I suppose that answers my query regarding Landry. I happen to disagree, and think that with repitition and opportunity, Carl could exceed Scola by far. As is, he just has to be the punctuation mark.
I really like landry. His jumper is money now an he's athletic and finishes around the basket better than anyone on the rockets. He doesn't get bumped off balance on contact alot either which is a plus. I've said it before, i would trade scola and start landry because he's younger, has production, and upside.
He's also more injury prone. Has Scola missed a game? Or even been injured during a game and had to be taken out? (knocking vigorously on wood right now) Landry is only a couple years younger than Scola. Not so much that his potential is being held back by coming off the bench.
There is a difference betwen 25 and 29 though. Its just me, but i think landry has more upside. His ball of clay is bigger and that counts alot.scola is a good player, but he's about as good as he can get. Landry can improve alot more.
Just read jvgownsyou's post a few spots below mine. And saying Landry's easier to replace than Wafer... well, you can think that way. But I'm glad Morey doesn't have the same opinion. Apparently, neither do the other 29 GMs around the league.
How many undersized pf's slip to the 2nd rd of the draft that turn out to be productive players? Bass,Powell,Malik Rose,Milsap,Glen Davis? It happens alot because gm's will pick a guy and stash him overseas or can only see the size of these guys. There is a long laundry list of these types and it happens every year. I remember the year boozer came out and it was the lakers pick and kenny smith kept talking about how this would be a good spot for him.La didn't even blink. Look at a guy like Blair in this years draft and how he kept falling. I'm not saying landry isn't a good player, i'm just saying that gm's seem to always find his types in the top of the 2nd rd. Sometimes you get a boozer or milsap and sometimes you get malik rose,carl landry, or udonis haslem, but they always find those undersized pf's.
Wow, a much better offer than the Rox offered... Houston: $800K/yr --> after tax (no state tax included) --> about $550k Olympiakos: $2.1 mil euro/yr --> about $3 mil usd (1.41 conversion rate) --> after tax (Olympiakos pays) --> still about $3 mil usd Von is getting approxiamately $2.5 million usd more and playing 30 something games less per year for leaving Houston, good for him...
And an even more long laundry list of players the caliber of Wafer. Why don't we hear more about them? Because they tend not to make it into the rotations. You can argue all you want. But in the end, NBA GMs are certainly very clear on where they stand on this matter.
Good deal, a seldom mentioned benefit is that abbreviated schedule. Not sure how the schedule works over there but it shows Olympiacos played 26 Greek league games, 10 Euroleague games and 10 playoff games last season. Thats only half of the games an NBA team plays during the regular season.
dont they get free car, free apartment, free schooling and childcare for their kids? plus its the invaluable experience of getting to experience another country. And Wafer will get a ring and be a superstar in Europe. He's probably going to turn out like Anthony Parker. Be a superstar in Europe til he gets bored of it and wants to take less money and fame to play in the NBA.
They usually drive real small cars and I would rather live in a house than an apartment but those are great benefits. The Euroleague is great for guys like Von and Parker, they would struggle every year to make a squad in the NBA but are stars over there.
IS it the right choice? money-wise, yes he got the most out of all of offers. However this smells too much like his agent is pulling the strings. is it the right choice for his future? don't know, but history said it is the wrong choise, he will soon be forgotten by the NBA and fans. of course he gets to play alongside the geek mac which is injury free. If i were him, i would go for the team that can offer the most minutes and playtime. Which i think rockets is the place. we are without Yao and maybe tmac. this is the perfect him to showcase what you got and what you can do to lead a team. he may be able to play alongside trevas and be the 1-2 punch along with brooks. Think about the lightning fast 3 players. too bad he was not thinking at all...
Precisely, If He was patient enough and improved further with the team that gave him this break then He would have his pay day next year or the next. Right now, He got the money but not what He probably wanted and that is to play in the NBA.
You guys are nuts, you do not turn down $4 million EXTRA dollars just because you want to play in the NBA... Anything could happen he could blow a knee in training camp. This was the SMARTEST choice he could have made. DD
I would have to agree. I don't care for NBA players going overseas to play but this is probably the best thing for Von. He wanted to get paid and the money he was looking for as of right now, he wasn't going to get it in the NBA. Now he could of taken a one year deal and wait for 2010 but money was more important and I get that. Especially if he were to get hurt and only make $1Million. Having said that, there's a lot of risks involved with Von going overseas to play. His career may or may not take off from making this move. There is a little bias when it comes to players going overseas but if Von keeps developing his game, he'll be fine.
Let's put this in terms we mortals can understand. If you're offered the same job, essentially, by two companies, and one pays $20,000 and the other pays $50,000 (or even $60,000 or $70,000), where are you going to work? Multiply that by a bunch and you get the Von Wafer situation. The same principle applies, though. Maybe because I lived overseas I don't get hung up on this sort of deal. Skills-wise, he's be better off in the NBA, and he'll be happy to come back when the economic climate improves, I'm sure. To say he'll be forgotten is ridiculous. NBA teams scout overseas constantly. He won't be in the spotlight, but he'll be on the radar. His main problem is he won't have someone kicking him in the butt when he flies off the handle, but maybe he'll learn something from his mistakes. I'm sure he won't learn defense in Europe, though. Maybe he can bring his newly-found Euro flopping skills back to Utah?
Batt, when your Wafer's age you take the guaranteed money. I think he made the right choice, if he wanted minutes he could go play in a recreational league, in the real world its about cash.
Speaking for many of us who think Von Wafer was the player most overrated by half this board ... Let's please stop being mean to the guy. He just had his best year ever -- I'll be shocked if he ever has a better one -- and he's taking advantage of it by cashing in and buying himself some financial security for life. It's an intelligent decision. Now he can have a good life and a family and give his kids a childhood more secure and happy than he had. God bless him.
