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Buckner, Wiz beat writer is tweeting some things out. This is so interesting. Gortat averaged about 31 minutes per game in the playoffs, averaged about 35 up until March when Mahinmi came back. That's when his minutes were cut drastically but a) he looked gassed and b) we needed to see how Mahinmi fit with this team. So to me, this isn't about playing time, it's about touches. Unless he can develop a 3 point shot, his style of play is being phased out.

Well, he's better than Mahinmi and much more reliable. His contract is also much better.

If anything, Mahinmi needs to be traded. He is NOT reliable.

Is it time to start the ring chasing phase of his career? My friend always talks about how he'd like to see Gortat in a Spurs uniform.

He's not wrong, but Otto kicked it up a notch, so did Beal and Wall. That's the core, so yeah...Gortat scoring less and getting less touches seems to be the normal progression of things.

Where is he going to go? Is he going to trade himself? Yeah, he didn't get enough touches at the rim. I mean, he was good on those post ups last night when he fumbled the ball like a hot potato and turned it over. And he can't protect the rim. A healthy Mahinmi would be better defensively. Of course, a healthy Mahinmi is good for about 40 games.

I have never seen anyone hang his head more than Gortat after a bad play. He does it literally every time.

tontoz wrote:I have never seen anyone hang his head more than Gortat after a bad play. He does it literally every time.

Nene with the incredulous look on his face and elbow sleeve adjustment wins out for me

I'm looking through the teams to see if any of them need a center and came up with this:

Denver - but Jokic seems to be a point center and they traded Nurkic for the sole purpose of giving Nikola the minutes at the 5.

Golden State - they don't have a roster and won't have much to trade for.

Brooklyn - self explanatory, he can be traded into their cap space and we just shed $12 million in salary

Sacramento - honestly, I would trade him for Afflalo, and then cut him (his contract becomes guaranteed on 6/23/2017) or trade him for Temple.

Philadelphia - especially if Embiid isn't healthy.

That's it. Dallas would be on the list but they got Noel.

Edit: Denver would be an ideal trade target, they have a **** ton of talent but they've got too many guys playing the same positions.

AFM wrote:

tontoz wrote:I have never seen anyone hang his head more than Gortat after a bad play. He does it literally every time.

Nene with the incredulous look on his face and elbow sleeve adjustment wins out for me

Unless you're being spoon fed by Wall, the less touches the better. And even then if it's not point blank....and I mean practically giving the rim a blow job, you're likely going to miss anyway. Good riddance. Thanks for the memories when you weren't charmin soft.

On a sidenote, after watching Ian the last two games, man are we screwed. Who's ready for some Ochefu backup action. I know I am.

Gortat knows that Ernie will never provide the bench necessary to take the team to the next level, he is going to where he stands the best shot of getting that ring.

JWizmentality wrote:Unless you're being spoon fed by Wall, the less touches the better. And even then if it's not point blank....and I mean practically giving the rim a blow job, you're likely going to miss anyway. Good riddance. Thanks for the memories when you weren't charmin soft.

On a sidenote, after watching Ian the last two games, man are we screwed. Who's ready for some Ochefu backup action. I know I am.

I really hate the criticism Gortat takes on these boards.

Gortat is a good player. He's not an elite center, but he's a rock solid, starting-caliber center. That "Charmin soft" player was 9th in the league in total rebounds, 12th in rebound percentage and 5th in the league in FG%. He was also 7th among bigs (6-10 or taller) in total minutes played. And he played a big role in how he was "spoon fed" from Wall. He set the picks, rolled hard, and had great hands to catch and finish in traffic. He is still one of the best pick-and-roll centers in the league, and he was doing it before he became teammates with Wall.

Gortat has flaws. His ability to defend the rim has slipped with age. I'm open-minded to trading him and retooling around a younger big, but I appreciate what he has done for this team. He doesn't deserve the hate he gets around here.

AFM wrote:

tontoz wrote:I have never seen anyone hang his head more than Gortat after a bad play. He does it literally every time.

Nene with the incredulous look on his face and elbow sleeve adjustment wins out for me

Not to mention resetting the scrunchy holding his braids in a ponytail.

closg00 wrote:Gortat knows that Ernie will never provide the bench necessary to take the team to the next level, he is going to where he stands the best shot of getting that ring.

That's one way to look at it.

Personally, I think Gortat is just a mentally soft player who is primarily concerned about "his touches".

nate33 wrote:

JWizmentality wrote:Unless you're being spoon fed by Wall, the less touches the better. And even then if it's not point blank....and I mean practically giving the rim a blow job, you're likely going to miss anyway. Good riddance. Thanks for the memories when you weren't charmin soft.

On a sidenote, after watching Ian the last two games, man are we screwed. Who's ready for some Ochefu backup action. I know I am.

I really hate the criticism Gortat takes on these boards.

Gortat is a good player. He's not an elite center, but he's a rock solid, starting-caliber center. That "Charmin soft" player was 9th in the league in total rebounds, 12th in rebound percentage and 5th in the league in FG%. He was also 7th among bigs (6-10 or taller) in total minutes played. And he played a big role in how he was "spoon fed" from Wall. He set the picks, rolled hard, and had great hands to catch and finish in traffic. He is still one of the best pick-and-roll centers in the league, and he was doing it before he became teammates with Wall.

Gortat has flaws. His ability to defend the rim has slipped with age. I'm open-minded to trading him and retooling around a younger big, but I appreciate what he has done for this team. He doesn't deserve the hate he gets around here.

Also he's a great screener that gets his teammates open looks.

nate33 wrote:

JWizmentality wrote:Unless you're being spoon fed by Wall, the less touches the better. And even then if it's not point blank....and I mean practically giving the rim a blow job, you're likely going to miss anyway. Good riddance. Thanks for the memories when you weren't charmin soft.

On a sidenote, after watching Ian the last two games, man are we screwed. Who's ready for some Ochefu backup action. I know I am.

I really hate the criticism Gortat takes on these boards.

Gortat is a good player. He's not an elite center, but he's a rock solid, starting-caliber center. That "Charmin soft" player was 9th in the league in total rebounds, 12th in rebound percentage and 5th in the league in FG%. He was also 7th among bigs (6-10 or taller) in total minutes played. And he played a big role in how he was "spoon fed" from Wall. He set the picks, rolled hard, and had great hands to catch and finish in traffic. He is still one of the best pick-and-roll centers in the league, and he was doing it before he became teammates with Wall.

Gortat has flaws. His ability to defend the rim has slipped with age. I'm open-minded to trading him and retooling around a younger big, but I appreciate what he has done for this team. He doesn't deserve the hate he gets around here.

Numbers aren't everything. His rebounding numbers are great as long as he stands underneath there and there's no big center like Whiteside pushing him away. I think his best traits are his "slapbounds" to re-start the offense and his screens. It's not like a Whiteside, Jordan or Cousins is coming here. I'd prefer a defensive-minded center that can protect the rim and rebound. That can defend the PNR better. I do appreciate what he's given us and he does post every game. Runs the floor well and is in great shape. That's a given but if he wants to get traded, I say adios and do widzenia.

Wizardspride wrote:

closg00 wrote:Gortat knows that Ernie will never provide the bench necessary to take the team to the next level, he is going to where he stands the best shot of getting that ring.

That's one way to look at it.

Personally, I think Gortat is just a mentally soft player who is primarily concerned about "his touches".

That's part of it. He often needs to get going offensively for him to exert his full energy on the defensive end. Although that is pretty much true for many players in the NBA.