Take a Chance on Green? System versus the Player?

[STChaser]

I was thinking about Gerald Green lately and was wondering how a 6'8 SG would influence our lineup. I like what Willie Green gives us defensively but I think his ceiling isn't much higher than what we've seen this season, even considering the injury, etc.

That being said, what if we moved Iguodala to SG and brought a player like Gerald Green off the bench to spell him minutes. How would a second team of Lou Williams, Gerald Green, Carney, a PF pickup in the draft (say Ibaka or perhaps a Tyrus Thomas, and Jason Smith look?

What I'm getting at is this; I have no doubt that our players are good characters with outstanding athleticism. But how much of their success stems from our coaching staff and the system which they play in? Could we throw borderline busts like Tyrus Thomas and Gerald Green into our system (as a bench squad) and have them buy into our system, gain some confidence, and produce for us?

We saw a Chicago team the other night where outside of Sefalosha, their athletes looked like garbage - and yet I know that Deng and Tyrus are close to being as athletic as our guys. And just by watching their expressions and how dejected they looked, my guess is that they would LOVE to be playing within our fast-break system rather than their own. I would think that young athletes like Tyrus and Deng must be looking at our young core with utter jealousy.

What if a player like Tyrus was playing in our system, was given adequate minutes, and gained some confidence? What if a Gerald Green wasn't being jerked around (the guys only 22 and has been traded twice and is now out of the league) and afforded the same transition that our youngsters were given like Lou, Thaddeus, and Carney?

Take Sam for example. Here is a player that was in fact jerked around my O'brien and given very limited playing time under Brown. There were times when many here wanted to give up on him. And yet now he's registering double-doubles and is the anchor of our defense. How much of the failures of guys like Tyrus and Green is their fault and how much of it has to do with improper assimilation within their systems?

STChaser

[bball4life]

Didn't Houston trade for him at the deadline and then cut him a day or 2 later?

What does that say about the player? Doesn't sound like a guy who's gonna bust his ass on defense every night, and play hard with a limited role. NO THANK YOU.

[tk76]

In an ideal world we make a sign and trade deal involving 10M capspace and Willie green's 3M contract (and picks) to acquire a star like Brand at 13M next year (5yr/80M.)

That would free up some PT to add another developmental SG like Gerald Green. I wonder if you put a talented but lost kid like green on a team with a collegiate atmosphere of hard working kids, would it rub off and get him dedicated on his game?

Either way, we don't have any PT available at SG/SF unless Willie Green is dealt. I don't mind keeping Willie as a reserve, but hopefully he could be used a paice in a bigger deal.

[STChaser]

Guess you're right bball4life. But I still wonder how much of these guys faults are their own and how much of their failures have to do with being mismanaged. Take Tyrus for example. He can't seem to get any playing time in Chicago and the fans there are clamoring for him to get some consistent minutes - much like many of us were doing for Sam when O'brien would yank him after one foul and not let him play through his mistakes. I just wonder how much a change of scenery coupled with some decent leadership would improve a player like Tyrus.

STChaser

[SendEm]

OMG not another Gerald Green thread on my Sixers forum. Please stop the talk about this bum player joining our playoff bound team. He can't play basketball!!!!!! He'll be on the next And1 mixtape where he belongs...

[bball4life]

Guess you're right bball4life. But I still wonder how much of these guys faults are their own and how much of their failures have to do with being mismanaged. Take Tyrus for example. He can't seem to get any playing time in Chicago and the fans there are clamoring for him to get some consistent minutes - much like many of us were doing for Sam when O'brien would yank him after one foul and not let him play through his mistakes. I just wonder how much a change of scenery coupled with some decent leadership would improve a player like Tyrus.

STChaser

I agree with you on Tyrus. I think a change of scenery could do him wonders. He'd definitely be worth the risk if you could grab him for a bargain like a Willie Green or 2nd round pick.


Thing about Green is he was on one of the crappiest teams in the NBA and still couldnt get any burn. Houston took a flier on him and dumped him 10 seconds later. I think that tells you everytying you need to know about Green's character. What a great opp at Houston to make a name for yourself, and you can't make it through one practice without showing your true colors.

[ITK9]

his basketball iq is much smaller than sammy's.he doesn't play D and he doesn't know where to stay on the court.

[Skates]

Gerald Green has gotten by all his basketball life on pure athleticism and gotten lots of notice for the spectacular dunks he can make. This is the NBA, not the playground or high school, there are lots of athletes who can jump and run. He needs to develop a mindset that will make him work on his actual offensive skill set, learn to translate that athleticism into being a good defender and basically keep his nose to the grindstone and adapt his game to what his team needs.

To a lesser extent that is what Rodney Carney has done to become a contributor on the Sixers. Look at Janario Moon of the Raptors, he always had the athleticism to play in the league, but it took a complete change in attitude for him to succeed and stick in the league. Green needs to take his game back to the basics and build it up from there. It can be done, but first he has to give up the illusion that jumping high entitles him to a spot in the all-star game.

[STChaser]

True. What a waste of a 6'8 athlete. Guess he's not right in the head. But I agree that Tyrus does have more potential. I've seen how good he can be with confidence and he plays with a lot of emotion. I was really impressed with his play against Detroit last year in the playoffs. I just think this kid needs real leadership around him and some discipline - as well as more minutes to gain confidence. If you think about it, the Bulls have ZERO leadership on their team. Deng is good character but he's not a leader. They have no veterans either from what I recall - and their coaching carousel doesn't help matters either. I would definitely take a gamble on Tyrus for the right price.

STChaser

[Mozy-76er Fan]

Either way, we don't have any PT available at SG/SF unless Willie Green is dealt. I don't mind keeping Willie as a reserve, but hopefully he could be used a paice in a bigger deal.

Exactly - there is no room for G. Green right now.

[dbodner]

Exactly - there is no room for G. Green right now.

Sure there is. We have 13 people under roster. Sign him, let me Cheeks watch him in practice up close and personal, and if he doesn't like him (game or attitude), let him go this offseason. No downside.

[The Guilty Party]

Sign him, let me Cheeks watch him in practice up close and personal and if he doesn't like him (game or attitude), let him go this offseason.

LOL! I know this is just a silly typo but the way it reads... well, I suddenly believe that dabods is Irish and that his ass is some sort of a basketball scout.

[The Sixer Fixer]

Exactly - there is no room for G. Green right now.

Sure there is. We have 13 people under roster. Sign him, let me Cheeks watch him in practice up close and personal, and if he doesn't like him (game or attitude), let him go this offseason. No downside.

Totally agree. There is no downside to picking him up for the rest of the season or just a 10 day contract. We would have no obligation to play him in games. Just see what type of effort he gives in practice...see if some of his flaws can be ironed out and if he shows he's willing to put the work in, then explore a possible deal next year. I would must rather us have an up close evaluation period with a guy like him so we can determine if he's worth a bigger contract.

If we see something in Carney as an NBA player, I see no reason why we wouldn't see an upside with Green. Sure Carney is a better defensive player, but I think Green is better on offense.

[The Guilty Party]

Is it possible that Green has a HORRIBLE attitude? I mean, it seemed suspicious to me that Minnesota turned down his option right before the season started. It's not as though that move saved them much in the way of cap space and this was done before he'd even played one game for them.

Then he goes to Houston and while it looks like a numbers game that caused him to get cut... he wasn't there long before the team decided that they wanted nothing to do with him.

The kid has a TON of athleticism but there's got to be a problem with his attitude or someone would have picked him up by now. I imagine word has gotten around the league which is why a terrible team like the Grizzlies or the Clippers or the Sonics haven't added him.

[dbodner]

Is it possible that Green has a HORRIBLE attitude?

I think that's pretty much the assumption at this point.

[The Guilty Party]

I can't even begin to imagine how bad of an attitude he has to have for Minnesota to decline his option before playing a single game for them and then for Houston to waive him a couple of days after he talked about how happy he was to be in Houston.

Either way.... I would at least take a look at him. Perhaps Stefanski and Cheeks feel that with the team playing solid basketball and having good chemistry (only happens when you're winning) that bringing a bad attitude guy in is risky. I imagine Green will be on someone's summer league though so why not ours?

[dbodner]

I can't even begin to imagine how bad of an attitude he has to have for Minnesota to decline his option before playing a single game for them

He actually played 29 games for minnesota...

[The Guilty Party]

He played 29 games for them but they declined his option on his contract during the pre-season which tells me that they recognized his problem right off of the bat.