Shawn Bradley?

dharocks · 11:04 PM

I know I'm going to take a lot of heat for this, but how many of you would be completely opposed to trading for Shawn Bradley as our backup center? Before you stop reading, consider the upside and downside:

Pros

Despite how akward he looks on the court, he isn't that much less productive than most of the centers in the league. He's a tremendous shotblocker (as he should be) and can grab a rebound that falls in his direction. He can hit the set shot, and even though it isn't graceful he can be effective on offense. A lot of us are resigned to bringing in guys just so that they aren't liabilities; I think that in a good defensive system Bradley could actually be an asset in limited minutes. He throws a sharp elbow too, though he seems like a decent guy off the court. A lot of Mavs fans were frusturated by Nellie's obsession with playing smallball, which kept Bradley on the bench.

Cons

Zero mobility, doesn't play with passion every night, and though he can contribute defensively he certainly isn't a physical defensive post presence by any means. He'd probably be an awful practice center against Yao, as he couldn't simulate the stronger centers like Cato could. Though he's a good weakside shotblocker, he gets lit up by the league's more physical centers (and even some of the less physical ones).

I don't like Bradley. He's always irritated me. But I think that in a JVG system that emphasizes packing the paint and funneling penetration to the shotblocker, Bradley could be an asset for 15-18 minutes per game. As a backup, Bradley's problem of getting into foul trouble would be minimized. In an offseason in which marginal big men are being given huge contracts, Bradley's $3.5mil/year salary looks like a bargain. If we sign Damon Jones with the MLE, I wouldn't be opposed to sending the Mavs the TE and a second rounder for Shawn (though in hindsight it would be difficult to swallow trading a couple first rounders for Shawn Bradley). Spoon's ability to play D, rebound, and hit the midrange shot might also intrigue the Mavs.

Just speculation. It just doesn't seem like there are a lot of great options out there. There's probably a better one out there, but I think Bradley would be a decent pickup for us.

EDIT: One more con... He once had his shot blocked by 6'0 PG Earl Watson. Seriously.

RocksMillenium · 07-14-2004, 10:44 PM

I'd love for the Rockets to do that deal just so I can see a frontline of Bradley and Yao out there on the floor!

r-fan-since-81 · 07-14-2004, 10:45 PM

No way.

Sacudido · 07-14-2004, 10:45 PM

I'm completely opposed.

dharocks · 07-14-2004, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RocksMillenium
I'd love for the Rockets to do that deal just so I can see a frontline of Bradley and Yao out there on the floor!

That I wouldn't want to see... It would take about fifteen seconds for us just to get all 5 guys past the half court line...

**Clutch** · 07-14-2004, 10:50 PM

I think Bradley is on a 7-year, $35 million deal ... so he's probably at 6 or so million per at this stage.

Greg Ostertag is an unrestricted free agent. I don't know what he's commanding or if he's wanting to play backup, but as much as I've never liked Osternuts, he certainly can block shots and defend. He would be a very nice backup to Yao.

r-fan-since-81 · 07-14-2004, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clutch
Greg Ostertag is an unrestricted free agent. I don't know what he's commanding or if he's wanting to play backup, but as much as I've never liked Osternuts, he certainly can block shots and defend.

...........................and he is from Texas.

dharocks · 07-14-2004, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clutch
I think Bradley is on a 7-year, $35 million deal ... so he's probably at 6 or so million per at this stage.

Greg Ostertag is an unrestricted free agent. I don't know what he's commanding or if he's wanting to play backup, but as much as I've never liked Osternuts, he certainly can block shots and defend. He would be a very nice backup to Yao.

Not sure. He made $3.5mil last year. Maybe the deal was frontloaded, maybe it hikes up next season.

Tag would be a better option, since he's stronger and plays with more heart, but I hear he wants to sign with, of all places, Dallas. If he does, Bradley would likely be completely expendable for them since they just drafted Podkolzine.

I actually like the idea of Ostertag more since he's more physical and (slightly) more mobile, but with the contracts being handed out he may be looking for more than the minimum.

Pat · 07-14-2004, 10:59 PM

I don't know. I remembers some TV announcer (I'm thinking Walton, but could have been Snapper) saying of Bradley, "If he would jsut get in the way, he would be a decent defender".

On the other hand, if anybody can teach him to get in the way, it has to be JVG.

And I have to agree with RocksM, two guys 7'5 would be freaky as all get out. Three Tyrone Lue types darting around the outside, with that wall behind them. I could see it in stretches.

Interesting thought. As always (these days) price rules this decision.

haven · 07-14-2004, 11:01 PM

That's actually not a terrible idea, except for the money factor. Bradley went from being an overrated bust, to being a somewhat underrated serviceable back-up.

Besides, how fun would it be to trot out Yao and Bradley against a team without any decent post players on last second shots? Try driving against THAT duo!

rhadamanthus · 07-14-2004, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clutch
I think Bradley is on a 7-year, $35 million deal ... so he's probably at 6 or so million per at this stage.

Greg Ostertag is an unrestricted free agent. I don't know what he's commanding or if he's wanting to play backup, but as much as I've never liked Osternuts, he certainly can block shots and defend. He would be a very nice backup to Yao.

Concur. I am all for Ostertag. Big mean guy - like Cato.

Remember when he was thrown out of that Laker game with like ony 4 points scored in the 1st quarter?!? That spoke a lot for his intensity - if he tries...

I also gave him a lot more respect after he donated a kidney at the risk of his career for a diabetic relative...

One more thing - only is he's cheap!

blazer_ben · 07-14-2004, 11:19 PM

Whats wrong with ostertag?.. sure he aint you're pro all american Stud big guy, but are we looking for that?. we allready got our all Chinesse stud :D . Nah seriously, gerg can be an effective big body who cn come in pull down a few boards and if needed score a few points. thats all we are looking for anyways?., all this mihm nonsense is just that. atleast ostertag aint soft.

Davidoff · 07-15-2004, 12:05 AM

Aruba77 · 07-15-2004, 12:21 AM

The funny thing is that Bradley actually defends Yao pretty well when we go up against the Mavs. I actually think Bradley's a half way decent backup center. It's his contract that has always been absurd.

blazer_ben · 07-15-2004, 12:37 AM

Did'nt bradley school yao the first time those to giants met?. i think it was in houston where bradley went nuts?

dlath25 · 07-15-2004, 12:38 AM

I live in Dallas, so please believe me when I tell you how much of a joke this guy is. It almost defies logic to see how terrible this guy can be when he is 7'6. He constantly whines to ref's when not getting calls and refuses to realize that mabye its just that he sucks at playing basketball. When watching a game with Shawn Bradley in it, you soon begin to actually feel sorry for the guy,,,, seriously! Anyways.. say no to Bradley and his bad contract.

p.s. I went to a Dallas Maverick summer basketball camp a few years ago, Shawn Bradley was the guest "star". Even at the mavericks basketball camp, all the little campers did nothing but make fun of the guy for how awful he was. Poor guy.

dlath25 · 07-15-2004, 12:39 AM

and one more thing.. no bradley did not school yao when they first met... I was at that game when yao proceeded to put up 30 points and 16 rebounds.. his breakout game..

ed_tx · 07-15-2004, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dlath25

p.s. I went to a Dallas Maverick summer basketball camp a few years ago, Shawn Bradley was the guest "star". Even at the mavericks basketball camp, all the little campers did nothing but make fun of the guy for how awful he was. Poor guy.

Hey, I'll let some little kids make fun of me for $35 million. LOL

Actually, I always thought Bradley was horrible too but if you look at his numbers his first year in the league. they are pretty impressive.

blazer_ben · 07-15-2004, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dlath25

p.s. I went to a Dallas Maverick summer basketball camp a few years ago, Shawn Bradley was the guest "star". Even at the mavericks basketball camp, all the little campers did nothing but make fun of the guy for how awful he was. Poor guy.

Oh man that must suck. i cant fathom to imagine the utter Humiliation he was going through. the poor guy.

SamFisher · 07-15-2004, 12:57 AM

Oh, for gods sake. We just completed a huge trade and the offseason dreamcasters have already tried to add Karl Malone, John Stockton, and now Shawn Bradley to the Rockets. (after charles oakley has just been one)

Sure, let's add those three, then we can sign up Scottie Pippen, Jeff Hornacek, Greg Foster, Jerry Sichting, Anthony Mason, and Danny Ainge, and George karl can coach. We can change their name to the houston s__theads, then I can collect all my Rockets merchandise & memorabilia in a big pile in my living room and douse it with kerosene while I commit seppuku with a rusty leftover mach III blade.