Adelman wants a "very aggressive" off season

[Krapinsky]

Well, it's not like there was any credibility left to lose anyway.

[jpatrick]

I think Houston will match anything reasonable for Lee. They were clearly a better team with him starting than they were with Martin. I would think they would love to dump Martin to a team with cap room and give Lee a decent contract.

I think the most likely wings that we could take a shot at are Iggy, Mayo, Martin, Evans and then some lower tier FAs like Brandon Rush (I think he's a FA) and Crawford. Maybe Gerald Wallace would be in this mix if he opts out. Would NJ survive if they lost Wallace and Williams to FA after all they gave up to acquire those two?

I also think we need to acquire a defensive, shot blocking type 4/5. I'd be shocked if Darko is back and somewhat suprised if Randolph is giving a QO. I also am of the believe that Williams is gone if we get a decent offer, so a couple wings and a vet backup 4/5 need to be acquired.

[Worm Guts]

I wouldn't worry about finding a defensive big until we can find serviceable starting wings. Filling out the starting lineup should be our priority.

[Krapinsky]

111-109 basketball ratings with Martin
107-107 basketball ratings with Lee

Lee is almost perfectly average for a SG. He's 26, will be 27 at the start of next year. His PER has remained a steady 12.6 to 12.8 over the last three years. He's a solid defensive player, but not excellent by any means.

Luke Ridnour is an equivalent level of player.

[Klomp]

If somehow we got Iguodala without breaking up the current big 3, I think I might wet my pants. As for center, I'd be shocked if there isn't any interest in-house to make a trade with Sacramento for Chuck Hayes. No, he's not a shot-blocker, but he's the type of player I think Adelman is looking for.

[theGreatRC]

If somehow we got Iguodala without breaking up the current big 3, I think I might wet my pants. As for center, I'd be shocked if there isn't any interest in-house to make a trade with Sacramento for Chuck Hayes. No, he's not a shot-blocker, but he's the type of player I think Adelman is looking for.

We could definitely get Iggy without Rubio, Love or Pek.

Actually, if we did get Iggy..there is no way Rubio, Love or Pek would be involved.

[black bart]

Batum is probably the best for this team since he is an incredible spot-up shooter. As in top 10 in the league. Maybe top 5. He needs to improve his slashing skills but he literally never misses spot-up shots. He is a perfect fit for this team.

[AQuintus]

Batum is probably the best for this team since he is an incredible spot-up shooter. As in top 10 in the league. Maybe top 5. He needs to improve his slashing skills but he literally never misses spot-up shots. He is a perfect fit for this team.

Batum has a 36.5 FG% and 37.2 3pt% in spot up situations. His PPP (points per possession) is 1.03 is which is ranked 103 according to Synery ( http://mysynergysports.com/ ).

[theGreatRC]

I wouldn't worry about finding a defensive big until we can find serviceable starting wings. Filling out the starting lineup should be our priority.

YES! We were doing just fine in defense with Love/Milicic/Tolli/Pek over the first half of the season as our bigs..I remember the opposing SG just going **** on Ridnour/Wes/insertSGhere . We need to fix that problem for our starting 2-guard.

[Krapinsky]

Batum is probably the best for this team since he is an incredible spot-up shooter. As in top 10 in the league. Maybe top 5. He needs to improve his slashing skills but he literally never misses spot-up shots. He is a perfect fit for this team.

Batum has a 36.5 FG% and 37.2 3pt% in spot up situations. His PPP (points per possession) is 1.03 is which is ranked 103 according to Synery ( http://mysynergysports.com/ ).

His 1.24 PPP in his limited number of ISOs (34) is what intrigues me. That's #2 in the league.

[Wingman]

The fact that he only had 34 ISOs probably means he only did it when he was defended by 6 foot point guards on switches. ISO means isolation, right?

[Narf]

I never said CLee is a better offensive player than Batum. I said he's a better player than Batum, and I don't think that's wrong. If offensive potential was all that mattered, I would take Batum over CLee as Batum's potential there is pretty high. But since the other guy scores a hell of a lot easier against Batum I'll take CLee as the overall player.

And FTR, while I agree he's not elite CLee is pretty darn good defensively. He's a 1 on 1 defender that shuts down the other team's SG quite well.

[Krapinsky]

I never said CLee is a better offensive player than Batum. I said he's a better player than Batum, and I don't think that's wrong. If offensive potential was all that mattered, I would take Batum over CLee as Batum's potential there is pretty high. But since the other guy scores a hell of a lot easier against Batum I'll take CLee as the overall player.

And FTR, while I agree he's not elite CLee is pretty darn good defensively. He's a 1 on 1 defender that shuts down the other team's SG quite well.

Batum has much harder defensive assignments than Lee.

Parsons more often than not checks the opponents better wing. Parson's has had to defend Ellis, Kobe, Durant and Gay this year. That would leave Lee with Wright, Artest, Thabo, and Allen/Mayo.

Like Parsons, Batum also has the role of often checking the opponents better wing.

[Narf]

I never said CLee is a better offensive player than Batum. I said he's a better player than Batum, and I don't think that's wrong. If offensive potential was all that mattered, I would take Batum over CLee as Batum's potential there is pretty high. But since the other guy scores a hell of a lot easier against Batum I'll take CLee as the overall player.

And FTR, while I agree he's not elite CLee is pretty darn good defensively. He's a 1 on 1 defender that shuts down the other team's SG quite well.

Batum has much harder defensive assignments than Lee.

Parsons more often than not checks the opponents better wing. Parson's has had to defend Ellis, Kobe, Durant and Gay this year. That would leave Lee with Wright, Artest, Thabo, and Allen/Mayo.

Like Parsons, Batum also has the role of often checking the opponents better wing.

Well, I agree with some of what you said, but I disagree that Batum's D is because of who he guards.

Let's go with raw +/-. Sometimes the sledge hammer works better for this stuff.

Defensive +/-, rated in points per 100 opponent possessions
2011/12
On court: 110.5
Off court: 99.3
Net: +11.3

2010/11
On court: 109.8
Off court: 105.1
Net: +4.7

09/10
On court: 109.1
Off court: 108.0
Net: +1.1


You can break everything down, eFG% allowed, individual stats, whatever. The fact is when Batum is on the court the other team consistently scores 109-110 points per 100 possessions, and the trend line is going the wrong way. That's not to say he's getting worse defensively, I don't believe that. It is, however, to suggest he's not getting BETTER on defense.

Maybe I'm dead wrong. But Batum looks like fools gold to me. Shiny, but not as valuable as you thought.


Edit: And while Parsons is a better defender Lee still gets the hard matchup half the time as Parsons is only on the court half the time.

[moss_is_1]

Courtney Lee is what he is. He would be fine for a team where he can just be the 5th starter. He won't hurt you, but he's barely average. As Krap said, he's about on par with Ridnour as a player.

I'd be fine with signing him, but I'd also much rather have Batum. Who's basically better in every facet of the game.

[Narf]

Courtney Lee is what he is. He would be fine for a team where he can just be the 5th starter. He won't hurt you, but he's barely average. As Krap said, he's about on par with Ridnour as a player.

I'd be fine with signing him, but I'd also much rather have Batum. Who's basically better in every facet of the game.

Ridnour with above average defense is a lot different than Ridnour.

[Krapinsky]

I never said CLee is a better offensive player than Batum. I said he's a better player than Batum, and I don't think that's wrong. If offensive potential was all that mattered, I would take Batum over CLee as Batum's potential there is pretty high. But since the other guy scores a hell of a lot easier against Batum I'll take CLee as the overall player.

And FTR, while I agree he's not elite CLee is pretty darn good defensively. He's a 1 on 1 defender that shuts down the other team's SG quite well.

Batum has much harder defensive assignments than Lee.

Parsons more often than not checks the opponents better wing. Parson's has had to defend Ellis, Kobe, Durant and Gay this year. That would leave Lee with Wright, Artest, Thabo, and Allen/Mayo.

Like Parsons, Batum also has the role of often checking the opponents better wing.

Well, I agree with some of what you said, but I disagree that Batum's D is because of who he guards.

Let's go with raw +/-. Sometimes the sledge hammer works better for this stuff.

Defensive +/-, rated in points per 100 opponent possessions
2011/12
On court: 110.5
Off court: 99.3
Net: +11.3

2010/11
On court: 109.8
Off court: 105.1
Net: +4.7

09/10
On court: 109.1
Off court: 108.0
Net: +1.1


You can break everything down, eFG% allowed, individual stats, whatever. The fact is when Batum is on the court the other team consistently scores 109-110 points per 100 possessions, and the trend line is going the wrong way. That's not to say he's getting worse defensively, I don't believe that. It is, however, to suggest he's not getting BETTER on defense.

Maybe I'm dead wrong. But Batum looks like fools gold to me. Shiny, but not as valuable as you thought.


Edit: And while Parsons is a better defender Lee still gets the hard matchup half the time as Parsons is only on the court half the time.

Your reliance on these stats is flawed. By this logic Joakim Noah is a bad defender since Chicago is 7 points better defensively when he is of the court. Your stats ignore Wallace's impact and the Noah stats ignore Asik/Gibson's impact, among other rotation players.

[moss_is_1]

Courtney Lee is what he is. He would be fine for a team where he can just be the 5th starter. He won't hurt you, but he's barely average. As Krap said, he's about on par with Ridnour as a player.

I'd be fine with signing him, but I'd also much rather have Batum. Who's basically better in every facet of the game.

Ridnour with above average defense is a lot different than Ridnour.

Is Lee's defense above average? Possibly I guess, but how much would we have to pay him, $7-8 to make Houston weary?

[Narf]

Your reliance on these stats is flawed. By this logic Joakim Noah is a bad defender since Chicago is 7 points better defensively when he is of the court. Your stats ignore Wallace's impact and the Noah stats ignore Asik/Gibson's impact, among other rotation players.

Your understanding of these stats is the problem.

Ask any Bulls fan who's defense is better, Asik's or Noah's. Then you'll figure out why Chicago is better defensively when Noah is on the bench.

I'm just showing you that year in and year out when Batum is on the floor Portland's defense is terrible. And there's no arguing it either.

[moss_is_1]

Your reliance on these stats is flawed. By this logic Joakim Noah is a bad defender since Chicago is 7 points better defensively when he is of the court. Your stats ignore Wallace's impact and the Noah stats ignore Asik/Gibson's impact, among other rotation players.

Your understanding of these stats is the problem.

Ask any Bulls fan who's defense is better, Asik's or Noah's. Then you'll figure out why Chicago is better defensively when Noah is on the bench.

I'm just showing you that year in and year out when Batum is on the floor Portland's defense is terrible. And there's no arguing it either.

Batum's defense does get overrated(even though he does guard the best guys night in/out), but he's also a very good help defender with his length / athleticism. Imagine him playing the 3 and being able to help block shots for Love/Pek.