I wasn't referring, specifically, to this topic but your statements lack credibility in general. In this case, I'm not saying the Elden is a long term solution, but Elden is still a quality backup center in this league, and will not recieve a full MLE. The bottom line is that he still has years left in him and can still produce in a limited role. He is effective when facing second units and his size and solid footwork still give him the ability to score in the paint. He has verteran and championship experience, as well. Not having the numbers to back it up on hand, I would say he still produces as much, if not more, than Taylor on a minute to minute basis, at what would be a fraction of the cost. His production on the court is still there, and in the Rockets case, would be a welcomed seven footer. P.S. As a person who has evaluated hundreds of players on the basketball court for a living, I can tell you that numbers do not provide the whole story.
In Campbell's case, that's true. The whole story with him is that coming out of Clemson, Elden had all the skills and physical ability to be an all-star, or at the least borderline all-star, center in this league. The desire was lacking, and as a result he was an average player for the better part of a decade. Campbell's always had a bad attitude. We don't need guys like that on our team.
Yeah, Campbell's attitude was so horrible it cost Detroit a title... Oh, wait. At least they had horrible chemistry, right? Right? Campbell is not the same guy he was when he was a kid. He can fit in and play a role on a great team.
Are you gonna tell me that the Pistons won a title because of Elden Campbell? Just because he gave decent minutes off the bench for a championship doesn't change the fact that he's a career underachiever. If a player has a bad attitue but can still play, I'll accept him if he becomes a Rocket. But if he's washed up like Campbell? No thanks.
The only problem I see with doing that is that it ties up our MLE while Memphis decides what they want to do. What is the time 15 days? If Memphis decides on the 15th day to match then we have wasted 15 days of free agency because our intire MLE was tied up. We might loose orhter desirable free agents in that time. It happened to us a few years ago with Marc Jackson and it happened to the Mavs a couple of years ago when they had a shot at Micheal Redd but they decided to hold on to their MLE hopping Rashard Lewis would sign and he strung them along until the bitter end.
1. Don't challange the credibility of my statements when you can check them out on the NBA page yourself. Thats just plain BS and you know it. 2. I don't really care how he compares to MoT. We have MoT and likely are not going to get rid of him this year or next so lets move on to the next problem shall we...Yao's back up because Elden certainly is no longer mobil enough to play with the power forwards of the league today. You thought big Kev had problems with the more mobile PF's of the league? Imagine the problems that Elden would have...but of course as someone who has made a living evaluating 100's of players on a basketball court you already know that. 3. Give me someone that has some upside and currently performs at the same level any day. As strictly a back up to Yao or someone that may be able to play PF in an emergancy I think I would like to see Steven Hunter. Younger legs, blocks shots, does not take a lot of shots he can't make, rebounds as well as Elden plus he is very young and at 22 years old he is likely to get much better. saw him play last year at the TC against Yao and he actually looked very good. 4. I don't want verterans just because they have been to a championship. We have Jim Jackson and Clearance Weatherspoon plus we are likely to get some other veteran help when we dip into free agancy such as Brent Barry or Derick Fisher. Add guys like Juwan Howard and Tracy McGrady and I certainly don't think Elden is worth it just for veteran leadership. You obviously like Elden and I didn't even like him as a Laker. I always thought he was second rate at best even when was in his prime. I guess he would have to do if there were not better options out there but I honestly think at this point there are many better options out there. If those options start to fade then I would consider him just based on his size and ability to lean his big body on an opposing center but certainly not based on his talent.
Whats the point of comparing the two? Both are great players but Pau does not have the strenth to Challange the stronger Centers in the league and Yao does not have the quickness to challenge the more mobile PF's in the league but both are great players in their own right. I love Pau's game he is aggresive on the offensive end and scores a lot of points in the paints or going to the basket unlike players like Dirk that score most of their points on the perimeter. Yao is not as aggressive as Pau on the offensive end but like Pau scores most of his points in the paint. Unlike Pau he has the size that gives even Shaq fits and I think that size is what ultamately makes him a deadlier weopon but certainly Pau has great post moves as well. I will say that I think in a half court game Yao is the superior defensive player IMO.
Great idea. I love Dampier. A tougher, more offensive minded Cato. Aroyo is tough and spunky. This would be a good team. Maybe depending too much on TMac... but a good, playoff team.
Sorry, to quote myself, but here were my thoughts. I just think that is too much for Fisher given his injury history and limitations. I like him, for the vet min or that lower tier (2 mil) exemption seperate from the MLE, but I would not break up my MLE for him. Barry is the only PG I would offer the MLE to, maybe half to 3/4s to Alston if we don't get Lue under contract. For the rest like Fisher, Lue, Arroyo, Hudson, etc., the 2 mil range or vet min should be plenty. If we don't get Barry or Camby with the MLE, be patient and play around with RFA Etan or Swift, and save it for later in the offseason if they are matched like we used for JJ. Personally, I don't like Campbell much. I got to admit he played his role well in the finals, but I don't remember the last time I saw effort like that out of him and overall I don't see much benefit over having MoT cover the back-up C if needed. Would not pay him over his vet min or nonMLE exemption (little over two mil a year?). He is not worth breaking up an MLE IMO. If we got a Camby, Swift or Etan, yes Mot or Howard would have to go, just shop for the best, or least painful, deal. That is why I really like Camby, Swift and Thomas. They can hsare minutes at the 4 and provide back-up 5 minutes. Dampier and other decent quality 5s who only can play the 5 are not very realistic based on cost or PT--they only have 15 MPG here. But again using the vet min or lower level exemption for a Foyle (maybe even consider part of the MLE for him) or Hunter (2nd exemption) or Skinner (vet min) or Ostertag (vet min) or Corie Blount (vet min) could get us by.
I don't deny that Yao can be maddening. His presence alone makes other teams form strategies as to how to go at him, or around him, or get him out of the game. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But even if he doesn't quite reach his potential, a big difference is: we get on TV and we sell lots of merchandise and get lots of attention thanks to Big Boy Yao. Pau Gasol....well, Spaniards are known for the late hours they keep, maybe they stay up eating tapas at bars while watching the Grizzlies. Maybe.
I agree, I think they are completely different players, but one is a franchise player and one is not. I actually do think that Memphis would have been a better team with Yao than Pau, and here's why. First, Yao commands more double teams than Pau does, and when you have a team of shooters like in Memphis that opens up the game for them. Yao would do wonders passing to Mike Miller, Jason Williams, and James Posey. Not to mention, those double teams also open up the lane for slashers like Posey, and Bonzi Wells. Secondly, I think Yao's size and defense would allow the Grizzlies to get out and run more than they did last year. He could definitely spark plug the fast break, but he actually needs a team that knows how to run one. I do think the one advantage Pau has is his mobility to get up and down the court, and he causes some matchup problems. With that being said, he would be a great compliment alongside a player like Yao. He can shoot the ball from mid-range and can run on the fast break. Now, if you are going to compare the stats of the two players then just don't look at their averages for points. Season 02-03 MPG: Yao-29.0 Pau-36.0 Shots Attempted: Yao-805 Pau-1,116 Now, just looking at those numbers it seems that you could say that to compare Yao's rookie season and Pau's second season is unfair, but in Pau's rookie season he still averaged 36.0 MPG and took over 1,000 shots. Take those numbers and then look at the numbers from this past season. Season 03-04 MPG: Yao-32.8 Pau-31.5 Shots Attempted: Yao-1,025 Pau-1,049 These stats are more favorable to compare to each other, and in the end they look to have equal numbers, but then look at Pau's numbers over his career. Since his rookie season Pau has experienced a steady drop in FG% and RPG. On the other hand, Yao has started taken more shots, but his FG % has increased significantly. This next season will be telling for Yao's improvement as a "dominant" player. I suspect in a Yao-T-Mac dominated team, he should see his shot attempts increase. I think Yao should be looking at 20PPG/10RPG next season with his shooting % hovering around 50%.
I think after the tmac trade (fingers crossed) that the we should look for a backup Center first. A legit one because even though Yao has 2 years under his belt, I'm willing to bet that he will get into foul trouble more often than we'd like and would have to have a solid backup Center. Eric Dampier? Ratliff? HELL YES. Besides, someone said we could just use Dampier as our PF. NOt sure if he mobile enough though
You won't find everything about a player on the "NBA page". You don't seem to get it. I'm finished here.
No I don't think Dampier could play PF, he is slower than Cato. Further, Dampier could cost too much and probably would not sign anywhere he would only get 15 minutes of back up duty, just not a realistic signing. His teammate Foyle is a much more realistic target as back-up C. Also, Ratliff is not a FA.
Judging by your statements you have seemed to conjure up thoughts that aparently aren't true. So, in the two cases in which I'm referring to, maybe you haven't.
