Gooden's Future

[smooth 'lil balla]

The foot is still sore sometimes? This is good news?? I've had fasciitis for about 10 years. If it doesn't go away after the first bout, you are f*cked. I used to be very quick and agile, but fasciitis took that away. Doesn't matter much if I'm in shape or not, skinny or a little chunky. The affected foot loses all its spring and that doesn't bode well for an NBA athlete.

Yea, that's what I took out of it too. I was shocked to hear it's still sore some time. That sucks.

[EastSideBucksFan]

I predict Gooden misses one game a week if we are averaging 4 games per week.

[Treebeard]

The foot is still sore sometimes? This is good news?? I've had fasciitis for about 10 years. If it doesn't go away after the first bout, you are f*cked. I used to be very quick and agile, but fasciitis took that away. Doesn't matter much if I'm in shape or not, skinny or a little chunky. The affected foot loses all its spring and that doesn't bode well for an NBA athlete.

Yea, that's what I took out of it too. I was shocked to hear it's still sore some time. That sucks.

From my limited understanding of fascitis, it's as you say. I also understand that it's made worse by basic physics - more weight, more pressure, more use aggravates the problem. So if Gooden plays, it's likely to recur as a problem for him. If he sits, his foots fine, but the problem shifts to completely wasted roster spot.....

[raferfenix]

Well if the worst happens with his injuries, at least that could be the justification to Kohl to amnesty him...

That might be an easier sell than "he's an idiot who we should have never signed for remotely that much money in the first place".

[unklchuk]

His issue is just that empty space in between his ears.

Balderdash. His brain isn't a void. It's just alternatively enabled. He has basketball thoughts. There just different than the ones you're used to. And while Bogut's mood seems to fluctuate like a TV soap opera, Gooden has a casino vet's calm about him. The kind of calm shown by a man with a blond on one arm and a raven-black-haired bombshell on the other - a man who knows that the faces may change but the feminine company will remain constant. Because the man has money, and no weaknesses strong enough to deprive him of it.

Skiles will learn the parts of Gooden's game that are MIA. Maybe he'll get the league to approve an on-court guide dog. The team will come to rely on Gooden's contribution, and learn to fill in for the gaps. Bogut will have a little more help than he's accustomed to. Might be the best available PF/C combination.

(I'm not one to carry a picket sign for Moute - except as a damn good sub. Although it's possible I'll be proven wrong on that, which I'd welcome.)

[AussieBuck]

The foot is still sore sometimes? This is good news?? I've had fasciitis for about 10 years. If it doesn't go away after the first bout, you are f*cked. I used to be very quick and agile, but fasciitis took that away. Doesn't matter much if I'm in shape or not, skinny or a little chunky. The affected foot loses all its spring and that doesn't bode well for an NBA athlete.

It's awesome news. Sure he'll hobble through some minutes this season but he'll be getting less minutes and he'll be amnestied next season. It's the best realistic scenario for being rid of him.

[unklchuk]

It's awesome news. Sure he'll hobble through some minutes this season but he'll be getting less minutes and he'll be amnestied next season. It's the best realistic scenario for being rid of him.

Herb paying someone full freight to NOT play for him doesn't seem all that likely.

[paulpressey25]

Well if the worst happens with his injuries, at least that could be the justification to Kohl to amnesty him...

That might be an easier sell than "he's an idiot who we should have never signed for remotely that much money in the first place".

The Gooden thing will be what Kohl recites in his exit interview with John Hammond come April 28th.

[MilBucksBackOnTop06]

So Gardner reported Drew at least talking the talk:

"I committed my summer to my body," Gooden said in an interview from San Francisco. "I wanted my foot to be in the best condition it's been in, and you will shortly see that.

"The foot is feeling great. I have my days where it is sore, but I guess I won't know until I play five games in a row. I think the two biggest keys for any team this season will be staying healthy and being a deep squad."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/134805788.html

I'll give credit where credit is due if he really has gotten into good shape. I've been petrified that Gooden would put on 50 lbs during the lockout, but that appears not to be the case.

That said, the Bucks' future is inextricably tied to Gooden's. Or more accurately, Hammond's job is.

The Bucks have had a void at PF since we traded Vin Baker, and Gooden can either be part of the solution, or a big part of the problem through sucking up available resources and preventing us from getting where we need to go.

Dare we dream that disaster could still be averted with the Drew signing?

I still have no idea what you all want from Gooden? I think he is the perfect complement to Bogut if we had two more proven scorers. he does the dirty work opposite Bogut.

The key here is Larry Sanders. I think it was the best move the Bucks made last year and should have been the only move they made outside of robbing the Nets of CDR who I looked at the trade checker and if I am not mistaken we hold his NBA rights as we do Ersan's.

CDR was a cool cat and he can hoop...He is Dougie 'Fresh.' I just hope and pray he lands on his feet wherever he is. But Gooden is solid.

I think he blends in well with SJack and Udrich. I think that the Bucks need to get another piece or two and they can contend [if healthy] for a playoff spot.

I would like to see a guy like Mike Dunleavy or Travis Outlaw and Pryzbilla brought in if we are going to keep SJack for this year along with Gooden.

Outlaw or Dunleavy [Clips should be bustin down his door] can back up Mbah a Moute for some offense and in the case of Outlaw you won't lose much defensively either. Then got get Joel P....

Slide Delfino as back up 2 guard perhaps? I know many of you love him so oh well.

[MilBucksBackOnTop06]

The foot is still sore sometimes? This is good news?? I've had fasciitis for about 10 years. If it doesn't go away after the first bout, you are f*cked. I used to be very quick and agile, but fasciitis took that away. Doesn't matter much if I'm in shape or not, skinny or a little chunky. The affected foot loses all its spring and that doesn't bode well for an NBA athlete.

It's awesome news. Sure he'll hobble through some minutes this season but he'll be getting less minutes and he'll be amnestied next season. It's the best realistic scenario for being rid of him.

Mark my words....Gooden will be this year's teams MVP. Watch and see...

I think many of you underestimate him or have misplaced expectations for him. No he is not a top 4 PF. Why are you crying?

He is smart, tough, a wide body who takes fouls and bangs, and he can hit the open shot and pass a little and he plays with a chip and nastiness you need and hard competitive edge who has played on winners like in Cleveland. His problem like many players is some are better playing off of Superstars i SJack did in S.A. and WON A RING!

The Bucks do not have a Superstar so that will make a lot of players look like scrubs and they are not. If Bogut and B. Jennings takes the next leap I guarantee you it will be because of Drew Gooden like it was because of Kurt Thomas and Toni Kukoc when he was here.

Most of you who rip him dont see that. A Superstar or All Star makes all the difference in the world...

[EastSideBucksFan]

Mark my words....Gooden will be this year's teams MVP. Watch and see.....

Somebody needs to sig this

[El Duderino]

I don't think he has skill problems.

Agreed

Gooden has many of the skills to be a quality PF, but he does lack one important skill, that being basketball instincts/smarts. Having a variety of skills can only take a player so far when he doesn't understand how best to maximize those skills.

[emunney]

It's mainly when he's off the ball. Yeah, he'll take some bad shots, but really it's the big picture stuff on the court that he doesn't see. If he's defending the ball, he's mostly fine. If he's got the ball, he looks damn good at times. But the rest of the time...

[PackBuckBrew]

His issue is just that empty space in between his ears.

He likes the piano because the echoing in his skull tickles.

[AussieBuck]

It's awesome news. Sure he'll hobble through some minutes this season but he'll be getting less minutes and he'll be amnestied next season. It's the best realistic scenario for being rid of him.

Herb paying someone full freight to NOT play for him doesn't seem all that likely.

If his foot goes Bobby Simmons on him it could happen.