Vlade is a proven center, his numbers are excellent for a backup player, not the banger on the boards we would like but can provide some tenacity on offense and defense. He could also be a useful addition for the purpose of mentoring Yao for instance, maybe teach Yaohow to get a foul call when he falls down
i wouldn't mind vlade teaching yao a few tricks. that would be tight http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=fanball-kingsvladerankssacto&prov=fanball&type=lgns
Since Divac would be too expensive for a backup, how does the NBA count a player-coach under the cap? Is the total salary in the cap? Part of it based on minutes? How does that work? Is it fair to put 100% under the player salary cap if that is the case for a player-coach (and I suspect it is)?
Someone should send him an e-mail endorsing the Rockets. "Dear Vlade, If you don't come to the Rockets via Free Agency, it would be really... Stink. Love, Clutchfans BBS"
Divac would be that perfect back up to Yao but I don't think we will pay that much for a back up center. I think we are more than likely looking at someone like Steven Hunter.
Give him the MLE. This guy averaged almost more assists than Francis last season, from the C position.
On the court, Divac is a whiner and a flopper. Off the Court, he supposedly is very funny, friendly, and charitable. He would be a good pickup, but he would cost the MCE. If Les wanted to give him a couple years at the MCE, it's his money, and I wouldn't cry.
He'd be a fantastic pick-up. Too bad we probably couldn't get him. Divacs flops, plays half-dirty, and is slow. He also can shoot, has outstanding court awareness, and knows how to play those with more ability than he. Anybody who wouldn't want him for the entire exception is a fool.
I think Vlade would be a perfect mentor for Yao. If Yao turned out to be a better version of Vlade I would be happy. A center who can knock down a 15' jumper, and pass from the high post. I still think first Rudy and now JVG are totally mishandling Yao. They aren't playing him to his strengths in trying to make him a low post dominant scorer. I don't think he'll ever be that. But he can be a guy with an automatic jumper that no will ever be able to guard.
Vlade's aging so well because his "it" never had much to do with athleticism. When you start slow without hops... age just doesn't seem to matter as much .
