If you look at centers (and forwards), 28 and younger, who have 9+ rebounds/game and a defensive rating of 102 or less (seems like what Olshey is looking for), then the answer has to be Jordan. Ranked by Win Shares for those criteria, and ranked by win shares: 1) D. Howard: not a chance 2) Noah: pipe dream, but very unlikely 3) Jordan 4) Hibbert 5) McGee 6) Drumond 7) Thabeet (oh well) 8) Bogut 9) Biedrins 10) Haddadi
Yep. It is Jordan. But can we get him? Going to be tough! You could probably get Biedrins for a song (they would give him away) but that contract is outrageous and does he have any skills left? I would take Thabeet back as a 3rd Center/insurance policy.
Another thing, DRtg isn't the best stat for defense I would imagine. POR is probably using some other metric to come at their decision on who to go after.
I think you would have to consider Noah, Hibbert or Jordan a big success. After that, it falls off pretty quickly. I was surprised that Jordan actually has a better defensive rating than I thought. I can't see Chicago or Indiana letting go of their big men.
I still keep thinking it'd be McGee, as he seems like he'd actually be available, more so than Jordan, since they have two much cheaper options on the roster currently.
I'm not digging that Jordan only plays 25 minutes a game as a starter... what's he doing out there preventing him from playing more?
One reason I will be rooting hard for Memphis tonight (Although silently) An early exit could persuade them to trade Jordan. Of course it could just mean they fire their coach and keep the team in tact..
I don't think there is a Center out there that doesn't have fleas (some are just financial verses attitude).
Yep you are right. If there were no negative issues, their current team would make sure they kept them. Jordan and Mcgee seem to have similar issues. (Similar salaries too) I would prefer Jordan
Are you using ACTUAL rebounds/game or rebounds/40 or something? And where did you do your search? Give me a link, because I can't duplicate it. (Oh, and Asik has a DRtg of 103 - why did you set your cutoff at 102?) If we are after Jordan then I despair of Olshey because he is a bonehead and he is NOT a good defender. Remember how his coach was desperate to trade him for 100-yr-old Kevin Garnett?
I know going after Hibbert was Olshey going for the home run, but I was disappointed we didn't make a run at Asik. Most of us knew Indy would match. Asik was a much less expensive option, and has put together a solid season.
Yep, the time to get Asik was then not now. Makes you wonder if there are cases of guys like him that we could get now though. Backups who would flourish if they ever got the starting job. I guess maybe you could put McGee in this area but he is not a traditional example because of his contract. Any backups out there that we should look out? Blatche? Wright?