[CONJECTURE] Rox backup center - a list of all free agents

Etan Thomas would be a wonderful back-up C. He plays with a lot of intensity and doesn't take crap from anybody.

 

Hakeem also played what? 40-45 minutes a game? Yao plays about 30 minutes a game. Our back up center is very important. Yao already has stamina issues. You want him to have to stay in the game 40-45 minutes a night because we can't afford to put our back up in?

As for my choices....

Skinner, Etan Thomas, Ostertag, Mihm.... I think any of those guys would work well.

 

If Ostertag will sign for the vets minimum, he would be the ideal C backup. Then we have MoT, the TE, and the MLE to really get a solid 1, and maybe upgrade the 4 position.

If we could get Clark for the vets minimum, that would be ideal also. Bottom line is if we can get a defensive presence backing up Yao at the 5 for minimal dollars, that is what we should do. Not a scrub but a defensive presence, someone that could cause Shaq some trouble and give him some fouls.

Ostertag fits that description, he should be okay at about 10-15 minutes per night, loads of experience and has played in a lot of playoff games, and he's not a bad guy. Yeah he was a Jazz. But he really is a pretty good fella, he's the kind of player that you appreciate on your team much more than playing against him. He's a lot better player to me than those overpaid guys in Seattle.

Maybe get Utah to do a S&T for him and one of their point guards. We send them MoT or something. Don't know, just tossing it around. Sure would prefer Ostertag at $2 million or so to Booth or James and their contracts.

 

Collier for league minimum

or

Mihm for 1/2 of the MLE.

Both are career backups who have the size of a 5 and who have an inside / outside game.

 

Nope. Collier was good on a sorry team. If he comes to our team, once again, he's going to be sitting at the end of the bench. Mihm should just stay where he is. We should just go after Brian Skinner.

 

I wonder if the rox have any interest at all in acquiring Vlade Divac??? just a thought. He's a smart player that can keep things sane for 5 minutes while somebody takes a rest. sure he's not gonna dunk on anybody or block anybody's shot, but he's a pretty good actor! and will get us some assists.

 

and not to mention a few rebounds!!

 

Come on, why are you dredging up that old thing. That was so two hours ago.

 

backup c: 1. etan thomas
2. dan gadzuric
3. brian skinner

for pg: 1. carlos arroyo
2. derek fisher
3. brent barry

give eddie griffin another shot and trade clarence.

 

Stromile Swift is aggresive.

 

Considering I would like to pay cheap for our backup, the name that jumped out to me was

Stanislav Medvedenko

 

Where's Zan Tabak when you need him?

 

I am not against getting Skinner but ...

Does Skinner want to start or want to be Yao's backup? Will Skinner get a starting position offer from another team?

No one in their right mind would offer Collier or Mihm a starting position.

 

Oliver Miller is the only answer.

 

I thought a statistical comparison of some of the front runners (Ostertag, Thomas, Mihm, and Skinner, with Collier thrown in for fun) would be interesting, with Cato included as a benchmark. These are career stats on a 48 minute basis. PPS is points per shot.

Kelvin Cato:

Rebounds: 13.1
Blocks: 3.2
Points: 13.3
PPS: 1.32

Chris Mihm:

Rebounds: 12.7
Blocks: 2.3
Points: 17.5
PPS: 1.13

Etan Thomas:

Rebounds: 13.8
Blocks: 2.9
Points: 17.2
PPS: 1.36

Brian Skinner:

Rebounds: 12.5
Blocks: 2.1
Points: 14.4
PPS: 1.24

Jason Collier:

Rebounds: 10.0
Blocks: 0.7
Points: 17.0
PPS: 1.19

Greg Ostertag:

Rebounds: 13.5
Blocks: 4.3
Points: 11.8
PPS: 1.28

Now I rank them in order based on category:

Rebounds:

Etan Thomas: 13.8
Greg Ostertag: 13.5
Kelvin Cato: 13.1
Chris Mihm: 12.7
Brian Skinner: 12.5
Jason Collier: 10.0

Blocks:

Greg Ostertag: 4.3
Kelvin Cato: 3.2
Etan Thomas: 2.9
Chris Mihm: 2.3
Brian Skinner: 2.1
Jason Collier: 0.7

Points:

Chris Mihm: 17.5
Etan Thomas: 17.2
Jason Collier: 17.0
Brian Skinner: 14.4
Kelvin Cato: 13.3
Greg Ostertag: 11.8

PPS:

Etan Thomas: 1.36
Kelvin Cato: 1.32
Greg Ostertag: 1.28
Brian Skinner: 1.24
Jason Collier: 1.19
Chris Mihm: 1.13

Depending upon contract requirements, my list would be:

1. Etan Thomas. Best rebounder, decent shotblocker, efficient on the offensive end. Intangibles: he strikes me as the tough guy we need, and he can play the 4, allowing us to trade one of our 4's.

2. Greg Ostertag (Pipe makes sure no lightning is in the area ). The only true center among the contenders, unless you count Mihm. Best shot blocker by far, big presence for Yao to go against in practice. Offensive liability, but no more so than Cato. Put up with Sloan, so the m'fing m'fer should be no prob.

3. Brian Skinner. I have a funny feeling he could be the best choice once salary demands are factored in. Decent numbers all around. Baylor connection.

4. Chris Mihm. Main weakness is shot selection. Terrible PPS for a big man. Is he tough enough? UT connection.

5. Collier. Say no more.

 

Wasn't Jason Collier a first round draft pick? He's still young (26) and with his prime still ahead of him (typically late-20's to early 30's) + a low price tag, I say he's a hidden jewel just waiting to be discovered.

 

You're probably right. Plus, how can you knock guys that try hard and improve. Subconciously, I think I was just factoring in somewhat dissapointing first two years and playing on the Wizards - he is definitely improving, but I still don't see offering a full MLE for that.

 

crossover -- good catch. I thought of Slava, too.

Pipe -- I agree. I'd put Etan Thomas at the top of my list.

Chris Mihm is interesting. I believe Boston will lose Blount to Philly and will actively pursue Foyle. They might let Mihm walk. Dampier will likely go to Phoenix or San Antonio.

Tom Archer -- I think you're right about Collier being a #1 pick. I seem to recall a certain Western Conference team drafting Pryzbilla and then trading him east for Collier. He then sat on our bench for years and was so forgotten we didn't even re-sign him. He was just good enough to be respectable for a lottery team in the East. Atlanta's his home town and he'll probably stay there.

I think McDyess is intriguing. We might get him for the vet's minimum. He may never play like McDyess again, but at that price he's be worth a fly....

 

Isn't Etan Thomas a huge injury risk? He has missed 82 games the past 3 seasons.