NJ Record about EG: Nets' deal looks better than ever

right, everything is always Steve's fault

You've got to have the right supporting cast, something the team finally has gotten

 

True.

If everyone steps back for a minute.

This isn't about RJ, Collins, Rudy's "bad" pick, the New Jersey gloating, or whatever...

It's about getting Eddie back on track. It's about making NJ eat their words. It's about winning a tittle WITH EG as a contributor.

If Eddie never gets his act together, then they were right, and we were wrong. Big deal. Move on...

Until then, let's see what happens for EG.

The "fat lady" hasn't sung.

 

Is Kevin Garnett a great player. Is Tracy McGrady a great player.

They are considered among the elite players in the NBA, aka "franchise" players.

And yes, they are better than Eddie Griffin.

 

I'm just taking a jab at his simplistic statement. I'm sorry but dont get high.

 

??????

 

yeah. rough article but true. it all worked out though when we got Yao Ming. However, if I knew 100% for certain that no matter who we picked we'd still get Yao Ming and I knew then what I know now about the class of 2001 I'd have never have traded the picks and chosen Richard Jefferson, Zach Randolph and Gilbert Arenas. All of whom were available at our slots and who cares if having Gilbert Arenas and Francis is redundant. We could trade him or trade cat or something. He was the best available player by far i think, but then Tony Parker was available too. Gerald Wallace is developing nicely and he was available. Jamal Tinsley was also available and he wouldn't be a bad back up at all though I'd certainly rather have Parker or Arenas on the roster and even Mehmet Okur has looked pretty damn good.

However, at the time I was high fiving my father when they made that trade. I was really excited about Eddie. Hindsight is 20/20 and by no means am I claiming that on the day of the draft I would have known any of this. I'm simply saying if I could have foreseen the future on that day (and knew we'd still get Yao regardless) that's how I would have drafted.

If making any of those moves would have changed our fate to where Yao wouldn't be wearing a Rockets uniform I'd still have traded for Eddie Griffin. I'd rather have Yao and a no show Eddie Griffin than any of those other guys. Good centers are just entirely too valuable and I can't believe any of those other players are as capable of leading a franchise to a championship as Yao will one day be.

 

You can have too much talent on a team when you will have to eventually pay everyone (i.e. 3 first rounders) guarenteed money to sit on the bench at the same time. Not to mention you will have to extend their contracts at the same time (the 3 players you mentioned aren't cheap).

Also, we had a PG when we drafted Cassell, but he was not an All-Star PG. Big difference. Of the 3 players you mentioned, Randolph is the only one who would do some good for us (Parker & Arenas aree not starting over Stevie, and they are too small to play alongside him).

 

Riet
Just an advice - never say that Eddie Griffin has no talent. Only an ignorant basketball novice will say and I almost sure you are not (if you take it back). A talentless player does not make the NBA. Maybe you just don't know the definition of talent. Remember Talent, skills, ability are all different things.

 

1. Those 3 players would not be sitting on the bench ala Jason Collier or Bostjian Nachbar. They would be playing and contributing. Also, the guaranteed contract are on a sliding scale. Low first round draft choices make about the same as 1 Moochie. Also, if you actually do have excess talent and can't afford to pay them, you can always make a trade.

2. Arenas is 6'3". Mobley is about 6'4". There is not much size difference.

 

Are you a child.

What is the material difference between talent, skill, and ability as it pertains to basketball.

Who cares. The bottom line is he can't play. Are you happy now.

Just because he's in the NBA does not mean he has NBA talent. Does Jason Collier have talent? He was in the NBA for 3 years. How about Yinka Dare. It's called guaranteed contract.

There are literally hundreds of busts in the NBA draft who just weren't good enough. That's why the draft is an inexact science.

 

Not sure if EG "talent" or "lack-thereof" has anything to do with this development.

I don't think he has a passion for playing the game.

It's almost like he's doing it because he has to. Or it was his only option ($).

When you heart of mind are not into something, it's hard to put everything into it.

 

Eddie Griffin is another player in the same situation as D.Miles, J.Bender, T.Chandler and a handfull of others who came into the league with a bunch of hype.

They were all drafted very high based on how they project to be when they mature, mentally and physically.

I basically consider Griffin to have accomplished nothing so far. However, I wouldn't give up on him with the assumption that he will never get it together.

In one year of college, he led the NATION in blocks and had 17 pts with over 10 boards in the Big East. Obviously, he has talent. The only freshman to do anything close since was Melo last year, and he went #3 this year and could challenge LeBron's production as a rookie.

The one difference is attitude, which I believe is the main hinderence to Griffin's growth as a player. Sometimes young men just don't get what the NBA's all about right away. Look at Cato; he went from a chronic underachiever/knucklehead to a valuable contributor who might even start.

3 years ago, would you have ever thought you would hear the words Cato and hard-worker in the same sentence?

If Cato can turn it around, so can Griffin.

Don't you think the Trailblazers wish they had held on to JO'neal a little longer? Griffin has just as much ability as Jermaine; he just needs to get his head straight.

Having defended EG enough already, I will say this:

I would still trade him for a tough, veteran, hard-nosed PF who could help right now. I would be willing to sacrifice the future production Eddie MIGHT bring somewhere down the road for a reliable enforcer to help teach this team how to win NOW. We certainly don't need another distraction by tolerating EG's behavior.

So, basically, the trade could still turn out in our favor. But it hasn't yet, and I'm not sure if it is worth sacrificing the potential of the team to give Eddie some time to feel "comfortable" with NBA life.