is Chris Kaman too risky?

[Harry10]

i don't care how bad your hair cut it, i can respect any guy who can average 12rpg and 3bpg in a season

but i am just not sure about the guy, he has almost missed 80 games in the last two seasons, and his contract still has 3 years left.

i was thinking of some sort of Speedy and filler for Kaman, but i'm not sure if he will turn into another Speedy, in street cloths for the next two years taking up alot of cap space.

[theatlfan]

Personally, I'd take Kaman in a salary dump. But what do I care, all I'm risking is the job and $$$ of other people. Still, if he can stay healthy, he's the true C we crave. Not the best in the NBA but decent. Would his salary preclude us from resigning JJ or Horford? I dunno, but that would really be the only thing holding me back.

[HMFFL]

Do you feel the following amount of money is a good price for his production?
10,400,000
11,300,000
12,200,000

The Clippers played Chris 37mpg two seasons ago. There is no reason to drill your big man into the ground like that and his injuries could be due to that season. They tried to cut back this season by playing him roughly 30mpg. I don't think he'll ever put up the numbers he did during the 2007-08 season. If we acquired him I would like to see Chris only average 30mpg only if he's healthy. Chris won't help our free throw woes if he doesn't get back to his career average of 73%.

Projected numbers when averaging 30mpg: 13ppg, 8rpg and 1.6bpg.

Los Angeles offered Chris Kaman and Baron Davis to Dallas before the trade deadline for Jason Kidd, so most likely they would be willing to accept Speedy Claxton, but I don't see how we come up with the rest to match salaries. Due to the limited minutes Chris needs to see I would like for us to pursue other options first and possibly put the money that's owed to him towards a star.

[killbuckner]

There are so few true dominant low post centers I'd rather have a backup to come in against specific teams. I don't want a lumbering guy in my starting lineup. I'd greatly prefer someone on the front line who can consistently take advantage of weak defenders and who creates a matchup problem. I don't care whether thats through post ups or facing up- I just want someone other than Joe who can draw a doubleteam and find the open man. I just don't see Kaman as a guy who presents the opposition with a real dilemma on how to guard them.

[parson]

Kaman is not better than Horford, so we shouldn't think of him if we're looking for a replacement at center. It would be good to have Kaman for those times when a taller center (Ilgauskas, Yao) faces us. He'd also be able to take advantage of the 2nd string centers on most teams.

If our management is looking to replace Smoove or Horford with Kaman, then they're making a mistake -- unless the deal adds more than just Kaman. It makes little sense to add a lesser player just so we can say we have a traditional center.

I'd trade Smoove if the return was Kaman and Gordon or their 1st, unprotected.
I'd trade Joe if the return was Kaman, Gordon AND their 1st, unprotected.

Horford for Kaman is selling low on the part of both teams.

[Skyhawk1]

Kaman is not better than Horford, so we shouldn't think of him if we're looking for a replacement at center.

Kaman is way better than Horford at C and on the offensive end. He's a 7 footer who can score with his back to the basket and is a great rebounder ( Does that remind you of Gasol, yup that one we could've had for Smith last season). Now, while he's not great on defense, you must pair him with a good defensive PF, ever heard of Horford ? I think they would complement each other pretty well. I'd have traded for him a while ago when the Clippers had interest in Smith. Now, they got Z. Randolph and I doubt they would want anything with our PF.

[killbuckner]

I do think that waaaay to much emphasis is put on positions in basketball. IN baseball there are different positions for a reason. IN football there are different positions for a reason. But in Basketball you are just trying to put out the best 5 players you can. Yeah- you want to have ball handers to beat a trap and guys who can rebound, but other than that really it should just come down to finding guys who create more mismatches on offense than get exploited on defense. Sure Amare at Center has no real chance of guarding Shaq- but likewise Shaq has no real chance of guarding Amare so whats the problem playing Amare as the tallest guy on the court? Thats my big issue with Horford- he doesn't create a mismatch on offense against anyone and there are guys that he has trouble with. Horford woudl be fine on defense if he had the ability to beat more lumbering centers with quickness but we just haven't seen him be able to consistently do that.

[conleyorbust]

I do think that waaaay to much emphasis is put on positions in basketball. IN baseball there are different positions for a reason. IN football there are different positions for a reason. But in Basketball you are just trying to put out the best 5 players you can. Yeah- you want to have ball handers to beat a trap and guys who can rebound, but other than that really it should just come down to finding guys who create more mismatches on offense than get exploited on defense. Sure Amare at Center has no real chance of guarding Shaq- but likewise Shaq has no real chance of guarding Amare so whats the problem playing Amare as the tallest guy on the court? Thats my big issue with Horford- he doesn't create a mismatch on offense against anyone and there are guys that he has trouble with. Horford woudl be fine on defense if he had the ability to beat more lumbering centers with quickness but we just haven't seen him be able to consistently do that.

I agree with this.