Fropez vs Polish Hammer: Analysis

[Cake Walk]

Gortat is a good centre, you guys are lucky. I wish we had him on Toronto. I would trade you guys Amir Johnson for him straight up.

Yeah we definitely wouldn't take that. Amir isn't as good as Gortat at the things we need, and we already have enough players that Amir would be competing directly with for minutes. Gortat, we haven't had anyone like him for years so we're not about to give that up I don't think.

Yeah I was trying to pull a fast one on you guys, lol. People were saying Cuban overpaid by giving him the full MLE but I thought he was worth it. The guy loves basketball and wants to play and get better. He has the size and athleticism to be a starter on a good team.

[rsavaj]

Lopez sucks - his confidence is a mess and even when they spoon feed him it, he takes 5 seconds just to think of what move to make. Difference between them is Gortat bangs down low and camps on the block, and he scores off putbacks etc as well as the pnr with Nash. Lopez doesn't rebound/doesn't try to grab offensive boards and score easy putbacks - he waits for it to come to him. You can see it in his brother in NJ as well - dude THAT big getting that many minutes and pulling down less than 6 rebounds is atrocious. Sure, he can score - but he's become another Bargnani when he should be another Gasol.

The +/- says a bit, but that's cos Lopez is playing with the starters right out of the block. Ask ANY opposing C who gives them more issues - on either end - and I bet they say Gortat.

Mace(and others), I agree that Gortat is playing better than Frolo right now.

But...what were Gortat's numbers when he was 22 again?

I think that's the thing we're missing. One guy is in his prime. The other one is still a kid.

[Mallpha]

Mace(and others), I agree that Gortat is playing better than Frolo right now.

But...what were Gortat's numbers when he was 22 again?

I think that's the thing we're missing. One guy is in his prime. The other one is still a kid.

Hello

I read RealGM forums pretty regular but usualy im simply to lazy or too busy to post any thing but decided to throw some of my thoughts more regular.

You need to realize Gortat started plaing basketball when he was almost 18 so in many ways he still is pretty raw or rather thinks too much while on many occasions he simply put should be more automatic.

As for his game in general he actually is much better then some think especially on the offensive end here you can find some examples http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPHvUKbe8dk (ofc im not talking about dunks)

I also would like to point out many of his problems come from the fact he aint really mentally prepared for a starting role despite what he says, he will get there tho. Any why im happy my fellow countryman is plaing on one of my three favorite teams

[Dalerax]

That's huge. People say Lopez is still young and has room for improvement (and I agree). But Gortat still hasn't been in this system very long and surely has a lot of things to learn and also improve upon. I don't think we've seen the best of either one of these centers.

My biggest beef currently is that we are seeing that improvement in Gortat while we're not seeing it in Lopez. Whether that's because he's still shaking off an injury or any other explanation, it still isn't being shown. I want him to do well, I just haven't seen anything that gives me faith yet.

Gortat on the other hand has snagged us double digit rebounds in three straight games while being a defensive presence at the same time. When was the last time we could rely on our center to do that? It's something I'm really excited about.

[thamadkant]

Suns need a PF who can score and attract attention inside and it'll make Gortat and Lopez better... just like when Stat was on the team.

Aldridge would be great... or Nene....

[JohnVancouver]

Lopez sucks - his confidence is a mess and even when they spoon feed him it, he takes 5 seconds just to think of what move to make. Difference between them is Gortat bangs down low and camps on the block, and he scores off putbacks etc as well as the pnr with Nash. Lopez doesn't rebound/doesn't try to grab offensive boards and score easy putbacks - he waits for it to come to him. You can see it in his brother in NJ as well - dude THAT big getting that many minutes and pulling down less than 6 rebounds is atrocious. Sure, he can score - but he's become another Bargnani when he should be another Gasol.

The +/- says a bit, but that's cos Lopez is playing with the starters right out of the block. Ask ANY opposing C who gives them more issues - on either end - and I bet they say Gortat.

Which is why, even when he looks half decent at times, I would gladly include him in a deal that brought a real PF back. I think Lopez can be a decent center one day but I'd rather see someone else waiting for him to blossom - we have Gortat right now and we can bring Siler along behind him, or draft one.

I know RoLo is 7' on a cheap deal but that's what makes him desirable in a trade. I think we should use it - VC, Rolo, Childress, Hakim - surely we can bring back the kind of players we need now?

Frank - don't even start with me ...........

[lilfishi22]

I agree, if throwing Lopez in a package deal would get us a legit 4, I'm all for it. I love the Gortat/Rolo/Frye center rotation right now, but a Gortat/Frye + Legit PF front court would look much better.

[rsavaj]

But why do we need a "real PF" right NOW if we're just going to start the inevitable rebuild?

[JohnVancouver]

But why do we need a "real PF" right NOW if we're just going to start the inevitable rebuild?

I want one to add to Dragic, Duds and the centre we keep, and a good PF is always tradeable, IMO

[lilfishi22]

But why do we need a "real PF" right NOW if we're just going to start the inevitable rebuild?

The PF could be part of the rebuild.

[Frank Lee]

Many do not realize that the rebuild is already on.... trouble is, it looks like the homeowner may have started before he consulted the architect.


Any PF move not involving an expiring deal should be looked at as a puzzle piece for the next 2-3 yrs. I would even hesitate to ink up an expiring unless there were strong indications they would remain. We have put enough bandaids on this wound.

[lilfishi22]

I guess it's hard to see a team in rebuild when Nash is still on the roster.

[rsavaj]

I still don't think trading Lopez is a good idea. For pretty much the duration of the franchise's existence we've longed for a solid center rotation, and now we HAVE one. Lopez is 22. You don't give up on young 7 footers that early. His upside is higher than Gortat's. Let him learn the game. Let him mature.

Gortat and Lopez are both integral parts of this team's future. It's not like Lopez magically turned into a terrible player from last season to this season. We KNOW he can be good; we saw it last season, and in the Lakers series. He does some things better than Gortat, and Gortat does some things better than Lopez. They complement each other. Now that we have one doesn't mean we have to get rid of the other.

I understand we need a power forward but that's just creating another hole in the process of plugging an old one.

[DRK]

I want one to add to Dragic, Duds and the centre we keep, and a good PF is always tradeable, IMO

The PF could be part of the rebuild.

I'm guessing not only do you want this player to be a "true" Power Forward, but I'm guessing he also has to be young.

True, young, power forwards don't grow off trees, and in fact I can only name a few off the top of my head. The teams that are lucky enough to be in possession of these assets won't give them up easily. We will probably have to part with either Dragic, or Dudley is only to gain a good quality young power forward.

The best way to get a young power forward without giving anything up is through the draft.

[lilfishi22]

Sure they don't go on trees, but there are a few that would fit the bill. Also, while I'd like a 'true' PF, a PF who fits the system would do fine as well even if they are undersized a little. Off the top of my head:

Big Baby
AR
Speights
Powe
J-Smoove (pipe dream)
Ryan Anderson
Yi
Jordan Hill
Brandon Wright
Jason Thompson

Outside of Josh Smith and Big Baby, I think all these guys could be available in trades if we can offer the right deal. In a deal, I think teams would be looking to grab Dragic, Lopez or Dudley. I would only be willing to give up Lopez.

[JohnVancouver]

I want one to add to Dragic, Duds and the centre we keep, and a good PF is always tradeable, IMO

The PF could be part of the rebuild.

I'm guessing not only do you want this player to be a "true" Power Forward, but I'm guessing he also has to be young.

True, young, power forwards don't grow off trees, and in fact I can only name a few off the top of my head. The teams that are lucky enough to be in possession of these assets won't give them up easily. We will probably have to part with either Dragic, or Dudley is only to gain a good quality young power forward.

The best way to get a young power forward without giving anything up is through the draft.

I agree, which is why I was shocked we gave Gani no run at all. We were hurting for exactly what he's good at and we still left him on the bench or in the D-League. Why didn't we bring Carlos Powell in on a 10-day?

Right now the only way we can trade for one is by using VC - on another thread i suggested VC to DET and we take back Gordon, Maxiell and Monroe. Depends on how much they want to ge out from under Gordon's deal. Send Halk out for whatever we can get - a trade exception. If they won't send Monroe too, get a couple 2nd rounders. I woud llove to see a camp where we had four or five 2nd round picks battling for a job



Maxiell would be great here with Nash and Dragic