The trade wasn't completed until Hunter, an unrestricted free agent, signed a contract with the Magic. Until the trade, they had little interest in re-signing him after seeing his performance the past three seasons. The Cavaliers are expected to waive Hunter, but he was included to make the deal work under NBA salary-cap rules, which require salaries of traded players to total within 15 percent www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...l24,1,6252510.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines
Rox should sign him. I'm very serious, the guy has the athleticism, I think JVG can whip some skills into that boy.
Cleveland is looking for a backup C now that Battie is gone. What does this tell you that they are looking for a BACKUP C and they are WAIVING Hunter? If Cleveland things he is trash and Orlando thought he was trash...I dont see him coming to Houston.
If signed, his main responsibility in Houston will be defense ala Cato. He had 1.24 blks and 2.9 rbs in 13.5 minutes last season. JVG might turn him into a better Cato.
I reiterate... I am sure that is what Orlando would want from him. I am sure that is Cleveland would want from him. But yet they are throwing him away.
Where did you read or hear that Cleveland is looking for a backup center? Diop is their backup. He is very young and still has much potential. If they are unhappy with Diop, that's who the Rockets should go for.
I thought that was odd too. But when they got Gooden and traded Battie Paxson said they were looking to fill the void that Battie left at backup C. I guess that means they dont hold that much stock on Diop.
I just read the report in Sherlock's thread about Paxon shopping Diop... possibly due to poor summer league. I still say he is a young kid with little basketball experience, but big body & athleticism. At the very least, he blocks shots & clogs the lane with much more offensive skill than Cato.
Have you seen Diop play? Offensively he makes Cato look like Olajuwon. Diop has NO offensive game whatsoever. Can he clog the lane and block shots? Yes. My guess those is that JVG is looking for someone more experienced at the backup C position.
Diop has had opportunities to backup Z after recovering from his injuries but hasn't been able to be a contributer for the Cavs. The Rockets should pass up on him.
I posted this same thing about Hunter in the GARM yesterday. I see no reason, no matter how Cleveland or Orlando might have percieved him, not to pick up a 7' shot blocker for damn near free. It's be stupid to pass up on him.
The kid might end up being not worth it, but I'd definitely take a look. Just because other teams (even as bad as the Magic) don't want him, that doesn't mean he can't be a good player in the league. It happens. Look at the Rockets, we cut Damon Jones and now we're rumored to be one of the teams looking to sign him for a few years.
Hunter has 3 years so his minimum 1 year contract would be $720K. Considering he averaged only 13 minutes and we are only expecting our backup center to average 13 minutes (48 minutes - Yao's 35 minutes) his production of 1.24 blocks is exectly what the doctor ordered. 1.24 Blocks on a 48 minute basis makes Hunter the 3rd leading blocker in the league last year at 4.44 per 48 behind Theo Ratliff 5.53 & Chris Anderson 5.52 and ahead of Yao at 18th at 2.78 per 48 minutes.
I know Hunter had a very good game at the Toyota Center last year and he is only 22. The kid is raw but I would gladdly give him a two year vet minimum with a third year team option. Diop is also only 22. Damn these GM's that draft pups and then don't give them time to develope.
I had the opportunity to actually watch the game at the Toyota Center when Hunter palyed well against Yao. I was impressed and have been a proponent of of bringing him to Houston to back-up Yao. I wonder if CD and JVG asked T-Mac his thoughts on bringing these Orlando players to Houston. I figure there must be a reason why we didn't get Gooden or Hunter as part of the trade. They pretty much gave Gooden up for nothing. And I imagine JHoward would be a better fit for Orlando with Cato as Center. Yeah, I know they have D.Howard, but I would think Weisbord would want to win next year to keep fans in their seats. They definately would have done been better to have JH as their starter and brought DH along slowly.
Hunter could not be apart of the trade because he was a free agent and the Magic had to wait until the 15th to resign him so he could not be apart of the trade unless Houston was willing to wait that long.
Deuce - You and I normally have very similar conclusions but I'm gonna differ with you on this one. Just because the Magic didn't want him and the Cavs cut him doesn't mean all that much. This is probably a very tacky thing to say but Hunter wasn't wanted by Weisbrod and Johnny Davis who have accomplished....? IMHO, the real measure of Hunter's value is if you see Ainge and Rivers start making overatures. Let's wait at least that long before the "trash" label becomes semi-permanent. One man's trash is another man's treasure....Jason Collier shined in the NBDL and was signed by the Hawks.
