DJ Mbenga a possibility?

[cboksa]

lets sign Flip instead................

[rtblues]

Nope. There's nothing on this team that he can bring. We already have a nice frontcourt rotation of Noah/Boozer/Taj/Asik/Thomas. There's no room nor a need for a 6th big. Id much rather we sign another guard that can shoot. Give me Lucas and I'd be content.

I think it's Noah/Boozer/Taj/Thomas /Asik
based on watching Asik in FIBA games. When a
6-7, German, college recruit pushed him out from
underneath about 10 times.....well.....Dwight Howard???

[cagney]

Why the F would I sign a thug with no requisite basketball skill when guys like James Singleton still exist on the market?

i REALLY hope this should be in green cause if not maybe you should research a little bit before looking like a total jackass by name calling....

1- Mbenga was born in and raised in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his father was a government employee. When a new regime took over power, it sought everyone who worked for the previous leader. As unrest in the country escalated, Mbenga's father was imprisoned. Although he was eventually unable to save himself, he did manage to negotiate on behalf of his sons, who were also imprisoned and waiting to be executed. Mbenga fled the country on a plane to Belgium, where he received asylum. While living in a refugee center, he was discovered by Belgian basketball legend Willy Steveniers, who eventually served as Mbenga's personal basketball mentor.

2-The Mbenga Foundationoffers help to Congolese children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and those who are refugees in Belgium (as Didier had been).

3-In the 2006 playoffs he was suspended 6 games without pay for entering the stands. He saw coach Avery Johnson's wife being disturbed by some fans, and reportedly went into the stands with owner Mark Cuban to help usher Mrs. Johnson to the locker room.


wow what a thug.

[cagney]

Nope. There's nothing on this team that he can bring. We already have a nice frontcourt rotation of Noah/Boozer/Taj/Asik/Thomas. There's no room nor a need for a 6th big. Id much rather we sign another guard that can shoot. Give me Lucas and I'd be content.

I think it's Noah/Boozer/Taj/Thomas /Asik
based on watching Asik in FIBA games. When a
6-7, German, college recruit pushed him out from
underneath about 10 times.....well.....Dwight Howard???

I really do think a big body even if not polished could help just for that. hence my posting. the dude has 2 things going for him

1- super strength and ability to hold ground as a major martial artist in holding his center of gravity and such
2- if you are on the lakers, like morrison, even if never playing you must be doing SOMEThiNG right even if its in practice.

[Jvaughn]

Nope. There's nothing on this team that he can bring. We already have a nice frontcourt rotation of Noah/Boozer/Taj/Asik/Thomas. There's no room nor a need for a 6th big. Id much rather we sign another guard that can shoot. Give me Lucas and I'd be content.

I think it's Noah/Boozer/Taj/Thomas /Asik
based on watching Asik in FIBA games. When a
6-7, German, college recruit pushed him out from
underneath about 10 times.....well.....Dwight Howard???

It wasn't in any order. I was just naming the players. But as we pointed out in the Omer Asik thread, he will definitely get the bulk of the backup Center minutes over Thomas. Thomas is only here for veteran leadership and insurance. Insurance against the chance that Asik isn't ready, and for the chance that one of our bigs gets injured and he'll have to play backup minutes. Even then he'd be playing 10 minutes per game tops. Asik will definitely get the opportunity to claim the backup minutes from the get go. Thomas, at his age can't really help us.

[Miltpalaciofanclub]

Why the F would I sign a thug with no requisite basketball skill when guys like James Singleton still exist on the market?

i REALLY hope this should be in green cause if not maybe you should research a little bit before looking like a total jackass by name calling....

1- Mbenga was born in and raised in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his father was a government employee. When a new regime took over power, it sought everyone who worked for the previous leader. As unrest in the country escalated, Mbenga's father was imprisoned. Although he was eventually unable to save himself, he did manage to negotiate on behalf of his sons, who were also imprisoned and waiting to be executed. Mbenga fled the country on a plane to Belgium, where he received asylum. While living in a refugee center, he was discovered by Belgian basketball legend Willy Steveniers, who eventually served as Mbenga's personal basketball mentor.

2-The Mbenga Foundationoffers help to Congolese children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and those who are refugees in Belgium (as Didier had been).

3-In the 2006 playoffs he was suspended 6 games without pay for entering the stands. He saw coach Avery Johnson's wife being disturbed by some fans, and reportedly went into the stands with owner Mark Cuban to help usher Mrs. Johnson to the locker room.


wow what a thug.

I do not appreciate the personal attack, but whatever. My opinion of Mbenga has nothing to do with his background, former political connections, or current philanthropic activity. The only basketball-related activity where he has demonstrated proficiency is in the area of fouling people. Much like Ed Nealy, he's a thug.

[IliketheBullsNBearstoo]

A DJ Mbenga thread?



Really?

[TB#1]

At this point if the Bulls sat tight and tried to make some moves with that roster spot and space closer to the trade deadline I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy, rather than have them force feed some marginal transaction just for the sake of "getting something done."

[cagney]

one of the mods on the lakers board said this when i posted a thread asking for their thoughts

"by j-far on Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:56 pm

"He's great insurance for what he makes but don't expect him to be shy because he's never met a shot he didn't like. His jumper is money though and he's built like a brickhouse."

and the other mod said

"He was only good in garbage minutes when we were blowing the other team out by 20+ points in the fourth quarter. If he got any chance to get decent minutes, he'd ruin it by getting in foul trouble. He's a helluva shot blocker though."

they have 2 threads about him. one talking about him stayin and one tribute one. they seem to love him for some reason, i guess maybe as a teammate. but they did say they would keep him on the team and actually go into the season 15 players if need be because ratliff/pau/bynum could be injured and hes solid enough to back up. so i guess a 3.5th string center could work

[GloriaJames]

Why the F would I sign a thug with no requisite basketball skill when guys like James Singleton still exist on the market?

i REALLY hope this should be in green cause if not maybe you should research a little bit before looking like a total jackass by name calling....

1- Mbenga was born in and raised in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his father was a government employee. When a new regime took over power, it sought everyone who worked for the previous leader. As unrest in the country escalated, Mbenga's father was imprisoned. Although he was eventually unable to save himself, he did manage to negotiate on behalf of his sons, who were also imprisoned and waiting to be executed. Mbenga fled the country on a plane to Belgium, where he received asylum. While living in a refugee center, he was discovered by Belgian basketball legend Willy Steveniers, who eventually served as Mbenga's personal basketball mentor.

2-The Mbenga Foundationoffers help to Congolese children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and those who are refugees in Belgium (as Didier had been).

3-In the 2006 playoffs he was suspended 6 games without pay for entering the stands. He saw coach Avery Johnson's wife being disturbed by some fans, and reportedly went into the stands with owner Mark Cuban to help usher Mrs. Johnson to the locker room.


wow what a thug.

I do not appreciate the personal attack, but whatever. My opinion of Mbenga has nothing to do with his background, former political connections, or current philanthropic activity. The only basketball-related activity where he has demonstrated proficiency is in the area of fouling people. Much like Ed Nealy, he's a thug.

you mean to say that he's black, right?

[coldfish]

you mean to say that he's black, right?

That wasn't really necessary, was it?

[chadrucf]

Thug is an inflammatory term often used to baselessly characterize and marginalize black people.

[cagney]

you mean to say that he's black, right?

That wasn't really necessary, was it?

normally id agree coldfish but i was gonna quote this...

Due his hustle, aggressiveness and court smarts, Nealy was uniformly praised for his unselfish play and his willingness to be physical throughout his career.
"It's guys like Ed who make coaching a pleasure. If you give me a reason to put him into a game, he's going to find a way to contribute." -- Phil Jackson[1]
In the book, The Jordan Rules, Phil Jackson labeled Nealy his, "favorite player, smartest player on the team."

i dunno what else would really make dude a thug, obviously foul trouble is not the culprit, because them dwight howard is a thug too.

[Three34]

It's not that he can't play. He's not bad for a minimum salary pickup. Rather, it's that he won't. We don't need a non-rotation centre, because we have Asik, who should get any dreg minutes.

If Asik were to be assigned to the D-League, Mbenga or someone like that would be a good third option centre. But it doesn't seem like that's going to happen.

[coldfish]

Thug is an inflammatory term often used to baselessly characterize and marginalize black people.

That's an irrational conclusion. The term was used like this where it was quoted:

Much like Ed Nealy, he's a thug.

Ed Nealy is white. So you guys drew the conclusion that this phrase meant "Much like a white guy, he is a black guy".?

Please just drop the race stuff and the personal attacks.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Thug is an inflammatory term often used to baselessly characterize and marginalize black people.

Oh give me a f'ing break.

[chadrucf]

Thug is an inflammatory term often used to baselessly characterize and marginalize black people.

That's an irrational conclusion. The term was used like this where it was quoted:

Much like Ed Nealy, he's a thug.

Ed Nealy is white. So you guys drew the conclusion that this phrase meant "Much like a white guy, he is a black guy".?

Please just drop the race stuff and the personal attacks.

Originally it was used to describe someone who commits a bunch of fouls. It was just a poor word choice. No big deal.

[chadrucf]

Thug is an inflammatory term often used to baselessly characterize and marginalize black people.

Oh give me a f'ing break.

[Three34]

This is incorrect. Rookie min and 15 year vet min count the same against the cap:

No. For cap space purposes; rookie minimum is $473,604, sophomore minimum is $762,195, and anyone else is $854,389. This is only if the player signs a one year deal, yet it's also why veterans almost always do.

For tax purposes, unless you drafted the player, all three count as $854,389. But that won't matter to the Bullst his year.

[coldfish]

you mean to say that he's black, right?

That wasn't really necessary, was it?

normally id agree coldfish but i was gonna quote this...

Due his hustle, aggressiveness and court smarts, Nealy was uniformly praised for his unselfish play and his willingness to be physical throughout his career.
"It's guys like Ed who make coaching a pleasure. If you give me a reason to put him into a game, he's going to find a way to contribute." -- Phil Jackson[1]
In the book, The Jordan Rules, Phil Jackson labeled Nealy his, "favorite player, smartest player on the team."

i dunno what else would really make dude a thug, obviously foul trouble is not the culprit, because them dwight howard is a thug too.

I remember Ed Nealy. I liked the guy, but I will use the word "enforcer" instead of "thug", but the intent is the same. The Bulls put him in the game to foul people and get physical. He was great because he would go toe to toe with the Bad Boy Pistons. I don't care what Phil had to say about him because that's what he contributed. Regardless, milt clearly isn't being racist here because he is comparing Mbenga to a white guy.

If you disagree with his characterization of either Mbenga or Nealy, feel free to pipe in. Let's just keep race baiting out of it.