage there. He's had bad relationships with his last two coaches. Griffin and Jaric could help the defensive stats (shotblocking and steals) the Kings are noticeably weak in.