Value Players

[thinktank]

I forgot all about Dahntay Jones. He'd be a very solid defender off the bench. Ups to whoever mentioned him.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Greg Oden.

We'd likely be able to sign him for almost nothing, and if he can ever stay healthy, he'd be an elite backup.

in his grantland interview he said he plans to take all of next season off to rehab

[Ndudi and Pooh]

Obviously all it takes is one shrewd agent for Kahn to get played and turn a "value player" in to an "over paid player". But I think there are some guys out there that can help us:

Carlos Delfino and Steve Novak are unrestricted free agents that won't have anyone offering them big minutes or big money. Both could sit in the corner and draw defenses out while Ricky and Kevin run offense. Delfino is an adequate defender, and can bring the ball up when needed. Kyle Korver is a guy the Bulls would probably give up in a trade without a fight. Depending on the fallout in Orlando, JJ Reddick is almost certainly available. Chase Budinger is under contract at a cheap price in Houston, which means acquiring him in a trade would be difficult. I think all the guys in this paragraph would exceed expectations (offensively) at a bargain rate.

Luc Richard Mbah Moute is under contract with Milwaukee but probably available in a trade. If not this offseason, for sure 20 games in to the season once the inevitable "team quits on Skiles" story plays out. Anderson Vareajo is under contract on the Cavs, and we are pretty set with Pek, Darko, and the ghost of Brad Miller. Kahn seems to be in love with Darko. But I love Vareajo's activity and effort. He is like a slightly less effective yet tremendously less annoying Joakim Noah. History suggests Adelman wants centers who can shoot and pass though. That's not V's game. Ronnie Brewer can run the floor and defend, and the Bulls would be happy to dump his salary... Those are the (likely available) "value" defenders that pop in to my mind.

If Gerald Wallace can be had for 8 million a year or less, I think we get our money's worth out of that. Four years @ eight million (each) would be a nice acquisition. Someone will probably overpay. But he is an elite "garbage man" who can defend, bust opponent's schemes, draw fouls, improve our athleticism, etc.

I think we are loaded at the three toughest positions to fill: center, point guard, power forward. A good GM can find wings in any offseason...

[Worm Guts]

Anderson Vareajo is under contract on the Cavs, and we are pretty set with Pek, Darko, and the ghost of Brad Miller. Kahn seems to be in love with Darko. But I love Vareajo's activity and effort. ...

Brad Miller just retired and I think it's almost certainty that Darko will be gone before next season. Right now Pek is our only center.

[Ndudi and Pooh]

I don't know how I missed Miller's retirement. My bad. I haven't been dialed in lately.

What did I miss about Darko? When did he shift from "manna from heaven" to the trading block in Kahn's eyes? What's the story there?

I have heard that Adelman took this job with assurances that all personnel moves would have to be run by him. Would you insiders agree with that assessment? Or is Kahn still calling the shots?

[Worm Guts]

I don't know how I missed Miller's retirement. My bad. I haven't been dialed in lately.

What did I miss about Darko? When did he shift from "manna from heaven" to the trading block in Kahn's eyes? What's the story there?

Once Pekovic took his job, I think Darko checked out. Adelman didn't play him it all towards the end of the season and called him out of shape. I don't think he'll be traded, he'll either be amnestied or bought out.

[Ndudi and Pooh]

Thanks for the info. I felt the writing was on the wall for Darko in Minny as soon as Adelman was hired. Just not his type of center. Plus, Kahn put ridiculous expectations on him with the ill fated Chris Webber summer league commentary. Darko is what he is... a backup center. Too bad he can't get his head on straight... no reason whatsoever he can't be Joel Pryzbilla for the next 8 years.

Would Glenn Taylor authorize him to be amnestied? Wouldn't that be a huge axe to the knees of Kahn?

Did that Grantland story a few months back about Love being pissed at Kahn's negotiating cause any ripples in Kahn's standing with the organization?

If you are right about Darko getting dumped, I would love Vareajo as a big off the bench. He rebounds, plays great positional defense, is active on both ends, and has a reasonable salary for a contributing big.

[Chocobanana]

James Anderson on the Spurs could potentially be a bargain signing. Coming out of college he was known as a really good shooter, but at the NBA level, despite some good starts, hasn't really made it into the Spurs rotation, either due to injuries or unknown players who end up having a great year, like Danny Green or Gary Neal.

After his injury in his first year, he lost a lot of confidence and his shot never came back. This season, he started out decent but due to his mediocre play after Ginobili went out and the emergence of Danny Green, he once again lost confidence and Green took his spot in the rotation. Despite that, he has shown aggressiveness when he has been inserted into games and puts in a lot of effort defensively.

Not the greatest player but I think he might not get many offers, if any at all, and I think he could be a player worth a summer league and/or training camp invite, and could potentially be a decent role/bench player if things work out.

Here are his college stats:
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/pla ... son-3.html
NBA stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... rja01.html

He had some really good shooting numbers in college and hopefully he will be able to re-capture his stroke in the NBA, where he has been awful.

[moss_is_1]

^ I liked him at the time of the draft...but if the Spurs can't get anything out of him I don't see him offering much more then Wayne Ellington.

[Chocobanana]

^ I liked him at the time of the draft...but if the Spurs can't get anything out of him I don't see him offering much more then Wayne Ellington.

yep, same here. but i think it would be nice to have him on the bench if he can be acquired for a small contract. more wings cant hurt, especially ones who used to be able to shoot.

[Biff Cooper]

It seems like Brandon Rush has shown the potential to be an nba starting caliber SG. He could be a value pick.

[moss_is_1]

It seems like Brandon Rush has shown the potential to be an nba starting caliber SG. He could be a value pick.

Idk if he is quick enough to be a SG, seems pretty similar to Martell Webster, IMO.

[Devilzsidewalk]

^ I liked him at the time of the draft...but if the Spurs can't get anything out of him I don't see him offering much more then Wayne Ellington.

yep, same here. but i think it would be nice to have him on the bench if he can be acquired for a small contract. more wings cant hurt, especially ones who used to be able to shoot.

me too, he was the guy I was hoping we were going to get when they pulled out the Babbit/Gomes/Webster shenanigans.

[guille_4]

We have waaay too many role players making around 4M per season. Unless we can trade Ridnour, Barea, Wes or the likes, I wouldn't sign another role player that is solid but does not impact the game on any end, and isn't capable of creating his own shot.

I'd like us to sign Gerald Wallace if he could be had for cheap, or OJ Mayo. Above average starters. Don't get me wrong, I do like both Meeks and Bellinelli, and think they would be nice additions AS LONG AS we can get rid of Barea or Ridnour.

[AQuintus]

I'd like us to sign Gerald Wallace if he could be had for cheap, or OJ Mayo. Above average starters.

Mayo isn't an above average starter. He really isn't even an above average backup/ 6th man. He's basically another guy who should fit the "role players making around 4m per season" description, except that some dumb team is probably going to pay him substantially more than that.

[Biff Cooper]

It seems like Brandon Rush has shown the potential to be an nba starting caliber SG. He could be a value pick.

Idk if he is quick enough to be a SG, seems pretty similar to Martell Webster, IMO.

GS has been playing him more as a sf. There are probably some matchups he'd struggle at sg. But we need help at both sg and sf.

[Grits n Gravy]

I'd like us to sign Gerald Wallace if he could be had for cheap, or OJ Mayo. Above average starters.

Mayo isn't an above average starter. He really isn't even an above average backup/ 6th man. He's basically another guy who should fit the "role players making around 4m per season" description, except that some dumb team is probably going to pay him substantially more than that.

agree sir