While I was just musing, Mr. Abbott at truehoop put in some serious thought about Josh Childress, so I present you with
Truehoop's view on how Euro basketball will help the NBA
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Allure of Overseas Basketball
I think the sudden impact that overseas teams are having on Free Agency is going to drastically alter the face of the NBA game for years to come. While it's only medium level players at the moment, the fact that club teams in europe are financially viable for big contracts to players indicates that the wind might be blowing differently soon.
Yes, players like Bostjan Nachbar, Carlos Delfino, and Anthony Parker are expected to get european offers due to their heritage or previous euro experience. However, Josh Childress getting a 3 year 20 million dollar offer from Olympiakos has to be seen as a new attempt to show they are as attractive a target as any NBA destination.
I think the main effect for the forseeable future is altering the way the mid level exception is handled. Sure NBA gm's continually screw up their MLE signees, but with teams like Olympiakos and Dynamo Moscow able to easily throw an offer out that's 10-20% more than the MLE, they are likely to take the players that might have originally gone for the MLE.
It's going to be very interested to see how this develops over the next few seasons and see if this trend continues. We'll see if they continue to target restricted free agents, since NBA teams can't just match the contract and keep their player in this situation. This might also have more teams offering extensions before it comes to restricted Free Agency.
Yes, players like Bostjan Nachbar, Carlos Delfino, and Anthony Parker are expected to get european offers due to their heritage or previous euro experience. However, Josh Childress getting a 3 year 20 million dollar offer from Olympiakos has to be seen as a new attempt to show they are as attractive a target as any NBA destination.
I think the main effect for the forseeable future is altering the way the mid level exception is handled. Sure NBA gm's continually screw up their MLE signees, but with teams like Olympiakos and Dynamo Moscow able to easily throw an offer out that's 10-20% more than the MLE, they are likely to take the players that might have originally gone for the MLE.
It's going to be very interested to see how this develops over the next few seasons and see if this trend continues. We'll see if they continue to target restricted free agents, since NBA teams can't just match the contract and keep their player in this situation. This might also have more teams offering extensions before it comes to restricted Free Agency.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Clippers Respond
By making the best trade of the Off-Season. How could the Nuggets not get more then this for a guy who's a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate?
You can argue that Brand is a better player, but for the money they make, you've gotta admit you're getting more bang for your buck with Camby (Camby makes about 7.5 million this season while Brand makes around 14). The Clipps should still have enough cap to go after another free agent.
The offense - defense combo of Camby & Kaman should be formidable. The Clippers may actually be better off in the long run for this one since you could argue Brand is now more of an injury risk then Camby.
It's going to be next to impossible for the Nuggets to make the playoffs next year. I don't see why they would possibly keep Melo after this, there's no way they can hang with the rest of the West with Nene as their banger.
You can argue that Brand is a better player, but for the money they make, you've gotta admit you're getting more bang for your buck with Camby (Camby makes about 7.5 million this season while Brand makes around 14). The Clipps should still have enough cap to go after another free agent.
The offense - defense combo of Camby & Kaman should be formidable. The Clippers may actually be better off in the long run for this one since you could argue Brand is now more of an injury risk then Camby.
It's going to be next to impossible for the Nuggets to make the playoffs next year. I don't see why they would possibly keep Melo after this, there's no way they can hang with the rest of the West with Nene as their banger.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Free Agents for the Prudent GM
Since thus far I've preached fiscal responsibility, I thought I'd provide some examples of free agents who I think are affordable, while being useful at the same time. We're not talking about stars here. We're talking about guys who can help out teams that are already in the hunt.
Conceivably, these are the guys who will give you a boost off the bench or at least keep you in the game. All you need them for is 15-20mpg, so why break the bank? For example, I like Michael Pietrus, but I don't 25 million for 4 years like him.
Here's the list,
Eddie House
Tony Allen
Yakhouba Diawara
Eduardo Najera
Juan Dixon
Walter Herrmann
Lindsey Hunter
Kelenna Azubuike
Matt Barnes
Shaun Livingston
Quinton Ross
Jason Williams
Ryan Gomes
Bostjan Nachbar
Bonzi Wells
Chris Andersen
Carlos Delfino
Roger Mason
Gordan Giricek
Darius Miles
P.S. It's not my fault if Gullible GM X overpays one of these guys.
Conceivably, these are the guys who will give you a boost off the bench or at least keep you in the game. All you need them for is 15-20mpg, so why break the bank? For example, I like Michael Pietrus, but I don't 25 million for 4 years like him.
Here's the list,
Eddie House
Tony Allen
Yakhouba Diawara
Eduardo Najera
Juan Dixon
Walter Herrmann
Lindsey Hunter
Kelenna Azubuike
Matt Barnes
Shaun Livingston
Quinton Ross
Jason Williams
Ryan Gomes
Bostjan Nachbar
Bonzi Wells
Chris Andersen
Carlos Delfino
Roger Mason
Gordan Giricek
Darius Miles
P.S. It's not my fault if Gullible GM X overpays one of these guys.
The Elton Brand Deal
Beyond the fact that he may or may not be a scumbag, the common perception is that the 76ers are now a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are certainly a player and as great as they should be defensively (few teams can trot out 2 guys who can protect the rim like Brand and Dalembert) the fact remains, they do not have a single player who can get them an easy shot in the half court set.
I think Brand is a very good player, but he's a guy who makes an impact defensively and is effective as a 2nd or 3rd option. His bread and butter is his jumper, but without Chris Kaman, defenders should be in his face more often. Andre Miller will help alleviate this situation, but the rumors are that he wants out.
Can the Sixers be better then a 3 seat in the East? I just don't see how this team scores more against the Boston, Detroit & San Antonios of the world. Thad Young could well be the most important player on this team next year.
If anything, at least this now makes things infinitely more interesting in the East. The Clipshow seem screwed, but if the Josh Smith/Okafor rumors are true, they could still end up in the playoffs.
I think Brand is a very good player, but he's a guy who makes an impact defensively and is effective as a 2nd or 3rd option. His bread and butter is his jumper, but without Chris Kaman, defenders should be in his face more often. Andre Miller will help alleviate this situation, but the rumors are that he wants out.
Can the Sixers be better then a 3 seat in the East? I just don't see how this team scores more against the Boston, Detroit & San Antonios of the world. Thad Young could well be the most important player on this team next year.
If anything, at least this now makes things infinitely more interesting in the East. The Clipshow seem screwed, but if the Josh Smith/Okafor rumors are true, they could still end up in the playoffs.
Wow that escalated quickly...
5 years 72.5 million for Andrew Bogut??? Really??? You're sure??? You've seen him play, right John Hammond?
I guess the Bucks had do attempt the dumbest thing possible to counteract stealing Richard Jefferson from the Nets. Has any team overpaid for mediocrity like the Bucks over the last couple years? Mo Williams 6 years 52 million, Charlie Bell 5 years 18.5 million, Bobby Simmons 5 years 47 million & Dan Gadzuric 6 years 36 million (well maybe the Warriors).
To say that Bogut is even a top 10 Center is a stretch. When someone signs a ridiculous contract, the "common logic" seems to be "well someone was going to give that money to him." I disagree in a lot of instances, including this one, but lets just pretend that a team was going to give this money to Bogut, couldn't you replace 80-90% of his numbers for 1/3 the price?
As much as I love James Posey, if someone gives him the full MLE for 5 years, I won't blame the Celtics for not matching the offer. I had really thought the league had started to curb the horrendous contracts and then Andrew Bogut blows the lid off the joint.
I guess the Bucks had do attempt the dumbest thing possible to counteract stealing Richard Jefferson from the Nets. Has any team overpaid for mediocrity like the Bucks over the last couple years? Mo Williams 6 years 52 million, Charlie Bell 5 years 18.5 million, Bobby Simmons 5 years 47 million & Dan Gadzuric 6 years 36 million (well maybe the Warriors).
To say that Bogut is even a top 10 Center is a stretch. When someone signs a ridiculous contract, the "common logic" seems to be "well someone was going to give that money to him." I disagree in a lot of instances, including this one, but lets just pretend that a team was going to give this money to Bogut, couldn't you replace 80-90% of his numbers for 1/3 the price?
As much as I love James Posey, if someone gives him the full MLE for 5 years, I won't blame the Celtics for not matching the offer. I had really thought the league had started to curb the horrendous contracts and then Andrew Bogut blows the lid off the joint.
Spite Part 2
Reports are in that Elton Brand will sign the the Philadelphia 76'ers.
To be perfectly honest, I never saw this one coming. I thought the move made by the Sixers to make a little bit more cap room was not that big of a deal. I thought it was a desperation move by Ed Stefanski that had little chance of success. Of course, this is the reason I am writing a blog, and not making moves for an NBA franchise. I am starting to love the roulette wheel that is this free agency period.
The Clips, Sixers, Hawks, and Warriors sent the four best free agents into the pool, and it is seriously going to affect the future of each of these franchises. Without Elton Brand, Baron Davis just signed into his own personal hell. I expect him to be moved by the end of the year for cap space.
Elton going to the Sixers may seem like a godsend to the Hawks, since the Sixers seemed to be the team most interested in making Josh Smith a very rich man. However, it seems obvious that the Clippers will now be using most of the money they intended for Brand to go to Josh Smith. Personally, I think Josh Smith playing for the Clippers with Baron Davis would most likely give Mike Dunleavy a stroke of epic proportions. Young lanky forwards do not thrive in clipperland. (Just ask Mr. Miles and Mr. Odom)
Maggette heading to the Warriors seems like Golden State is just trying to not come away with nothing. That being said, Maggette has made the playoffs once in 9 years. He's a great scorer, but he doesn't create shots for anyone else and he doesn't play defense. Come to think of it, maybe he's perfect in Golden States. Reportedly 5 years, 50 million.... god bless you Warriors, you sure know how you compete against yourself for free agents.
To be perfectly honest, I never saw this one coming. I thought the move made by the Sixers to make a little bit more cap room was not that big of a deal. I thought it was a desperation move by Ed Stefanski that had little chance of success. Of course, this is the reason I am writing a blog, and not making moves for an NBA franchise. I am starting to love the roulette wheel that is this free agency period.
The Clips, Sixers, Hawks, and Warriors sent the four best free agents into the pool, and it is seriously going to affect the future of each of these franchises. Without Elton Brand, Baron Davis just signed into his own personal hell. I expect him to be moved by the end of the year for cap space.
Elton going to the Sixers may seem like a godsend to the Hawks, since the Sixers seemed to be the team most interested in making Josh Smith a very rich man. However, it seems obvious that the Clippers will now be using most of the money they intended for Brand to go to Josh Smith. Personally, I think Josh Smith playing for the Clippers with Baron Davis would most likely give Mike Dunleavy a stroke of epic proportions. Young lanky forwards do not thrive in clipperland. (Just ask Mr. Miles and Mr. Odom)
Maggette heading to the Warriors seems like Golden State is just trying to not come away with nothing. That being said, Maggette has made the playoffs once in 9 years. He's a great scorer, but he doesn't create shots for anyone else and he doesn't play defense. Come to think of it, maybe he's perfect in Golden States. Reportedly 5 years, 50 million.... god bless you Warriors, you sure know how you compete against yourself for free agents.
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