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Well, came in second to Celts for Horford according to rumors. Instead we signed Ian Mahinmi for 4/64. Can he play next to Gortat? Is he starter material or just a competent backup?

Alright penbeast! He is a backup center, he will bring good D which Brooks wants.

Even in this new era of salaries, it's a lot for a backup center, especially considering the role of centers in the current NBA. I was hoping their impact signing would be at PF or at least someone who could hit a high % three. I Figured Gortat's backup(s) would be best of the leftovers or maybe a combo who could hit a three. Not really getting the plan.

montestewart wrote:Even in this new era of salaries, it's a lot for a backup center, especially considering the role of centers in the current NBA. I was hoping their impact signing would be at PF or at least someone who could hit a high % three. I Figured Gortat's backup(s) would be best of the leftovers or maybe a combo who could hit a three. Not really getting the plan.

Right, plus also figured you get some minutes at C from Morris.

I remember an interview with Brooks saying he wanted to make defense a priority. So I guess that's what Ernie is doing.

montestewart wrote:Even in this new era of salaries, it's a lot for a backup center, especially considering the role of centers in the current NBA. I was hoping their impact signing would be at PF or at least someone who could hit a high % three. I Figured Gortat's backup(s) would be best of the leftovers or maybe a combo who could hit a three. Not really getting the plan.

Isn't he being paid more than Gortat now? If so, Gortat will need a raise.
Seriously though, this is the going market rate as of right now for a backup C, who will give good D and rebounding. Just dont ask him to shoot FT.

Now that the pipe dream of KD is over, and being 2nd best for Horford, the plan is to fill out the roster with 2nd unit players. We need backups at all positions. We may have to sacrifice Porter or Oubre to get better somewhere else via trade, as we have no other pieces of value that can be more willingly traded.

#ThanksEG

If Mahinmi can maintain/build upon last year I don't know that I mind him as a player at all. The Wizards painted themselves into such a corner that no signing short of Durant or Horford could cover up the long string of FO missteps and failures. When they go 38-44, those bargain contracts for Wall, Gortat, and Morris won't be much consolation.

He's a fine player and I mean no disrespect to him. It's not like he sucks. It's just not where we needed to spend our money.

If anyone really believes that's the going rate for backups, you might want to do the math. You have 5 2nd stringers. If you pay them all 16 mil a year, that's 80 mil. You have a 90 mil cap. What's the going rate for starters? 2 million a year?

WTF?!? Mahinmi is 29 years old, how much improvement are people really expecting from this dude. bull.

AFM wrote:He's a fine player and I mean no disrespect to him. It's not like he sucks. It's just not where we needed to spend our money.

Ther is more risk, but I would have much rather signed either Gasol or Sullinger. Gasol would take more money, but hopefully a shorter deal. PF is a huge need for the Wizards, so I don't understand committing so much money to a player who shouldn't be playing that position. Resigning Dudley would have made a lot more sense. I realize Gasol or Dudley themselves may not have signed with the Wizards, but I think equivalent players would have been available.

As I recall, his first name is pronounced "YAWN", correct?

Seems appropriate...

AFM wrote:He's a fine player and I mean no disrespect to him. It's not like he sucks. It's just not where we needed to spend our money.

Agreed. But I'm struggling to find a specific guy who the Wizards should have targeted at this point with their cap space. I feel even a better short term solution would have been Wade. Al Jefferson at $10 million a year was certainly a steal for the Pacers.

I've commented about this in the general free agency thread, but I'll record my opinion here for posterity.

It's a terrible deal. You don't pay 20% of the cap for a backup center. That's insanity. Should have signed Aldrich for what he got paid, or even resigned Nene to a 1-year deal. This move stinks of desperation.

I can't wait 'til Wall finally bolts in free agency so that EG finally gets fired. It appears that no other event will trigger this. We will never win under EG. Never. He is utterly incompetent.

nate33 wrote:I've commented about this in the general free agency thread, but I'll record my opinion here for posterity.

It's a terrible deal. You don't pay 20% of the cap for a backup center. That's insanity. Should have signed Aldrich for what he got paid, or even resigned Nene to a 1-year deal. This move stinks of desperation.

I can't wait to Wall finally bolts in free agency so that EG finally gets fired. It appears that no other event will trigger this. We will never win under EG. Never. He is utterly incompetent.

This x100.

I guess none of you have looked at the ADVANCED stats for Man-heemee? The real advanced ones. He's arguably a better basketball player than Durant. He's also taller and weighs more. Sick of the quick gut reactions on this board. Do your research.

I'm not even mad at Ernie. It's like being mad at a server who constantly messes up your order. At some point, the responsibility is either on the owner of the restaurant to fire the incompetent employee or to not go back to the restaurant. I'm leaning on not going back to this restaurant, to be honest.

nate33 wrote:I've commented about this in the general free agency thread, but I'll record my opinion here for posterity.

It's a terrible deal. You don't pay 20% of the cap for a backup center. That's insanity. Should have signed Aldrich for what he got paid, or even resigned Nene to a 1-year deal. This move stinks of desperation.

I can't wait to Wall finally bolts in free agency so that EG finally gets fired. It appears that no other event will trigger this. We will never win under EG. Never. He is utterly incompetent.

Wall's free agency is exactly 3 years from now.

EG has to be gone after this season as this is a lottery team and the rest of the conference is better.

Mahinmi represents a slight downgrade from a HEALTHY Nene who was still a very solid NBA player when he actually was on the court but Mahinmi is a significant plus defensively and he'll generally help your team win games. The biggest problem is the price. $16 mil for a 16-20 minute backup makes no sense whatsoever. At 8-10 mil, it's a really good pickup. I felt a 4 year deal to Cole Aldrich at half the price would have represented much better value and been my preferred choice. It's depressing that Mahinmi is our big off-season acquisition. On the positive side, Mahinmi was arguably the best defensive center on the market and we'll need that considering were asking Nicholson & especially Burke to likely play alongside him. He'll need to close down much of the dribble penetration Burke will likely allow.

Mahinmi brings some serious intangibles to the Wizards. For instance, his %time wearing a shirt is extremely high. That alone should justify the contract...

nate33 wrote:I've commented about this in the general free agency thread, but I'll record my opinion here for posterity.

It's a terrible deal. You don't pay 20% of the cap for a backup center. That's insanity. Should have signed Aldrich for what he got paid, or even resigned Nene to a 1-year deal. This move stinks of desperation.

I can't wait 'til Wall finally bolts in free agency so that EG finally gets fired. It appears that no other event will trigger this. We will never win under EG. Never. He is utterly incompetent.

I agree it is an overpay although it is 15.7% of the cap.