Yahoo: Raps sign Linas Kleiza to 4 year 18.8M offer sheet

[TerryTate]

Kleiza is looking good now....
Outlaw for 7Mil/Yr for 5years....

[douggood]

travis outlaw just signed for 5 yr 35 mil, so he is comparatively a bargain.

[blueseeka]

awesome. should of changed it to ESPN Espanol

[dagger]

And all you yahoos whining about flexibility... Look at Outlaw's contract. Kleiza, if Denver doesn't match, is a cheaper and more flexible piece than Outlaw who just signed in NJ for the same money as Amir, whose deal half this board thinks is too long.

[Double Helix]

Who cares? This fixation with flexibility is fuçking bogus. BOGUS! We are not going to attract Tier 1 free agents. You can have an $80 million payroll and still rebuild so long as you draft well (or get lucky) and favor the young players with minutes. If you have a bunch of value contracts like Jack, Kleiza and Amir, you can deal them. You can package two of them.

It's not only about wins and losses.

In case you haven't noticed, there is a talent shift occuring that will make the East stronger. Amare is moving to NYK, Boozer to Chicago, Gooden and Maggette to Milwaukee. The East has some of the best young point guards now, and they all will get better. The most signings like Amir or Kleiza or Jack will do is keep us in games longer, making losing more respectable. Nothing says We have to lose every game by 30 points to improve our lottery position. Nothing says we have to be a league-wide joke to get a top 3 pick - it's still a lottery, and Chicago got Rose and Noah with the seventh and ninth worst records. Nothing says we can't accumulate assets that can be great trade assets while we go about winning 25 games. Hopefully, we get lots of hustle, close games... Being competitive in games is a whole lot better than getting humiliated by opponents. Being competitive is character building while getting whipped time and again is confidence-destroying for young players.

This is one of the reasons you were on so many poster of the year lists, Dagger. You speak the truth!

[Condi Rice]

Being competitive is character building while getting whipped time and again is confidence-destroying for young players.

I'll care when we have a franchise player. There's not one player left that I'm even remotely concerned about.

We're already the laughing stock of the league... ask Bosh

[eslr]

Hvaing weatched Kleiza over the years as a denver fan, heres what I can tell you about him:

Three seasons ago (so 07/08) Kleiza was awesome for us. He played great, stepped up huge when Melo was out, and provided great hustle and scoring off the bench. He was probably our second best player in the playoffs that year against the Lakers. The next year (08/09), for whatever reason, he absolutely stunk. He was just horrible. Based on the stats, he was a super stud in the Euro league last season, which doesnt suprise me because he is built to be a prototypical PF in Europe.

Offensively:
Kleizas moves are relatively limited, but he still provides a good scoring punch esppecally off the bench. In Denver his points came almost exclusively from three moves: three pointer, leak out for the fast break dunk, and pump fake at the three point line to dribble drive. He can only go right when he dribbles, and he isnt a good ball handler or passer. However, he is very good at being decisive--you'll never see Kleiza being a ball stopper. Because of that he can fit in well as a complimentary piece in just about any system. He loves it when play gets physical, but didnt play much in the post for the Nuggets.

Defensively:
Even though he is a tough, strong SF, Kleiza sucks defensively when he slides to the 4. At the 3 he is serviceable unless the opposing player is a fantastic athlete, and then his feet can start to look like lead. Fundamentally, he is fine.

Intangibles:
Kleiza, from all reports, was always the first to practice and last to leave in a Nuggets uniform. In addition to being a hard worker, he is pretty tough and heady. Hes also a bit of a hot head.....I think he was one of the league leaders in technical fouls on year, which is NOT something you want from your 25 mpg sixth man.



All in all Kleiza is a great utility 6th-7th type man that can step in and start for a good chunk of games as well. His biggest downside is his maddeningly inconsistent play. 40 points one night. 4 the next.

[mikero]

Good signing. Kleiza provides some much needed shooting and toughness. And he's only 24... so like Amir, we're going to have him locked up for his prime years.

[Relentless88]

I don't think it's a bad deal. 5 mil a year for a young tough wing player. He is an asset at that contract.

[Brinbe]

Who cares? This fixation with flexibility is fuçking bogus. BOGUS! We are not going to attract Tier 1 free agents. You can have an $80 million payroll and still rebuild so long as you draft well (or get lucky) and favor the young players with minutes. If you have a bunch of value contracts like Jack, Kleiza and Amir, you can deal them. You can package two of them.

It's all about wins and losses.

In case you haven't noticed, there is a talent shift occuring that will make the East stronger. Amare is moving to NYK, Boozer to Chicago, Gooden and Maggette to Milwaukee. The East has some of the best young point guards now, and they all will get better. The most signings like Amir or Kleiza or Jack will do is keep us in games longer, making losing more respectable. Nothing says We have to lose every game by 30 points to improve our lottery position. Nothing says we have to be a league-wide joke to get a top 3 pick - it's still a lottery, and Chicago got Rose and Noah with the seventh and ninth worst records. Nothing says we can't accumulate assets that can be great trade assets while we go about winning 25 games. Hopefully, we get lots of hustle, close games... Being competitive in games is a whole lot better than getting humiliated by opponents. Being competitive is character building while getting whipped time and again is confidence-destroying for young players.

Dagger mad! Anyway, I see your point, I just don't agree on building a team in that way. It's kind of stupid, wasteful and hasn't led us to much long-term success lately. We'll just agree to disagree on that.

As I see it, when things are going rough, start over and try to minimize costs as much as possible and field the best possible roster out there. Who says we can't do what you say (battle/hustle/compete) at half the payroll?

And since has BC been a master at handling assets? Perhaps he'll improve in that aspect. And yes, Kleiza is an absolute bargain compared to what Outlaw got, but I guess NJ was desperate.

[HoopAndTheHarm]

First I must say that I have been a BC fan and supporter for quite some time. His stock dropped with me when he signed Hedo. However, this offseason has been a complete and utter cluster**** so far.

For the long time BC haters, I suppose this is the ultimate BC signing:
A) A tweener 3/4 which he seems to love getting
B) Another euro off the scrap heap
C) A player that has been rumoured for a couple of years as being of interest to BC, regardless of how he may fit into the existing team and plan

For crying out loud, bring back Antoine Wright before spending on Kleiza. We know he's no more than a backup. Typically you look for athleticism off the bench. Someone who can put up 8 or 10 and once in a while explode for 20+ and/or play extremely solid D. Kleiza does neither.

For the full MLE we probably could have picked up Al Harrington. Not really any D but at least the guy can score. Or Travis Outlaw.

Wanna go cheap? How about a few million on Dorrell Wright or Ronnie Brewer. At least there would be some athleticism and potential upside.

[D-Wins-RingsIMO]

like it, good value, he is only 25.

why does everyone on this board think 25 is a young age in the NBA?

You guys have all been brainwashed by Colangelo into discounting the very early years of a players career, the ones where they provide the best value for their contract.

25 is not young in the NBA.

[MrBojangelz71]

Who cares? This fixation with flexibility is fuçking bogus. BOGUS! We are not going to attract Tier 1 free agents. You can have an $80 million payroll and still rebuild so long as you draft well (or get lucky) and favor the young players with minutes. If you have a bunch of value contracts like Jack, Kleiza and Amir, you can deal them. You can package two of them.

It's not only about wins and losses.

In case you haven't noticed, there is a talent shift occuring that will make the East stronger. Amare is moving to NYK, Boozer to Chicago, Gooden and Maggette to Milwaukee. The East has some of the best young point guards now, and they all will get better. The most signings like Amir or Kleiza or Jack will do is keep us in games longer, making losing more respectable. Nothing says We have to lose every game by 30 points to improve our lottery position. Nothing says we have to be a league-wide joke to get a top 3 pick - it's still a lottery, and Chicago got Rose and Noah with the seventh and ninth worst records. Nothing says we can't accumulate assets that can be great trade assets while we go about winning 25 games. Hopefully, we get lots of hustle, close games... Being competitive in games is a whole lot better than getting humiliated by opponents. Being competitive is character building while getting whipped time and again is confidence-destroying for young players.

We should have a RealGM page were just Dagger posts and everyone can read. Sometimes I come on here and start to question my logic. that maybe I am the one that is a moron and has zero sense. Than I read a Dagger post and I feel better, knowing that I am in line with one of the best posters on here.

To add to you point:

Everyone is crying about how this effects our rebuild (which as Dagger illustrates, it doesn't). In order to rebuild you need players learning, gaining confidence and growing on and off the court. If, as Dagger states, we are getting killed by 30 plus points a game, night in night out, all we are doing is producing losers. Bad habits start that way and good prospects become duds. We want to be competitive to create more hunger. Showing these young players they are only a step or 2 away from being truly competitive in the NBA will push them to work harder. Having them get destroyed could kill their moral and turn them into lackadaisical unenthusiastic players.

Also

Dagger is right. Players like Kleiza and Jack, heck even Amir if he puts up solid numbers this season, are all movable contracts. They are MLE type contracts that teams will accept if it fits their needs. They are smart signings.

We don't need to be the joke of the league like The Nets were, end up with the 3rd pick. We can be competitve and enjoyable to watch, allow the players to build a winning and competitive attitude, and still end up with a top 5 pick.

[blizzah]

For the full MLE we probably could have picked up Al Harrington. Not really any D but at least the guy can score. Or Travis Outlaw.
.

Outlaw just signed for more than MLE. Harrington will go wherever Boozer/Lee doesn't, and I can guarantee it will be closer to 10 MM than 5MM

Look at the contracts handed out this summer. What makes you think Brewer or Wright will sign for a couple million

[Canuck10]

Kleiza is a 3, not a 4. He can spot up there depending on the matchup. We aren't small either.

Right now we are looking like this

Bargs / Reggie Evans / Alabi
Amir / Reggie Evans / Davis
Hedo / Kleiza / Derozan
Derozan / Weems / Belli
Jose / Jack / Banks

I would like to see Jose moved for a young center, allow Banks to assume backup PG duties to raise his value before the trade deadline. Nice expiring and he is a solid defender with some offensive flare.

Move Hedo but I get the feeling that won't happen till the trade deadline as well. We need to raise his value 1st. Moving Jose gives Hedo a chance to run the offense more and show he can still play.

Reggie is movable to, might need to package him with Jose to make a team bite.

anyone else think this line up will make us a 15 win team?

[whysoserious]

And all you yahoos whining about flexibility... Look at Outlaw's contract. Kleiza, if Denver doesn't match, is a cheaper and more flexible piece than Outlaw who just signed in NJ for the same money as Amir, whose deal half this board thinks is too long.

Let's tank for a few years and have that capspace because Toronto is a prime destination for free agents. Just like NJ is doing, they're on the path now. Travis Outlaw...FTW

Favors may turn out to be a great player but they are no better off than us at this point.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Kleiza is already in Toronto?

stackmack

At the end of practice for the Vegas summer league team, Linas Kleiza walked into the ACC practice court and greeted coach Jay Triano.

[TheMagician]

come on man, another european?

You're going to have to get used to the fact that it is an uphill battle to have american born players sign with Toronto as free agents. On the other hand Toronto has much appeal to non-US players who may have misgivings about living in the US. So in most scenarios Toronto is going to have a better choice of talent wanting to play in Toronto from Europe than the US.

[BobbyDhaliwal]

I know he can score but havent really seen him play D [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytuFU-w18qY[/youtube]

[DONZ88]

Does this mean that we are going for ALLEN IVERSON???