I know there is another Malick Badiane thread, but I felt the content of this post was worthy of starting a new thread for discussion. Hearing good things about Badiane certainly is good to hear and it reminds me of this Chad Ford article before the 2003 NBA Draft. Yeah, I know, Chad Ford. But read the article. And if what is being said about Badiane below doesnt make you wet your pants, I dont know what will. When we're talking about putting a PF next to Yao, dont tell me the above is not right on the money for what we need. Who knows if Badiane will ever be much of a player but it sounds like one thing we cant deny is the guy's will and desire; and it sounds like he brings a lot of "energy" to his game, something the Rockets can always use.
I think most members on this board have already read that. Anyway, what it describes is an individual workout. It doesn't tell us about his game instincts. There are so many physical specimens out there who never amounted to anything. And there's so many guys like Barkley and Stockton who have instincts enough to outdistance their physical shortcomings. Does he have a nose for the ball? Can he catch a pass in traffic? Can he avoid stupid fouls? There's so much more to basketball than being big, strong, and fast. Did this guy grow up playing the game? Would he play it even if he wasn't getting paid? Or is he only in it because he's tall and it beats living in Senegal? Until these questions are answered, it's hard to get excited about our mystery man Malick.
This is why his latest injury makes me so mad. Malick is the real deal. His only weakness I see is his FT shooting but I am sure that will improve with hard work. He couldn't be worse than Spoon in terms of his value to this team next season. His FG% will always be around around 50% because he takes high percentage shots. He is one of those players that know their roles - you will never see him trying to play out of his comfort zone. He would excel greatly under JVG because they fit each other desires. He would be a great backup for someone like Stromile or Bogut or even Ike Diogu . He could also play backup center position. It will not be going out on a limb to say that this Badman and Spanoulis will be on our roster going into training camp next season. I would love to see them in summer camp this year - hopefully NBPA and the powers that be will be able to come together and get a deal done in time.
he is being wasted overseas. i don't care if he has zero game insticts with little to no offensive skill. a guy that big, that athletic, with that kind of heart and hustle....he would earn minutes here quick. reggie evans is averaging 9RPG and he is not as athletic and not the shot blocker that badiane can be/is. haslem is averaging 8RPG and is only 6'8 220. badiane can be better than both. yes we are using the P word, but under the coaching of a defensive minded VG and deke he would come along soon....a lot sooner that being shelved in germany.
That article made me drool thinking about havnig badiane next to yao. I guess it really hyped him up, because he ended up dropping to the second round. He has spent 2 years over seas now, and he has the physical tools to excel in the nba. Lets bring him over and see how he does. spoonoolis is looking pretty good too.
Albert Burditt is available, and he is long-armed and can jump through the roof. I bet if they tied a small man to him with a rubber band he'd be able to dunk it too.
on the one hand, that article makes you really happy. on the other, you ask why he lasted until the mid 2nd round and why he's still in europe. hopefully he lives up to his hype and gives us a rebounder/shot blocker but i'm still not holding my breath on either him or spanoulis.
how does it work since we drafted him...I mean, do we hold the rights on him for a certain period? or until he decides to come over seas?
He's 19 and raw. He wouldn't get the minutes he needs here. I would rather let him get some quality playing time under his belt in Europe. Let him mature physically and learn the game and then bring him in for summer ball and pre-season to see what he's got.
i believe you have a draftees rights for a year after they're drafted or, in this case, a year until he stops playing overseas. so him playing in europe doesn't really affect us.
Except that he's a kid, so JVG would almost never play him. And when he did play him, he'd yank him back to the bench after the first error, then send him to the IL the next morning.
I hope he gets fit and healthy. He seems a long way from making it to the league. He needs to come here and practice when the season is over in Europe.
I thought a team only held the players rights for two years. After that, if you don't sign him, he is a free agent. I could be wrong though.
The guy is 20.... 20...... Hakeem was not all that great at 20...he was a raw sophmore at UH. Malick could be great, or he could be a bust....BUT...if his attitude is right, that will make him excel as a player. DD
