Elton Brand just resigned for 1 year 2 million

[Jamaaliver]

This narrative that 'we went into last season knowing the year was ruined' is probably only true for you in which case you're a psychic.

Seriously?

November 1st, 2013:

3) Our frontcourt DEPTH is not bad. It's really not.

Time will tell. I'm going on record as saying I have deep concerns. Ayon is already hurt. Elton is old. Antic is a three point specialist.
Time will tell.

October 21st, 2013:

Again, it is exhausting to have to guard bigger guys every game. And there is currently no real Center anywhere on our roster. We basically employ a team full of Power Forwards...

We're tempting fate by forcing him to handle this responsibility full time and alone.

October 26th, 2013:

...this seems like a legitimate concern, long and short term. Not only do we not have a starting Center to play next to him, we don't even have a reliable BACKUP to spell Horford. (Ayon is unproven and already injured.) If AL were to go down to injury for an extended amount of time, we would literally be stuck with 3 power forwards as our frontcourt.

Not a psychic, just insightful. This was BEFORE the season started. I vehemently, repeatedly expressed my concern regarding the undersized, unproven front court. DIRECTLY to you. But you dismissed my concerns. Others outright insulted me. Their was legitimate reason for concern last year.

I express concern again this season based on the same reasoning. Time will tell.

[PandaKidd]

Jamaal, what other center options are out there. Could you look and let me know? What else could we have done?

Sent from my VS980 4G using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Jamaaliver]

Jamaal, what other center options are out there. Could you look and let me know? What else could we have done?

At the start of the Summer:

Pau Gasol
Channing Frye
Spencer Hawes
Marcin Gortat
Jordan Hill
Bebe Nogueira - Available in Trade
Tyson Chandler - Available in Trade
Omer Asik - Available in Trade
Jusuf Nurkic

Still Available:

Andray Blatche
Greg Monroe - Available in Trade
Emeka Okafor
Miroslav Raduljica
Jason Thompson -Available in Trade
Aron Baynes

Slim pickings at this point. Though Baynes and Raduljica might be worth a further look.

NOTE: Worth mentioning, Gorgui Dieng averaged 16 PPG 10 RPG 2 SPG 1.5 BPG during FIBA play this summer. At only 24 years old, he is poised for big things moving forward.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Jamaal, what other center options are out there. Could you look and let me know? What else could we have done?

At the start of the Summer:

Pau Gasol
Channing Frye
Spencer Hawes
Marcin Gortat
Jordan Hill
Bebe Nogueira - Available in Trade
Tyson Chandler - Available in Trade
Omer Asik - Available in Trade
Jusuf Nurkic

Still Available:

Andray Blatche
Greg Monroe - Available in Trade
Emeka Okafor
Miroslav Raduljica
Jason Thompson -Available in Trade
Aron Baynes

Slim pickings at this point. Though Baynes and Raduljica might be worth a further look.

NOTE: Worth mentioning, Gorgui Dieng averaged 16 PPG 10 RPG 2 SPG 1.5 BPG during FIBA play this summer. At only 24 years old, he is poised for big things moving forward.

It's odd that you list guys like bebe and then write off payne. Payne is far stronger than bebe and is clearly more ready to contribute on the nba level.

We offered pau a contract and he turned us down.

Gortat wasnt leaving washington.

Monroe just peed himself in a DUI stop.

It seems clear by now that Ferry has a pretty strict plan and he doesn't deviate from it. He looks for certain skill sets at each position and he doesn't sign or trade for players just to say he did. This strategy is quite refreshing if you ask me.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[PandaKidd]

I think I would take brand over all those guys unless we could land Baynes who I like as a bench big

Sent from my VS980 4G using RealGM Forums mobile app

[MaceCase]

A bit of hypocrisy in that list. Pau turned the Hawks down. Both Frye and Hawes are stretch bigs that aren't willing to bang in the post on either end (someone's definition of a C). Should take a gander at the contract that Gortat signed for. If Hill is considered a Center then Horford is too. Bebe? Yes, as if someone didn't spend enough time all year stating that he wasn't physically ready. Chandler? I'd like to see the dead weight the team had to absorb that deal. Asik? Sure, the team could have burned a pick to acquire him and thus helping a free agency rival in the process too. Nurkic? Ah, because he has a long and storied NBA career of which we can draw conclusions from.

Then we move on to Blatche, the guy who has a storied history of being a cancer and was recently suspended for not being in NBA condition. Monroe, yet another 4/5 tweener that doesn't offer size over the Hawks current crop. Same for Okafor with the caveat that he also had a neck injury. Raduljca? Yes, that's exactly who you want as the first big off the bench. Thompson? Only one of the worst deals in the league for a player that again, doesn't offer size better than the Hawks current crop. Baynes? Certainly another absolutely trustworthy backup of which there are no doubts.

And Dieng's FIBA statistics? Certainly much better than the 17.6 points (on 61FG% as opposed to 42FG% for Dieng) 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1 block that the highly touted signing of Ayon had during the same tournament. Surely everyone listed is vastly superior to what the Hawks had both last season and this instead of just being more sour griping.

[Jamaaliver]

It seems clear by now that Ferry has a pretty strict plan and he doesn't deviate from it. He looks for certain skill sets at each position and he doesn't sign or trade for players just to say he did.

This is a very interesting assessment. Though it leaves me with a much different conclusion.

Every summer, Ferry acknowledges we need size, rebounding, scoring from the Center position. Every summer he pursues an All Star Caliber Center in Free Agency. The last two summers, he has failed to get much interest from the top Centers in Free Agency: Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Greg Monroe.

He scours the waiver wire and settles on Elton Brand for a one year contract.

Next year I am sure Ferry (if he is still here) will go all out in an attempt to sign Marc Gasol as well. And when he strikes out, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brand come back for one more run as backup Center.


Most important question...Brand gives us 15 players with guaranteed contracts on the season. But only 12 players are on the active roster at any one time:

Which three players can we expect to spend the most time on the inactive list?

Center - Horford, Muscala, Pero, Brand (4)
PF - Millsap, Payne, Mike Scott (3)
SF - Demarre, Korver (2)
SG - Thabo, Bazemore, Jenkins (3)
PG - Teague, Mack, Dennis (3)

My guess: Jenkins, Muscala and Brand spend the first half of the season in street clothes.

[theatlfan]

Hello again all. I've been very down on Ferry this off-season, but this is not a bad signing. Sure, Brand isn't going to fix any perceived or real C issues, but for that price in FA, you're really not fishing for someone you expect would. Brand is going to be the professional backup who shows the kids what it means to show up everyday and work on your game. The coaches can point to him and day "he's pushing 40 and is still working on his game... wtf is wrong with you?" It also helps when the vet can kick your @$$ AND win a free style rap battle. Is this worth a 15th man roster spot and $2M? Maybe, maybe not, but when viewed in this light, I can't begrudge the signing.

Monroe just peed himself in a DUI stop.

I think we have proven that a DUI arrest means very little to our management... unless you think this would only apply to the white guys (... too soon?)

Brand gives us 15 players with guaranteed contracts on the season. But only 12 players are on the active roster at any one time:

Which three players can we expect to spend the most time on the inactive list?

Center - Horford, Muscala, Pero, Brand (4)
PF - Millsap, Payne, Mike Scott (3)
SF - Demarre, Korver (2)
SG - Thabo, Bazemore, Jenkins (3)
PG - Teague, Mack, Dennis (3)

My guess: Jenkins, Muscala and Brand spend the first half of the season in street clothes.

Interesting ?... it'll be nice to have competition for an active roster spot.I suspect that Coach Bud can use this as a motivational tool.

The battles as I see them: 2 will sit out of Antic, Muscala, Payne, Brand, and Scott; 1 will sit out of Bazemore, Jenkins, and Schröder. I think Coach Bud will play matchups in all cases and all of these 8 players will see the inactive list at least once in that first month (assuming everyone is healthy and no other roster moves happen between now and then). I do foresee some major griping around here when we see Payne and Scott showing up on that list...

[Jamaaliver]

^This is one of those times where it'd be great to have a D-League affiliate to assign Muscala, Payne and Dennis to at varying times.

Potentially giving Brand PT at the expense of Moose or Payne would indeed cause concern.

[azuresou1]

Teams are allowed 13 active players since the 2012 season.

Active:
Teague, Dennis, Mack
Korver, Bazemore
DeMarre, Thabo, Scott
Millsap, Payne, Muscala
Horford, Pero

Jenkins I think is done in the league so no sense in spending an active slot on him; Brand also gets the majority of the sits because he's older and we shouldn't need him when Payne and Muscala can play the 5 for stretches. In cases where we play bigger teams, we can sit Muscala, Baze, or Scott in favor of him.

[Jamaaliver]

This narrative that 'we went into last season knowing the year was ruined' is probably only true for you in which case you're a psychic.

Mike, I didn't tag it properly. But were you able to read my response?

Teams are allowed 13 active players since the 2012 season.

Good call. Thanks for correcting me.

This depth chart looks more accurate.

Fair enough. My list above was not intended as a depth chart, just a full list of players under contract.

My list on the previous page was not an endorsement of Centers we should have pursued, just a comprehensive list of Big Men we know were available this offseason.

On original topic, I don't mind the Brand signing in itself. But starting this season with largely the same rotation of Centers we ended last season with...is mind-boggling.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Teams are allowed 13 active players since the 2012 season.

Active:
Teague, Dennis, Mack
Korver, Bazemore
DeMarre, Thabo, Scott
Millsap, Payne, Muscala
Horford, Pero

Jenkins I think is done in the league so no sense in spending an active slot on him; Brand also gets the majority of the sits because he's older and we shouldn't need him when Payne and Muscala can play the 5 for stretches. In cases where we play bigger teams, we can sit Muscala, Baze, or Scott in favor of him.

This depth chart looks more accurate. I will be very surprised if Korver is not in the starting lineup. His offensive skillset is irreplaceable in the starting lineup. Thabo will likely back up Carroll.

[azuresou1]

I saw your post and concede that you predicted the issue at C last year. At the same time I don't think big man depth will be an issue for us this year. The thing holding us back, if anything, will be a lack of perimeter scoring.

[Jamaaliver]

...I don't think big man depth will be an issue for us this year. The thing holding us back, if anything, will be a lack of perimeter scoring.

The perimeter scoring issue is indeed a question mark. It's a shame LOU's injury and style of play prevented him from contributing under Bud. The hope now is that Bazemore can provide that scoring we lack at 2/3.

This team has depth, but indeed still has holes regarding certain skill sets. i.e. rebounding, shot blocking, perimeter scoring.

But, we'll shoot the hell out of the ball. That and sharing the ball will have to be enough to make up for our deficiencies elsewhere.

[simon24]

Teams are allowed 13 active players since the 2012 season.

Active:
Teague, Dennis, Mack
Korver, Bazemore
DeMarre, Thabo, Scott
Millsap, Payne, Muscala
Horford, Pero

Jenkins I think is done in the league so no sense in spending an active slot on him; Brand also gets the majority of the sits because he's older and we shouldn't need him when Payne and Muscala can play the 5 for stretches. In cases where we play bigger teams, we can sit Muscala, Baze, or Scott in favor of him.

I'm sure Scott probably will get the backup PF minutes over Payne. Seems like Bud doesn't play rookies as much.

I think Muscula probably will get the 3rd center minutes Brand got last season. I think they brought Brand back as an emergency center. Him and Jenkins probably will get the DNPs