Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 3

[Dat2U]

I'm only slightly more excited by Withey as a prospect than I was Cole Aldrich a few years back. Maybe Withey will be better than expected, but fully grown 23 yr old C with a boyish frame isn't going to make a huge impact regardless.

And to dispute hands11 point, it's a big difference b/w drafting a big with a high lottery pick & one with a late 1st or early 2nd rounder. You hope the 3rd pick (Noel or Len) can be a core piece, your hoping the late 1st or 2nd rd pick (Withey, Iverson, Plumlee, Dieng) can just make the roster and not be a total washout.

[nuposse04]

You're right Hands...this was a good draft for picking quality centers. We could have really used one...even Withey, whose shotblocking would have come in handy.

I wanted Dieng personally.

I'd still try to see if MINN is willing to part with him. He's quite old for a rookie (23) but I'm betting he'd pay dividends early. But with Pek being injury prone I don't think they'll part with him easily. :/

[hands11]

I'm only slightly more excited by Withey as a prospect than I was Cole Aldrich a few years back. Maybe Withey will be better than expected, but fully grown 23 yr old C with a boyish frame isn't going to make a huge impact regardless.

And to dispute hands11 point, it's a big difference b/w drafting a big with a high lottery pick & one with a late 1st or early 2nd rounder. You hope the 3rd pick (Noel or Len) can be a core piece, your hoping the late 1st or 2nd rd pick (Withey, Iverson, Plumlee, Dieng) can just make the roster and not be a total washout.

So what's the dispute ?

I don't disagree with that.

[Ruzious]

Hands, I'm still wondering how our boy Jeff Withey lasted till the 40th pick. He had a modest 6 point 6 rebound stat line tonight - but did it in 10 minutes of play. New Orleans is building an interesting team.

Physcially, he's built like a school girl, that's why. He doesn't pass the eye test. That doesn't mean he won't be somewhat effective, but he went where he should have.

I like Dieng too, but even with his NBA body - he measured in at all of 8 pounds heavier than Withey, and they're the same age - actually Dieng's a couple months older. I think Dieng can be Okafor, but Withey has more offensive skill. Withey was regarded as a defensive specialist, but I think he's a better offensive and defensive player than former teammate and lotto pick Thomas Robinson.

[hands11]

Ouch.. Another one goes down.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... Hip-Flexor

[rockymac52]

Ouch.. Another one goes down.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... Hip-Flexor

I'd expect this injury makes it even less likely that we'll be able to acquire Patrick Patterson this season

[closg00]

Jared Zwerling: Heard Knicks were close to releasing Diogu (wasn't practicing a lot) but strong outing vs. BOS changed that. Concern w/ Cole's physicality. Twitter @JaredZwerling

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#8OJ8lDMKMt21IwWZ.99

Diogu's stat-line from the Boston game. I guess Sullinger was getting beasted. Sounds like Aldrich is too-Vesely-like to make it in the NBA.
http://www.nba.com/games/20131012/NYKBOS/gameinfo.html

[rockymac52]

Is it possible that the Bobcats only signed Al Jefferson so that they could trade him a few months later to get some assets?

They had to sign somebody because they were below the salary cap floor, so their owner was going to be forced to pay that money even if they didn't sign any players. I'm inclined to believe that the Bobcats may have sold this move as a stepping stone to get them to respectability again - Jefferson might not be a superstar, but he's pretty good, and the Bobcats needed to start winning more games before they could realistically get good.

I like to compare the Jefferson signing to the Nationals signing Jayson Werth a few years ago. The team was a mess, stuck at the bottom of the standings for years, and they had to overpay Werth considerably to get him, but it was worth it (heh) because he improved the team, making us appear like a better destination for other players. Basically, you gotta start somewhere, and it typically doesn't happen overnight.

That's what the Bobcats are selling with this signing, and it makes sense, so it may be completely true. But I just had a thought about it, and maybe the Bobcats realized they had to spend the money on somebody no matter what, and they could just sign Jefferson, let him play for them for the first 2-3 months, then trade him away for prospects or draft picks and expiring contracts. Basically they could have NOT signed him, and had lots of cap space to stare at and go to waste, or they could sign him, then flip him for a mid 1st round pick or better, and then maintain that cap space the next summer since the traded player expires. It's absolutely brilliant if that's what they did. Because some team will surely give up a decent 1st round pick for him, I think. Hell, I'd be pretty open to the Wizards trading away their pick for Big Al.

[dckingsfan]

Interesting to see how well Drummond is playing - can we attribute that to pre-season and not regular season games.

Also, Atlanta has looked pretty bad without Josh Smith and he seems to be fitting in on the Pistons.

[verbal8]

Interesting to see how well Drummond is playing - can we attribute that to pre-season and not regular season games.

I mainly attribute it to a young talented player improving.

Also, Atlanta has looked pretty bad without Josh Smith and he seems to be fitting in on the Pistons.

I don't know that you can draw a ton of conclusions about a team from their pre-season games. Looking at Smith's stat lines - 9 TOs vs. 6 rebs in two games looks bad to me.

[dckingsfan]

Interesting to see how well Drummond is playing - can we attribute that to pre-season and not regular season games.

I mainly attribute it to a young talented player improving.

Yep, good point... but a really nice improvement - especially at the FT line.

[

Also, Atlanta has looked pretty bad without Josh Smith and he seems to be fitting in on the Pistons.

I don't know that you can draw a ton of conclusions about a team from their pre-season games. Looking at Smith's stat lines - 9 TOs vs. 6 rebs in two games looks bad to me.

Also a good point... but the point is also about how badly Atlanta is playing without him - but it is preseason

[Ruzious]

Hey, the Hawks signed Cartier Martin, so nothing but blue skies ahead for them. For some reason, it seems like a desperation move already - even if he is the last guy on the roster - picking up a middle aged player with no upside,

[payitforward]

Interesting to see how well Drummond is playing - can we attribute that to pre-season and not regular season games.

I mainly attribute it to a young talented player improving.

Yep, good point... but a really nice improvement - especially at the FT line.

Drummond was an absolute monster last year -- except at the FT line. Every 40 minutes he produced 15 points (shooting 60%) and 15 boards. Plus lots of blocks and steals and low turnovers. And he was doing it at 19 years old!

Barring injury I think he's likely to be a superstar in the league. There is no player in the league I'd more like to acquire than Andre Drummond, but they'll build around him they won't trade him.

[dckingsfan]

I mainly attribute it to a young talented player improving.

Yep, good point... but a really nice improvement - especially at the FT line.

Drummond was an absolute monster last year -- except at the FT line. Every 40 minutes he produced 15 points (shooting 60%) and 15 boards. Plus lots of blocks and steals and low turnovers. And he was doing it at 19 years old!

Barring injury I think he's likely to be a superstar in the league. There is no player in the league I'd more like to acquire than Andre Drummond, but they'll build around him they won't trade him.

I believe you are right - and then a lot of teams will be kicking themselves - specifically the Kings, Warriors and Raptors and I guess especially the Kings.

[Nivek]

Drummond was an absolute monster last year -- except at the FT line. Every 40 minutes he produced 15 points (shooting 60%) and 15 boards. Plus lots of blocks and steals and low turnovers. And he was doing it at 19 years old!

Barring injury I think he's likely to be a superstar in the league. There is no player in the league I'd more like to acquire than Andre Drummond, but they'll build around him they won't trade him.

When I standardize stats to a pace of 100 possessions per 48 minutes, Drummond's per minute rebounding last season ranks 47th among the ~10,000 player seasons of at least 500 minutes or more since 1977-78.

Among rookies 20 years old or younger, Drummond's pace-adjusted per minute rebounding ranks #1 since 1977-78. That list includes: Kevin Love, Dhaq, Dwight Howard, Shawn Kemp, Tyson Chandler and Kevin Garnett. Not to mention luminaries like Andray Blatche and Kwame Brown.

Long way of saying, I agree that Drummond is likely to be a star player -- especially if he can learn how to shoot free throws.

[dckingsfan]

Drummond was an absolute monster last year -- except at the FT line. Every 40 minutes he produced 15 points (shooting 60%) and 15 boards. Plus lots of blocks and steals and low turnovers. And he was doing it at 19 years old!

Barring injury I think he's likely to be a superstar in the league. There is no player in the league I'd more like to acquire than Andre Drummond, but they'll build around him they won't trade him.

When I standardize stats to a pace of 100 possessions per 48 minutes, Drummond's per minute rebounding last season ranks 47th among the ~10,000 player seasons of at least 500 minutes or more since 1977-78.

Among rookies 20 years old or younger, Drummond's pace-adjusted per minute rebounding ranks #1 since 1977-78. That list includes: Kevin Love, Dhaq, Dwight Howard, Shawn Kemp, Tyson Chandler and Kevin Garnett. Not to mention luminaries like Andray Blatche and Kwame Brown.

Long way of saying, I agree that Drummond is likely to be a star player -- especially if he can learn how to shoot free throws.

Oh my - Rasheed Wallace seems to have him a long way toward shooting FTs. I would hate to see a player with Drummond's physique and Wallace's attitude (epically if it is controlled) on another team.

[Nivek]

With my fat fingers typing, Dhaq = Shaq.

[hands11]

VO and Harden tonight.

[TGW]

^^^Looks like Harden is winning that one.

21 points, 5 rebs, and 5 assists through 3 quarters.

[TGW]

Rose looks great right now. He's been out for a year and he looks better than Wall already.