I've heard a good deal of press about him recently at the trade deadline, and how the Pistons are really trying to keep him, and now that the Rockets should target him. How good is he? Has any one seen him play or know much about him?
I don't think the Pistons will let him get out of there, he's their future! They've given him the rookie quarterback treatment for the past 2 years sending him to the NBADL and benching him for most the time. He's only 20 and going in to his 3rd year, I don't think the Pistons want anyone to get their hands on him..
We could see how much he is worth to them. Maybe by getting in a bidding war (up to the MLE) with the Pistons we will force them to part ways with either him, McDyess, or Billups. There is no way they can keep all 3 at market value.
I have watched him in the NBDL, he would be a great addition to the Rockets, especially at his age and athleticism..... I would force the issue with the Pistons...offer him a lot of the MLE..... DD
For a small portion of MLE, sure. He is an unproven commodity. If he is really of any good, you think Piston would not let him play some more minutes (than 0) in the desparation of their playoff run?
IMO, he is only 20, but they are stashing him.......He was pretty dominant in the NBDL, and has major athleticism..... Again, IMO, he is way better than any PF on the Rockets already... DD
Since he is a restricted free agent, the Pistons don't need to worry about getting caught in a "bidding war". They can just wait around until Amir decides to sign an offer sheet with another team. At that point, and only at that point, does Detroit have to make the decision as to whether to match that offer sheet and retain him. It's fairly simple from their standpoint. Now, from the Rockets' standpoint, it's more complicated. They need to decide how much of the MLE (if not all of it) they will need to use in order to (a) get Amir Johnson to sign their offer sheet AND (b) get Detroit to pass on matching it. Then, if Amir signs an offer sheet, Detroit can take their full 7 days to decide to match, meanwhile tying the Rockets' hands towards signing any other MLE-worthy free agents during that period. Still, I do think Detroit will have a tough decision to make on Johnson if he signs for more than $3-4M per long-term. Unless they think that Amir can become an NBA center, they have a logjam at the PF position with Wallace, McDyess, Maxiell and possibly Webber there. Even if you think that Webber and McDyess won't be around after next year, that still leaves Rasheed and Maxiell at the position. We'll just have to see.
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CmQMAp6azNQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CmQMAp6azNQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> He looks pretty good....
This is what I posted about him in another thread: He's producing at the age of 20. He's a 6'11 athletic power forward who has shown that he has decent big man range, can rebound, and can block shots. And the numbers I'm talking about are not from the D-league. He has produced in limited minutes as an NBA player. All I'm saying is that Amir Johnson has the potential to be a great player. Amir is not untapped potential...he's potential that is showing signs of producing. Playing an average of around 16 minutes per game this passed season, Amir is averaging 5.9 pointse, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, while shooting 54.5% from the field. Just like Chuck Hayes, he's a beast on the offensive glass. His best game was against Boston, he had 20 points, 12 rebounds (half were offensive rebounds), 4 blocks, and 3 steals in 37 minutes. He can block shots as well...he averaged nearly 2 blocks in 16 minutes of play this passed season. Amir had 6 blocks one night against the 76ers...and all of that was when he was 6'9...he's grown to 6'11! What do the Rockets want next to Yao in the front court?: -Rebounding -Weak side defense and blocking -A mid-range game -A finisher around the basket Amir has shown he can do all of that...and he's only 20. I think the risk of giving him the MLE is a good one. Besides, who else are the Rockets going to give the MLE to? Joe Smith?...They're better off giving to a younger player with potential and get their veteran big man with the LLE or through trade.
Might have to do something like 3 or 4 years at 5.5 mil each year (flat, no raises), last year player option, and add a trade kicker. Basically make it totally unpalpable for the Pistons to match in their lux tax situation. Of course we could screw ourselves and he could bust, big risk.
