I say this as someone who was accused of picking on Chuck earlier in the season: Chuck is needed on this team a LOT more than Mike Harris. Both are situational players. When we need someone to stop good PFs from establishing position and getting off easy shots near the basket, Chuck is the answer. He even kept Ron Artest from getting to the rim. Saying all he does is slap at the ball is crazy. Watch how hard other PFs work at trying to post him down low before giving up the ball in frustration. It makes me laugh sometimes. At this point, all Harris can do is hustle and bring energy. He has no discernible skillset. Next season, maybe Harris brings more to the table than energy. We'll see. Will he ever be able to defend 240 lb PFs? Doubtful. In the playoffs, Chuck will get spot playing time while Harris is glued to the bench. He has zero effect on Chuck's value. The players on the roster that diminish Chuck's value are Landry and Scola. Harris' competitor for playing time is Novak. You know it's a strange day when I defend Chuck Hayes. That felt weird.
Hayes was hardly playing when Yao, Scola, and Landry were all healthy. Though he was ahead of Deke in the pecking order who was stuck on the bench. A reason why Deke should retire. If Yao hadn't gone down how upset over playing time would he be? He erupted a bit over his playing time after the playoffs against Utah. Getting back to Hayes he's good insurance but at the same time you hear fans as well as Adelman talking about size. Channing is going to get 0 minutes when Oden is healthy. Hayes + Head (expiring) for Channing Frye (expiring) + draft rights to Joel Freeland Alston, Jackson, Brooks/Francis McGrady, Brooks/Francis, (Newley) Battier, (Herrmann), Harris Scola, Landry, Novak Yao, (Frye), (Freeland)
You're on to something... Chuck and Head are some of the few pieces that have any trade value (in relation to their contracts) that aren't vital to us winning. We'll more than likely use those guys in a much bigger trade with more expirings included.
But you're exactly right A3. Chuck is this team's best post up defender by far. And Mike Harris needs a full offseason and training camp to have any chance of being effective. I thought Harris would be a lot better than he is. He really needs to play the 3 and learn to shoot the long ball. He's not heavy enough nor rangy enough to play the 4.
