This is more curiosity on my part than anything else. It's painfully apparent that we need a third reliable defensive big in our rotation. I've been suggesting Larry Sanders for awhile as an ideal solution for us. He's a top shot-blocker and interior defender who's mobile enough to play alongside Cousins, but also strong enough defensively to anchor the middle when Cousins is on the bench. That sets up a three man rotation in the frontcourt where Thompson plays more or less the same role he is now and Sanders is the primary backup at C but splits his time equally between PF and C.
He's making $11 million this season and will make an additional $11 million in each of the following 3 seasons. He's averaging 21 minutes per game this season, splitting time equally with Zaza Pachulia at C though Pachulia's minutes have been trending up and Sanders' have been trending down. I have no way of knowing what Milwaukee's front office is thinking, but they certainly aren't playing him like he's part of their core and his physical twin John Henson is waiting in the wings and a whole lot cheaper.
He comes with a number of concerns:
(1)....His overall numbers this year and last year aren't worth the contract he signed, and per36 he's fallen off 1 pt, 2reb, and 1 blk from his best year so far in 2013. (His steals have gone up though)
(2)....He's a noted hothead who seemed to be moving in the wrong direction attitude-wise last year.
(3)....He currently leads the league in fouls, so pairing him with fellow top 10 foulers Thompson and Cousins has some historic potential, and not the good kind.
(4)....
Obviously those are all pretty serious concerns. On the other hand...
(1)....He's 7th in the league in block percentage and offensive rebound percentage so far this year. He missed too much of last season to qualify on leaderboards, but the year before he led the league in block percentage and blocks per game.
(2)....Years and mileage -- 26 years old and 228 NBA games played to date which is less than three seasons worth (strike year in 2012, limited by injuries in 2014). Has room for improvement and a lot left in the tank.
(3)....He's really good at defense: (link)
(4)....Advanced stats dudes love him! (link)
So what do you think?
He's making $11 million this season and will make an additional $11 million in each of the following 3 seasons. He's averaging 21 minutes per game this season, splitting time equally with Zaza Pachulia at C though Pachulia's minutes have been trending up and Sanders' have been trending down. I have no way of knowing what Milwaukee's front office is thinking, but they certainly aren't playing him like he's part of their core and his physical twin John Henson is waiting in the wings and a whole lot cheaper.
He comes with a number of concerns:
(1)....His overall numbers this year and last year aren't worth the contract he signed, and per36 he's fallen off 1 pt, 2reb, and 1 blk from his best year so far in 2013. (His steals have gone up though)
(2)....He's a noted hothead who seemed to be moving in the wrong direction attitude-wise last year.
(3)....He currently leads the league in fouls, so pairing him with fellow top 10 foulers Thompson and Cousins has some historic potential, and not the good kind.
(4)....
Obviously those are all pretty serious concerns. On the other hand...
(1)....He's 7th in the league in block percentage and offensive rebound percentage so far this year. He missed too much of last season to qualify on leaderboards, but the year before he led the league in block percentage and blocks per game.
(2)....Years and mileage -- 26 years old and 228 NBA games played to date which is less than three seasons worth (strike year in 2012, limited by injuries in 2014). Has room for improvement and a lot left in the tank.
(3)....He's really good at defense: (link)
(4)....Advanced stats dudes love him! (link)
So what do you think?
Cause you know, there's no point going half- Monty Python, it's an all or nothing kind of endeavor.
