Personally I think Johnson may surprise some people later in the season. If he can play defense, keep his turnovers down and shoot the 3 ball, he's going to see some minutes on the court at some point and he's probably the rockets best athlete.
The Rockets are paying pretty good money for this guy. I don't know too much about him at all. Can someone tell me how good he really is, his potential, what he will bring to this team and last of all, is he worth the 4.3 mill a year the Rockets are paying him?
Another (somewhat cynical) explanation for why Kostas Papanikolaou got the full (remaining) MLE amount relates back to something I mentioned on the podcast with Clutch at the beginning of July. While explaining why trading Jeremy Lin for the sake of trading him would be a bad idea if the Rockets struck out in free agency, I mentioned that Lin's contract was the last large contract the Rockets had available to use as salary filler in a big trade later this summer or in to next season. During my explanation, I mentioned the possibility of signing a player to the full MLE and then being able to use that salary later as filler in a larger trade. While I really do view Papanikolaou as a nice young piece who could be a valuable member of the rotation, I also think he has the right sort of contract (expiring/team option/non-guaranteed) to include in a bigger trade. As a DRAFT PICK signing, there is also the added benefit that he is eligible to be traded within 30 days of signing, making a summer trade involving Kostas a distinct possibility. Do I think he WILL be traded this summer? Probably not. Do I think signing him to (most of) the MLE will make trades incrementally easier to pull off for the Rockets? Yes, I do.
Bingo. Just a small add. Trevor Ariza....as long as he doesn't fall completely off the table....is a trade-able contract as well.
Thanks, good stuff. Nothing is one dimensional here; it's all layers. Wouldn't it be nice if Santa Claus (Papa Nick) outperforms his contract.
if this guy was good enough to make any sort of real impact in the league, he'd already be here. My point is: don't believe all of the "he is one of the best players in europe" hype that inevitably comes with the majority of these signings. That is like an EPL team telling its fans he is one of the best players in the MLS **** you morey.
Pekovic didn't join the Timberwolves until he was 24.. and he's pretty good. That's just off the top of my head.
also, scola had played several years of euro league ball before coming over, averaging 15.5 ppg before coming to houston. in two years of ball this kid hasnt averaged over 7! i dont think the two are comparable.
That wasn't your argument. Your argument was that if he was good enough he would have been here already. And you are simply wrong on that point. There have been many who have come over at 23/24 and were / are good players.
well you certainly didn't read the entire post, but i will concede that there have been good European players in the nba. that is very perceptive of you.
I'm sorry but i just wont applaud the signing of a Euro league bench guy with are mle!! 8.7 ppg in 23 mpg? really?
i cant tell if you are making fun or agree, but i just don't like scanning europe after striking out in FA and then trying to spin it as a "smart move"
