Now here is a big center who went from "Oh, no! Seattle got him" to total bust trade fodder. However, McIlvaine picked up enough cash from his past big payoff and the Nets' buyout to set him for life. He has been injured, although I'm not sure how much was real and how much was imagined. Since we can get this 7-2 experienced center for cheap, can Rudy do anything with him?
The only way this would be interesting to me is if we are talking minimum pay. No way he is worth more than 1 mil a year. As another big body on the IR to dress against LA and SA maybe but I doubt Houston will pick him up.
From you, Manny, I was looking for a more thoughtful response. We need some big bodies, and McIlvaine did have a really good year a few seasons ago. When I saw he was available, I was just wondering if his career could be resurrected. Is the Cat out there -- what's your analysis of McIlvaine?
Enbehay: Yes, I was being sarcastic, but I really don't see what a washed-up has-been like McIlvaine could bring us. I guess he could be like a Charles Jones, but hell, I don't think he has the heart that CJ had. Chris Dudley was available for the longest and we didn't go after him. I don't see McIlvaine being any better than Dudley. Besides with Cato, Collier, and Marc Jackson, I don't see us needing any more big bodies.
I don't think we should sign him, unless he's content with sitting on IR for most of the season. With the lack of centers these days, it's not a horrible idea, but he's basically a pretty decent shotblocker and not much else. If you look at our roster, we have about 11 players guaranteed to make the team, assuming Mooch resigns. Those are Steve, Mooch, Cuttino, Rice, Walt, Langhi, Thomas, Griffin, Jackson, Cato, and Collier. We have some decent depth up front, and the way Torres and Jones have been playing I'd prefer to give one of them a shot to make the 12 man roster. Jim isn't horrible considering the lack of centers these days, but I wouldn't pay him above the minimum and I'd want an agreement from him to play on the IR when everyone is healthy. Now if Jackson doesn't come, he might not be a bad option. We'd need a 3rd big body, and his size might could give him an edge over Pig Miller. We'll see.
Thanks, Manny and Cat. I keep looking for center options because I am not that confident the Rockets will get Jackson. If we do get Jackson, I concur because McIlvaine has been a bust so far. However, if we don't get Jackson, there's not much center material out there without a trade -- and no one wants to give up a proven big man.
As ridiculous as it sounds, Cato, Collier, Griffin, and Thomas are all better options than MclVaine. He isnt even listed at NBA.com.
I agree with you on Cato and Collier. However, Thomas can't learn height, and Griffin is a few years away from having the weight to play center (assuming he really is 6-10 1/2 as some have asserted). Without Jackson, we need another big body. Cat made some nice points regarding a McIlvaine scenario. Incidently, like McIlvaine, Marc Jackson is not listed either.
His best season was one in which he averaged 4 and 4. In 3 seasons he averaged more than 3 fouls a game in less than 20 minutes per game. For comparison, Kelvin Cato has never averaged 3 fouls a game. I think Thomas and Griffin can beat that on athleticism alone.
