http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0405/17/d06-155175.htm If (Pistons) do (sign 'sheed), in all likelihood, they would lose Mehmet Okur. Since he is a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match another team’s offer. But, if they are over the cap, which they would be if they signed Wallace, the highest they could go to match would be $5.1 million (which is the maximum starting salary allowed under the early Bird exception clause). Although he continues to say all the right things, Okur has not been happy this season. His role has been reduced drastically since Wallace arrived, and his relationship with Coach Larry Brown has been, to say the least, turbulent. Teams such the Rockets, Hawks and Jazz, among others, will be interested in Okur. Now, if the Pistons lose Wallace, and if they renounce all their other free agents, and if Elden Campbell is lost to Charlotte in the expansion draft, the Pistons could get as much as $13 million under the cap. That would make them a huge player in the free-agent market. If they wanted to, they could certainly match or trump any reasonable offer made to Okur. That, a big offer and no Wallace, is about the only thing at this point that could entice Okur to stick around. Monday, May 17, 2004 Analysis Pistons remain work in progress Dumars will retool roster, regardless of playoff outcome By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pistons President Joe Dumars knows he is in for a busy summer. He knew it the minute he swung an improbable three-team trade that led to the acquisition of Rasheed Wallace in February. Whether Wallace eventually leads the Pistons to the NBA Finals or not, which was the goal, Dumars knew that the window for this team to be a legitimate, perennial contender was just opening. A premature exit this season, disappointing and frustrating as it would be, wasn’t going to change that. This wasn’t a one-year mission. “We are building this team to win today, and to keep winning for many years down the road,” Dumars has said more than once. Dumars knew that even if the Pistons are to go all the way, he would still have to retool his roster this summer. Essentially, two scenarios will play out — one that includes Wallace, and one that doesn’t. The Pistons will make every effort to sign Wallace to a long-term contract. But there is a chance they won’t have to give him a maximum-salary deal. The teams that would have enough salary-cap space to offer him a contract starting in excess of $13 million — such as the Clippers, Jazz, Suns and Hawks — aren’t likely to mortgage their future on an unpredictable, 30-year-old Wallace. Other potential suitors, such as the Knicks, can offer only the mid-level exception ($5.1 million to start). So, all things being equal, the Pistons could conceivably land Wallace at a price similar to or just over the $63 million deal they gave Richard Hamilton last summer. If they do, in all likelihood, they would lose Mehmet Okur. Since he is a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match another team’s offer. But, if they are over the cap, which they would be if they signed Wallace, the highest they could go to match would be $5.1 million (which is the maximum starting salary allowed under the early Bird exception clause). Although he continues to say all the right things, Okur has not been happy this season. His role has been reduced drastically since Wallace arrived, and his relationship with Coach Larry Brown has been, to say the least, turbulent. Teams such the Rockets, Hawks and Jazz, among others, will be interested in Okur. Now, if the Pistons lose Wallace, and if they renounce all their other free agents, and if Elden Campbell is lost to Charlotte in the expansion draft, the Pistons could get as much as $13 million under the cap. That would make them a huge player in the free-agent market. If they wanted to, they could certainly match or trump any reasonable offer made to Okur. That, a big offer and no Wallace, is about the only thing at this point that could entice Okur to stick around. They also could bid on other free agents, including the likes of the Nets’ Kenyon Martin (wouldn’t that be interesting?), Keon Clark, Stromile Swift and Erick Dampier — if they were looking for another big man. But the free-agent market isn’t as well stocked as it has been in past years. The Pistons also have the option to use Wallace, and others, in a sign-and-trade package. This could end up being a nice bail-out for Dumars, should he find himself about to lose Wallace and Okur. Just like when he got Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins for Grant Hill, Dumars could land a starter or two in exchange for Wallace. Though, again, the first priority will be to re-sign Rasheed Wallace. The Pistons also will go in search of another backup point guard. Brown has been frustrated all season by the lack of a true point guard to complement Chauncey Billups. Mike James and Lindsey Hunter, both of whom are free agents, aren’t expected to be brought back for next season. And incoming rookie Carlos Delfino is expected to back up the shooting-guard and small-forward positions. Of the other free agents, Darvin Ham probably will be asked back and Tremaine Fowlkes has likely played his final game in a Pistons uniform. On Sunday morning, though, Dumars was seriously hoping he wouldn’t have to start addressing any of these off-season issues for another month or so. You can reach Chris McCosky at (313) 222-1489 or cmccosky@detnews.com.
He'll want too much, and I'm getting tired of the Rockets signing major contracts based on potential.
sign me up for Okur... anything up to the value of the TE... anything needed to out match whatt he Pistons can offer
To be honest, I don't know if we could even make an offer for Okur. His contract will probably start at about 5.5 million. It's easier to get a better idea of Okur's value before the Rasheed Wallace trade. Now they have too many big bodies, not enough time to play them. I mentioned this in the other thread about trading with Detroit, but if you remember at the deadline, we did apparently have talks with the Pistons. Might make sense if they don't need Okur so badly now to look into a trade with us. Detroit wanted Steve, but we would need to get real value. Steve is an All Star and he would bring Detroit what they need. They have D. They need more offense. Steve and Pike for Billups and Okur and Darko; Darko as trade bait for a small forward? Okur is the sort of forward/center that could stretch the defense with his outside game. Still, this is all academic.
Detroit will never trade darko before he gets any real playing time. Dumars said he wasnt going to play much before he drafted him. I dont think if we offered steve for darko straight up dumars would trade him.
Didn't we learn our lesson after Mo Taylor and Kelvin Cato? What's all the fuss over Okur? He's a decent player who I wouldn't mind having on my team, but he certainly doesn't warrant $7mill/yr nor the countless threads suggesting we pursue him. It seems to me this is another case of BBS fascination with a particular player building up with momentum for no apparent reason. If you hear it enough, you end up believing it too, I guess. All I see in Okur is a good backup with career averages of 8ppg, 5rpg, with a pathetic .44FG%. His .350 3PT% is above average for a man of his size but definitely doesn't warrant all of the hullabaloo surrounding him on this board. What does everyone see? It's not athleticism, it's not physicality, it's not great defense. Again, pretty good player I agree, but not worth the fuss. I don't know what's more ridiculous at this point - the fact that almost the entire BBS has clamored for his addition or that the Pistons were actually considering resigning him over Rasheed.
tcab- Exactly. Okur doesn't seem to even be a particularly high end potential to me like even a guy like Stromile Swift IMO. I don't think he's all that much of an improvement over guys like Drobnjak or Slava Medvedenko who don't seem to be drawing near the same attraction. Darko is a different story as he has stud, but most of us have never seen him play. I think the thing to take from this article is that we may be an active team this summer. A list of three that is the Hawks, Jazz, and Rockets is a rather odd. Which two of these teams are in the midst of major rebuilding, and which one isn't?
Bad thing about Okur, is that he dosent seem like someone tough, who wouldnt do the dirty work and get rebounds, etc.
Cab - okur has some talent...... should have premised my post with if we can get rid of Mo from what i seen, for some reason got loads of pistons games the last couple of years i like what he brings to the table completely agree the Pistons would be stupid to pick Okur over Wallace... but wallace is going to want the real big bucks, is still a headcase and already 30 i just reckon Pkur is an improvement over what have and someone will offer him around the MLE
Question is: what will 'sheed be like AFTER he signs his (presumably last) contract? He's been on his best behavior, but...all bets are off after the ink dries.
He’s not going to be a superstar, but I could easily see him as a 15/10 guy. He just needs the playing time. Brown only played him 20 minutes a game and Okur still put up 10 points and 6 rebounds a game. That’s pretty good production for somebody getting such little PT. I see a Brad Miller/Troy Murphy fundamentally sound type of big man in him. His only real weakness is his perimeter defense is poor due slow foot speed, but I’m sure a defensive specialist like Van Gundy would be able to find a way to overcome that.
Okur is a good player, but this has a MoT-like feeling all over again. Compare MoTs and Okurs stats their first couple years, they're not even close. I like Okur but nothing more than TE. Okur YEAR OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG 02-03 1.60 3.00 4.70 1.0 .35 .54 .92 2.30 6.9 03-04 2.30 3.70 5.90 1.0 .51 .89 1.42 1.90 9.6 MoT 97-98 1.70 2.50 4.20 .7 .48 .56 1.51 3.10 11.5 98-99 2.20 3.10 5.30 1.5 .35 .63 2.61 3.90 16.8 99-00 1.50 4.90 6.50 1.6 .82 .77 2.73 3.50 17.1 Actually, looking at MoT's stats while in LAC, I sort of see why he got his contract, injuries suck.
and despite the stats Mo was posting, it is the type game he brings... a great example of stats being deceiving.... we need rebounding and defense and he doesn't bring either btw it might be useful to see the minutes they played for those stats Okur - 19 and 22 minutes per game Taylor - 21, 33, 36 minutes per game
Then he's crazy. There is no way an unproven european player should command more on a team than a proven all-star guard like Francis. The Pistons would be nuts to not do that, regardless of how they felt about Darko. If they liked him that much, he would have gotten SOME minutes this season.
as long as Suns have money to spend FA's, like Okur, will talk them up: http://eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=21774 Sports Update Nash, Okur may look at Suns By Mike Tulumello, Tribune Count guard Steve Nash and big man Mehmet Okur among the free agents who are expected to consider the Suns as a possible destination this summer. "He'd consider them," said Nash's agent, Bill Duffy. Nash was drafted by the Suns in 1996, but was traded after the club developed a logjam in the backcourt when it acquired Jason Kidd. The Suns sent Nash to Dallas, where he became an All-Star, for the draft pick that became Shawn Marion. "I think it still would be a good fit," Duffy said. Yet, the Suns could be a fall-back position for Nash, who may re-sign with the Mavericks. Nash's father, John (the player's parents live in the Valley), said in March that while he would love for his son to play for the Suns, it's more likely he will return to the Mavericks if Dallas officials make him a strong offer. Duffy said this likely is an accurate read of the situation. "But it's got to be reciprocal. They've got to want him back." This season, Nash averaged 14.5 points on 47 percent shooting (including 41 percent on 3-pointers) plus 8.8 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. In the Mavericks' playoff series loss to the Sacramento Kings, he averaged 13.6 points, with his shooting percentages falling to 39 overall and 38 on 3-pointers in 39 minutes per game. A source close to the Pistons' Okur who asked not to be identified confirmed the player's interest in the Suns. Okur did not want to speak publicly because the Pistons are still involved in a playoff series against New Jersey. Okur is averaging 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per playoff game. Okur, 25, is a 6-foot-11, 250-pound forward/center from Turkey. He averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in the regular season in 22 minutes per game. But with the arrival in Detroit of Rasheed Wallace, his playing time went down. Last season, he averaged 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. It may be difficult for the Pistons to re-sign both Wallace and Okur.
Okur would be a really nice fit for the Suns. Him and Amare would be a nice combo. If they sign Okur and draft a PG, they're looking at playoff basketball again: Okur/Voshkuhl/Jahidi White Amare/Lampe/Harvey Marion/Caparbaka/Casey Jacobsen Joe Johnson/Ben Gordon Barbosa/Ben Gordon/Eisley I think that team could make the playoffs. Okur would be smart to sign with them. However, I hope he re-signs with Detroit, making Rasheed Wallace more available.
To be fair, Mo needed 36 minutes to grab 6.5 rebounds, while Okur needed 22 to grab 5.9 rebounds. Okur is not tougher than Mo, and not a better defensive player, but he is a better rebounder, shotblocker, and has more range. Mo, on the other hand, has a better post game, more strength, more toughness, and is more skillfull with the ball.
