Justdatdude wrote:Smh. I made a post saying I'm willing to trade up because I seen Jermaine was available and now he's gone. I'm absolutely stunned that the man wasn't picked already. He has a friendly contract and there are a ton of players that were picked ahead of him that isn't close to being as good as him, such as Ben Wallace and Amir Johnson.
Depends on what you're looking for.
If you're looking for a guy that can score points then JO is your guy. But if you're looking for a guy that is a better defender and rebounder, and an overall tougher player then Ben Wallace is the guy.
And even though Wallace is older (believe no one is imagining the prime time Ben Wallace...that Ben Wallace would have been taken in the 2nd round), a 35 year old Wallace looks like he's taken care of himself a lot more than a 31 year old Jermaine Oneal to be quite honest (and JO hardly looks like the former All-Star nowadays...14 years in the NBA kinda does that to you).
Also about fit...and believe me, we knew full well JO was available (he was on our EXTENSIVE draft board...right behind Ben Wallace) but Wallace just made more sense.
1. the Heat was already loaded with offensively strong players (20+ppg or near 20ppg guys at 4 of the 5 starting positions)...taking the better defensive player (Wallace) made more sense there.
2. the Heat has one relatively inexperienced spot in their starting lineup and that's Serge Ibaka at C. Taking a guy that has a load of championship experience in Wallace makes more sense.
3. in many ways Serge Ibaka has the potential to be the next Ben Wallace type player. Who better to be a mentor to Serge than Ben Wallace himself. JO as a mentor? Can't see it...too selfish and different type of game.
4. Wallace's toughness should also help complement Lamarcus Aldridge when both are on the floor a whole lot better than JO can.
As far as "not close to being"? Wallace averaged 8.9rpg and 1.2bpg in 28mpg last season. Oneal, 6.9rpg, 1.4bpg in about the same number of minutes and nearly the same number of games. Oneal scored a lot more points but flubbed completely in the playoffs. Would Wallace have pulled an Oneal come playoff time? And my team is expecting to go deep into the playoffs...so wouldn't we want to go with a guy that has proven he's got no problem with helping his team winning playoff games?
Yes, taking JO would have been the sexier pick but if you actually REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT it when judging this team, Ben Wallace makes MORE sense and makes the Heat a better team as well as being a better investment down the road (see comment about Wallace, Ibaka and Aldridge).
