Well the thing for me is that Randolph and Green are SF/PF hybrids...kinda' like Bosh. If you already have someone like Oden (or Pryzibilla) inside the paint then it makes more sense to have face-up scorer specialists like those two rather than someone like LMA who can both face and post-up with his back to the basket fairly well. More importantly, LMA seems like an even softer version of Chris Bosh, he doesn't take it to the rack and when faced by resistance is just content to launch jumpers. You don't pay top level money for someone like that, no matter what his potential is.
Think again. Al is going to make between 12-15 million for the next 4 years. They make comparable money.
David Lee, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Jason Maxiell, Paul Millsap. As leebigez said LMA's contract is part production and part potential. The Blazers better hope LMA stops being so soft or they just wasted a ton of money.
Seriously? I've seen LMA take over games, I've yet to see any of those players besides Scola with the ability to be a go to guy at any point of the game. Look at production, skill level and how easily you can just pick and drop LMA on any team and it's a no brainer. Forget potential and just look at what they can do for your team today and LMA out classes Lee, Scola and Millsap. Landry and Maxiell aren't even close.
You honestly think these guys are better than LA. Scola is in the same league maybe but for all practical purposes, he is on his rookie contract. How much do think Scola would command if he were in his early 20's and a free agent.
You've got to be kidding. None of them are as good as LA except maybe Scola, plus LA will continue improving while Scola will decline. I can't wait until David Lee leaves the Knicks so people can see what he is not. Mentioning Landry, Maxiell and Millsap is just nonsense.
How can they be worse than LA when they take it to the hole and are not afraid to bang inside? When someone asks me who is better, I tell you who will give you the better production right now. LA is definitely more talented but his talent is wasted because all he does is shoot jumpers on the court. Lee has been a good player on the court even before D' Antoni came there. IMHO Millsap especially is underrated because he plays for the Jazz. When Boozer was sidelined he put up similar numbers, except with good defense to go along with rebounds and post scoring.
honestly, he's worth it. he's young, has size. i mean he's a stud. he'll be an all star in a couple of years, i think he's very similar to david west except bigger.
wouldn't be surprised if lamarcus aldrige mysteriously becomes a scrub after this deal is finalized. but then again, he actually has talent, and he might use this deal to get even better.
I don't see why LA shooing jumpers is viewed as a bad thing. You think Landry can shoot those jumpers? Or Millsap? Sure, you can say LA wasted a lot of his natural ability. But in the end, you can't teach 6-11 size. And none of the players you listed can ever get good shots as easy as Aldridge can. THAT, in of itself, is worth 65 mil.
Answer me this: If you could select any of those players, you would actually take David Lee, Paul Millsap, Jason Maxiell or Carl Landry before you would take LA? If so, you are on an island (and there is nothing wrong with that). Also, if you think Carlos Boozer is a good defender, you have no clue. Boozer is a worse defender than any of the guys we are discussing. If you can bear to do so, watch some Jazz games and see. Boozer is also very much a jump shooter like LA. When he scores close in, it's usually because he cut to the basket and got a pass.
The Boozer comment is referring to Millsap, I was saying when Boozer was sidelined he (referring to Millsap) put up similar numbers to Boozer but with better defense. The question isn't whether I would Lee, Millsap, Maxiell or Landry over LA (btw I'd take Millsap, but I'd take LA over the rest), but whether those guys are better NOW. Of course you take LA based on his potential, but as of right now those guys are the better player, and as of right now LA is overpaid based on his production. Can LA put it all together? I think so, he seems willing to put in the work. But unless he starts taking it inside the Blazers aren't getting full value on their investment.
Ah, I get you on the defense comment. So it's LA's style more than his production that bothers you? His jump-shooting is a plus, not a minus. In today's NBA, PFs do a lot more than post-up. Take a look at Dirk, KG, Bosh, David West, Antawn Jamison, etc. Posting up is a part of LA's game but he isn't limited to it. With Oden and Przybilla always parked close to the basket and Roy attacking the rim, the jumper is always there. At the end of games last season, the Roy/Aldridge "pick-n-pop" was lethal. I still can't see how a reasonable person would take Millsap right now over LA. He had a good stretch of games when Boozer was out and with Okur floating outside at C, Millsap's game fits the Jazz needs. But on a full-time, entire season basis, he clearly doesn't measure up to LA (IMO). I'm with you that LA will continue improving like he has each year, but he's pretty good right now.
Good deal for LA.... Please dont mention scola, landry,maxiel, or even lee. Maybe Milsap if he can do it for a whole season.
Aldridge is a younger version of Mehmet Okur with less range on his shot. Look up their 2008-09 stats. Okur's old contract paid 8m a year, his new contract is 2 years, 21m. I guess $13m per season isn't a huge amount over that, but it seems like a large amount to give a guy who's never made an All-Star team or an All-NBA team. It's not his style, it's the production. Specifically, he's not a good rebounder or defender, especially for a guy 6'11".
This is true but some people have trouble understanding production beyond what is given to you in stats. A 20/10 game from Duncan is usually far more productive than a 20/10 game from Aldridge, and not just because of the defense. Those shooting big men types are nice to have as complimentary players but they'll never anchor your team. A low post player creates great spacing and breaks down the defense on every play, that's huge. Unless Oden or Aldridge improves a great deal in the post, this team looks like they might eventually have a huge portion of their money tied up with a team that has no chance at winning a title.
Hear, hear. Blazers are probably quietly hoping he will only develop into Artest type money. Blazers are going to be in some real trouble because you know Roy deserves top tier money. Aldridge is a great talent, but they are going to have problems keeping role players around to be championship contenders for more than 2 or 3 years. Now I understand why they made such a run at Milsap.
Does it matter if a player hits 55% from 12 feet or 55% from right under the rim? Some people can recall Princeton in the mid 90's going to the tournament with just 1 loss. And they had like 3 dunks all season. Round ball go through round hoop, find different ways to do it.
55% might be the season average but would vary on individual games based on quality of defenses. That's why the closer you are to the basket, the better chances you have of being effective against better defenses.
