[NBC] Sam Dalembert considering Heat, Knicks and Rockets

Trade for OK, not great center so Rockets can get the 14th pick in the lottery again - hell no.

 

I don't think he's a great player, but he does address the one glaring weakness this team had: rim protection and matching up with big centers (Chuck does a good job on 1-on-1 post D against them, but they do have an advantage crashing the boards over him).

My guess is Dalembert can probably give the team 25 or so respectable minutes a game at center, with Chuck or Patterson covering the remaining C minutes depending on matchup. Hopefully this can shave 2 or 3 or so points per 100 possession off last year's numbers and give the team 4 or 5 more wins.

The question to me is whether Dalembert will hurt the team's offense. Unlike Chuck, Sam is not a good passer and probably isn't a guy you want in a motion offense. He can get O-Rebs, but that's about all he does on offense.

Bottomline: If you sign the guy to a reasonable contract, and his performance exceeds his salary, you can either keep him or trade this asset for something else you need. Dalembert wouldn't be my first priority, but I'd keep him in mind.

 

agree, pass...

 

Unless the NBA reverses its trend for centers to no longer be overpaid, I don't see it. I think Morey will make an offer, and someone else will trump that offer. I think he's worth more to the Rockets than most teams, but we're not going to break the bank for him.

 

Fact: Last year Chuck Hayes put up 6.3 winshares for the Rockets. Dalembert posted 2.9 for the Kings.

I don't see him as an upgrade. If he'll take $4M to be in a timeshare with a resigned Chuck, and we miss Nene and Gasol, fine, they would be good complements to one another. But he's not going to change much.

 

Agree

 

Sam was considered on his last legs two years ago. signing him is like putting a bandaid over a gun shot. Offer a midmax (15-17 million) to Marc and force memphis to match which will forever take them out of any free agency pictures. Gay-Marc-mayo will all be over-payed for what they bring once they resign.

 

The Heat are the perfect match for him, given the pond jump to his home. All a matter of whether he's the first priority for them (doubtful).

 

For the money the Rockets are willing to offer he'll take a deal from the Heat or Knicks first.

 

rather have hill

 

Fair points.
I agree with pretty much everything you said.
I just don't think this team is in a position to go for 'need', unless that need is a star or somebody who one would consider a difference maker, which is basically what I was referring to when I wrote Dalembert is where I'd draw the line.

Also - going Bima on you here - remember that by going for Dalembert you're pretty much guaranteed to lose Chuck, as it's highly unlikely that Dalembert will come here if we offer him the MLE or less.

 

I think Jordan Hill is Dalembert. Do not break the bank on him but inquire for his services.

 

1) We were less desperate for a center at the time, and 2) His contract was worse than now (he's a FA), and Iggy's contract wasn't that attractive at the time, either.

 

Disagree. With Dalembert, we have some reason to believe he can play.

 

About Thabeet: at the center position, I have more hope for Hill over the next two seasons. Beyond that, I have more hope for Motiejunas as a center (though I expect he'll be a PF) than I do for Thabeet.

 

Pass just play Thabeet.