ZachLowe_SI Zach Lowe The Thunder players' Twitter courting of Shane Battier is pretty fun. They do need a back-up SF pretty badly.
I want to see him goto Chicago. He can play SG there and get a chance to start as he is a huge upgrade over bogans. He an guard sg or SF, he can spread the court as well as anyone and is an amazing decision maker and lockeroom guy and a great fit with Rose and Thibideau. With Deng able to attack and penetrate, that completes a great tlineup and plus, tools to beat miami
He isn't "good", in basketball it is about cohesiveness and battier, while not a great player, is a perfect roll player. He is more consistent that bogans, a better decision maker, a young team like that could use his emphasis to reiterate on defense what thibadeuo preaches and not to mention his locker room presence/leadership, he is a methodical smart defender, and that is really what they need. The have a guy who can penetrate and attack in their SF already, Rose is the no one option, and then a post presencee in PF. Noah and Battier are used for defense, hustle, and compliment to bring about thtose guys on offensee. I think its the best fit for them at this point unless they can nab affalo or something
The heat don't really need his defense. They'd do better with a three point shooter that is more of an all around offense-minded player. Sort of like Mike Miller, before last season.
Bogans is a fantastic defensive player and that team has no leadership or defense problems. Deng is not really the greatest creator. Battier is not too consistent offensively either.
Once again, bogans is a good defender, but battier is better, and smarter. His attention to detail woudl be great for the lockeroom. Just because they don't have leadership aor defense problems, doesn't mean they couldn't use an upgrade to take them over the hump. They were good last year, fact is they weren't good enough, so they can use the upgrade here. Battier woudl come in right away in be a veteran leader and a voice that can help late down in the playoffs and in sticky situation as the current elder statesmen in the starting 5, boozer, isn't really that at all. He isn't a savior, but he can spread the court and do what he does well for the bulls. If i could choose any destination, I would choose there since he has a chance to start where as if he went to miami or thunder, he woudl be behind some great wings. Another option is San Antonio, but their time seems to be done for the most part, but if they use amnesty on richard jefferson than Parker, Ginobili, Battier, Duncan(they are solid Center away), blair 6th man is good. As for Miami, they desperately need a Center plain and simple. Mario is per fect for them in that he plays great defense and hits the open shots and spreads the court. The 2,3,4 are set, now they need an anchor downlow to take them to ultra dangerous level. If I was them, I would be bold and trade bosh for a good 4,5 combo as he becomes redundant and unnecessary as another Max player given the ball dominance of the 2,3. If they do get DEandre Jordan at midlevel(not unreasonable), that would be one of the most athletic teams ever
According to his twitter, he is receiving most of the love from heat, grizz, thunder, and rockets. I think he signs with thunder or grizz.
Battier is not any better especially now. Battier gets murdered by quicker guards and with Deng there he will be guarding 2s. Deng is a lockdown defender anyway. His attention to detail is nice and his leadership is nice but he's old now and he can't really help an offense that was completely stagnant at times last year.
He won't need to do much ,he just need to hit open 3s, spread the court and he has as good as anyone awarness to do that and he can guard 2s as he did last year anda throughout his career. Bulls were 33-3 and when Bogan just hit more than 2 3s a game, they don't mean, they just need someone reliable and dependable and battier isthe perfect guy. If he goes there, they have the best shot to take miami down in my opinion
