The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

[nate33]

hmmm. I bumped this thread this morning and I just walked right past Dikembe Mutombo at the Atlanta airport this afternoon. Coincidence? I think not.

[BigA]

Did you wag your finger at him?

[hands11]

It's worth looking into, but I suspect McGee's esteem of his own game exceeds his actual production. My guess is that his asking price would be way high.

Resigning McGee won't be a dilemma. McGee is a free agent in 2012, when we're poised to make our move in free agency. If we can get Howard, then we let McGee walk (or S&T him to Orlando). If we don't have a shot at Howard, then we sign McGee long term as our center for the future.

[Illuminaire]

hmmm. I bumped this thread this morning and I just walked right past Dikembe Mutombo at the Atlanta airport this afternoon. Coincidence? I think not.

I know you want to make amends for single-handedly crushing our draft hopes, but this isn't the way.

Getting appropriate blackmail for David Stern, THAT is the way.

[Rafael122]

I would give McGee, at this point, what OKC gave Perkins, but maybe a bit more. I'd go 5 years/$27 million and see if he bites.

[Zonkerbl]

That's insane. Brendan fricking Hayward gets what, $9 mill/year?

[Rafael122]

That's insane. Brendan fricking Hayward gets what, $9 mill/year?

He also signed like a $30 million extension earlier in his career. McGee is still young, barring health issues, the kid will make over $100 million in his career. Right now, he hasn't shown anything that warrants a $10 million per year contract.

[Hoopalotta]

All said and done, Perkins actually got over $9 million a year coming off a serious knee injury:

Before ever playing a game for the Oklahoma City Thunder, center Kendrick Perkins(notes) has agreed to a four-year, $34.8 million contract extension, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Perkins’ $4.4 million salary for this season was raised to $6.7 million, and the extension – with subsequent annual raises – was built off that.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... sion030111

We might as well offer Javale that 5 year $27 million dollar contract in vouchers redeemable in Care Bears merchandise for how likely he is to accept it. He'd get double that on the open market under the current CBA, or more, and he knows it. That's just an insulting low-ball that barely outpaces Jared Dudley money and will only serve to damage the relationship.

The base negotiating entry point for a Javale extension is probably the Tyrus Thomas contract, which is five years at $40 million, even after adjusting for the new CBA and the likely salary rollbacks. If we're not even willing to go there, we should just face reality and preemptively trade him at the draft.

[Rafael122]

All said and done, Perkins actually got over $9 million a year coming off a serious knee injury:

Before ever playing a game for the Oklahoma City Thunder, center Kendrick Perkins(notes) has agreed to a four-year, $34.8 million contract extension, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Perkins’ $4.4 million salary for this season was raised to $6.7 million, and the extension – with subsequent annual raises – was built off that.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... sion030111

We might as well offer Javale that 5 year $27 million dollar contract in vouchers redeemable in Care Bears merchandise for how likely he is to accept it. He'd get double that on the open market under the current CBA, or more, and he knows it. That's just an insulting low-ball that barely outpaces Jared Dudley money and will only serve to damage the relationship.

The base negotiating entry point for a Javale extension is probably the Tyrus Thomas contract, which is five years at $40 million, even after adjusting for the new CBA and the likely salary rollbacks. If we're not even willing to go there, we should just face reality and preemptively trade him at the draft.

$40 million is a bit steep. I mean, he'd have to make a significant jump from Season 3 to Season 4 to even give him that kind of money. Just because the Bobcats gave Ty Thomas that money doesn't mean we have to go out and do the same.

[hands11]

Lots of if but if they happen, he is going to get paid well.

First we need a new CBA so we have any idea what is fair value.

But if he keeps up this post moves stuff, it will be good news bad news.

And they have to figure out what it will take to sign Nick. A good deal would be a three year deal that averages around no more than 6M. Enough that he can feel good but still be hungry.

[Hoopalotta]

This is where I'm coming from on Javale:

After experiencing a breakout third season, DeAndre Jordan will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Taking the new CBA and probable lockout out of the equation, one prominent NBA agent pegged Jordan's value on the open market to be around $9 million to $11 million dollars per season.

Although Jordan remains raw offensively, the shot blocker has made enough of an improvement at the defensive end to make a big impression.

"Any team that needs a center will be interested," a front office source said. "New York, Houston, Miami, Boston, Cleveland. The question is who has the money to bid it up? New York."

"I can assure you that keeping DJ as part of our core is a major priority and one we will address at the first opportunity," Clippers general manager Neil Olshey said.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... f_Interest

We should either be willing to pay Javale's probable rate (and ideally do so through an extension, lockout willing) or we should act preemptively and look for a trade around the draft. Hoping - much less planning - that Javale signs for something cheap because "he hasn't shown consistency" or whatever isn't in touch with the fundamentals of the free agent market for young centers; his value during the draft as a trade piece would be considerably higher than it would after the lockout.

I'm seeing this as a situation where hedging could be quite destructive towards our interests.

[no D in Hibachi]

Quite honestly, if I were the Wiz I'd wait for DeAndre Jordan to sign his extension, whatever it is, then approach McGee and offer $500K more per year. Let the Clippers establish the value and give a token, "here's a bit more cause you deserve it." Or I'd go the OKC route and just use every last cent of the cap space for his first year and have substantially lower annual pay outs throughout the duration of the contract.

Year 1: $15M
Year 2: $6M
Year 3: $6M etc.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

McGee's done a few things I've never seen anyone else do.

I have never seen a block like this one.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dziVjMKgi4w[/youtube]

Nobody has ever done this. It is even more amazing in slow motion.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5upvG1EVCrs&feature=related[/youtube]

This was really impressive, too. Who thought of this before?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P08pv5ehWec&feature=related[/youtube]

This one was difficult, too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB1y5W_yJx8&feature=related[/youtube]

He won't do this again in his career IMO. It will probably be another 5-10 years before anyone else in the NBA blocks 12. What's really impressive is he kept most of these in play.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBMOlr_0rg&feature=related[/youtube]

He also had a game where he had 8 dunks against the Hawks in 2010.

McGee is an interesting, promising player. If he ever develops strength to hold position better and also the ability to gather himself and remain under control on post moves, he'll be very good.

[pancakes3]

he has all the makings of a super-noah in him physically speaking. it's just the "rugged, i'm going to snag every board that comes off this rim" mentality that's the missing piece.

[Halcyon]

He also needs more strength in the lower body to not get pushed around so much. Noah has him beat there...

[keynote]

So, our very own Javale picked up two 3rd place votes - and 1 *2nd place* vote in the Defensive Player of the Year vote(!).

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/18/dwig ... index.html

Now, I think we can all agree that Vale made some strides this year. But the idea that there's a person walking the face of the earth sucking in air who thinks that JaVale was the second best defender on the planet this year... Just... Wow.

That is, unless Pam is allowed to vote.

Or Dr. J.

[Illuminaire]

Are you saying that BPG aren't the most important indicator of defensive skillz? You're strange.

[montestewart]

So, our very own Javale picked up two 3rd place votes - and 1 *2nd place* vote in the Defensive Player of the Year vote(!).

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/18/dwig ... index.html

Now, I think we can all agree that Vale made some strides this year. But the idea that there's a person walking the face of the earth sucking in air who thinks that JaVale was the second best defender on the planet this year... Just... Wow.

That is, unless Pam is allowed to vote.

Or Dr. J.

There are whole lot of people, some of them ostensibly informed professionals, using fantasy-like criteria (steals and blocks) to measure defense. That's the only way I can figure Larry Hughes ever made 1st Team All-Defense. In small doses, a little attention coming McGee's way could motivate him a little. There will continue to be failures to put such attention into perspective.

[dangermouse]

McGee better be enjoying these playoffs with a Protein Powder Shake in one hand and a joint of roast beef in the other while doing leg lifts in the weight room.

Cant believe someone thought he was the 2nd best defender in the NBA... maybe it was a vote from Flip trying to give him some confidence.

The last 1/3 of the season he did play very good defense though for the most part. He isnt jumping out of his shoes to get the blocks like he used to. It seems like he has realised he just needs a little hop to get enough height to change a shot, and his second jump after that hop is usually getting the block, too. His positioning is also much better.

But if he adds some strength without sacrificing speed and agility and jumping ability so that he doesnt get pushed around so easily, maybe the attitude will come along as well, and boxing out will be a whole lot easier. I'd still rather we have an elite-level rebounder and at least an average defender next to him (in the same player, that is). Dray just isnt a good rebounder, not even O.K. His defense is passable but his lack of energy crashing the boards negates all of that. I dont want Kevin Love either, his defense negates the elite rebounding. Maybe Booker can be our guy if he works on his flaws over the break, I dont think our guy is in the draft as I believe Williams to be a 3.

[doclinkin]

I'd still rather we have an elite-level rebounder and at least an average defender next to him (in the same player, that is). Dray just isnt a good rebounder, not even O.K. His defense is passable but his lack of energy crashing the boards negates all of that. I dont want Kevin Love either, his defense negates the elite rebounding. Maybe Booker can be our guy if he works on his flaws over the break, I dont think our guy is in the draft as I believe Williams to be a 3.

My 2nd round pick made big strides as a defender this year.

Keith Benson is also narrow-shouldered but managed to play solid positional defense, with quick rotation and recovery, keeping his hands up, blocking shots either on the jump or flatfooted. He's a late bloomer, having added 3 inches and 45 lbs over his college career, thus may still be thickening out.

And given his advanced offensive game he won't be nailed to the bench waiting his chance. Thus unlike many slender small-school rebounder/shot-blockers, he may have a chance to show his worth. Stats show coaches tend to play guys who can make a shot-- when correlating any stat with minutes played, pure scoring seems to be the strongest determinant.

Granted, he's no intimidating solid pillar of muscle in the Kendrick Perkins mold (Rick Jackson of the 'Cuse?) so there may be some duplication there. I just like his kinetic signature out there. Reads to me like he can play minutes on a winning team.