Sixers' fans opinions of Dalembert

[Child of Wonder]

There's a reason it's such a great deal for us. The Bucks are getting robbed here, lol. They would never do such a trade.

From what our guy with an ear inside the Wolves organization hears is that Milwauke might blow things up this year and is listening to offers for Redd and Bogut.

A specific rumor he heard was MN's #3, McCants, plus filler for #8 and Bogut. Not that the deal was proposed by either side just that it had been discussed.

I'd guess Milwauke might like the trade above simply because they shed massive contract by taking on Walker, a SG to play in Redd's absence, and the potential to draft Mayo, Lopez, Bayless, or even Beasley if Chicago takes Rose and Miami takes Mayo plus #16 to draft a project. Rumors also say they are not high on Villanueva and want him gone.

Anyway, it's all just hearsay and rumors so take it with a grain of salt.

All I know is that the best center ever to put on a Wolves uniform was Mark Blount so you can imagine many fans are pining for a good center for once.

[is1531]

Sounds like Dalembert has improved recently and really is a great defensive center. Personally, I'd love to see him in a Minnesota uniform. Someone who frequents our boards has a close contact in the Wolves organization (he's called many trades before they happened) and his contact has heard that Milwauke is shopping Bogut as they're planning on blowing up the team and don't want to sign him to a long term deal. A poster suggested this deal:

Milwauke out: Bogut, Villanueva, #8
Milwauke in: Walker, #3, #16

Minnesota out: Walker, McCants, #3, #31
Minnesota in: Dalembert, #8

Philly out: Dalembert, #16
Philly in: McCants, Bogut, Villanueva, #31

Anyway, Philly should hang on to Dalembert since, as you said, a good NBA center is rare and one that can grab 10+ rebounds and block 2+ shots per game is even more rare.

I was rooting for Philly to knock off Detroit this year. Your team has a bright future.

I think you did a super job on this 3 corner trade. This coming from a 76ers fan that tries to avoid Bucks players, since they play poor defense. Bogut has descent hands, but I really like McCants the most. I would do that trade from my end. Why don't you send your trade proposal to Mike Preston at sixers.com. Nice job.

[SendEm]

Philly out: Dalembert, #16
Philly in: McCants, Bogut, Villanueva, #31

No deal. McCants and Villanueva are born basketball losers. They have no place on a NBA franchise. Bogut simply isn't good enough unless playing alongside a dominant, athletic, aggressive, shotblocking PF which the Sixers don't have. Swapping the #16 for #31 is another no go. The Sixers just simply get back too many losers in return. Only 5 players play at a time, trading 3 losers doesn't magically erase the fact that they are losers.

[Ca]

Correct me if I'm wrong: McCants won a national championchip at UNC?

[Child of Wonder]

Philly out: Dalembert, #16
Philly in: McCants, Bogut, Villanueva, #31

No deal. McCants and Villanueva are born basketball losers. They have no place on a NBA franchise. Bogut simply isn't good enough unless playing alongside a dominant, athletic, aggressive, shotblocking PF which the Sixers don't have. Swapping the #16 for #31 is another no go. The Sixers just simply get back too many losers in return. Only 5 players play at a time, trading 3 losers doesn't magically erase the fact that they are losers.

Actually, McCants played very well for the Wolves last season but seems to get the short end of the stick from coach Wittman. I think I speak for all Wolves' fans on this, but we would rather see Wittman replaced than McCants traded but since our front office operates under a "country club" style Wittman's job is likely secure for quite some time no matter how horrible a coach he is.

Is McCants an emotional player? Yes. Does he play great defense? No. Can he rack up points? Hell yes. Can he hit the 3? With the best of them.

I wouldn't consider McCants a "loser" simply a young player who is still learning. He could easily be a 20-4-3 starting SG very soon while shooting .450 and .400. Last season he averaged 15 ppg in 27 mpg and shot .450 and .407 while setting the Wolves' record for most made 3s in a season.

To another poster, yes he won the NCAA championship at UNC.

Bogut averaged 14/10/1.7 this past season. I wasn't aware Milwauke was pairing him with a "dominant, athletic, aggressive, shotblocking PF." Can you point him out for me?

I really appreciate those of you replying to this thread. I've been curious about Dalembert for a couple years so it's great to hear some opinions from people who actually see him play on a regular basis.

[corwin]

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I'm a Timberwolves fan. Being that the Wolves effectively don't have a center at all, a lot of names have popped into different made up trade scenario and Dalembert's was among them. I was just curious if Sixers' fans felt he was a decent center and if his stats were deceiving or not.

So, just a curious fan wondering if Dalembert is any good or not and how Sixers' fans feel about him and if they'd like to see him traded.

Seems to me that you are falling into the same mind-set that lots of Wolves fans have. You have a center, his name is Al Jefferson. Sure he's a little undersized but he is tremendous with the ball in his hands in the middle. He does not have the lateral movement or quickness to get out on the wing to be an effective PF at the defensive end. IMO Minnesota should try to trade for/develop a tall, shot-blocking PF that could complement Jefferson. The guys you have like Gomes & Rhino are too short. Someone like Anthony Randolph or Ibaka seem to fit the bill as rookies. Not sure what veterans would work for you. Channing Frye seems to have the right size though.

[corwin]

Correct me if I'm wrong: McCants won a national championchip at UNC?

He did but apparently he's not a happy camper due to playing time. THis gets discussed on the Minnesota board. Minnesota has Foye & now it looks like they're serious about Mayo with the #3 pick. That leaves McCants as no better than the 4th guard on the team sort of like where Willie Green should be playing for us. IMO they'll want to move him before they have to sign a second contract & will hope to get the best value that they can. Consolidating players for a better player seems like a good idea. I am shocked that Bogut's value isn't higher though.

[Child of Wonder]

-= original quote snipped =-



Seems to me that you are falling into the same mind-set that lots of Wolves fans have. You have a center, his name is Al Jefferson. Sure he's a little undersized but he is tremendous with the ball in his hands in the middle. He does not have the lateral movement or quickness to get out on the wing to be an effective PF at the defensive end. IMO Minnesota should try to trade for/develop a tall, shot-blocking PF that could complement Jefferson. The guys you have like Gomes & Rhino are too short. Someone like Anthony Randolph or Ibaka seem to fit the bill as rookies. Not sure what veterans would work for you. Channing Frye seems to have the right size though.

True, we could play Al Jefferson at center. However, we got to watch that experiment this past season and it didn't work too well. In games in which Jefferson started at center he seemed to struggle on offense more so than when Ratliff was healthy or Madsen was starting alongside him.

But I can certainly see your point. I'm sure he'd be more effective at center if a much better PF was starting with him.

[SendEm]

Jefferson isn't a center. He has trouble getting his shot off against taller players. Jefferson is only like 6'8" with long arms. 7'0" players with long arms just make him look like a high volume shooter at the end of the day instead of a franchise player. Jefferson is a PF and if he has to defend a "wing" PF then whatever team is placing a "wing" PF into a matchup against him is going to lose that matchup because Jefferson will destroy that player on the offensive end and on the boards 9.5 times out of 10. I guess a "wing" PF would classify as Thad? Marion? Rashard Lewis? "Wing" PF's don't play for teams that are serious about winning championships because they are always the downfall of a team.

[corwin]

Jefferson isn't a center. He has trouble getting his shot off against taller players. Jefferson is only like 6'8" with long arms. 7'0" players with long arms just make him look like a high volume shooter at the end of the day instead of a franchise player. Jefferson is a PF and if he has to defend a "wing" PF then whatever team is placing a "wing" PF into a matchup against him is going to lose that matchup because Jefferson will destroy that player on the offensive end and on the boards 9.5 times out of 10. I guess a "wing" PF would classify as Thad? Marion? Rashard Lewis? "Wing" PF's don't play for teams that are serious about winning championships because they are always the downfall of a team.

I got to watch him in Boston before the trade to Minnesota. I know he's undersized for a center but he struggled defensively until his last year when he was put in the middle. He is an average defensive player IMO. Jefferson only defends effectively in the paint. I haven't looked up his shot-blocking numbers but I wouldn't think they were much better than average. He rebounds well at both ends. You're right that he does destroy players at the offensive end in the paint & that is my basic point-he is effective at both ends in the middle. Hence, I see him as a center. I guess to some extent it depends on match-ups but I think Jefferson will usually be guarding the less athletic & mobile big on the other team.

[SendEm]

You missed my point corbin. If Jefferson is guarded by the opposing center he is LESS effective. If Jefferson is used as the shot blocker of a defense then his team has no shot at being a serious contender no matter who the other 4 players are in the starting lineup. There is no hiding his average at best speed by switching him to Center while starting him alongside another PF. He's best served playing alongside a tall center that is mobile, block shots and can make jumpers. Jefferson is very easy to defend by a center when it comes to a single possession, Dalembert has shown that.
1.5bpg as their starting center last year is just not good enough ESPECIALLY considering that players aren't intimidated by his shot blocking ability. He's a slow PF in this modern NBA any casting other than that will lead to failure due to an unbalanced front court.

[corwin]

Jefferson definitely has his limitations on defense. Makes it difficult for the Wolves to find a complementary big man. I would agree that the other player needs to be mobile & long. Puts Minnesota in a difficult position because he can't really anchor a defense & yet he can't stray too far from the middle. On these boards their fans often ask for Sammy because he gives them the dimensions you mentioned.

[SendEm]

Guys like Dalembert, Chandler, Camby, Ratliff in his prime, Ben Wallace in his prime, are all the sorts of players that would fit very well alongside Jefferson.