Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 2

[nate33]

You can't get any better than #1 in the NBA in three point shooting. He shot .472 from 3PT. That is like 70% eFG. The Wizards could really use him.

His WS/48 and PER were well above average, too.

Novak is as effective as someone like Mike Miller these days.

As great a shooter as Novak is - and he is legitimately great at the most important skill - that's how poor athletically he is compared to other NBA 3's. Notice when he plays, opponents often double team Knix guards in the backcourt trying to force him to dribble by himself up court. I've never seen an NBA 3 that had that much trouble just dribbling the ball by himself - since Phil Jackson. If Brian Magid grew to 6'9, he could have been Steve Novak.

And look at his rebounds and blocks, pretty pathetic for a 6'10" guy, and low in assists and steals too. But still, he can shoot, and last year wasn't a fluke. He's always shot well. Even with his limitations, $15 million for four years is a good deal. Isn't that what the Wizards paid to extend DS?

I assumed someone would offer near MLE money, which would have been too much. But $3.75M a year is reasonable. He is an incredible shooter. Even if he can't play more than 20 minutes a game because of defensive matchups, he can still be incredibly useful in those 20 minutes.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wow, if Cousins doesn't know that his attitude towards life in general and attitude on the court needs some improvement... And instead of saying "I understand the perception and I know some of my actions in the past have led to that perception, it's something I'm working on" he says "what mfer? say that to my face!!!"

I mean that's all you have to know.

Statements like the one Colangelo made fuel the perception. His reputation took a hit just by what a well respected NBA GM said, Zonker. What did Cousins say or do? Why should he accept that at face value? What is Cousins' attitude toward life and how subjective is it to even go there? Not attacking you at all, but I'm just saying that Colangelo just made a fresh cut on the guy's reputation IMO.

Cousins went out for an Olympic squad and did not make the team. Colangelo said he needs to improve as a person and as a player. When questioned about that statement:

"He wanted an explanation," said Colangelo. "I was trying ... to be more encouraging than anything else. I told him, 'everything's cool.' We're fine."

Telling someone they need to mature as a person is a personal affront and unless you're willing to follow up on that it is a character attack that doesn't belong in the media. I could see stating that other players had been in the league a way and their games are more refined, and they are mature veterans. I could see saying Cousins doesn't convert around the basket and as he matures he will realize how to clean up his FG percentage and raise his efficiency. What I can't see is Colangelo using him not making an Olympic team as an opportunity to take a swipe at Cousins as a person, but then backing off.

Zonker, I wish Colangelo had elaborated on what Cousins said or did that bothered him during the tryouts or previously to that.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

if the comments were about "comments made in the past" then coangelo is deep in the wrong here. why stir the pot like that? if it was about a recent incident, he should have addressed the issue. if it was about something that should have been kept quiet then he shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. i'm leaning towards that cousins did more or less the right thing here also.

and furthermore, if jamison goes to the heat, a piece of my basketball soul will forever die and wither away.

That is going to be hard to accept. I can hate on Ray Allen for backstabbing (taking less money to play for a rival) the Celtics (whether they slighted him or not). I respected a lot about him before, but I will have no problem booing Ray. However, I will be very conflicted if Antawn joins Miami. I am going to hate the Heat but also be happy for Jamison if he gets a ring.

[Nivek]

I think Colangelo should have kept that opinion to himself. That said, I can see telling someone in his position noticing that a guy needs to mature based on behaviors observed (some of them described in a SacBee article, but not by Colangelo) and then declining to get into specifics when the person asks about it. It's not Colangelo's job to be Cousins' shrink.

Also, Cousins may SAY he respects veterans or whatever, but his on-court actions during the Olympic training camp seemed to indicate something quite different. The report in the SacBee indicated he was overly physical and aggressive, fouling excessively, complaining about favoritism, trash-talking and some other stuff. Those aren't behaviors that communicate respect.

[7-Day Dray]

Spurs sign Danny Green to 3yr, $12M contract. Anybody think we should've gotten in on that?

[Ruzious]

Spurs sign Danny Green to 3yr, $12M contract. Anybody think we should've gotten in on that?

4 mil a year is exactly what I said I thought he'd get. He's worth more than that, imo.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think Colangelo should have kept that opinion to himself. That said, I can see telling someone in his position noticing that a guy needs to mature based on behaviors observed (some of them described in a SacBee article, but not by Colangelo) and then declining to get into specifics when the person asks about it. It's not Colangelo's job to be Cousins' shrink.

Also, Cousins may SAY he respects veterans or whatever, but his on-court actions during the Olympic training camp seemed to indicate something quite different. The report in the SacBee indicated he was overly physical and aggressive, fouling excessively, complaining about favoritism, trash-talking and some other stuff. Those aren't behaviors that communicate respect.

Thanks, Nivek. I didn't know about any of that.

Cousins and Blake Griffin had a spat of some sort at the end of the season. I know Griffin made the squad. I wonder if anything between them played out in the tryouts. As far as physical play and fouling goes I wonder how much of that is just because of his skill level. The Dream Team went at each other hard in practice, but those guys were all world athletes.

I wasn't there and heard nothing about this until you mentioned it, Nivek. About the only thing that I could see would get him in trouble would be complaining about favoritism. IMO Cousins and McGee (from last season) had no chance from the start of the trials. None. They were there as practice players. Jimmer Fredette and Shelvin Mack, among others, ran against Team USA a while back. They had no chance to make the team, either. http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... 01_13.html Cousins wasn't making a team with Kevin Love and Blake Griffin on it because they are established and IMO better players at this point. Griffin isn't that much better, but he can run and do things on offense near the rim that Cousins won't ever be able to do. Love will be a better team guy.

The thing Cousins doesn't have is patience and I believe he lacks a lot of insight. His role was to act happy to be there while he was practicing. However, I think Demarcus plays better angry or with a chip. That's not going to fly against high level competition.

[nate33]

Spurs sign Danny Green to 3yr, $12M contract. Anybody think we should've gotten in on that?

4 mil a year is exactly what I said I thought he'd get. He's worth more than that, imo.

Yup. If we made no trade this offseason, we could have signed Green to that same contract and set ourselves up for max cap room next summer. So much for all that talk that Green was going to be wildly overpaid in this free agency climate.

If nothing else, this may mark the end of the ridiculous overpayment of role players this year. Teams may be running out of money. Courtney Lee might be back in the picture.

[Upper Decker]

I think Lee's still an option. The C's appear to be the front runner, but I don't see how they can afford him without the MLE or LLE. There is nothing on the C's roster that the Rockets would SnT for. If the Wiz can get Lee at Greens rate and Martin for the LLE I'd say the backup wing spots are very high quality. Shooters who play defense and know their role.

Also, with the Spurs resigning Green I think that eliminates a potential suitor for Martin's services.

[Severn Hoos]

Spurs sign Danny Green to 3yr, $12M contract. Anybody think we should've gotten in on that?

4 mil a year is exactly what I said I thought he'd get. He's worth more than that, imo.

Yup. If we made no trade this offseason, we could have signed Green to that same contract and set ourselves up for max cap room next summer. So much for all that talk that Green was going to be wildly overpaid in this free agency climate.

If nothing else, this may mark the end of the ridiculous overpayment of role players this year. Teams may be running out of money. Courtney Lee might be back in the picture.

I understand in theory, nate - but would we really have been able to sign him for the same contract? Same money, Wiz or Spurs? Who does he choose?

Sucks to be a bottom-feeder, but for now that's what we are, and have to address reality in planning....

[nate33]

Yup. If we made no trade this offseason, we could have signed Green to that same contract and set ourselves up for max cap room next summer. So much for all that talk that Green was going to be wildly overpaid in this free agency climate.

If nothing else, this may mark the end of the ridiculous overpayment of role players this year. Teams may be running out of money. Courtney Lee might be back in the picture.

I understand in theory, nate - but would we really have been able to sign him for the same contract? Same money, Wiz or Spurs? Who does he choose?

Sucks to be a bottom-feeder, but for now that's what we are, and have to address reality in planning....

We may have had to go 4 years, $16M, but I think Green would have been tempted to join an up-and-coming team as a full time starting SF alongside Wall rather than as a 20 mpg role player on the Spurs. Danny Green is young and trying to make a name for himself so more minutes and a more prominent role would appeal to him. He's not in the title-chasing portion of his career.

[montestewart]

a team on the rise

an up-and-coming team

there's something going around

[Rafael122]

Yup. If we made no trade this offseason, we could have signed Green to that same contract and set ourselves up for max cap room next summer. So much for all that talk that Green was going to be wildly overpaid in this free agency climate.

If nothing else, this may mark the end of the ridiculous overpayment of role players this year. Teams may be running out of money. Courtney Lee might be back in the picture.

I understand in theory, nate - but would we really have been able to sign him for the same contract? Same money, Wiz or Spurs? Who does he choose?

Sucks to be a bottom-feeder, but for now that's what we are, and have to address reality in planning....

We may have had to go 4 years, $16M, but I think Green would have been tempted to join an up-and-coming team as a full time starting SF alongside Wall rather than as a 20 mpg role player on the Spurs. Danny Green is young and trying to make a name for himself so more minutes and a more prominent role would appeal to him. He's not in the title-chasing portion of his career.

In a perfect world though, you'd want to get paid and chase a title, and he's getting that with the Spurs.

[FAH1223]

Tim Duncan re-signs with the Spurs for a similar amount to KG. 3 years $35 million.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If he plays that long, by the third year Timmy's going to need a cane or a walker.

[TGW]

Thanks, Nivek. I didn't know about any of that.

Cousins and Blake Griffin had a spat of some sort at the end of the season. I know Griffin made the squad. I wonder if anything between them played out in the tryouts. As far as physical play and fouling goes I wonder how much of that is just because of his skill level. The Dream Team went at each other hard in practice, but those guys were all world athletes.

I wasn't there and heard nothing about this until you mentioned it, Nivek. About the only thing that I could see would get him in trouble would be complaining about favoritism. IMO Cousins and McGee (from last season) had no chance from the start of the trials. None. They were there as practice players. Jimmer Fredette and Shelvin Mack, among others, ran against Team USA a while back. They had no chance to make the team, either. http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... 01_13.html Cousins wasn't making a team with Kevin Love and Blake Griffin on it because they are established and IMO better players at this point. Griffin isn't that much better, but he can run and do things on offense near the rim that Cousins won't ever be able to do. Love will be a better team guy.

The thing Cousins doesn't have is patience and I believe he lacks a lot of insight. His role was to act happy to be there while he was practicing. However, I think Demarcus plays better angry or with a chip. That's not going to fly against high level competition.

It has nothing to do with favoritism, or playing with a chip. He was fouling incessantly and unnecessarily, according to Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. Not surprisingly, the Dream Team players didn't like that, nor his attitude, according to Colangelo.

Chris Paul on Cousins: "Luckily in the NBA you get 6 fouls, cuz out here he woulda' fouled out a long time ago."

Carmelo Anthony on Cousins: “He fouled the s --- outta everyone.”

So how many more names can we add to the "Demarcus Cousins has a sh*tty attitude" list?

[Severn Hoos]

I wonder if the intensity with which the A-team defenders were hounding Wall defensively has anything to do with being annoyed at/by Cousins? Especially knowing that Wall & Cousins are (or seem to be) tight from their UK days?

[FAH1223]

If he plays that long, by the third year Timmy's going to need a cane or a walker.

Honestly, he looked a lot more mobile this past season and his scoring went up.

He needs a legit big next to him though

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Thanks, Nivek. I didn't know about any of that.

Cousins and Blake Griffin had a spat of some sort at the end of the season. I know Griffin made the squad. I wonder if anything between them played out in the tryouts. As far as physical play and fouling goes I wonder how much of that is just because of his skill level. The Dream Team went at each other hard in practice, but those guys were all world athletes.

I wasn't there and heard nothing about this until you mentioned it, Nivek. About the only thing that I could see would get him in trouble would be complaining about favoritism. IMO Cousins and McGee (from last season) had no chance from the start of the trials. None. They were there as practice players. Jimmer Fredette and Shelvin Mack, among others, ran against Team USA a while back. They had no chance to make the team, either. http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... 01_13.html Cousins wasn't making a team with Kevin Love and Blake Griffin on it because they are established and IMO better players at this point. Griffin isn't that much better, but he can run and do things on offense near the rim that Cousins won't ever be able to do. Love will be a better team guy.

The thing Cousins doesn't have is patience and I believe he lacks a lot of insight. His role was to act happy to be there while he was practicing. However, I think Demarcus plays better angry or with a chip. That's not going to fly against high level competition.

It has nothing to do with favoritism, or playing with a chip. He was fouling incessantly and unnecessarily, according to Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. Not surprisingly, the Dream Team players didn't like that, nor his attitude, according to Colangelo.

Chris Paul on Cousins: "Luckily in the NBA you get 6 fouls, cuz out here he woulda' fouled out a long time ago."

Carmelo Anthony on Cousins: “He fouled the s --- outta everyone.”

So how many more names can we add to the "Demarcus Cousins has a sh*tty attitude" list?

Cousins led the league in fouls or he has been right near the top his two seasons. I think he's just slow afoot, reckless, and is also ornery. I don't know how much of his fouling is attributable to a bad attitude. His willingness to initiate contact is partly why he is such a good rebounder.

Cousins' fouls remind me of Rick Mahorn as a young player. When he was with the Bullets, Mahorn couldn't stay on the court. When he went to the Pistons, he was celebrated as a hero for the fouls he committed. Unless you were on the other team.

**I bet the late Chuck Daly would have LOVED Cousins' "attitude". Also, Mahorn is now coaching. Keep that in mind if you watch this clip**

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYpUzefx0E0[/youtube]

Cousins IMO wasn't good enough to make Team USA. However, sometimes you need a bad guy. Charles Barkley fulfilled that roll with the Dream Team. Kobe Bryant alluded to what Cousins does bring to the table.

http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2012/07/0 ... in-london/

“European basketball is extremely physical,” Kobe Bryant said following yesterday’s practice. “And he (Cousins) brings a physicality to the game that really changes the energy of the game. He’s not afraid to make contact, he’s not afraid to upset guys and kind of make the game uncomfortable.”

If I were coaching Team USA, I might have selected Cousins over Griffin because outside of his dunking, Blake Griffin doesn't do the dirty work that someone like Cousins would. Love will play dirty, but he's not as physically intimidating as Demarcus. He just is too much better to leave off the team. Either way, I can see why they stuck with Blake, because he can convert at a high rate and he intimidates on offense.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If he plays that long, by the third year Timmy's going to need a cane or a walker.

Honestly, he looked a lot more mobile this past season and his scoring went up.

He needs a legit big next to him though

Yes, he did look better right up until the OKC series. Ibaka and Perkins made Timmy look geriatric at times IMO.